Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2025

Registration Nos. 333-284112

and 333-284112-01

 

 
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 2

to

FORM SF-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY   KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

(Exact name of registrant, sponsor and depositor as

specified in its charter)

 

(Exact name of registrant and issuing entity as

specified in its charter)

Kentucky   Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

1-6858  
(Commission File Number)  
0000055373   0002050048
(Central Index Key Number)   (Central Index Key Number)
61-0247775   33-2363654
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

1 Riverside Plaza

Columbus, OH 43215-2373

(614) 716-1000

 

1645 Winchester Avenue

Ashland, Kentucky 41101

606-929-1488

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of depositor’s principal executive offices)   (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of issuing entity’s principal executive offices)

 

 

David C. House, Associate General Counsel

American Electric Power Service Corporation

1 Riverside Plaza

Columbus, Ohio 43215-2373

(614) 716-1630

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

With Copies to:

 

Robert G. Stephens

George J. Vlahakos

Sidley Austin LLP

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5900

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 495-4500

 

Peter S. Morgan

Alan Hoffman

Winston & Strawn LLP

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

(212) 294-6700

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

 

The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 
 


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated May 16, 2025

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

$477,749,000 Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds

Kentucky Power Company

Sponsor, Depositor and Servicer

Central Index Key Number: 0000055373

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

issuing entity

Central Index Key Number: 0002050048

 

Tranche

 

Expected
Weighted
Average
Life(Years)

  Principal
Amount
Offered*
    Scheduled
Final
Payment
Date
    Final
Maturity
Date
    Interest
Rate
    Initial
Price
to
Public
    Underwriting
Discounts
and Commissions
    Proceeds
to
issuing
entity
(Before
Expenses)
    CUSIP/ISIN  

A

    $ 477,749,000                              $        
 
*

Principal amounts are approximate and subject to change.

The total initial price to the public is $    . The total amount of the underwriting discounts and commissions is $    . The total amount of proceeds to the issuing entity before deduction of expenses (estimated to be $    ) is $    . The principal and interest will be paid semi-annually. The first expected payment date is    , 2026.

 

 

Investing in the Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds involves risks. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page 20 to read about factors you should consider before buying the bonds.

Kentucky Power Company, as “depositor,” is offering $477,749,000 of Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds, referred to in this prospectus as the “Bonds.” Kentucky Power Company is also the “seller,” initial “servicer” and “sponsor” with regard to the Bonds.

Each Bond will be entitled to interest in    and    of each year, beginning on    , 2026. Interest will accrue from the date of issuance and will be included in the purchase price if the Bonds are delivered after that date. On each payment date the Bonds will be entitled to payment of principal based on a sinking fund schedule described in this prospectus under “Expected Sinking Fund Schedule,” but only to the extent funds are available after payment of certain fees and expenses and after payment of interest on the Bonds.

We are Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, and we are the “issuing entity” of the Bonds. The Bonds are secured by our assets which consist principally of our right to receive certain special “charges” (or “cost recovery charges”), which Kentucky Power Company is entitled to impose and collect from all of its existing and future retail customers receiving electric service, and to periodically adjust those charges pursuant to a true-up mechanism. Please see “Security for the Bonds” and “Description of the Cost Recovery Property” in this prospectus.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission, the regulator of Kentucky Power Company, issued a Financing Order pursuant to which Kentucky Power Company is entitled to impose, collect and receive charges from all of its existing and future retail customers on a joint basis according to rate schedules calculated to generate sufficient revenues to pay interest and principal on the Bonds. The Financing Order requires that the charges be adjusted at least semi-annually, and permits such true-ups to occur more frequently if necessary to ensure that Kentucky Power Company recovers charges in the amounts required for us to make timely payments of interest


Table of Contents

on the Bonds and to repay the principal of the Bonds in accordance with the sinking fund schedule described in this prospectus. Credit enhancement for the Bonds will be provided by such statutory true-up mechanism, as well as by general and excess funds subaccounts held under the indenture governing the Bonds. Kentucky Power Company is permitted to use the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds to recover certain costs set forth in the Financing Order, which is described in this prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

The Bonds represent obligations only of the issuing entity and are secured only by the assets of the issuing entity, consisting principally of the Cost Recovery Property and related assets to support its obligations under the Bonds. Please see “Security for the Bonds” and “Description of the Cost Recovery Property” in this prospectus. Neither Kentucky Power Company nor any of its affiliates (other than the issuing entity) are liable for any payments on the Bonds. The Bonds are not a debt or general obligation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Kentucky Public Service Commission or any other governmental agency or instrumentality and are not a charge on the full faith and credit or the taxing power of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any governmental agency or instrumentality.

Under the Financing Order, the Kentucky Public Service Commission guarantees that it will act to ensure the charges are in an amount sufficient to pay interest and scheduled principal on the Bonds. The Kentucky Public Service Commission’s obligations relating to the Bonds, including the specific actions that it has guaranteed to take, under the Financing Order are direct, explicit, irrevocable and unconditional upon issuance of the Bonds, and under the Financing Order are legally enforceable against the Kentucky Public Service Commission, which is a United States public sector entity, in accordance with Kentucky law.

All matters relating to the structuring, marketing and pricing of the Bonds have been considered jointly by Kentucky Power Company and by designated personnel of the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The underwriters expect to deliver the Bonds through the book-entry facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants including Clearstream Banking, S.A. and Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as operator of the Euroclear System against payment in immediately available funds on or about    , 2025.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Jefferies LLC   Guggenheim Securities, LLC   SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is      


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

     2  

TRANSACTION OVERVIEW

     4  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY OF TERMS

     6  
KEY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING THE BONDS AND THE TRUE-UP MECHANISM      16  

RISK FACTORS

     20  
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL JUDICIAL, LEGISLATIVE OR REGULATORY ACTIONS      20  

SERVICING RISKS

     23  

STORM RELATED RISK

     26  
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS OF THE SELLER OR THE SERVICER      26  

OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS

     30  

REVIEW OF COST RECOVERY PROPERTY

     35  

THE KENTUCKY UTILITIES ACT

     38  

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY’S FINANCING ORDER

     43  

Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order

     43  

Collection of Charges

     43  

Issuance Advice Letter

     43  

Charge Rider

     44  

Statutory True-Ups

     44  

Statutory True-Ups-Credit Risk

     45  

Allocation

     45  

Servicing Agreement

     45  

Binding on Successors

     45  

DESCRIPTION OF THE COST RECOVERY PROPERTY

     46  

Creation of Cost Recovery Property; Financing Order

     46  

Charge Rider; Charges

     46  

Billing and Collection Terms and Conditions

     47  

THE SELLER, SERVICER, DEPOSITOR AND SPONSOR

     48  

General

     48  

Municipalization

     48  

Servicing Experience

     49  

Kentucky Power Company Customer Base and Electric Energy Consumption in the Kentucky Power Company Service Territory

     49  

Electricity Delivered to Retail Customers, Electric Delivery Revenues and Retail Customers

     50  

Forecasting Revenue

     50  

Annual Forecast Variance For Revenue

     51  

Billing and Collections

     51  

Days Sales Outstanding

     52  

Delinquencies

     53  

 

i


Table of Contents

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, THE ISSUING ENTITY

     54  

Restricted Purpose

     55  

Our Relationship with Kentucky Power Company

     56  

Our Relationship with the Kentucky Public Service Commission

     56  

Our Management

     56  

Manager Fees and Limitation on Liabilities

     58  

We Are a Separate and Distinct Legal Entity from Kentucky Power Company

     58  

Administration Agreement

     59  

Intercreditor Agreement

     59  

Continuing Disclosure: SEC Filings

     59  

DESCRIPTION OF THE BONDS

     60  

General

     60  

Payment and Record Dates and Payment Sources

     60  

Interest Payments

     61  

Principal Payments

     61  

Expected Sinking Fund Schedule

     63  

Expected Principal Ending Balances

     64  

Distribution Following Acceleration

     64  

Optional Redemption

     64  

Payments on the Bonds

     64  

Fees and Expenses

     65  

Bonds Will Be Issued in Book-Entry Form

     66  

Definitive Bonds

     69  

Conditions of Issuance of Additional Bonds and Acquisition of Additional Cost Recovery Property

     69  

Allocations as Between Series

     70  

Access of Bondholders

     70  

Reports to Bondholders

     70  

Website Disclosures

     71  

We and the Trustee May Modify the Indenture

     71  

Our Covenants

     74  

Events of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default

     75  

Actions by Bondholders

     77  

Annual Report of Trustee

     77  

Annual Compliance Statement

     77  

No Recourse to Others

     77  

THE TRUSTEE

     79  

SECURITY FOR THE BONDS

     82  

General

     82  

Issuance of Additional Bonds

     82  

Allocations as Between the Bonds and Additional Series

     82  

Pledge of Collateral

     83  

Security Interest in the Collateral

     84  

Secured Party Rights

     85  

Description of Indenture Accounts

     85  

How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated

     87  

State Pledge

     88  

 

ii


Table of Contents

WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIFE AND YIELD CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE BONDS

     89  

Weighted Average Life Sensitivity

     89  

THE SALE AGREEMENT

     91  

Sale and Assignment of the Cost Recovery Property

     91  

Seller Representations and Warranties

     91  

Covenants of the Seller

     95  

Indemnification

     97  

Successors to the Seller

     99  

Amendment

     99  

THE SERVICING AGREEMENT

     100  

Servicing Procedures

     100  

Servicing Standards and Covenants

     100  

True-Up Adjustment Process

     101  

Remittances to Collection Account

     102  

Servicing Compensation

     103  

Servicer Representations and Warranties; Limitation on Servicer’s Liability

     104  

The Servicer Will Indemnify Us, the Bondholders and the Kentucky Public Service Commission in Limited Circumstances

     105  

Reporting and Evidence as to Compliance

     106  

Matters Regarding the Servicer

     106  

Servicer Defaults

     107  

Rights Upon a Servicer Default

     107  

Waiver of Past Defaults

     108  

Successor Servicer

     108  

Amendment

     109  

HOW A BANKRUPTCY MAY AFFECT YOUR INVESTMENT

     110  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     114  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     115  

The Underwriters’ Sales Price for the Bonds

     115  

No Assurance as to Resale Price or Resale Liquidity for the Bonds

     115  

Various Types of Underwriter Transactions That May Affect the Price of the Bonds

     115  

AFFILIATIONS AND CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     117  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     118  

General

     118  

Taxation of the Issuing Entity and Characterization of the Bonds

     119  

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

     119  

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

     120  

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

     121  

FATCA

     122  

MATERIAL KENTUCKY INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     123  

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

     124  

General

     124  

Regulation of Assets Included in a Plan

     125  

Prohibited Transaction Exemptions

     125  

Consultation with Counsel and Representation

     126  

 

iii


Table of Contents

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     127  

RATINGS FOR THE BONDS

     128  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     128  

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     130  

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 AND VOLCKER RULE MATTERS

     131  

RISK RETENTION

     132  

LEGAL MATTERS

     133  

OFFERING RESTRICTIONS IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS

     134  

GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS

     136  

 

iv


Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC.” This prospectus provides information about us, the Bonds and Kentucky Power Company, the depositor, sponsor and servicer. This prospectus describes the terms of the Bonds offered hereby. You should carefully review this prospectus, any free writing prospectus we file with the SEC, and the information, if any, contained in the documents referenced in this prospectus under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

References in this prospectus to the terms “we,” “us” or the “issuing entity” mean Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the entity which will issue the Bonds. References to the “Bonds,” unless the context otherwise requires, means the Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds offered pursuant to this prospectus. References to “Kentucky Power Company,” the seller,” the depositor” or the “sponsor” mean Kentucky Power Company. References to the “bondholders” or the “holders” refer to the registered holders of the Bonds. References to the “servicer” refer to Kentucky Power Company and any successor servicer under the servicing agreement referred to in this prospectus. References to the “Kentucky Utilities Act” refer collectively to Chapter 278 of Title XXIV Public Utilities (KRS §§ 278.010, 278.670-.696) and Chapter 65 Counties, Cities, and Other Local Units of the act relating to investor-owned utilities (KRS § 65.114), as amended from time to time. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “customer” or “retail customer” means all existing and future retail customers receiving electric service from Kentucky Power Company or its successors or assignees under rate schedules approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission even if a retail customer elects to purchase electricity from an alternative electric supplier following a fundamental change in regulation of public utilities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Financing Order” means the Financing Order issued by the Kentucky Public Service Commission to Kentucky Power Company on April 11, 2025, in Case No. 2023-00159, which amends, restates and supersedes the Financing Order dated January 10, 2024.

You can find a glossary of some of the other defined terms we use in this prospectus on page 136 of this prospectus.

We have included cross-references to sections in this prospectus where you can find further related discussions. You can also find references to key topics in the table of contents on the preceding pages. Please see the table of contents to locate these sections.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any free writing prospectus from us or the underwriters specifying the terms of this offering. Neither we nor any underwriter, agent, dealer, salesperson, the Kentucky Public Service Commission or Kentucky Power Company has authorized anyone else to provide you with any different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not offering to sell the Bonds in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus is current only as of the date of this prospectus.

 

1


Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Some statements contained in this prospectus may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Statements concerning expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements which are not historical facts, including statements in the documents that are incorporated by reference as discussed in this prospectus under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Actual events or results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. In some cases, you can identify our forward-looking statements by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “projection,” “should,” “will,” or other similar words.

We have based our forward-looking statements on our management’s beliefs, expectations and assumptions based on information available to our management at the time the statements are made. We caution you that assumptions, beliefs, expectations, intentions and projections about future events may and often do vary materially from actual results. Therefore, we cannot assure you that actual events or results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. For additional details regarding these and other risks and uncertainties, see “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.

The following are some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements:

 

   

state and federal legislative, judicial and regulatory actions or developments, including deregulation, re-regulation, restructuring of the electric utility industry and changes in, or changes in application of, laws or regulations applicable to various aspects of Kentucky Power Company’s business;

 

   

the accuracy of the servicer’s estimates of market demand and prices for energy;

 

   

the accuracy of the servicer’s estimates of residential and non-residential changes in Kentucky Power Company’s customer base;

 

   

changes in market demand and demographic patterns;

 

   

weather variations and other natural phenomena including ice or snow storms, floods and other weather-related events and natural disasters affecting Kentucky Power Company’s retail customer energy usage;

 

   

the operating performance of Kentucky Power Company’s facilities;

 

   

the accuracy of the servicer’s forecast of revenue or the associated electrical consumption or the payment of charges;

 

   

the reliability of Kentucky Power Company’s systems, procedures and other infrastructure necessary to operate the retail electric business;

 

   

economic, regulatory, or workforce impacts related to pandemics;

 

   

changes in climate and weather conditions, including natural disasters such as wind and ice storms, hurricanes, floods and droughts;

 

   

economic conditions affecting Kentucky Power Company’s service territories, including the economy’s effects on customer demand for utility services;

 

   

acts of war or terrorism or other catastrophic events affecting Kentucky Power Company’s retail customer revenue or energy usage;

 

2


Table of Contents
   

direct or indirect results of cyber-attacks, security breaches or other attempts to disrupt the business of Kentucky Power Company;

 

   

the ability of Kentucky Power Company’s customers to continue paying their utility bills;

 

   

alternative energy suppliers and delivery arrangements;

 

   

blackouts or disruptions of interconnected transmission systems (the regional power grid);

 

   

terrorist attacks, cyberattacks, or other malicious acts that may damage or disrupt operating or information technology systems;

 

   

the impact of changes in interest rates and global market conditions on financing;

 

   

declining energy demand related to customer energy efficiency, conservation measures, technological advancements, or increased distributed generation;

 

   

the unpredictability of civil unrest and its direct and indirect impact on Kentucky Power Company; and

 

   

other factors we discuss in this prospectus.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this prospectus, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, including unanticipated events, after the date of this prospectus, except as required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us and Kentucky Power Company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the applicable cautionary statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

TRANSACTION OVERVIEW

Who We Are

We are Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a newly formed finance subsidiary of Kentucky Power Company. We have been formed for the purpose of issuing the Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds, referred to as the “Bonds.” We will use the proceeds of the Bonds to acquire the Cost Recovery Property from Kentucky Power Company.

We are a ring-fenced and bankruptcy remote finance subsidiary with no employees and no operations other than issuing and repaying the Bonds. We have contracted with Kentucky Power Company to act as servicer for the Cost Recovery Property and perform any related administrative functions. We have two independent managers on our board and we are prohibited by our governing documents from filing for bankruptcy until the Bonds have been fully repaid without the consent of those independent managers. We have taken these measures to prevent any creditors, including creditors of our parent, Kentucky Power Company, from having any claim on our assets so that these assets remain available solely to repay the Bonds.

What is the Cost Recovery Property?

The Cost Recovery Property consists of all the rights and interests of Kentucky Power Company under the Financing Order that are being transferred to us, including:

1. the irrevocable right to impose and collect cost recovery charges from all current and future retail customers of Kentucky Power Company based on future sales of electricity generation, transmission and distribution services to those customers, which has been authorized by legislation and approved by the Commonwealth’s utility regulator, Kentucky Public Service Commission, and

2. the right to adjust the charges to customers if collections are insufficient to pay interest and scheduled principal on the Bonds, which is referred to as the “true-up mechanism.”

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has guaranteed that it will implement all required adjustments to the charges by means of the true-up mechanism.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has pledged in the Kentucky Utilities Act that it will not take or permit any action that would impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the rights and remedies of the holders of the Bonds.

How the Bonds Will Be Repaid

1. Kentucky Power Company will add a cost recovery charge to the monthly bill on all retail customers which is calculated based on forecasted usage and revenue data from customers of electricity generation, transmission and distribution services. The cost recovery charge is adjusted periodically and continually to ensure that sufficient revenues are collected to make payments of interest and scheduled principal on the Bonds.

2. On each business day, Kentucky Power Company will deposit into our collection account the cost recovery charges estimated to have been received from retail customers.

3. On a monthly basis, Kentucky Power Company will reconcile the estimated revenues with the actual collections it has received and, if actual payments exceed estimated payments, Kentucky Power Company will deposit the difference into our excess funds subaccount to make future payments on the Bonds.

4. On each semi-annual payment date, we will pay interest accrued on the Bonds during the preceding six months and scheduled principal on the Bonds in accordance with the sinking fund schedule.

 

4


Table of Contents

5. If revenues are insufficient to make such payments, we will increase the amount of the charges imposed on all retail customers by means of the true-up mechanism, which permits adjustment to the charges to be made at least semi-annually or more frequently if necessary.

6. The charges will continue to be imposed, collected, and adjusted on all existing and future retail customers of Kentucky Power Company until the Bonds have been repaid in full.

7. This process will be enforced by the Kentucky Public Service Commission and protected by a pledge by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its agencies not to take or permit any action that impairs the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the rights of bondholders.

The illustration below depicts a general overview of how cost recovery charges are collected and applied compared to general rate charges issued by Kentucky Power Company.

 

LOGO

The remainder of this prospectus provides more details about the Bonds, the issuing entity, the Financing Order and related legislation, the Kentucky Public Service Commission, the customers, the servicer, the legal contracts that will govern the transaction, the ratings of the Bonds, the underwriters, and other legal, tax, and ERISA considerations of which you should be aware. This prospectus also describes risk factors that may reduce the value of the collateral, alter the principal payment schedule, or otherwise impair the value of the Bonds.

 

5


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY OF TERMS

The following section is only a summary of selected information and does not provide you with all the information you will need to make your investment decision. To understand all of the terms of the offering of the Bonds, you should carefully read this entire prospectus. You should carefully consider the Risk Factors beginning on page 20 of this prospectus before you invest in the Bonds.

 

Securities offered:

$477,749,000 Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds, scheduled to pay principal semi-annually and sequentially in accordance with the expected sinking fund schedule. Only the Bonds are being offered through this prospectus.

 

The issuing entity and its capital structure:

We are Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that was formed as a special purpose finance subsidiary of Kentucky Power Company. Kentucky Power Company is our sole member and owns all of our membership interests. We were formed to allow Kentucky Power Company to recover certain extraordinary costs by means of issuing the Bonds, as discussed below under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

  We will purchase the Cost Recovery Property and issue the Bonds secured by that property. We will engage Kentucky Power Company to service the Cost Recovery Property and collect the charges. For more details, please see the section titled “Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, the Issuing Entity” in this prospectus.

 

  We will be capitalized with an upfront cash deposit by Kentucky Power Company of 0.5% of the principal amount of Bonds issued, which will be held in the capital subaccount.

 

Our address:

1645 Winchester Avenue Ashland, Kentucky 41101

 

Our telephone number:

(606) 929-1488

 

Federal income tax treatment of the issuing entity:

The Bonds will be debt of our parent, Kentucky Power Company, for federal income tax purposes. By making an investment in the Bonds, you agree to treat the Bonds as debt for federal income tax purposes. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in this prospectus.

 

Corporate financial reporting:

As required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the SEC Office of Chief Accountant governing corporate financial reporting for investor-owned utilities, the Bonds will be debt on the consolidated balance sheet of our parent, Kentucky Power Company, and the charges will be reported on its income statement.

 

Use of proceeds:

We will use the proceeds of the Bonds to acquire the Cost Recovery Property and pay the related expenses of the issuance.
 

 

 

Kentucky Power Company will use the proceeds of the sale of the Cost Recovery Property to us to pay off debts it incurred in connection with certain extraordinary costs. These costs have been approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission as costs that may be recovered by Kentucky Power Company from its customers.

 

6


Table of Contents
 

These extraordinary costs are described under “TRANSACTION OVERVIEW” and in Question 1 under “KEY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING THE BONDS AND THE TRUE-UP MECHANISM.”

 

Seller, Servicer and Depositor:

Our parent, Kentucky Power Company, is organized under Kentucky law to provide electricity generation, transmission and distribution services. Kentucky Power Company is an operating subsidiary of American Electric Power Company, Inc., referred to as “AEP.” AEP is an investor-owned public utility holding company based in Columbus, Ohio. Kentucky Power Company, acting as the “servicer,” will service the Cost Recovery Property under a servicing agreement with us. Please read “The Depositor, Seller, Initial Servicer and Sponsor” and “The Servicing Agreement” in this prospectus.

 

  As of December 31, 2024, Kentucky Power Company provided transmission and distribution service of electric power to approximately 163,000 retail customers, covering a service territory of approximately 4,895 operational square miles in 20 counties, as shown below on the eastern edge of Kentucky. AEP is an investor-owned public utility holding company based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP’s over 16,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and nearly 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver power to nearly 5.6 million retail customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity.

 

  LOGO

 

  * Kentucky Power Company’s Service Territory in red.

 

Kentucky Power Company’s address:

1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2373

 

Kentucky Power Company’s phone number:

(614) 716-1000

 

Trustee:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association. Please read “The Trustee” in this prospectus for a description of the trustee’s duties and responsibilities under the indenture.

 

7


Table of Contents

Parties to transaction and flow of funds:

The following chart represents a general summary of the parties to the transactions and the flow of funds:

 

  LOGO

 

Security for the Bonds:

The Bonds are our obligation and secured only by our assets, consisting principally of the Cost Recovery Property.

 

  The collateral securing the Bonds consists of:

 

   

the Cost Recovery Property, which is a present property right created under the Kentucky Utilities Act pursuant to the Financing Order and includes the right to impose, collect and adjust the charges from all current and future retail customers of Kentucky Power Company or its successor,

 

   

our rights under the statutory true-up mechanism to adjust the amount of the charges on all retail customers on a joint basis to ensure we have sufficient collections to pay the interest and scheduled principal of the Bonds in accordance with the sinking fund schedule; we refer to adjustments of the charges as the “true-up adjustments” or the “statutory true-up mechanism,”

 

   

our rights under the sale agreement pursuant to which we will acquire the Cost Recovery Property from Kentucky Power Company,

 

   

the guarantee of the Kentucky Public Service Commission to implement the statutory true-up mechanism,

 

   

the pledge by the Commonwealth of Kentucky not to impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the rights of bondholders,

 

   

our rights under the servicing agreement with Kentucky Power Company, which will bill and collect the charges on our behalf,

 

   

our rights under the intercreditor agreement and the administration agreement, and

 

   

the collection account and all related subaccounts into which all collected charges will be held, and all cash, instruments, investment property or other assets on deposit in those subaccounts, and all financial assets and securities entitlements carried therein or credited thereto.

 

8


Table of Contents
  Please read “Security for the Bonds” in this prospectus.

 

Cost Recovery Property:

The “Cost Recovery Property” consists of Kentucky Power Company’s rights and interests under the Financing Order that are transferred to us in a “true sale” pursuant to the sale agreement.

 

  The Cost Recovery Property is a present property right that:

 

   

was created under the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order,

 

   

consists of the right to impose, collect, and adjust the charges on all existing and future retail customers on a joint basis,

 

   

generates revenues that depend upon the continued operation of our parent, Kentucky Power Company, or a successor as permitted and required by the Financing Order, to provide electricity generation, transmission and distribution services to retail customers and customer demand for those services, and

 

   

is protected by the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s pledge not to take or permit any action that impairs the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the rights of bondholders.

 

  Please read “Review of Cost Recovery Property” in this prospectus.

 

Charges are imposed on a joint basis and are adjusted at least semi-annually or more frequently as necessary; charges are nonbypassable:

The Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order mandate the imposition and collection of charges on a joint basis from all existing and future retail customers. The charges are applied to these customers individually and are adjusted and reallocated among all customers at least semi-annually or as necessary through the statutory true-up mechanism.

 

  The charges are nonbypassable which means that no existing or future retail customer can avoid paying the charges. Currently, retail customers in Kentucky may not select an alternate electricity energy supplier. However, if a fundamental change in the regulation of public utilities were to be enacted in the Commonwealth and a retail customer did choose to purchase electricity from an electricity supplier other than Kentucky Power Company, the retail customer would still be required to pay the charges to Kentucky Power Company as part of the bill for supplying and distributing electricity. Please read “Risk Factors—Other Risks Associated with an Investment in the Bonds” in this prospectus.

 

  Please read “Description of the Cost Recovery Property—Charge Rider; Charges,” “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Statutory True-Ups” and “The Servicing Agreement—True-Up Adjustment Process” in this prospectus.

 

Allocation of charges:

The charges are calculated on a percent of revenue basis according to a methodology approved in the Financing Order. Specifically, the interest and scheduled principal payments on the Bonds, along with certain of our costs and expenses, to be recovered in a given period,

 

9


Table of Contents
 

referred to as the “Periodic Payment Requirement,” are first allocated on a percent of revenue basis among two groups of retail electric customers, referred to as “revenue classes,” consisting of (a) residential retail customers and (b) all other retail customers. The Periodic Payment Requirement, net of undercollections and overcollections from previous periods, that we are seeking to recover through the imposition of charges from each revenue class is then increased to account for the estimated amount of uncollectible charges and payment lags between billing and collection of charges during the period in which the charges will be in effect. The increased amounts allocated to each revenue class are collectively referred to as the Periodic Billing Requirement.

 

  The Periodic Billing Requirement for each revenue class will then be further allocated among all customers within each class through application of the cost recovery charge to each customer’s bill. Specifically, the charge for each customer will be calculated by applying an adjustment factor to amounts billed for certain defined retail charges. The adjustment factor for each revenue class will be calculated by dividing the Periodic Billing Requirement allocated to each revenue class for a given period by the revenues expected to be collected during that period from the revenue class for the charges to which the adjustment factor will apply. Please read “Description of the Cost Recovery Property-Charge Rider; Charges” and “The Servicing Agreement-True-Up Adjustment Process” in this prospectus.

 

  Please read “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Statutory True-Ups” in this prospectus, as well as the chart entitled “Parties to Transaction and Responsibilities,” “The Kentucky Utilities Act” and “Description of the Cost Recovery Property—Creation of Cost Recovery Property; Financing Order” in this prospectus.

 

No ceiling on level of charges and all charges are irrevocable:

There is no “ceiling,” “cap” or maximum on the amount of charges that may be imposed on retail customers to generate sufficient revenues to pay interest and principal on the Bonds and to pay certain of our related costs and expenses. This means that all existing or future, non-defaulting, retail customers may be required to pay higher charges if other retail customers move out of the service territory or default on their electricity bills, or the revenues expected to be collected from those customers are reduced or eliminated for any other reason, as discussed under “True-Up Adjustment Process” in this prospectus. The charges may also be reduced if Kentucky Power Company collects more revenue than necessary to make payments on the Bonds.

 

The Commission guarantees to adjust the charges as needed on future sales:

The Kentucky Public Service Commission guarantees that it will approve adjustments to the charges to make up for any shortfalls in collections or reduce any excess in collected charges. Please read “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Statutory True-Ups.”

 

10


Table of Contents

The Commonwealth pledges never to impair bondholder rights:

The Commonwealth of Kentucky and its agencies, including the Kentucky Public Service Commission, are prohibited from taking or allowing any actions that could impair or reduce the value of the Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds. This includes actions that could affect the rights or remedies of bondholders or impair the charges imposed on current and future customers. Unlike some states, Kentucky does not have a voter initiative or referendum process. For more details, please see “The Kentucky Utilities Act—Kentucky Power Company and Other Utilities May Securitize Qualified Costs” in this prospectus.

 

  The obligations of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Public Service Commission are direct, explicit, irrevocable and unconditional upon issuance of the Bonds. They are legally enforceable against the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

 

  Please read “Description of the Cost Recovery Property-Charge Rider; Charges” and “The Servicing Agreement—True-Up Adjustment Process” in this prospectus.

 

Interest payments:

We will pay interest on the Bonds on each payment date, which will occur semi-annually, on the th day of each and, and on the final maturity date. The first scheduled payment date is , 2026. If any payment date is not a business day, payments scheduled to be made on such date will be made on the next succeeding business day.

 

  Interest will accrue with respect to the Bonds on a 30/360 basis at an interest rate of     %.

 

Principal payments and payment sources:

We will make scheduled payments of principal on each payment date in accordance with the sinking fund schedule described in this prospectus under “DESCRIPTION OF THE BONDS – Principal Payments.”

 

  Principal on the Bonds is only due upon the Final Maturity Date. An event of default occurs only if we do not pay the entire outstanding principal amount by the Final Maturity Date. No event of default will occur if we fail to repay the outstanding principal amount by the Scheduled Maturity Date or if we fail to make the full amount of any scheduled principal payment in accordance with the sinking fund schedule because we do not have sufficient collections to make any of those payments. In such circumstances, true-up adjustments to the charges would be made for subsequent periods and we would expect to collect sufficient revenues to pay the full scheduled principal repayments on the Bonds on subsequent Payment Dates, which would extend the weighted average life of your Bonds. See “DESCRIPTION OF THE BONDS – Payments on the Bonds,” and “—Events of Default; Rights upon Event of Default,” and “WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIFE AND YIELD CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE BONDS” in this prospectus.

 

11


Table of Contents
  The true-up mechanism will not be used to increase charges following an acceleration of the principal of the Bonds in connection with an event of default. See “RISK FACTORS – OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS — Foreclosure of the trustee’s lien on the Cost Recovery Property for the Bonds might not be practical, and acceleration of the Bonds before maturity might have little practical effect.”

Scheduled Final Payment Date, Final Maturity Date and Weighted Average Life:

 

Tranche

   Scheduled
Final
Payment
Date
     Final
Maturity
Date
     Expected Weighted
Average Life
(years)
 

A

        

 

No optional redemption:

No optional redemption. Non-callable for the life of the Bonds.

 

Priority of distributions of charges received on future sales:

On each payment date for the Bonds, the trustee will allocate all charges collected during the six months preceding that payment date, together with funds on deposit in the issuing entity’s accounts to the payment, in the order of priority set forth below, of the following items:

 

  1. the trustee’s fees, expenses and any outstanding indemnity amounts not to exceed in total $100,000 per year,

 

  2. the servicing fee plus any unpaid servicing fees from prior payment dates,

 

  3. the administration fee, and the fees of our independent manager, plus unpaid administration fees or independent manager fees from prior payment dates (or an allocable share of the administration fee and fees owed to our independent managers, if one or more series of bonds are issued by us),

 

  4. all our other ordinary periodic operating expenses relating to the Bonds, such as accounting and audit fees, rating agency fees, legal fees and certain reimbursable costs of the administrator and the servicer,

 

  5. the interest due on the Bonds, including any unpaid interest accrued during prior periods,

 

  6. the principal then required to be paid on the final maturity of the Bonds, without regard to the sinking fund schedule,

 

  7. the principal of the Bonds in accordance with the sinking fund schedule including any previously unpaid scheduled principal,

 

  8. any remaining unpaid fees, expenses and indemnity amounts owed to the trustee,

 

  9. any of our other unpaid operating expenses and any remaining amounts owed pursuant to the basic documents,

 

12


Table of Contents
  10. replenishment of any amounts used from the capital subaccount,

 

  11. to Kentucky Power Company the return on invested capital then due and payable,

 

  12. any remaining amounts to the excess funds subaccount for payment of amounts due on subsequent payment dates, and

 

  13. after the Bonds have been repaid in full, any remaining amounts will be paid to us.

 

Credit ratings:

We expect the Bonds will receive credit ratings from two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. Please read “Ratings for the Bonds” in this prospectus.

 

Credit enhancement

Credit enhancement for the Bonds, which is intended to protect you against losses or delays in scheduled payments on the Bonds, will be as follows:

 

   

The Kentucky Public Service Commission will approve adjustments to the charges, but only upon petition of the servicer, to make up for any shortfall, due to any reason, or reduce any excess in collected charges. We sometimes refer to these adjustments as the “true-up adjustments” or the “statutory true-up mechanism.” These adjustments will be made semiannually, and if determined necessary by the servicer, more frequently, and, beginning 12 months prior to the scheduled final payment date, quarterly, to ensure the expected recovery of amounts sufficient to timely provide all payments of debt service and other required amounts and charges in connection with the Bonds. Please read “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Statutory True-Ups” in this prospectus.

 

   

Collection Account—Under the indenture, the trustee will hold a collection account for the Bonds, divided into various subaccounts. The primary subaccounts for credit enhancement purposes are:

 

   

the general subaccount—the trustee will deposit into the general subaccount all charge collections remitted to it by the servicer; and

 

   

the excess funds subaccount—any excess amount of collected charges and investment earnings not released to us will be held in the excess funds subaccount.

 

  Each of these subaccounts for the Bonds, in addition to any other subaccounts that may be created pursuant to the indenture, will be available to make payments on the Bonds on each payment date.

 

Minimum denomination:

$2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, except for one bond which may be of a smaller denomination.

 

Servicing compensation:

We will pay the servicer the servicing fee with respect to the Bonds on each Payment Date, plus reimbursement for its out-of-pocket costs for external accounting and legal services, subject to the adjustment mechanism described in the Financing Order. As long as Kentucky

 

13


Table of Contents
 

Power Company or any affiliated entity acts as servicer, this servicing fee will be 0.05% of the initial principal balance of the Bonds on an annualized basis. If a successor servicer is appointed, the servicing fee may not exceed 0.60% of the initial principal balance of the Bonds on an annualized basis, unless the Kentucky Public Service Commission consents to a higher fee. For further information, please read “The Servicing Agreement—Servicing Compensation” in this prospectus.

 

ERISA considerations:

Employee benefit plans, plans or other arrangements that are subject to (i) ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) any federal, state, local or other law that is similar to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of Title I of ERISA or the prohibited transaction provisions of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (“applicable similar law”) and investors acting on behalf of, or using assets of, such employee benefit plans, plans or arrangements may acquire the Bonds subject to specified conditions. The acquisition, holding or disposition of the Bonds could be treated as a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or in the case employee benefit plans or arrangements subject to applicable similar law, could be treated as a violation of such applicable similar law. Accordingly, by purchasing and holding the Bonds, each investor that is or is acting on behalf of, or using assets of, such an employee benefit plan or arrangement subject to ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or applicable similar law will be deemed to certify that the purchase, holding and subsequent disposition of the Bonds will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, in the case of an employee benefit plan, plan or arrangement subject to applicable similar law, or a violation of applicable similar law. For further information, please read “ERISA Considerations” in this prospectus.

 

Expected settlement:

On or about    , 2025, settling flat. DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear.

 

Continuing disclosure: surveillance/internet-based information post issuance/dedicated web address:

AEP, on behalf of Kentucky Power Company, will establish a dedicated web address for the life of the Bonds. The basic documents and other information concerning the charges and security relating to the Bonds will be posted at such web address, which is currently located at    .

 

  The trustee will make available to the bondholders regular reports prepared by the servicer containing information concerning us, the Cost Recovery Property and other related matters. Unless and until the Bonds are issued in definitive certificated form, the reports will be made available electronically on the trustee’s website to DTC and DTC participants, and to the beneficial owners of the Bonds. An independent public accountant will not examine, report, or opine upon these reports. Please read “Description of the Bonds—Reports to Bondholders” in this prospectus.

 

14


Table of Contents

Additional Series:

If Kentucky Power Company has additional recoverable costs and the recovery of those costs is approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission pursuant to a new financing order, we may issue Additional Series of Bonds which will be secured by new cost recovery property acquired from our parent. Additional Series will only be issued if the rating agencies rating the Bonds confirm that such ratings would not be negatively affected. Any new issuance would be offered pursuant to a separate registration statement or other offering document and may include terms and provisions that would be unique to that particular issuance. For additional information about the issuance of Additional Series, please see “Security for the Bonds — Issuance of Additional Bonds” and “Description of the Bonds – Conditions of Issuance of Additional Bonds and Acquisition of Additional Cost Recovery Property.”

 

Risk factors:

You should consider carefully the risk factors beginning on page 20 of this prospectus before you invest in the Bonds.

 

15


Table of Contents

KEY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

REGARDING THE BONDS AND THE TRUE-UP MECHANISM

The following questions and answers are intended to briefly address certain questions regarding the Bonds. These questions and answers may not address all questions that may be important to you. Please refer to the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents referred to in this prospectus, which you should read carefully and in their entirety.

 

Q1:

What is the Collateral securing the Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds?

 

A:

The Cost Recovery Property, the funds on deposit in the issuing entity’s collection account, and the issuing entity’s rights under the various transaction documents.

Payment Mechanics and Safeguards

 

Q2:

What is the source of repayment for the Bonds?

 

A:

The collection of charges imposed on future sales by Kentucky Power Company of electricity generation, transmission and distribution services and collected from all current and future retail customers of Kentucky Power Company.

 

Q3:

What does imposed on all retail customers on a joint basis mean?

 

A:

The charges are joint obligation of the entire current and future retail customer base of Kentucky Power Company. If certain customers default on their obligation to pay the charge billed to them for whatever reason, other customers will make up the difference through the true-up mechanism. Specifically, the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order allow us to periodically “true-up” (increase or decrease) the charges to ensure that there are enough revenues available to pay interest and scheduled principal on the Bonds. The Kentucky Public Service Commission guarantees the implementation of the true-up mechanism.

 

Q4:

What happens if, for any reason, electricity usage and, as a result, collection of the charges, is less than projected at any time over the life of the Bonds?

 

A:

If collections are less than projected, the charges will be increased pursuant to the true-up mechanism to a level sufficient to provide for the timely payment of interest on the Bonds and the repayment of the principal of the Bonds in accordance with the sinking fund schedule. See “The Servicing Agreement—True-Up Adjustment Process” in this prospectus.

 

Q5:

How often are true-up adjustments made?

 

A:

At least semi-annually, and quarterly, beginning 12 months prior to the scheduled final payment date of the Bonds. True-up adjustments may be made more frequently at any time, if determined to be necessary by Kentucky Power Company, acting as servicer. See “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Statutory True-Ups” in this prospectus.

 

Q6:

Is there any cap or ceiling on the amount of the charge for any retail customer?

 

A:

No. There is no “ceiling,” “cap” or maximum level of charges that may be imposed on all retail customers to meet the scheduled principal and interest payments on the Bonds.

 

16


Table of Contents
Q7:

Is there a review process related to a true-up adjustment?

 

A:

Yes. The Kentucky Public Service Commission is allowed to review true-up adjustments as part of its guarantee to implement the true-up mechanism. However, the review is strictly a mathematical review, limited to determining whether there is any error in the application of the true-up mechanism. The Kentucky Public Service Commission does not have the ability to deny an adjustment under any other circumstance. In addition, true-up adjustments are deemed approved if the Kentucky Public Service Commission takes no action within ten days after the date of a true-up adjustment filing. See “The Servicing Agreement—True-Up Adjustment Process” in this prospectus.

Legal Protections

 

Q8:

How are the charges collected by Kentucky Power Company safeguarded for the benefit of the bondholders?

 

A:

Collected charges are transferred to the trustee within two business days after receipt. The trustee holds the funds in a segregated trust account for the benefit of the bondholders, and the collections are not commingled with other funds of Kentucky Power Company or any other entity after being transferred to that account.

 

Q9:

Are the Bonds protected from a bankruptcy filing by Kentucky Power Company?

 

A:

Yes. We, as the issuing entity of the Bonds, are a legally separate finance subsidiary of Kentucky Power Company that is ring-fenced and bankruptcy-remote from the creditors of Kentucky Power Company. Independent managers on our board have the right to prevent us from making a voluntary bankruptcy filing for so long as the Bonds are outstanding. In addition, we acquired the Cost Recovery Property from Kentucky Power Company in a true-sale transaction for fair value, as discussed in “How a Bankruptcy May Affect Your Investment” in this prospectus. These measures mitigate our credit exposure to Kentucky Power Company and the risk that our assets would be consolidated with the assets and liabilities of Kentucky Power Company in the event it becomes subject to bankruptcy proceedings.

 

Q10:

How are bondholders affected by a merger or acquisition of Kentucky Power Company?

 

A:

Any successor by sale or merger with Kentucky Power Company must perform all obligations of, and will have the same rights under the Financing Order as, Kentucky Power Company. This means that any successor of Kentucky Power Company will continue to impose, collect, and adjust charges on future sales of electricity generation, transmission and distribution services to all existing and future retail customers.

 

Q11:

How does the pledge provided by the Commonwealth of Kentucky benefit bondholders?

 

A:

The Commonwealth’s pledge is a guarantee of regulatory action for the benefit of bondholders. The irrevocable Financing Order authorized by the Kentucky Utilities Act creates this guarantee. In addition, the Commonwealth has pledged to never impair the rights of the bondholders or impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property in any manner.

 

Q12:

May the Financing Order be rescinded or altered, or may the Kentucky Public Service Commission fail to implement the true-up mechanism?

 

A:

No. Once the Bonds are issued, the Kentucky Utilities Act provides that the Financing Order, and all obligations specified therein, are irrevocable. See “The Kentucky Utilities Act—Kentucky Power Company and Other Utilities May Finance Qualified Costs” and “The Servicing Agreement—True-Up Adjustment Process” in this prospectus.

 

17


Table of Contents
Q13:

May the Kentucky Utilities Act be repealed or altered in a manner that will impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or prevent timely repayment of the Bonds?

 

A:

No. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has pledged in the Kentucky Utilities Act that it will not take or permit any action that would impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the rights and remedies of the holders of the Bonds. See “The Kentucky Utilities Act—Kentucky Power Company and Other Utilities May Finance Qualified Costs” and “Risk Factors—Risks Associated with Potential Judicial, Legislative or Regulatory Actions—Future state legislative action might attempt to reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds” in this prospectus.

 

Q14:

Are the Bonds protected from a change in legislation or from regulatory action by the Kentucky Public Service Commission?

 

A:

Yes. The Kentucky Utilities Act includes a pledge that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its agencies, including the Kentucky Public Service Commission, will not take any action that impairs the value of the Cost Recovery Property for so long as the Bonds are outstanding. Further, any action to reduce the value of the Cost Recovery Property may require just compensation as a taking under the Kentucky Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.

See Question and Answer 15 below and “THE KENTUCKY UTILITIES ACT—Kentucky Power Company and Other Utilities May Finance Eligible Costs—Constitutional Matters” in this prospectus.

 

Q15:

Do bondholders have protection under the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky?

 

A:

Yes. The Commonwealth’s pledge (i) creates a binding contractual obligation on the Commonwealth for purposes of the Contract Clause of the United States Constitution, and (ii) provides a basis upon which the holders of Bonds could challenge any action by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including the rescission or amendment of the Financing Order, that violates the state pledge in a manner that would substantially impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or substantially reduce, alter or impair the value of the charges, prior to the time that the Bonds are paid and performed in full, unless there is a judicial finding that the action clearly is exercised for a public end and is reasonably necessary to the accomplishment of that public end so as not to be arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of authority. In addition, any action of the Kentucky legislature that adversely affects the Cost Recovery Property or the ability to collect the charges may be considered a “taking” under the United States or Kentucky Constitutions.

See “Risk Factors—Risks Associated with Potential Judicial, Legislative or Regulatory Actions—Future state legislative action might attempt to reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds” in this prospectus.

 

Q16:

May retail customers avoid paying the charges if they switch electric generation service suppliers?

 

A:

No. Kentucky Power Company’s retail customers cannot currently elect to purchase electricity from an alternative supplier who is not Kentucky Power Company. Further, Kentucky Power Company is the only utility that is authorized to distribute electricity to retail customers in its service territory and it would continue to impose the charges on its retail customers along with transmission and distribution services charges even if the electricity it is transmitting and distributing were supplied by another supplier.

See “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Collection of Charges” and “The Kentucky Utilities Act—Kentucky Power Company and Other Utilities May Securitize Qualified Costs” in this prospectus.

 

18


Table of Contents
Q17:

What happens if, for any reason, electricity usage and, as a result, collection of the charges, is less than projected at any time over the life of the Bonds?

 

A:

The charges will be increased. If collections are less than projected, the charges will be increased pursuant to the true-up mechanism to a level sufficient to provide for the timely payment of interest on the Bonds and the repayment of the principal of the Bonds in accordance with the sinking fund schedule. See “The Servicing Agreement—True-Up Adjustment Process” in this prospectus.

 

Q18:

If of Kentucky Power Company’s private sector retail customer base were to shrink significantly or otherwise fail to pay the charges, what would happen to the Bonds?

 

A:

In such an unlikely event, the true-up mechanism would increase the charges on the remaining retail customers. This means that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and other governmental entities, agencies, authorities, and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth, in their capacity as retail electric customers, would be obligated to pay higher charges to make up for the defaulting or departing customers because these governmental entities cannot leave Kentucky Power Company’s service territory.

The diagram below depicts the operation of the Kentucky Public Service Commission guaranteed true-up mechanism if this were to occur. Even though there would be a direct claim on these governmental entities and agencies, in their capacity as retail electric customers, there is no assurance that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and other government entities or agencies would pay such charges.

 

 

LOGO

Other Pertinent Items

 

Q19:

What percentage of the total customer bill does the charge represent?

 

A:

The initial charge is estimated to represent approximately   % of the total bill received by a 1,000 kWh residential retail customer as of      , 2025.

 

Q20:

Are the Bonds ERISA eligible?

 

A:

Yes, see “ERISA Considerations” in this prospectus.

 

Q21:

Will the Bonds be classified as debt for tax purposes?

 

A:

Yes, see “MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES” in this prospectus.

 

19


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Please carefully consider all the information we have included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risks described below and the statements in “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information,” before deciding whether to invest in the Bonds.

You may experience material payment delays or incur a loss on your investment in the Bonds because the source of funds for payment is limited.

The only source of funds for payment of the Bonds will be our assets, which consist of:

 

   

the Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive charges from all existing and future retail customers of Kentucky Power Company and our rights under the Financing Order to utilize the statutory true-up mechanism to adjust those charges;

 

   

the funds on deposit in the accounts held by the trustee;

 

   

our rights under various contracts we describe in this prospectus;

 

   

our right to compel the servicer to file for and obtain true-up adjustments; and

 

   

all payments on or under, and all proceeds in respect of, the foregoing.

See “Security for the Bonds” in this prospectus.

The billing and collection of the charges which will be our sole source of funds to make interest and principal payments on the Bonds depend upon the continued operation of Kentucky Power Company or its successor in supplying and distributing electricity to its retail customers. Any interruption in that business could adversely affect the timing of payments on the Bonds.

The Bonds are not a charge on the full faith and credit or taxing power of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any governmental agency or instrumentality, nor will the Bonds be insured or guaranteed by Kentucky Power Company, including in its capacity as the sponsor, depositor, seller or servicer, or by its parent, AEP, any of their respective affiliates (other than us), the trustee or by any other person or entity. Thus, you must rely for payment of the Bonds solely upon the Kentucky Utilities Act, state and federal constitutional rights to enforce the Kentucky Utilities Act, the irrevocable Financing Order, collection of the charges and funds on deposit in the related accounts held by the trustee. The Bonds will be nonrecourse obligations, secured only by the Cost Recovery Property and other assets described above. If the charges collected from the customers of Kentucky Power Company, as periodically adjusted by means of the true-up mechanism, are not sufficient to make payments or there are delays in those collections, you may experience material payment delays or incur a loss on your investment in the Bonds. Our organizational documents restrict our right to acquire other assets unrelated to the transactions described in this prospectus. Please read “Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, The Issuing Entity.”

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL JUDICIAL, LEGISLATIVE OR REGULATORY ACTIONS

We are not obligated to indemnify you for changes in law.

Neither we nor Kentucky Power Company, nor any affiliate, successor or assignee will indemnify you for any changes in the law, including any federal pre-emption or repeal or amendment of the Kentucky Utilities Act, that may affect the value of your Bonds. Kentucky Power Company will agree in the sale agreement pursuant to which it will transfer the Cost Recovery Property to us to institute any legal or substantive action or proceeding as may be reasonably necessary to block or overturn any attempts to cause a repeal, modification or amendment to the Kentucky Utilities Act that would be materially adverse to us, the trustee or the bondholders. However, we cannot assure you that Kentucky Power Company would be able to take any such action or that such action

 

20


Table of Contents

would be successful. Although Kentucky Power Company or any successor seller is required to indemnify us if legal action based on the law in effect at the time of the issuance of the Bonds invalidates the Cost Recovery Property, such indemnification obligations do not apply for any changes in law after the date the Bonds are issued, whether such changes in law are effected by means of any legislative enactment, any constitutional amendment or any final and non-appealable judicial decision. See “The Sale Agreement—Seller Representations and Warranties” and “The Servicing Agreement—Servicing Standards and Covenants” in this prospectus.

Future judicial action could reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds.

The Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds is the creation of the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order that has been issued by the Kentucky Public Service Commission to Kentucky Power Company. There is uncertainty associated with investing in Bonds payable from an asset whose existence depends on legislation because there is limited judicial or regulatory experience implementing and interpreting the legislation. Because the Cost Recovery Property is a creation of the Kentucky Utilities Act, any judicial determination affecting the validity of or interpreting the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Cost Recovery Property or our ability to make payments on the Bonds might have an adverse effect on the Bonds. The Kentucky Utilities Act might be directly contested in courts or otherwise become the subject of litigation. In addition, the Financing Order or any provision thereof might be directly contested in courts or otherwise become the subject of litigation. If any provisions of the Kentucky Utilities Act are invalidated, the Financing Order might also be invalidated.

Other states have passed laws permitting the securitization of electric utility costs similar to the Kentucky Utilities Act. Some of the laws that are similar to the Kentucky Utilities Act have been challenged by judicial actions or utility commission proceedings. To date, none of these challenges has succeeded, but future challenges might be made. An unfavorable decision regarding another state’s law would not automatically invalidate the Kentucky Utilities Act or the Financing Order, but it might provoke a challenge to the Kentucky Utilities Act, establish a legal precedent for a successful challenge or heighten awareness of the political and other risks of the Bonds, and in that way may limit the liquidity and value of the Bonds. Therefore, legal activity in other states may indirectly affect the value of your investment in the Bonds.

If an invalidation of any relevant underlying legislative provision or financing order provision were to result from such litigation, you might lose some or all of your investment or you might experience delays in recovering your investment.

Future state legislative action might attempt to reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds.

Despite its pledge in the Kentucky Utilities Act not to take or permit certain actions that would impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the charges, the Kentucky legislature might attempt to repeal or amend the Kentucky Utilities Act in a manner that limits or alters the Cost Recovery Property so as to reduce its value. For a description of the Commonwealth’s pledge, please read “The Kentucky Utilities Act—Kentucky Power Company and Other Utilities May Securitize Qualified Costs—State Pledge.” It might be possible for the Kentucky legislature to repeal or amend the Kentucky Utilities Act notwithstanding the Commonwealth’s pledge if the legislature acts in order to serve a significant and legitimate public purpose. Any such action, as well as the costly and time-consuming litigation that likely would ensue, might adversely affect the price and liquidity, the dates of payment of interest and principal and the weighted average life of the Bonds. Moreover, the outcome of any litigation cannot be predicted. Accordingly, you might incur a loss on or delay in recovery of your investment in the Bonds.

If an action of the Kentucky legislature adversely affecting the Cost Recovery Property or the ability to collect charges were considered a “taking” under the United States or Kentucky Constitutions, the Commonwealth of Kentucky might be obligated to pay compensation for the taking. However, even in that event, there is no assurance that any amount provided as compensation would be sufficient for you to recover fully your investment in the Bonds or to offset interest lost pending such recovery.

 

21


Table of Contents

Unlike the citizens of some states, the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky currently do not have the constitutional right to adopt or revise state laws by initiative or referendum. Thus, absent an amendment of the Kentucky Constitution, the Kentucky Utilities Act cannot be amended or repealed by direct action of the electorate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The enforcement of any rights against the Commonwealth of Kentucky or the Kentucky Public Service Commission under the Commonwealth’s pledge may be subject to the exercise of judicial discretion in appropriate cases and to the limitations on legal remedies against state and local governmental entities in Kentucky. These limitations might include, for example, the necessity to exhaust administrative remedies prior to bringing suit in a court, or limitations on type and locations of courts in which the Commonwealth of Kentucky or the Kentucky Public Service Commission may be sued.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission might attempt to take actions that could reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds.

The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that a financing order is irrevocable and that the Kentucky Public Service Commission may not directly or indirectly, by any subsequent action, rescind or amend a financing order or reduce or impair the charges authorized under a financing order, except for the true-up adjustments to the charges. However, the Kentucky Public Service Commission retains the power to adopt, revise or rescind rules or regulations affecting Kentucky Power Company. The Kentucky Public Service Commission also retains the power to interpret the Financing Order granted to Kentucky Power Company, and in that capacity might be called upon to rule on the meanings of provisions of the Financing Order that might need further elaboration. Any new or amended regulations or orders from the Kentucky Public Service Commission might adversely affect the ability of the servicer to collect the charges in full and on a timely basis, and, as a result, the amortization of the Bonds and their weighted average life.

The servicer is required to file with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, on our behalf, certain adjustments of the charges. Please read “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Statutory True-Ups” and “The Servicing Agreement—True-Up Adjustment Process.” True-up adjustment procedures have been challenged in the past and may be challenged in the future. Challenges to or delays in the true-up process might adversely affect the market perception and valuation of the Bonds. Also, any litigation, as well being costly and time-consuming, might materially delay charge collections due to delayed implementation of true-up adjustments and might result in missing payments or payment delays and a lengthened weighted average life of the Bonds.

The servicer may not fulfill, or may not be successful in fulfilling, its obligations to protect bondholders from actions by the Kentucky Public Service Commission or the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The servicer will agree in the servicing agreement to take any action necessary to compel performance by the Kentucky Public Service Commission and the Commonwealth of Kentucky of their obligations or duties under the Kentucky Utilities Act or the Financing Order, including any actions reasonably necessary to block or overturn attempts to repeal or modify such Act or Financing Order. The servicer, however, may not be able to take those actions, or may be unsuccessful in its attempts to do so, for a number of reasons, including legal or regulatory restrictions, financial constraints and practical difficulties in successfully challenging any legislative enactment or constitutional amendment. Any such failure to successfully compel performance by the Kentucky Public Service Commission or the Commonwealth of Kentucky could negatively affect bondholders’ rights and result in a loss of their investment.

A municipal entity might assert the right to acquire portions of Kentucky Power Company’s electric distribution facilities and avoid payment of the charges.

Kentucky law may authorize certain local municipalities to seek to acquire portions of Kentucky Power Company’s electric distribution facilities through the power of eminent domain for use as part of

 

22


Table of Contents

municipally-owned utility systems. Although there are no recorded cases in Kentucky indicating that the power of eminent domain has been used by municipalities in Kentucky in recent times to acquire electric distribution systems, there can be no assurance that one or more municipalities will not seek to acquire some or all of Kentucky Power Company’s electric distribution facilities while Bonds remain outstanding. The Kentucky Utilities Act specifies that charges approved by a Kentucky Public Service Commission order shall be collected by an electric utility as well as its “successors.” In the servicing agreement, Kentucky Power Company will covenant to assert in an appropriate forum that any municipality that acquires any portion of Kentucky Power Company’s electric distribution facilities must be treated as a successor to Kentucky Power Company under the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order and that retail customers in such municipalities remain responsible for payment of charges. However, the involved municipality might assert that it should not be treated as a successor to Kentucky Power Company for these purposes and that its distribution customers are not responsible for payment of charges. In any such cases, there can be no assurance that the charges will be collected from customers of municipally-owned utilities who were formerly customers of Kentucky Power Company. Even if the municipally-owned utility acquiring Kentucky Power Company’s utility plant is deemed a successor to Kentucky Power Company for purposed of the Kentucky Utilities Act, the municipally-owned utility may assert that it is not bound by the Kentucky Utilities Act because municipally-owned electric utilities are not subject to the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s jurisdiction, including tariffs filed by Kentucky Power Company with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, or because the legal obligations imposed by the Financing Order do not follow the assets obtained through condemnation. Any decrease in the retail customer base from which charges are collected might result in missing payments or payment delays and lengthened weighted average life of the Bonds.

SERVICING RISKS

Inaccurate forecasting of, or changes in, revenue or unanticipated delinquencies or write offs might reduce scheduled payments on the Bonds.

The cost recovery charges are generally assessed based on forecasted revenues, which are based on forecasted rates and forecasted customer usage, which includes both kilowatts demanded and kilowatt-hours of electricity consumed by retail customers. The amount and the rate of charge collections will depend in part on actual electricity usage and the amount of collections and write-offs for each revenue class. If the servicer inaccurately forecasts revenues or customer delinquency or charge-offs when setting or adjusting the cost recovery charges or if the Kentucky Public Service Commission subsequently decreases the rates and charges that make up Kentucky Power Company’s revenues, or if the effectiveness of the adjustments is delayed for any reason, there could be a shortfall or material delay in collections of the cost recovery charge, which might result in missed or delayed payments of principal and interest and lengthened weighted average life of the Bonds. Please read “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Statutory True-Ups” and “The Servicing Agreement—True-Up Adjustment Process.”

Kentucky Power Company’s revenue forecast is developed by applying the load forecast for each revenue class, through the next budget year (typically only the first two years of the forecast horizon), to estimated price-load relationships. These price-load relationships are regression models that estimate class-level average revenue realizations as a function of either monthly kWh consumption per customer (for the residential and commercial classes) or monthly kWh sales (for all other classes). The functions are estimated based on monthly data taken from Kentucky Power Company’s billing system. While Kentucky Power Company monitors the accuracy of its revenue forecast by conducting variance analysis on a monthly basis while taking into account weather impacts on kWh sales and other deviations from such forecast within the customer count, inaccurate forecasting of revenue by the servicer might result from, among other things:

 

   

unanticipated weather or economic conditions, resulting in less revenue than forecast;

 

   

general economic conditions being worse than expected, causing retail customers to leave Kentucky Power Company or reduce the revenue from such customers;

 

23


Table of Contents
   

the occurrence of a natural disaster, such as extreme weather, an act of terrorism, cyber-attacks or other catastrophic events, including pandemics, unexpectedly disrupting electrical services and reducing revenues and demand;

 

   

unanticipated changes in the market structure of the electric industry;

 

   

customers accounting for a significant portion of Kentucky Power Company’s revenues or sales ceasing to do business or leaving the service territory;

 

   

customers consuming less electricity than anticipated because of increased energy prices, unanticipated increases in conservation efforts, economic conditions or unanticipated increases in electric usage efficiency;

 

   

unanticipated decreases in Kentucky Power Company’s other rates and charges subject to the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Public Service Commission that make up Kentucky Power Company’s retail revenue;

 

   

differences or changes in forecasting methodology; or

 

   

customers unexpectedly switching to alternative sources of energy, including self-generation of electric power.

Inaccurate forecasting of delinquency or charge-off rates by the servicer might result also from, among other things:

 

   

unexpected deterioration of the economy or the unanticipated declaration of a moratorium on terminating electric service to customers in the event of extreme weather, other natural disaster or other catastrophic event, any of which would cause greater delinquencies or charge-offs than expected or force Kentucky Power Company to grant additional payment relief to more customers; or

 

   

any unanticipated change in law that makes it more difficult for Kentucky Power Company to terminate service to nonpaying customers or that requires Kentucky Power Company to apply more lenient credit standards in accepting retail customers.

Your investment in the Bonds depends on Kentucky Power Company or its successor or assignee, acting as servicer of the Cost Recovery Property.

Kentucky Power Company, as servicer, will be responsible for, among other things, calculating, billing and collecting the cost recovery charges from retail customers, submitting requests to the Kentucky Public Service Commission to adjust these charges, monitoring the collateral for the Bonds and taking certain actions in the event of non-payment by a retail customers. The trustee’s receipt of collections in respect of the charges, which will be used to make payments on Bonds, will depend in part on the skill and diligence of the servicer in performing these functions. The systems that the servicer has in place for charge billings and collections, together with the Kentucky Public Service Commission regulations, might, in particular circumstances, cause the servicer to experience difficulty in performing these functions in a timely and completely accurate manner. If the servicer fails to make collections for any reason, then the servicer’s payments to the trustee in respect of the charges might be delayed or reduced. In that event, our payments on the Bonds might be delayed or reduced.

If we replace Kentucky Power Company as the servicer, we may experience difficulties finding and using a replacement servicer.

Under certain circumstances, subject to regulatory and contractual limits, Kentucky Power Company may resign as servicer, or the trustee, the Kentucky Public Service Commission or certain bondholders may remove Kentucky Power Company as servicer. See “The Servicing Agreement—Matters Regarding the Servicer” and “The Servicing Agreement—Rights Upon a Servicer Default” in this prospectus. If Kentucky Power Company ceases to service the Cost Recovery Property, it might be difficult to find a successor servicer. Also, any

 

24


Table of Contents

successor servicer might have less experience and ability than Kentucky Power Company and might experience difficulties in collecting charges and determining appropriate adjustments to the charges and billing and/or payment arrangements may change, resulting in delays or disruptions of collections. A successor servicer might not be willing to perform other than for fees higher than those approved in the Financing Order and might charge fees that, while permitted under the Financing Order, are higher than the fees paid to Kentucky Power Company as servicer. Although a true-up adjustment may be required to allow for the increase in fees, there could be a gap between the incurrence of those fees and the implementation of the true-up adjustment to adjust for the increase that might adversely affect distributions from the collection account. In the event of the commencement of a case by or against the servicer under the United States Bankruptcy Code or similar laws, we and the trustee might be prevented from effecting a transfer of servicing due to operation of the Bankruptcy Code. Any of these factors and others might delay the timing of payments and may reduce the value of your investment.

Kentucky Power Company has entered into the KPCo Receivables Purchase Agreement and the corresponding KPCo Receivables Agency Agreement, and may enter in the future, financing arrangements involving the sale of its accounts receivable. With respect to the KPCo Receivables Purchase Agreement, such agreement will, upon the issuance of the Bonds, be subject to the intercreditor agreement described under “KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, THE ISSUING ENTITY–Intercreditor Agreement.” Kentucky Power Company will agree with us in the sale agreement that if it becomes a party to any future trade receivables purchase and sale arrangement or similar arrangement under which it sells all or any portion of its accounts receivable, Kentucky Power Company and the other parties to such arrangement will enter into an amendment to the existing intercreditor agreement or into a separate intercreditor agreement in connection therewith and the terms the documentation evidencing such trade receivables purchase and sale arrangement or similar arrangement will expressly exclude the charges from any receivables or other assets pledged or sold under such arrangement. Although the charges are and will not be subject to such receivables financings, the charges and accounts receivable are owed by the same pool of customers and are expected to be collected for the foreseeable future under a single bill with respect to such customers.

As required by the sale agreement, the intercreditor agreement provides, and each future intercreditor agreement must also provide, that, in the event the trustee has the right (acting at the written direction of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds) to replace Kentucky Power Company as servicer or the investors under other receivables financings have the right to replace Kentucky Power Company as collection agent for such financing, the trustee and the investors’ agent will act jointly in the exercise of such rights and neither party will be entitled to replace Kentucky Power Company under its agreement without the consent of the other party (which consent, in the case of the trustee, shall be at the written direction of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds). The Intercreditor Agreement, or any similar agreement executed after the issuance of the Bonds, may therefore make it more difficult for the trustee to replace Kentucky Power Company following a servicer default. Conversely, if a default were to occur under the KPCo Receivables Agency Agreement or similar agreement executed by Kentucky Power Company in the future, such a default may increase the possibility of Kentucky Power Company being replaced as servicer under the servicing agreement, even if Kentucky Power Company is not in default under the servicing agreement.

Changes to billing and collection practices might reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds.

The Financing Order specifies the methodology for determining the amount of the charges we may impose. The servicer may not change this methodology without approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission. However, the servicer may set its own billing and collection arrangements with retail customers from whom it collects the charges directly, provided that these arrangements comply with the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s customer safeguards and the provisions of the servicing agreement. For example, to recover part of an outstanding bill, the servicer may agree to extend a retail customer’s payment schedule or to write off the remaining portion of the bill, including the charges. Also, the servicer may change billing and collection practices, which might adversely impact the timing and amount of retail customer payments and might reduce charge collections, thereby limiting our ability to make scheduled payments on the Bonds until any resulting

 

25


Table of Contents

undercollections can be trued-up and recovered from other retail customers. Separately, the Kentucky Public Service Commission might require changes to these practices. Any changes in billing and collection practices regulations might make it more difficult for the servicer to collect the charges and adversely affect the value of your investment in the Bonds.

Limits on rights to terminate service might make it more difficult to collect the charges.

Under certain circumstances, the servicer may terminate transmission and distribution service to a retail customer for non-payment of the charges under the applicable rules of the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Nonetheless, Kentucky statutory requirements and the rules and regulations of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, which may change from time to time, regulate and control the right to disconnect service. To the extent these retail customers do not pay for their electric service, the servicer will not be able to collect charges from them.

Future adjustments to charges by revenue class might result in insufficient collections.

The customers who pay the charges are divided into revenue classes. Charges will be allocated among revenue classes and assessed in accordance with the formula specified in the Financing Order. A shortfall in collections of charges in one revenue class may be corrected by making adjustments to the charges payable by that revenue class and any other revenue class. If enough customers in a class fail to pay the charges or cease to be customers, the servicer might have to substantially increase the charges for the remaining customers in that revenue class and for the other revenue classes. These increases could lead to further unanticipated failures by the remaining customers to pay the charges, thereby increasing the risk of a shortfall in funds to pay the Bonds.

STORM RELATED RISK

Storm damage to Kentucky Power Company’s operations could impair payment of the Bonds.

Kentucky Power Company’s operations could be impacted by extreme weather, including flooding, wind storms or ice storms. Transmission and/or distribution and generation facilities could be damaged or destroyed and usage of electricity could be interrupted temporarily, reducing charge collections. There could be longer-lasting weather-related adverse effects on residential and commercial development and economic activity among Kentucky Power Company’s customers, which could cause the reduction in charge collections to be greater than expected. Legislative action adverse to the bondholders might be taken in response, and such legislation, if challenged as a violation of the state pledge, might be defended on the basis of public necessity. Please read “Risk Factors—Risks Associated with Potential Judicial, Legislative or Regulatory Actions—Future state legislative action might attempt to reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds” in this prospectus.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS OF THE SELLER OR THE SERVICER

For a more detailed discussion of the following bankruptcy risks, please read “How a Bankruptcy May Affect Your Investment.”

The servicer will commingle the charges with other revenues it collects, which might obstruct access to the charges in case of the servicer’s bankruptcy and reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds.

The servicer will be required to remit collections to the trustee within two business days of receipt. The servicer will not segregate the charges from the other amounts it collects from retail customers or its general funds. The charges will be segregated only after the servicer remits them to the trustee. Despite this requirement,

 

26


Table of Contents

the servicer might fail to pay the full amount of the charges to the trustee or might fail to do so on a timely basis. This failure, whether voluntary or involuntary, might materially reduce the amount of charge collections available to make payments on the Bonds.

The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that the priority of a lien and security interest perfected in Cost Recovery Property is not impaired by the commingling of the funds arising from the charges with any other funds. In a bankruptcy of the servicer, however, a bankruptcy court might rule that federal bankruptcy law takes precedence over the Kentucky Utilities Act and might decline to recognize our right to the charge collections that are commingled with other funds of the servicer as of the date of bankruptcy. If so, the charge collections held by the servicer as of the date of bankruptcy would not be available to pay amounts owing on the Bonds. In this case, we would have only a general unsecured claim against the servicer for those collections. This decision could cause material delays in payments of principal or interest, or losses, on your Bonds and could materially reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds.

The bankruptcy of Kentucky Power Company or any successor seller might result in losses or delays in payments on the Bonds.

The Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order provide that as a matter of Kentucky state law:

 

   

the rights and interests of a selling utility under a financing order, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive charges, are contract rights of the seller,

 

   

the seller may make a present transfer of its rights under a financing order, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive future charges that retail customers do not yet owe any amounts to seller,

 

   

upon the transfer to us, the rights will become the Cost Recovery Property, which constitutes a present property right, even though the imposition and collection of charges depend on further acts that have not yet occurred, and

 

   

a transfer of the Cost Recovery Property from the seller or its affiliate, to us, under an agreement that expressly states the transfer is a sale or other absolute transfer, is a true sale of the Cost Recovery Property and not a pledge of the Cost Recovery Property to secure a financing by the seller.

These provisions are important to maintaining payments on the Bonds in accordance with their terms during any bankruptcy of Kentucky Power Company. In addition, the transaction has been structured with the objective of keeping us legally separate from Kentucky Power Company and its affiliates in the event of a bankruptcy of Kentucky Power Company or any such affiliates.

A bankruptcy court generally follows state property law on issues such as those addressed by the state law provisions described above. However, a bankruptcy court does not follow state law if it determines that the state law is contrary to a paramount federal bankruptcy policy or interest. If a bankruptcy court in a Kentucky Power Company bankruptcy refused to enforce one or more of the state property law provisions described above, the effect of this decision on you as a beneficial owner of the Bonds might be similar to the treatment you would receive in a Kentucky Power Company bankruptcy if the Bonds had been issued directly by Kentucky Power Company. A decision by the bankruptcy court that, despite our separateness from Kentucky Power Company, our assets and liabilities and those of Kentucky Power Company should be consolidated would have a similar effect on you as a bondholder.

We have taken steps together with Kentucky Power Company, as the seller, to reduce the risk that in the event the seller or an affiliate of the seller were to become the debtor in a bankruptcy case, a court would order that our assets and liabilities be substantively consolidated with those of Kentucky Power Company or an affiliate. Nonetheless, these steps might not be completely effective, and thus if Kentucky Power Company or its affiliate were to become a debtor in a bankruptcy case, a court might order that our assets and liabilities be

 

27


Table of Contents

consolidated with those of Kentucky Power Company or such affiliate. This might cause material delays in payment of, or losses on, your Bonds and might materially reduce the value of your investment in the Bonds. For example:

 

   

without permission from the bankruptcy court, the trustee might be prevented from taking actions against Kentucky Power Company or recovering or using funds on your behalf or replacing Kentucky Power Company as the servicer,

 

   

the bankruptcy court might order the trustee to exchange the Cost Recovery Property for other property of lower value,

 

   

tax or other government liens on Kentucky Power Company’s property might have priority over the trustee’s lien and might be paid from collected charges before payments on the Bonds,

 

   

the trustee’s lien might not be properly perfected in the collected Cost Recovery Property collections prior to or as of the date of Kentucky Power Company’s bankruptcy, with the result that the Bonds would represent only general unsecured claims against Kentucky Power Company,

 

   

the bankruptcy court might rule that neither our property interest nor the trustee’s lien extends to the charges in respect of electricity consumed after the commencement of Kentucky Power Company’s bankruptcy case, with the result that the Bonds would represent only general unsecured claims against Kentucky Power Company,

 

   

we and Kentucky Power Company might be relieved of any obligation to make any payments on the Bonds during the pendency of the bankruptcy case and might be relieved of any obligation to pay interest accruing after the commencement of the bankruptcy case,

 

   

Kentucky Power Company might be able to alter the terms of the Bonds as part of its plan of reorganization,

 

   

the bankruptcy court might rule that the charges should be used to pay, or that we should be charged for, a portion of the cost of providing electric service, or

 

   

the bankruptcy court might rule that the remedy provisions of the sale agreement are unenforceable, leaving us with an unsecured claim for actual damages against Kentucky Power Company that may be difficult to prove or, if proven, to collect in full.

Furthermore, if Kentucky Power Company enters bankruptcy, it might be permitted to stop acting as servicer, and it may be difficult to find a third party to act as servicer. The failure of the servicer to perform its duties or the inability to find a successor servicer might cause payment delays or losses on the Bonds. Also, the mere fact of a servicer or seller bankruptcy might have an adverse effect on the resale market for the Bonds and on their value.

The sale of the Cost Recovery Property might be construed as a financing and not a sale in a case of Kentucky Power Company’s bankruptcy which might delay or limit payments on the Bonds.

The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that the characterization of a transfer of Cost Recovery Property as a sale or other absolute transfer will not be affected or impaired by treatment of the transfer as a financing for federal or state tax purposes or financial reporting purposes. We and Kentucky Power Company will treat the transaction as a sale under applicable law, although for financial reporting and income and franchise tax purposes the transaction is intended to be treated as a financing. In the event of a bankruptcy of Kentucky Power Company, a party in interest in the bankruptcy might assert that the sale of the Cost Recovery Property to us was a financing transaction and not a “sale or other absolute transfer” and that the treatment of the transaction for financial reporting and tax purposes as a financing and not a sale lends weight to that position. If a court were to characterize the transaction as a financing, we expect that we would, on behalf of ourselves and the trustee, be treated as a secured creditor of Kentucky Power Company in the bankruptcy proceedings, although a court might

 

28


Table of Contents

determine that we only have an unsecured claim against Kentucky Power Company. Even if we had a security interest in the Cost Recovery Property, we would not likely have access to the related charge collections during the bankruptcy and would be subject to the risks of a secured creditor in a bankruptcy case, including the possible bankruptcy risks described in the immediately preceding risk factor. As a result, repayment of the Bonds might be significantly delayed and a plan of reorganization in the bankruptcy might permanently modify the amount and timing of payments to us of the related charge collections and therefore the amount and timing of funds available to us to pay the bondholders.

If the servicer enters bankruptcy proceedings, the remittance of charges by the servicer prior to the date of bankruptcy might constitute preferences, which means these funds might be unavailable to pay amounts owing on the Bonds.

In the event of a bankruptcy of the servicer, a party in interest might take the position that the remittance of funds prior to bankruptcy of the servicer, pursuant to the servicing agreement or intercreditor agreement, constitutes a preference under bankruptcy law if the remittance of those funds was deemed to be paid on account of a preexisting debt. If a court were to hold that the remittance of funds constitutes a preference, any such remittance within 90 days of the filing of the bankruptcy petition could be avoidable, and the funds could be required to be returned to the bankruptcy estate of the servicer. To the extent that the charges have been commingled with the general funds of the servicer, the risk that a court would hold that a remittance of funds was a preference would increase. In such a case, we or the trustee would merely be an unsecured creditor of the servicer. If any funds were required to be returned to the bankruptcy estate of the servicer, we would expect that the amount of any future charges would be increased through the statutory true-up mechanism to recover such amount.

Claims against Kentucky Power Company or any successor seller might be limited in the event of a bankruptcy of the seller.

If the seller were to become a debtor in a bankruptcy case, claims, including indemnity claims, by us against the seller under the sale agreement and the other related agreements would be unsecured claims and would be adjudicated in the bankruptcy case. In addition, the bankruptcy court might estimate any contingent claims that we have against the seller and, if it determines that the contingency giving rise to these claims is unlikely to occur, estimate the claims at a lower amount. A party in interest in the bankruptcy of the seller might challenge the enforceability of the indemnity provisions in a sale agreement. If a court were to hold that the indemnity provisions were unenforceable, we would be left with a claim for actual damages against the seller based on breach of contract principles, which would be subject to estimation and/or calculation by the court. We cannot give any assurance as to the result if any of the above-described actions or claims were made. Furthermore, we cannot give any assurance as to what percentage of their claims, if any, unsecured creditors would receive in any bankruptcy proceeding involving the seller.

The bankruptcy of Kentucky Power Company or any successor seller might limit the remedies available to the trustee.

Upon an event of default for the Bonds under the indenture, the Kentucky Utilities Act permits the trustee to enforce the security interest in the Cost Recovery Property in accordance with the terms of the indenture. In this capacity, the trustee is permitted to request the Kentucky Public Service Commission to order the sequestration and payment to bondholders of all revenues arising with respect to the Cost Recovery Property. There can be no assurance, however, that the Kentucky Public Service Commission would issue this order after a Kentucky Power Company bankruptcy in light of the automatic stay provisions of Section 362 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In that event, the trustee would be required to seek an order from the bankruptcy court lifting the automatic stay to permit this action by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, and an order requiring an accounting and segregation of the revenues arising from the Cost Recovery Property. There can be no assurance that a court would grant either order.

 

29


Table of Contents

OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS

Foreclosure of the trustee’s lien on the Cost Recovery Property for the Bonds might not be practical, and acceleration of the Bonds before maturity might have little practical effect.

Under the Kentucky Utilities Act and the indenture, the trustee or the bondholders have the right to foreclose or otherwise enforce the lien on the Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds. However, in the event of foreclosure, there is likely to be a limited market, if any, for the Cost Recovery Property. Therefore, foreclosure might not be a realistic or practical remedy. Moreover, although principal of the Bonds will be due and payable upon acceleration of the Bonds before maturity, the charges likely would not be accelerated and the nature of our business will result in principal of the Bonds being paid as funds become available.

Kentucky Power Company’s indemnification obligations under the sale and servicing agreements are limited and might not be sufficient to protect your investment in the Bonds.

Kentucky Power Company is obligated under the sale agreement to indemnify us and the trustee, for itself and on behalf of the bondholders, only in specified circumstances and will not be obligated to repurchase any Cost Recovery Property in the event of a breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants regarding the Cost Recovery Property. Similarly, Kentucky Power Company is obligated under the servicing agreement to indemnify us and the trustee, for itself and on behalf of the bondholders, and the Kentucky Public Service Commission only in specified circumstances. Please read “The Sale Agreement” and “The Servicing Agreement.”

Neither the trustee nor the bondholders will have the right to accelerate payments on the Bonds as a result of a breach under the sale agreement or servicing agreement, absent an event of default under the indenture relating to the Bonds as described in “Description of the Bonds—Events of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default.” Furthermore, Kentucky Power Company might not have sufficient funds available to satisfy its indemnification obligations under these agreements, and the amount of any indemnification paid by Kentucky Power Company might not be sufficient for you to recover all of your investment in the Bonds. In addition, if Kentucky Power Company becomes obligated to indemnify the bondholders, the then-current ratings on the Bonds will likely be downgraded as a result of the circumstances causing the breach and the fact that the bondholders will be unsecured creditors of Kentucky Power Company with respect to any of these indemnification amounts. Kentucky Power Company will not indemnify any person for any loss, damages, liability, obligation, claim, action, suit or payment resulting solely from a downgrade in the ratings on the Bonds, or for any consequential damages, including any loss of market value of the Bonds resulting from a default or a downgrade of the ratings of the Bonds. Please read “The Sale Agreement—Seller Representations and Warranties” and “—Indemnification” in this prospectus.

We and other affiliates of Kentucky Power Company may issue additional bonds.

Kentucky Power Company may in the future sell property similar to the Cost Recovery Property to us in order to secure Additional Series of bonds or to one or more affiliated entities other than us in connection with the issuance of a new issuance of securitized bonds without your prior review or approval. Kentucky Power Company has covenanted in the sale agreement not to sell property similar to the Cost Recovery Property to us or other entities to secure any Additional Series of bonds if the issuance would result in the credit ratings on the Bonds being reduced or withdrawn.

The Financing Order authorizes us to issue, one or more Additional Series of bonds, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the balance of Eligible Costs that may be recovered by Kentucky Power Company under the Financing Order. Any Additional Series would be offered pursuant to a separate registration statement and may include terms and provisions that would be unique to that particular series. In the event a customer does not pay in full all amounts owed under any bill, including charges relating to one or more series of

 

30


Table of Contents

securitized bonds, Kentucky Power Company, as servicer, is required to allocate any resulting shortfalls in charges ratably based on the amounts of charges owing in respect of the Bonds, any Additional Series of bonds issued by us and any amounts owing to any subsequently created affiliate of Kentucky Power Company which issues securitized bonds. Accordingly, if a dispute arises with respect to the allocation of the charges or other delays occur on account of the administrative burdens of making such allocation, we cannot assure you that the issuance of a new series or new securitized bonds would not cause reductions or delays in payment on your Bonds. In addition, your interests might conflict with the interests of the bondholders of another series, which could result in an outcome that is materially unfavorable to you.

The credit ratings are no indication of the expected rate of payment of principal on the Bonds.

We expect the Bonds will receive credit ratings from two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, or NRSROs. A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the Bonds. The ratings merely analyze the probability that we will repay the total principal amount of the Bonds at the final maturity date (which is later than the scheduled final payment date) and will make timely interest payments. The ratings are not an indication that the rating agencies believe that principal payments are likely to be paid in accordance with the expected sinking fund schedule.

Under Rule 17g-5 of the Exchange Act, NRSROs providing the sponsor with the requisite certification will have access to all information posted on a website by the sponsor for the purpose of determining the initial rating of the Bonds and monitoring such rating after the closing date. As a result, an NRSRO other than the NRSRO hired by the sponsor (the hired NRSRO) may issue ratings on the Bonds (Unsolicited Ratings), which may be lower, and could be significantly lower, than the ratings assigned by the hired NRSROs. The Unsolicited Ratings may be issued prior to, or after, the closing date. Issuance of any Unsolicited Rating will not affect the issuance of the Bonds. Issuance of an Unsolicited Rating lower than the ratings assigned by the hired NRSRO might adversely affect the value of the Bonds and, for regulated entities, could affect the status of the Bonds as a legal investment or the capital treatment of the Bonds. Investors in the Bonds should consult with their legal counsel regarding the effect of an Unsolicited Rating that is lower than the rating of a hired NRSRO. None of Kentucky Power Company, us, the underwriters or any of their affiliates will have any obligation to inform you of any Unsolicited Ratings assigned after the date of this prospectus. In addition, if we or Kentucky Power Company fail to make available to a non-hired NRSRO any information provided to any hired rating agency for the purpose of assigning or monitoring the ratings on the Bonds, a hired NRSRO could withdraw its ratings on the Bonds, which could adversely affect the market value of your Bonds and/or limit your ability to resell your Bonds.

Alternatives to purchasing electricity through Kentucky Power Company’s distribution facilities may be more widely utilized by retail customers in the future.

Broader use of distributed generation by retail customers may result from customers’ changing perceptions of the merits of utilizing existing generation technology, tax or other economic incentives or from technological developments resulting in smaller-scale, more fuel efficient, more environmentally friendly and/or more cost effective distributed generation. Moreover, an increase in distributed generation may result if extreme weather conditions result in shortages of grid-supplied energy or if other factors cause grid-supplied energy to be less reliable. Therefore, more widespread use of distributed generation might allow greater numbers of retail customers to reduce or eliminate their use of the distribution services provided by Kentucky Power Company. As a result, the servicer will need to utilize the true-up mechanism to increase the charges billed to remaining customers.

The absence of a secondary market for the Bonds might limit your ability to resell your Bonds.

The underwriters for the Bonds may assist in resales of the Bonds, but they are not required to do so. A secondary market for the Bonds might not develop, and we do not expect to list the Bonds on any securities

 

31


Table of Contents

exchange. If a secondary market does develop, it might not continue or it might not be sufficiently liquid to allow you to resell any of your Bonds. Please read “Plan of Distribution.”

You might receive principal payments for the Bonds later than you expect.

The amount and the rate of collection of the charges, together with the related true-up charge adjustments, will generally determine whether there is a delay in the scheduled repayment of the principal of the Bonds. If the servicer collects the charges at a slower rate than expected from the retail customers, it might have to request adjustments of the charges. If those adjustments are not timely and accurate, you might experience a delay in payments of principal and interest and a decrease in the value of your investment in the Bonds.

Risks associated with the Investment Company Act.

The issuing entity has not registered with the SEC as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act in reliance on the exception provided under Section 3(c)(5) thereof, although there may be additional exclusions or exemptions available to the issuing entity.

If the SEC or a court of competent jurisdiction were to find that the issuing entity is in violation of the Investment Company Act for having failed to register as an investment company thereunder, possible consequences include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) the SEC could apply to a district court to enjoin the violation; (ii) investors in the Bonds could sue the issuing entity and recover any damages caused by the violation; and (iii) any contract to which the issuing entity is party that is made in, or whose performance involves, violation of the Investment Company Act would be unenforceable by any party to the contract unless a court were to find that under the circumstances enforcement would produce a more equitable result than nonenforcement and would not be inconsistent with the purposes of the Investment Company Act. Should the issuing entity be subjected to any or all of the foregoing, the issuing entity would be materially and adversely affected, and losses on the Bonds could occur.

Regulatory provisions affecting certain investors could adversely affect the liquidity and the regulatory treatment of investments in the Bonds.

Investors should be aware, and in some cases are required to be aware, of certain restrictions and obligations with regard to any securitisation (as such term is defined for purposes of the relevant legislation) imposed:

 

  (1)

in the European Union (“EU”), pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 (as amended, the “EU Securitisation Regulation”);

 

  (2)

in the non-EU member states of the European Economic Area (“EEA”), pursuant to the EU Securitisation Regulation, to the extent (if at all) implemented or applicable in such member states; and

 

  (3)

in the United Kingdom (“UK”), pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/2402, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended, the “EUWA”) and as amended (including by the Securitisation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019) (the “UK Securitisation Regulation”).

The EU Securitisation Regulation imposes certain requirements (the “EU Investor Requirements”) with respect to “institutional investors” (as such term is defined for purposes of the EU Securitisation Regulation), being: (a) insurance undertakings and reinsurance undertakings as defined in Directive 2009/138/EC; (b) subject to certain exceptions, institutions for occupational retirement provision falling within the scope of Directive (EU) 2016/2341, and certain investment managers and authorized entities appointed by such institutions; (c) alternative investment fund managers as defined in Directive 2011/61/EU which manage and/or market alternative investment funds in the EU; (d) certain internally-managed investment companies authorized in accordance with Directive 2009/65/EC, and management companies as defined in that Directive; and (e) credit

 

32


Table of Contents

institutions and investment firms as defined in Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (as amended, the “EU CRR”) (and, in addition, the EU CRR makes provision as to the application of the EU Investor Requirements to certain consolidated affiliates, wherever established or located, of entities that are subject to the EU CRR).

The UK Securitisation Regulation imposes certain requirements (the “UK Investor Requirements”) with respect to “institutional investors” (as such term is defined for purposes of the UK Securitisation Regulation), being: (a) insurance undertakings and reinsurance undertakings as defined in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the “FSMA”); (b) occupational pension schemes as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 1993 that have their main administration in the UK, and certain fund managers of such schemes; (c) AIFMs as defined in the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 which market or manage AIFs (as defined in such Regulations) in the UK; (d) UCITS as defined in the FSMA, which are authorized open ended investment companies as defined in the FSMA, and management companies as defined in the FSMA; (e) CRR firms as defined in Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA and as amended (the “UK CRR”); and (f) FCA investment firms as defined in the UK CRR (and, in addition, the UK CRR makes provision as to the application of the UK Investor Requirements to certain consolidated affiliates, wherever established or located, of entities that are subject to the UK CRR).

Any person subject to the EU Investor Requirements or the UK Investor Requirements (an “SR Investor”) is required (amongst other things), prior to investing in a securitization, to verify certain matters, including that (a) certain credit-granting requirements are satisfied, (b) the originator, sponsor or original lender retains on an ongoing basis a material net economic interest in the securitization which, in any event, will not be less than 5%, in accordance with the EU Securitisation Regulation or the UK Securitisation Regulation (as applicable to the relevant SR Investor), and discloses that risk retention, and (c) the originator, sponsor or securitization special purpose entity has, where applicable, made available information in accordance with the EU Securitisation Regulation or the UK Securitisation Regulation (as applicable).

Failure by an SR Investor to comply with the EU Securitisation Regulation or the UK Securitisation Regulation (as applicable) with respect to an investment in the Bonds may (in the case of an SR Investor that is subject to regulatory capital requirements) result in the imposition of a penalty regulatory capital charge on that investment, and may (in any case) result in other regulatory sanctions being imposed or corrective action being required.

Neither we nor Kentucky Power Company nor any other party to the transactions described in this prospectus, intends, at any time, to retain a material net economic interest in such transactions, or to take any other action with regard to such transactions, in a manner prescribed or contemplated by the EU Securitisation Regulation or the UK Securitisation Regulation. In particular, no such party undertakes to take any action, or refrain from taking any action, for purposes of, or in connection with, compliance by any prospective investor (or any other Person) with any applicable requirement thereof.

Consequently, the Bonds may not be a suitable investment for an SR Investor. As a result, the price and liquidity of the Bonds in the secondary market may be adversely affected.

It is expected that, with effect from November 1, 2024, the UK Securitisation Regulation and certain related measures will be repealed, and certain new laws, rules and guidance (the “Future UK Securitisation Rules”) will be implemented. The scope and requirements of the Future UK Securitisation Rules will be broadly similar to those of the UK Securitisation Regulation and grandfathering such related measures, but there will be differences between the two regimes, some of which may be significant for affected parties. The Future UK Securitisation Rules will (amongst other things) make provision with regard to the “grandfathering” of any securitization in respect of which the securities were issued during the period from January 1, 2019 to October 31, 2024 (inclusive), such that, to the extent (and subject to the conditions) specified in the Future UK Securitisation Rules, the relevant securitization will continue to be subject to the UK Securitisation Regulation and the applicable related measures, notwithstanding their repeal.

 

33


Table of Contents

Neither we nor Kentucky Power Company, nor any other party to the transactions described in this prospectus, intends, at any time, to take any action in respect of such transactions for purposes of, or in connection with, any Person’s compliance with any Future UK Securitisation Rules.

Prospective investors are responsible for analyzing their own legal and regulatory position and should consult with their own advisors and any relevant regulator or other authority, and make their own assessment, regarding the suitability of the Bonds for investment, and, in particular, the scope and applicability of the EU Securitisation Regulation and the UK Securitisation Regulation and any equivalent or similar requirements (including the Future UK Securitisation Rules) and their compliance (where applicable) with any requirement thereof.

If the investment of collected charges and other funds held by the trustee in the collection account results in investment losses or the investments become illiquid, you may receive payment of principal and interest on the Bonds later than you expect.

Funds held by the trustee in the collection account will be invested in eligible investments at the written direction of the servicer. Eligible investments include money market funds having a rating from Moody’s and S&P of “Aaa-mf” and “AAAm,” respectively. Although investments in these money market funds have traditionally been viewed as highly liquid with a low probability of principal loss, illiquidity and principal losses have been experienced by investors in certain of these funds as a result of disruptions in the financial markets in recent years. If investment losses or illiquidity is experienced, you might experience a delay in payments of principal and interest and a decrease in the value of your investment in the Bonds.

 

34


Table of Contents

REVIEW OF COST RECOVERY PROPERTY

Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, Kentucky Power Company, as sponsor, has performed, as described below, a review of the Cost Recovery Property underlying the Bonds. As required by these rules, the review was designed and effected to provide reasonable assurance that disclosure regarding the Cost Recovery Property is accurate in all material respects. Kentucky Power Company did not engage a third party in conducting its review.

The Bonds will be secured under the indenture by the indenture’s trust estate. The principal asset of the indenture’s trust estate is the Cost Recovery Property relating to the Bonds. The Cost Recovery Property is a present property right authorized and created pursuant to the Kentucky Utilities Act and an irrevocable financing order. The Cost Recovery Property includes the irrevocable right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive nonbypassable charges in amounts sufficient to pay scheduled principal and interest and other amounts and charges in connection with the Bonds. The charges are payable by all of Kentucky Power Company’s retail customers that, subject to certain limitations specified in the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order, consume electricity that is delivered through Kentucky Power Company’s transmission and distribution system.

During the 12 months ended December 31, 2024, approximately 34.89% of Kentucky Power Company’s total deliveries were to residential retail customers and approximately 65.11% were to non-residential retail customers. During this period, approximately 94.45% were to retail customers at distribution voltage and 5.55% were to retail customers at transmission voltage. During this period, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and other federal, state and local governmental entities comprised the source of approximately 1.59% of Kentucky Power Company’s total retail electric revenues.

Charges authorized in the Financing Order that relate to the Cost Recovery Property are irrevocable and not subject to reduction, impairment, or adjustment by further action of the Kentucky Public Service Commission except that charges are subject to semi-annual and other interim true-up adjustments to correct overcollections or undercollections and to provide the expected recovery of amounts sufficient to timely provide all scheduled payments of debt service and certain related costs and expenses of the issuing entity in connection with the Bonds. There is no “ceiling,” “cap” or maximum on the level of charges that may be imposed on Kentucky Power Company’s retail customers to generate sufficient revenues to pay interest and scheduled principal on the Bonds and certain related issuing entity costs and expenses. All revenues and collections resulting from charges provided for in the Financing Order that relate to the Bonds are part of the Cost Recovery Property. The Cost Recovery Property relating to the Bonds is described in more detail under “Description of the Cost Recovery Property” in this prospectus.

In the Financing Order, the Kentucky Public Service Commission, among other things:

 

   

orders that Kentucky Power Company, as servicer, shall collect from all retail customers required to pay charges under the Financing Order, charges in an amount sufficient to provide for the timely payment of scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds,

 

   

orders that upon the transfer of the Cost Recovery Property to us by Kentucky Power Company, we shall have all of the rights, title and interest of Kentucky Power Company with respect to the Cost Recovery Property, and

 

   

guarantees that it will act under the Financing Order as expressly authorized by the Kentucky Utilities Act to ensure that expected charge revenues are sufficient to pay on a timely basis scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds.

Please read “The Kentucky Utilities Act” and “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order” in this prospectus for more information.

The characteristics of Cost Recovery Property are unlike the characteristics of assets underlying mortgage and other commercial asset securitizations because Cost Recovery Property based on statute and state regulatory

 

35


Table of Contents

commission proceedings. Because the nature and characteristics of the Cost Recovery Property and many elements of the Bonds are set forth and constrained by the Kentucky Utilities Act, Kentucky Power Company, as sponsor, does not originate, underwrite or select the assets to serve as security for the Bonds. The Kentucky Utilities Act and the Kentucky Public Service Commission require the imposition on, and collection of the charges from, existing and future retail customers, subject to limited exceptions. Since the charges are assessed against all such retail customers and the true-up adjustment mechanism adjusts for the impact of customer defaults, the collectability of the charges is not ultimately dependent upon the credit quality of particular Kentucky Power Company customers, as would be the case in the absence of the true-up adjustment mechanism.

The review by Kentucky Power Company of the Cost Recovery Property underlying the Bonds has involved a number of discrete steps and elements. First, Kentucky Power Company analyzed and applied the Kentucky Utilities Act’s requirements for securitization of Eligible Costs in seeking approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission for the issuance of the Financing Order and in its proposal with respect to the characteristics of the Cost Recovery Property to be created pursuant to the Financing Order. Kentucky Power Company worked with its counsel in preparing the application for a financing order and with the Kentucky Public Service Commission on the terms of the proposed order. Moreover, Kentucky Power Company worked with its counsel and counsel to the underwriters in preparing the legal agreements that provide for the terms of the Bonds and the security for the Bonds. Kentucky Power Company has analyzed economic issues and practical issues for the scheduled payment of the Bonds in terms of impacts of economic factors, potentials for disruptions due to weather or catastrophic events and its own forecasts for customer growth as well as the historic accuracy of its prior forecasts.

In light of the nature of the Cost Recovery Property as a property interest created by legislative action, Kentucky Power Company has taken (or prior to the offering of the Bonds, will take) the following actions in connection with its review of the Cost Recovery Property and the preparation of the disclosure for inclusion in this prospectus describing the Cost Recovery Property, the Bonds and the proposed securitization:

 

   

reviewed the Kentucky Utilities Act and the rules and regulations of the Kentucky Public Service Commission as they relate to the Cost Recovery Property in connection with the preparation and filing of the application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission for the approval of the Financing Order in order to confirm that the application and proposed order satisfied applicable statutory and regulatory requirements;

 

   

actively participated in the proceeding before the Kentucky Public Service Commission relating to the approval of the requested financing order;

 

   

compared the Financing Order, as issued by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, to the Kentucky Utilities Act and the rules and regulations of the Kentucky Public Service Commission as they relate to the Cost Recovery Property to confirm that the Financing Order met such requirements;

 

   

compared the proposed terms of the Bonds to the applicable requirements in the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order and the regulations of the Kentucky Public Service Commission to confirm that they met such requirements;

 

   

prepared and reviewed the agreements to be entered into in connection with the issuance of the Bonds and compared such agreements to the applicable requirements in the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order and the regulations of the Kentucky Public Service Commission to confirm that they met such requirements;

 

   

reviewed the disclosure in this prospectus regarding the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order and the agreements to be entered into in connection with the issuance of the Bonds, and compared such descriptions to the relevant provisions of the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order and such agreements to confirm the accuracy of such descriptions;

 

36


Table of Contents
   

consulted with legal counsel to assess if there is a basis upon which the bondholders (or the trustee acting on their behalf) could successfully challenge the constitutionality of any legislative action by the Commonwealth of Kentucky (including the Kentucky Public Service Commission) that repealed or amended the Kentucky Utilities Act in a manner that could substantially impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property, or substantially reduce, alter or impair the charges;

 

   

reviewed the process and procedures in place for it, as servicer, to perform its obligations under the servicing agreement, including without limitation, billing and collecting the charges to be provided for under the Cost Recovery Property, forecasting charge revenues, preparing and filing applications for true-up adjustments to the charges;

 

   

reviewed the operation of the true-up mechanism for adjusting charge levels to meet the scheduled payments on the Bonds; and

 

   

with the assistance of the underwriters, prepared financial models in order to set the initial charges to be provided for under the Cost Recovery Property at a level sufficient to pay on a timely basis scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds.

In connection with the preparation of such models, Kentucky Power Company:

 

   

reviewed (i) the historical retail electric usage and customer growth of Kentucky Power Company’s retail customers and (ii) forecasts of expected energy sales and customer growth;

 

   

reviewed the historic variance between (i) actual annual revenues collected by revenue class and (ii) forecasts of annual revenues expected to be collected by revenue class;

 

   

analyzed the sensitivity of the weighted average life of the Bonds in relation to variances in actual energy consumption levels (retail electric sales) from forecasted levels and in relation to the true-up mechanism in order to assess the probability that the weighted average life of the Bonds may be extended as a result of such variances, and in the context of the operation of the true-up mechanism for adjustment of charges to address under or overcollections in light of scheduled payments on the Bonds.

As a result of this review, Kentucky Power Company has concluded that:

 

   

the Cost Recovery Property, the Financing Order and the agreements to be entered into in connection with the issuance of the Bonds meet in all material respects the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements;

 

   

the disclosure in this prospectus regarding the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order and the agreements to be entered into in connection with the issuance of the Bonds is as of its date, accurate in all material respects;

 

   

In its capacity as the servicer, Kentucky Power Company has adequate processes and procedures in place to perform its obligations under the servicing agreement;

 

   

charge collections, as adjusted from time to time as provided in the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order, are expected to be sufficient to pay on a timely basis scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds; and

 

   

the design and scope of Kentucky Power Company’s review of the Cost Recovery Property as described above is effective to provide reasonable assurance that the disclosure regarding the Cost Recovery Property in this prospectus is accurate in all material respects.

 

37


Table of Contents

THE KENTUCKY UTILITIES ACT

Kentucky Power Company and Other Utilities May Securitize Eligible Costs

We May Issue Bonds to Recover Kentucky Power Company’s Eligible Costs.

The Kentucky Utilities Act authorizes the Kentucky Public Service Commission to issue financing orders approving the issuance of bonds, such as the Bonds issued by us, to recover certain Eligible Costs of an electric utility. Under the Kentucky Utilities Act, proceeds of bonds must be used to directly or indirectly recover, finance or refinance capitalized cost assets and financing costs that are secured by or payable from Cost Recovery Property.

The Kentucky Utilities Act contains a number of provisions designed to facilitate the recovery of Eligible Costs incurred by an electric utility. Please read “Key Questions and Answers Regarding the Bonds and Related True-Up Mechanism” in this prospectus.

Creation of Cost Recovery Property.

Under the Kentucky Utilities Act, Cost Recovery Property is created when the rights and interests of an electric utility or successor under a financing order, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive charges authorized in the Financing Order, are first sold or transferred to an assignee, such as us, and are pledged to secure Bonds.

A Financing Order is Irrevocable.

A financing order, once effective, together with the charges authorized in that financing order, is irrevocable and not subject to reduction, impairment, postponement, termination or adjustment by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, except for adjustments pursuant to the Kentucky Utilities Act in order to correct any overcollections or undercollections of the charges and to provide for the expected recovery of amounts sufficient to timely provide all payments of debt service and other required amounts and charges in connection with the related bonds. Although a financing order is irrevocable, the Kentucky Utilities Act allows for applicants to apply for one or more new financing orders to provide for refinancing, retiring or refunding bonds if such subsequent financing order satisfies all of the criteria specified in Sections 278.670 to 278.696 and 65.114 of the Kentucky Utilities Act.

State Pledge.

Under the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has pledged, for the benefit and protection of the bondholders, the owners of Cost Recovery Property, the other financing parties and the electric utility, that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its agencies, including the Kentucky Public Service Commission, will not (1) alter the provisions of the Kentucky Utilities Act, (2) take or permit any action that would impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the security for the Bonds or revise the Recovery Costs for which recovery is authorized, (3) impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees and other financing parties, (4) amend, modify, or terminate the financing order by any subsequent action, or, (5) except for adjustments discussed in “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order-Statutory True-ups” and “The Servicing Agreement-True-Up Adjustment Process,” reduce, impair, postpone, terminate or otherwise adjust the charges to be imposed, billed, charged, collected, remitted and periodically adjusted for the benefit of holders, any assignee and any other financing parties, until the principal, interest, premium, if any, financing costs and any other fees, expenses or charges incurred, and contracts to be performed, in connection with the Bonds have been paid and performed in full.

Please read “Risk Factors-Risks Associated with Potential Judicial, Legislative or Regulatory Actions.”

 

38


Table of Contents

Constitutional Matters.

To date, no federal or Kentucky cases addressing the repeal or amendment of the Kentucky Utilities Act or securitization provisions analogous to those contained in the Kentucky Utilities Act have been decided. There have been cases in which federal courts have applied the Contract Clause of the United States Constitution to strike down legislation regarding similar matters, such as legislation reducing or eliminating taxes, public charges or other sources of revenues servicing other types of bonds issued by public instrumentalities or private issuers, or otherwise substantially impairing or eliminating the security for bonds or other indebtedness. Kentucky courts have applied the Contract Clause of the Kentucky Constitution to invalidate legislation that substantially impairs private contractual obligations, although in matters less analogous than addressed by the federal courts. Such determinations under Kentucky law are highly-fact-dependent.

Based upon this case law, Sidley Austin LLP, as counsel to Kentucky Power Company and us, expects to deliver an opinion, prior to the closing of the offering of the Bonds described in this prospectus, to the effect that, for the purposes of the Contract Clause of the United States Constitution, the state pledge described above unambiguously indicates the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s intent to be bound with the holders of the Bonds and, subject to all of the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth in its opinion, supports the conclusion that, for the purposes of the Contract Clause of the United States Constitution, the state pledge constitutes a binding contractual relationship between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the holders of the Bonds and, with regard to Kentucky, Stites & Harbison, PLLC, as Kentucky counsel to Kentucky Power Company and us, expects to deliver an opinion, prior to the closing of the offering of the Bonds described in this prospectus, to the effect that Kentucky courts would treat the Contract Clause of the Kentucky Constitution in the same manner as the Federal Contract Clause in these circumstances.

Subject to all of the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, including that any impairment of the contract be “substantial,” the opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, with respect to the Contract Clause of the United States Constitution, and the opinion of Stites & Harbison, PLLC, with respect to the Contract Clause of the Kentucky Constitution, is expected to state that (a) a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would hold that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its agencies, including the Kentucky Public Service Commission could not constitutionally repeal or amend the Kentucky Utilities Act or take any other action contravening the state pledge and creating an impairment (without, as the Kentucky Utilities Act requires, providing full compensation by law for the full protection of the charges to be collected pursuant to the Financing Order and full protection of the holders of the Bonds), unless such court would determine that such impairment clearly is a reasonable and necessary exercise of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s sovereign powers based upon reasonable conditions and of a character reasonable and appropriate to the emergency or other significant and legitimate public purpose justifying such action and (b) a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would conclude that the state pledge (i) creates a binding contractual obligation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for purposes of the Contract Clause of the United States Constitution (in the case of the opinion of Sidley Austin LLP) or of the Contract Clause of the Kentucky Constitution (in the case of the opinion of Stites & Harbison, PLLC), and (ii) provides a basis upon which the holders of Bonds could challenge successfully on appeal any such action by the Kentucky Public Service Commission of a legislative character, including the rescission or amendment of the Financing Order, that such court determines violates the state pledge in a manner that substantially impairs or would substantially impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or substantially reduces, alters or impairs the value of the charges, prior to the time that the Bonds are paid and performed in full, unless there is a judicial finding that the Kentucky Public Service Commission action clearly is exercised for a public end and is reasonably necessary to the accomplishment of that public end so as not to be arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of authority.

In addition, any action of the Kentucky legislature adversely affecting the Cost Recovery Property or the ability to collect charges may be considered a “taking” under the United States or Kentucky Constitutions. Sidley Austin LLP has advised us that it is not aware of any federal, and Stites & Harbison, PLLC, has advised us that it is not aware of any Kentucky, court cases addressing the applicability of the Takings Clause of the United States

 

39


Table of Contents

or Kentucky Constitution, respectively, in a situation analogous to that which would be involved in an amendment or repeal of the Kentucky Utilities Act. It is possible that a court would decline even to apply a Takings Clause analysis to a claim based on an amendment or repeal of the Kentucky Utilities Act, because, for example, a court might determine that a Contract Clause analysis rather than a Takings Clause analysis should be applied. Assuming a Takings Clause analysis were applied under the United States Constitution or the Kentucky Constitution, Sidley Austin LLP and Stites & Harbison, PLLC, respectively, expect to render an opinion, prior to the closing of the offering of the Bonds described in this prospectus, to the effect that, under the existing case law of the respective courts each opinion is covering, a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would hold (or with respect to the opinion of Stites & Harbison, PLLC, more likely than not, would hold), subject to all of the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth in each respective opinion, if it concludes that the Cost Recovery Property is protected by the Takings Clause of the United States Constitution (or the Takings Clause of the Kentucky Constitution with respect to the opinion of Stites & Harbison, PLLC), that the Commonwealth of Kentucky would be required to pay just compensation to the holders of the Bonds, as determined by such court, if the Kentucky legislature repealed or amended the Kentucky Utilities Act or took any other action contravening the state pledge, if the court determines doing so constituted a permanent appropriation of a substantial property interest of the holders of the Bonds in the Cost Recovery Property and deprived the holders of the Bonds of their reasonable expectations arising from their investments in the Bonds. In examining whether action of the Kentucky legislature amounts to a regulatory taking, both federal and state courts will consider the character of the governmental action, the economic impact of the governmental action on the holders of the Bonds, and the extent to which the governmental action interferes with distinct investment-backed expectations. There is no assurance, however, that, even if a court were to award just compensation, it would be sufficient for you to recover fully your investment in the Bonds.

In connection with the foregoing, Sidley Austin LLP has advised us that issues relating to the Contract and Takings Clauses of the United States Constitution, and Stites & Harbison, PLLC, has advised us that issues relating to the Contract and Takings Clauses of the Kentucky Constitution, are essentially decided on a case-by-case basis and that the courts’ determinations, in most cases, appear to be strongly influenced by the facts and circumstances of the particular case, and each has further advised us that there are no reported controlling judicial precedents that are directly on point. The opinions described above will be subject to the qualifications included in them. The degree of impairment necessary to meet the standards for relief under a Takings Clause analysis or Contract Clause analysis could be substantially in excess of what a holder of the Bonds would consider material.

In addition, Sidley Austin LLP expects to render an opinion, prior to the closing of the offering of the Bonds described in this prospectus, to the effect that under existing case law, a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would hold that the Kentucky Utilities Act is constitutional in all material respects under the United States Constitution and, subject to all of the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth in its opinion, that the state pledge does not constitute an impermissible attempt to “contract away” the police power of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and will not be disregarded under the reserved powers doctrine, and Stites & Harbison, PLLC, expects to render an opinion, prior to the closing of the offering of the Bonds described in this prospectus, to the effect that the Kentucky Utilities Act has been duly enacted by the Kentucky legislature and is in effect as of the closing of the offering, and that Stites & Harbison, PLLC, is not aware of any constitutional infirmities with respect to the Kentucky Utilities Act.

We and Kentucky Power Company will file a copy of each of the Sidley Austin LLP and Stites & Harbison, PLLC, opinions as exhibits to an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or to one of our periodic filings with the SEC.

For a discussion of risks associated with potential judicial, legislation or regulatory actions, please read “RISK FACTORS—Risks associated with potential judicial, legislative or regulatory actions.”

 

40


Table of Contents

The Kentucky Public Service Commission May Adjust Charges.

The Kentucky Utilities Act requires the Kentucky Public Service Commission to provide in all financing orders a mechanism requiring that the charges be adjusted at least annually. The Financing Order for the Bonds requires that the charges on retail customers to be adjusted semi-annually (or, beginning 12 months prior to the scheduled final payment date of the Bonds, quarterly for such series). The purpose of these adjustments is:

 

   

to correct any overcollections or undercollections of the charges, and

 

   

to provide for the expected recovery of amounts sufficient to timely provide all payments of debt service and other required amounts and charges in connection with the Bonds.

Charges Are Nonbypassable.

The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that the charges are nonbypassable. “Nonbypassable” with respect to charges means that an electric utility collects these charges (i) from all existing and future retail customers receiving electric service from the electric utility, its successors or assignees under Kentucky Public Service Commission-approved rate schedules even if a retail customer elects to purchase electricity from an alternate electric supplier if public utility regulations were amended to permit customers to select electricity suppliers in this service territory. Kentucky Power Company is the only utility authorized to supply and distribute electricity in its certified service territory and would either directly or indirectly continue to bill retail customers for distribution services even if the electricity is supplied by another electricity supplier.

The Kentucky Utilities Act Protects the Bondholders’ Lien on Cost Recovery Property.

The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that the transfer of an interest in Cost Recovery Property to an assignee will be perfected against all third parties, including subsequent judicial or other lien creditors, when:

 

   

the Financing Order has been issued,

 

   

the assignor has rights in the Cost Recovery Property or the power to transfer rights in the Cost Recovery Property to an assignee,

 

   

transfer documents have been executed and delivered by the assignor to the assignee in connection with the issuance of the Bonds,

 

   

the assignor has received value for the Cost Recovery Property, and

 

   

a notice of the transfer has been filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The Kentucky Utilities Act further provides that a valid and binding lien and security interest in Cost Recovery Property may be created only when the last of following has occurred: (a) the issuance of the Financing Order, (b) the execution and delivery of a security agreement granting the security interest in connection with the issuance of Bonds, (c) the debtor has rights to the Cost Recovery Property or the power to transfer rights in the Cost Recovery Property or (d) the value is received for the grant of the security interest in the Cost Recovery Property. Upon the filing of a financing statement with the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, such security interest is perfected against all parties having claims of any kind, including against all claims of lien creditors, and shall have priority over all competing security interests and other claims other than any security interest previously perfected.

The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that priority of transfers and security interests in Cost Recovery Property will not be affected by:

 

   

commingling of funds collected by Kentucky Power Company as charges with its other funds and collections; or

 

41


Table of Contents
   

modifications to the charges resulting from any true-up adjustment.

Please read “Risk Factors-Risks Associated With Potential Bankruptcy Proceedings of the Seller or the Servicer.”

The Kentucky Utilities Act Characterizes the Transfer of Cost Recovery Property as a True Sale.

The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that an electric utility’s or an assignee’s sale, assignment or transfer of Cost Recovery Property is an absolute transfer and true sale under Kentucky law and is not a pledge of or a secured transaction relating to the electric utility’s or assignee’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Cost Recovery Property, if the agreement governing that transfer expressly states that the transfer is a sale or other absolute transfer other than for federal and state income tax purposes. Please read “The Sale Agreement” and “Risk Factors-Risks Associated With Potential Bankruptcy Proceedings of the Seller or the Servicer.”

 

42


Table of Contents

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY’S FINANCING ORDER

Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order

On June 29, 2023, Kentucky Power Company filed its application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission for a financing order to recover a balance of (a) certain Eligible Costs (at the time totaling approximately $471.2 million), plus (b) carrying costs through the date costs are financed, minus (c) all insurance, scrap and salvage proceeds, applicable unamortized regulatory liabilities for excess deferred income taxes and the present value of return on all accumulated deferred income taxes related to pretax costs with respect to a retired or abandoned facility and related facilities (such balance, the “Securitizable Balance”), plus, certain other up-front qualified costs incurred in connection with such financing.

On April 11, 2025, the Kentucky Public Service Commission issued its Financing Order which amends, restates and supersedes the Financing Order issued on January 10, 2024, and authorized Kentucky Power Company to cause to be issued Bonds in one or more series in an aggregate principal amount equal to the sum of (a) the Securitizable Balance at the time the Bonds are issued, plus (b) upfront financing costs, plus (c) certain other up-front Eligible Costs, including (i) the cost of original issue discount, credit enhancements and other arrangements to enhance marketability, (ii) the cost of the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s financial advisor, and any additional costs incurred by Kentucky Power Company to comply with the requests and recommendations of the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s financial advisor, (iii) any costs incurred by Kentucky Power Company for the appeal of the Financing Order and (iv) any costs incurred by Kentucky Power Company in connection with any post-issuance audit or other procedure mandated by the Financing Order. The Financing Order became final and non-appealable on May 15, 2025.

In the Financing Order, the Kentucky Public Service Commission guarantees that it will act under such irrevocable Financing Order as expressly authorized by the Kentucky Utilities Act to ensure that expected charge revenues are sufficient to pay scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds and other costs, including fees and expenses, in connection with the Bonds. The Financing Order, pursuant to the provisions of the Kentucky Utilities Act, is irrevocable and is not subject to reduction, impairment or adjustment by further action of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, except as contemplated by the periodic true-up adjustments. The Financing Order also provides that the true-up mechanism and all other obligations of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Public Service Commission set forth in the irrevocable Financing Order are direct, explicit, irrevocable and unconditional upon issuance of the Bonds, and are legally enforceable against the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Public Service Commission in accordance with Kentucky law.

We have filed the Financing Order with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We have summarized portions of the Financing Order. Please read “Key Questions and Answers Regarding the Bonds and Related True-Up Mechanism” in this prospectus.

Collection of Charges

The Financing Order authorizes Kentucky Power Company to collect the cost recovery charges from existing and future retail customers in an amount sufficient to provide for timely recovery of its aggregate qualified costs, which include scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds and certain ongoing fees and expenses associated with the Bonds. There is no “cap” on the level of the charges that may be imposed on consumers of electricity, to pay on a timely basis scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds.

Issuance Advice Letter

By the close of the business day after the pricing date for the Bonds and prior to their issuance, Kentucky Power Company is required to file with the Kentucky Public Service Commission an issuance advice letter, which will:

 

   

demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Financing Order,

 

43


Table of Contents
   

evidence the final terms on which the Bonds will be issued,

 

   

show the actual dollar amount of the charges relating to the Bonds,

 

   

identify the Cost Recovery Property we will purchase that will secure the Bonds,

 

   

identify us,

 

   

certify that, based on information reasonably available, the structuring and pricing of the Bonds will result in the lowest charges consistent with market conditions and the terms of the Financing Order, and

 

   

update the benefit analysis to verify that the final amount securitized satisfies the statutory financial tests.

Both the issuance advice letter and the accompanying charge rider (referred to in the Financing Order as the “Securitized Surcharge Rider”) becomes effective on the date of issuance of the Bonds unless the Kentucky Public Service Commission issues an order, prior to noon on the fourth business day after the determination of the final terms of the Bonds, that the proposed issuance does not comply with the requirements of the Kentucky Utilities Act or the Financing Order. The Kentucky Public Service Commission’s review of the issuance advice letter will be limited to confirming the arithmetic accuracy of the calculations and to compliance with the specific requirements contained in the issuance advice letter.

Charge Rider

On our behalf, Kentucky Power Company is required, prior to the issuance of any charges, to complete and file a charge rider in the form attached to the Financing Order. The charge rider establishes the initial charges. It also implements the procedures for periodic adjustments to the charges, the procedures to remit charge payments to our collection account and the procedures to reconcile remittances with actual charge-offs. Please read “Description of the Cost Recovery Property—Charge Rider; Charges.”

Statutory True-Ups

The Kentucky Utilities Act mandates that the charges be adjusted at least annually to correct any overcollections or undercollections of the charges and to ensure the expected recovery of amounts sufficient to timely provide payment of all amounts due on the Bonds. While the Kentucky Utilities Act only requires annual adjustments, the Financing Order for the Bonds to be issued by us requires that charges on retail customers to initially be adjusted at least semi-annually. Beginning 12 months prior to the scheduled final payment date of the Bonds, the servicer is also required under the Financing Order to make mandatory true-up adjustments quarterly, which adjustments will be calculated in a manner so that all Bonds are expected to be paid on the Payment Date next following such quarterly true-up adjustment. True-up adjustments may also be made by the servicer under the Financing Order more frequently at any time, without limits as to frequency, in order to ensure the expected recovery of amounts sufficient to timely provide all payments of debt service and other required amounts and charges in connection with the Bonds.

The required debt service payments for a given period and other amounts to be collected pursuant to the charge in that period, such as ongoing financing costs authorized by the Financing Order, are sometimes referred to as the “Periodic Payment Requirement” and is described in more detail under “The Servicing Agreement – True-Up Adjustment Process.” True-up adjustments will be based upon the cumulative differences between the Periodic Payment Requirement and the amount of charge remittances to the trustee. In order to provide for adequate revenues from the charges, the servicer will calculate the adjusted charges using its most recent forecast of revenues and electric consumption and its most current estimates of ongoing transaction-related expenses.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission must be given at least ten days’ notice prior to making any true-up adjustment. In the event any correction to a true-up adjustment due to mathematical errors in the calculation of the adjustment or otherwise is necessary, the correction will be made in a future true-up adjustment so as not to delay the implementation of the requested true-up adjustment.

 

44


Table of Contents

There is no “ceiling,” “cap” or maximum on the level of the charges that may be imposed on retail customers as a result of the true-up process. Through the true-up mechanism, which adjusts for undercollections and overcollections of the charges due to any reason, retail customers share in the liabilities of all other retail customers for the payment of the charges.

In the irrevocable Financing Order, the Kentucky Public Service Commission guarantees that it will act under the Financing Order as expressly authorized by the Kentucky Utilities Act to ensure that expected charge revenues are sufficient to pay scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds and other costs, including fees and expenses, in connection with the Bonds.

Statutory True-Ups-Credit Risk

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has pledged in the Kentucky Utilities Act that neither it nor its agencies, including the Kentucky Public Service Commission, will (1) alter the provisions of the Kentucky Utilities Act, (2) take or permit any action that would impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the security for the Bonds or revise the recovery costs for which recovery is authorized, (3) impair the rights and remedies of the holders, assignees and other financing parties, or, (4) except as permitted in connection with a true-up adjustment authorized by the statute, reduce, alter or impair the charges until the principal, interest, premium, if any, Financing Costs, and any other fees, expenses or charges incurred and contracts to be performed in connection with the Bonds, have been paid and performed in full.

Allocation

Under the terms of the Financing Order, Kentucky Power Company will allocate the Eligible Costs among the revenue classes (residential retail customers and non-residential retail customers) according to the percentages described below under “Description of the Cost Recovery Property-Charge Rider; Charges.”

Servicing Agreement

In the Financing Order, the Kentucky Public Service Commission authorized Kentucky Power Company, as the servicer, to enter into the servicing agreement described under “The Servicing Agreement” in this prospectus.

Binding on Successors

The Financing Order, along with the charges authorized in the Financing Order, is binding on:

 

   

Kentucky Power Company;

 

   

any successor to Kentucky Power Company;

 

   

any other entity responsible for billing and collecting charges on our behalf; and

 

   

any successor to the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

 

45


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE COST RECOVERY PROPERTY

Creation of Cost Recovery Property; Financing Order

The Kentucky Utilities Act defines “securitized property” (defined as “Cost Recovery Property” for purposes of this prospectus) as (i) all rights and interests a utility, its successor, or assignee under a financing order, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive charges authorized under such financing order and to obtain periodic adjustments to those charges and (ii) all collections, claims or proceeds arising from the rights and interests specified in such financing order.

In addition to the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive charges, the Financing Order:

 

   

authorizes the transfer of Cost Recovery Property to us and the issuance of Bonds;

 

   

establishes procedures for periodic true-up adjustments to charges in the event of overcollection or undercollection; and

 

   

provides that the Financing Order is irrevocable and the Kentucky Public Service Commission will not reduce, impair, postpone, terminate or otherwise adjust charges approved in the Financing Order (except for the periodic adjustments to the charges).

Charge Rider; Charges

The charge rider establishes the initial charges. It also implements the minimum requirements for charges, the procedures for periodic adjustments to the charges, the procedures to remit charge payments and the annual procedures allowing the servicer to reconcile remittances with actual charge-offs.

The charges will be payable by all existing and future retail customers of Kentucky Power Company. For more information, please read “The Kentucky Utilities Act—Kentucky Power Company and Other Utilities May Securitize Qualified Costs.”

For purposes of billing the charges, each customer will be designated into one of two groups of retail electric customers, referred to as revenue classes, consisting of residential retail customers and all other retail customers (i.e., non-residential retail customers). Under the terms of the Financing Order, Kentucky Power Company will initially allocate the charges among the revenue classes as follows:

Charge Initial Allocation of Costs to Revenue Classes

 

Revenue Classes

   Allocation Percentage  

Residential

     43.5566

Non-Residential retail customers

     56.4434
  

 

 

 

Total

     100
  

 

 

 

The nonbypassable charge applicable to each revenue class for any period, which must be adjusted on at least a semi-annual basis and may be adjusted more frequently to correct undercollections and overcollections, will be determined based on the allocation percentage of such class and will be calculated according to a methodology approved in the Financing Order, which includes the allocation of Eligible Costs to be recovered through the charge on a percent of revenue basis. Specifically, the interest and principal payments, along with other eligible amounts, to be recovered in a given period, referred to as the Periodic Payment Requirement in the Financing Order, are first allocated on a percent of revenue basis among the revenue classes. The Periodic Payment Requirement, along with undercollections and overcollections from previous periods, to be recovered through the charge from each revenue class is then grossed up (or increased) to account for the projection of

 

46


Table of Contents

uncollectible charges and projection of payment lags between the billing and collection of charges in the period in which the charge will be in effect. The grossed-up amount allocated to each revenue class is then used to calculate a charge based on expected billing to be charged to each customer within that revenue class during the period. Each new customer will be assigned to the appropriate revenue class.

The percentage of the total bill received by an average customer that the cost recovery charge and all other charges represent is set forth below. These charges will be adjusted semi-annually, or more frequently under certain circumstances, by the servicer in accordance with its filings with the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

An estimate of the initial charge for the Bonds would represent approximately   % of the total bill received by a 1,000 kWh residential retail customer as of      , 2025.

Billing and Collection Terms and Conditions

The cost recovery charges will be assessed by the servicer, for our benefit as owner of the Cost Recovery Property, based on revenue from each retail customer from time to time. The servicer is responsible for billing and collecting the charges. Charges will be collected by the servicer from customers as part of its normal collection activities. Charges will be deposited by the servicer into the collection account under the terms of the indenture and the servicing agreement. The servicer will deposit in the collection account payments of charges on each business day based on estimated collections in accordance with the procedures described below under “The Servicing Agreement-Remittances to Collection Account.”

The obligation to pay charges is not subject to any right of set-off in connection with the bankruptcy of the seller or any other entity. The charges are “nonbypassable” in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order. If a retail customer pays only a portion of its bill, a pro-rata amount (based on all charges billed to such retail customer) of charge revenues will be deemed to be collected. In the case of any shortfall, Kentucky Power Company will allocate that shortfall, first, ratably based on the amount owed to Kentucky Power Company or other parties and the amount owed for other fees and charges, other than late charges, and, second, all remaining collections will be allocated to late charges. The portion owed in respect of charges will be further allocated as between the Bonds and another series of bonds that we may issue from time to time. If a customer fails to pay all or any portion of the charges, Kentucky Power Company or its successor transmission and distribution utility may terminate service to such non-paying customer in accordance with the Financing Order, Kentucky Public Service Commission regulations, and applicable statutes.

 

47


Table of Contents

THE SELLER, SERVICER, DEPOSITOR AND SPONSOR

General

Kentucky Power Company will be the seller, servicer and depositor of the Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds, and will be the sponsor of the issuance of the Bonds.

Kentucky Power Company is a fully regulated electric utility organized under Kentucky law providing transmission and distribution service. As of December 31, 2024, Kentucky Power Company provided transmission and distribution service of electric power to approximately 163,000 retail customers, covering a service territory of approximately 4,895 operational square miles. The retail customer base includes a mix of residential and non-residential retail customers. During the 12 months ended December 31, 2024, AEP Kentucky billed approximately 5,321,277,015 retail kilowatt hours of electricity resulting in operating revenues of $706,582,368 and operating income of $36,861,721. Kentucky Power Company is an operating subsidiary of American Electric Power Company, Inc., referred to as AEP, a public utility holding company based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to its customers. AEP’s over 16,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and nearly 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver power to nearly 5.6 million retail customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity. The Bonds do not constitute a debt, liability or other legal obligation of Kentucky Power Company or AEP.

Kentucky Power Company is subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) under the Federal Power Act of 2005 with respect to the issuance of securities, acquisitions and divestitures of utility assets, certain affiliate transactions and other matters. Kentucky Power Company is regulated by the Kentucky Public Service Commission with respect to rates charged for delivery of electricity over its transmission and distribution system for end-use consumption by retail customers, quality of service, and service area certification.

Municipalization

Kentucky law may authorize certain local municipalities to seek to acquire portions of Kentucky Power Company’s electric distribution facilities through the power of eminent domain for use as part of municipally-owned utility systems. Although the power of eminent domain has not been used by municipalities in Kentucky in recent times to acquire electric distribution systems, there can be no assurance that one or more municipalities will not seek to acquire some or all of Kentucky Power Company’s electric distribution facilities while Bonds remain outstanding. The Kentucky Utilities Act specifies that the charges approved by a Kentucky Public Service Commission order shall be collected by an electric utility as well as its “successors.” In the servicing agreement, Kentucky Power Company has covenanted to assert in an appropriate forum that any municipality that acquires any portion of Kentucky Power Company’s electric distribution facilities must be treated as a successor to Kentucky Power Company under the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order and that retail customers in such municipalities remain responsible for payment of the charges. However, the involved municipality might assert that it should not be treated as a successor to Kentucky Power Company for these purposes and that its distribution customers are not responsible for payment of the charges. In any such cases, there can be no assurance that the charges will be collected from customers of municipally-owned utilities who were formerly customers of Kentucky Power Company. Even if the municipally-owned utility acquiring Kentucky Power Company’s utility plant is deemed a successor to Kentucky Power Company for purposed of the Kentucky Utilities Act, the municipally-owned utility may assert that it is not bound by the Kentucky Utilities Act because municipally-owned electric utilities are not subject to the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s jurisdiction, including tariffs filed by Kentucky Power Company with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, or because the legal obligations imposed by the Financing Order do not follow the assets obtained through condemnation. Any decrease in the retail customer base from which charges are collected might result in missing payments or payment delays and lengthened weighted average life of the Bonds.

 

48


Table of Contents

Servicing Experience

The Bonds are the first issuance of bonds Kentucky Power Company has sponsored that are secured by Cost Recovery Property created under the Kentucky Utilities Act; however, AEP through its other subsidiaries has prior experience as servicer in the issuance of bonds similar to the Bonds, including the issuance of the following:

 

  (i)

$336,700,000 aggregate principal amount of senior secured storm recovery bonds by SWEPCO Storm Recovery Funding LLC, a wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of Southwestern Electric Power Company (“SWEPCO”), issued on December 18, 2024, for the purpose of recovering certain storm recovery costs, including carrying charges, related to Hurricanes Laura and Delta and winter storm Uri, and funding a new storm recovery reserve account, where SWEPCO, a subsidiary of AEP, acted as servicer (the “2024 SWEPCO Bonds”);

 

  (ii)

$696,920,000 aggregate principal amount of ratepayer-backed bonds by The Oklahoma Development Finance Authority, a public trust and instrumentality of the State of Oklahoma, issued September 7, 2022, for the purpose of allowing Public Service Company of Oklahoma (“PSO”) to recover certain costs it incurred as a result of winter storm Uri, where PSO, a subsidiary of AEP, acted as servicer (the “2022 ODFA-PSO RBB Bonds”);

 

  (iii)

$235,282,000 aggregate principal amount of senior secured system restoration bonds by AEP Texas Restoration Funding LLC, a wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of AEP Texas Inc. (“AEP Texas”), issued on September 18, 2019, for the purpose of allowing AEP Texas to recover certain distribution-related system restoration costs in its Central Division related to Hurricane Harvey and certain other weather-related events occurring after December 2008 but prior to Hurricane Harvey, where AEP Texas, a subsidiary of AEP, acted as the servicer (the “2019 AEP Texas SRC Bonds”);

 

  (iv)

$380,300,000 aggregate principal amount of senior secured consumer rate relief bonds by Appalachian Consumer Rate Relief Funding LLC, a wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of Appalachian Power Company (“APCo”), issued on November 15, 2013, for the purpose of allowing APCo to recover certain uncollected expanded net energy costs and associated financing costs, where APCo, a subsidiary of AEP, acted as the servicer (the “2013 APCo CRR Bonds”);

 

  (v)

$267,408,000 aggregate principal amount of senior secured phase-in recovery bonds by Ohio Phase-In-Recovery Funding LLC, a wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of Ohio Power Company (“OPCo”), issued on August 1, 2013, for the purpose of allowing OPCo to recover certain uncollected previously approved phase-in costs and associated financing costs, where OPCo, a subsidiary of AEP, acted as the servicer (the “2013 OPCo PIR Bonds”); and

 

  (vi)

$800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior secured transition bonds by AEP Texas Central Transition Funding III LLC, a wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of AEP Texas, issued on March 14, 2012, for the purpose of allowing AEP Texas’s Central Division to recover certain costs related to its transition-to-competition in the State of Texas, where AEP Texas, a subsidiary of AEP, acted as the servicer (the “2012 AEP TCC Transition Bonds” and together with the 2024 SWEPCO Bonds, the 2022 ODFA-PSO RBB Bonds, the 2019 AEP Texas SRC Bonds, the 2013 APCo CRR Bonds, the 2013 OpCo PIR Bonds, the “prior securitizations”).

Kentucky Power Company Customer Base and Electric Energy Consumption in the Kentucky Power Company Service Territory

Kentucky Power Company’s retail customer base consists of two revenue reporting rate classes (the “revenue classes”): residential and non-residential. The revenue classes are broad groups that include accounts with a wide range of load characteristics served under a variety of rate designs.

 

49


Table of Contents

The following tables show the electricity delivered to retail customers, electric delivery revenues and average number of retail customers for each of the two revenue classes for 2024 and each of the four preceding years in the Kentucky Power Company service territory. There can be no assurances that the retail electricity sales, retail electric revenues and number of retail customers or the composition of any of the foregoing will remain at or near the levels reflected in the following tables.

Electricity Delivered to Retail Customers, Electric Delivery Revenues and Retail Customers *

 

Retail Electric Usage (As Measured by Billed GWh Sales)

 

Revenue Class

   2020     2021     2022     2023     2024  

Residential

     1,953        38.64     2,025        39.10     1,958        36.53     1,796        34.23     1,852        34.89

Non-Residential

     3,101        61.36     3,155        60.90     3,401        63.47     3,449        65.77     3,457        65.11
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Retail

     5,054        100.00     5,180        100.00     5,358        100.0     5,245        100.00     5,309        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Distribution Revenue ($ Thousands)

 

Revenue Class

  2020     2021     2022     2023     2024  

Residential

  $ 231,918       47.03   $ 283,526       48.17   $ 313,999       45.28   $ 258,587       44.38   $ 276,694       43.56

Non-Residential

  $ 261,205       52.97   $ 305,050       51.83   $ 379,407       54.72   $ 324,060       55.62   $ 358,559       56.44
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Retail

  $ 493,123       100.00   $ 588,576       100.00   $ 693,405       100.00   $ 582,647       100.00   $ 635,253       100.00
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Average Retail Customers by Revenue Class

 

Revenue Class

  2020     2021     2022     2023     2024  

Residential

    134,284       81.01     133,805       80.89     132,619       80.77     131,090       80.55     130,852       80.52

Non-Residential

    31,478       18.99     31,611       19.11     31,565       19.23     31,653       19.45     31,655       19.48
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Retail

    165,762       100.00     165,416       100.00     164,184       100.00     162,742       100.00     162,507       100.00
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Forecasting Revenue

Kentucky Power Company produces a revenue forecast semi-annually for planning purposes. These forecasts are the basis for earnings projections and capacity/generation planning. “Revenue” means (a) for the “Residential” Revenue Class, all revenues from charges for electric service to residential customers, including base rate revenues and revenue from riders, except for revenue from Kentucky Power’s environmental surcharge mechanism, which is a percent of revenue surcharge authorized pursuant to KRS 278.183; nonrecurring charges as defined by 807 KAR 5:011, Section 1(4), such as a reconnection charge; and pass through charges, which would consist of taxes or fees, if any, not embedded in Kentucky Power’s revenue requirement and cost of service; and (b) for the “Non-Residential” Revenue Class, all revenues from charges to non-residential customers for retail electric service, including base rate revenues and revenue from riders, except for revenue for fuel costs and from Kentucky Power’s environmental surcharge mechanism, nonrecurring charges, and pass through charges.

Kentucky Power Company’s revenue forecast is developed by applying the load forecast for each revenue class, through the next budget year (typically only the first two years of the forecast horizon), to estimated price-load relationships. These price-load relationships are regression models that estimate class level average revenue realizations as a function of either monthly kWh consumption per customer (for the residential and commercial classes) or monthly kWh sales (for all other classes). But the functions may occasionally be nonlinear due to either the nature of on-peak/off-peak pricing structures or tariff price tiers. The functions are estimated based on monthly data taken from Kentucky Power Company’s billing system. Due to the combination of fixed and variable charges inherent in these revenues, these functions are generally downward sloping since the higher fixed charges make up less of the revenue collected as more energy is consumed. The final estimated functions

 

50


Table of Contents

maintain their estimated slopes but are shifted to ensure they pass through data since the most recent base rate case. Once these functions have been estimated, the projected monthly kWh sales from the load forecast are applied to arrive at the projected monthly revenue value.

In producing a revenue forecast, Kentucky Power Company employs regression analysis of customer end-use electricity demand. This method considers economic trends, changes in competing and complimentary fuel prices and changes in appliance saturations, as well as changes in appliance efficiencies such as those mandated by legislation. Weather patterns are also accounted for in weather-sensitive classes. This method captures customer response to changes in the economic environment as well as trends in customer preferences. Peak demand forecasts are then generated using the load forecast as a basis.

The forecast cycle completed during the third quarter is typically adopted as Kentucky Power Company’s official budget. Kentucky Power Company monitors the accuracy of each forecast by conducting variance analysis on a monthly basis while taking into account weather impacts on kWh sales and other deviations from the forecast.

The following table shows the annual variance of forecasted revenue versus actual revenue for Kentucky Power Company’s revenue classes for the following preceding years for which annual revenue forecasts were prepared. There can be no assurances that the variance levels will remain at or near the levels reflected in the following table.

Annual Forecast Variance For Revenue ($000s)(1)

 

     2018      2019      2020      2021      2022(2)      2023(2)      2024  

Residential

                    

Forecast

   $ 250,754      $ 241,472      $ 235,553      $ 253,276        n/a        n/a      $ 314,795  

Actual

   $ 252,342      $ 244,742      $ 242,840      $ 284,380      $ 315,778      $ 263,671      $ 286,859  

Variance

   $ 1,588      $ 3,270      $ 7,287      $ 31,104        n/a        n/a      $ -27,936  

Non-Residential

                    

Forecast

   $ 212,452      $ 211,928      $ 207,494      $ 203,368        n/a        n/a      $ 260,131  

Actual

   $ 205,408      $ 204,497      $ 194,227      $ 203,998      $ 209,461      $ 190,901      $ 229,941  

Variance

   $ -7,044      $ -7,431      $ -13,267      $ 630        n/a        n/a      $ -30,190  

Total

                    

Forecast

   $ 463,206      $ 453,400      $ 443,047      $ 456,644        n/a        n/a      $ 574,926  

Actual

   $ 457,750      $ 449,239      $ 437,067      $ 488,378      $ 525,239      $ 454,571      $ 516,799  

Variance

   $ -5,456      $ -4,162      $ -5,980      $ 31,734        n/a        n/a      $ -58,127  

 

(1)

Forecast sales are temperature normal. Numbers not exact due to rounding.

(2)

Variance forecasts for years 2022 and 2023 were not conducted due to a proposed sale of Kentucky Power Company. The proposed sale was abandoned following the FERC’s order denying the application for authorization of the proposed sale.

Billing and Collections

The charges will be collected by the servicer from customers as part of its normal collection activities. The charges will be deposited by the servicer into the collection account under the terms of the indenture and the servicing agreement. The servicer will deposit in the collection accounts payments of the charges on each business day based on estimated collections in accordance with the procedures described below under “The Servicing Agreement—Remittances to Collection Account.”

The obligation to pay the charges is not subject to set off, counterclaim, charge or defense by the applicable electric utility or other person, including as a result of the electric utility’s failure to provide past, present, or

 

51


Table of Contents

future services, or in connection with the bankruptcy, reorganization, or other insolvency proceeding of the electric utility, any affiliate or any other entity. The charges are nonbypassable in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order. If a customer pays only a portion of its bill, a pro-rata amount (based on all amounts owed by such customer) of the charges will be deemed to be collected provided that late fees and late charges may be allocated to the servicer to the extent consistent with the “Terms and Conditions of Service.”

The servicer is permitted to commingle the charges it collects on our behalf with other funds collected for itself or others prior to remitting such charges to the trustee, pursuant to and subject to the terms of the servicing agreement, the intercreditor agreement, the Financing Order and the Kentucky Utilities Act.

Credit Policy.

In accordance with the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s regulations, the servicer may require deposits from certain applicants for service of existing customers’ accounts to protect it against losses. Deposits may be obtained from customers who cannot demonstrate credit worthiness.

Billing.

The servicer bills the customers once every month, and we expect that an approximately equal number of bills will be distributed each business day. Payments are generally due not later than 21 days after issuance of the related bill. If the due date falls on a holiday or weekend, the due date for payment purposes is the next business day. A bill not paid on or before the due date is considered delinquent. Based on qualifications, customers may be eligible for a budget billing plan. Failure to make timely payments while on any bill payment assistance plan allows the servicer to remove customers from that payment plan, begin account collection activities including the initiation of termination of service.

Collection Process.

Kentucky Power Company historically received the majority of customer payments via electronic fund transfers the U.S. mail and paystations; however, other payment options such as credit/debit cards are also available. Kentucky Power Company may change their collection policies and procedures, consistent with Kentucky Public Service Commission guidelines and the Financing Order, from time to time.

Loss Experience

The following table sets forth information relating to the annual net charge-offs for Kentucky Power Company.

Net Write-Offs as a Percentage of Billed Distribution Revenues

 

     2020     2021     2022     2023     2024  

Billed Electric Revenues ($000)

   $ 493,123     $ 588,576     $ 693,405     $ 582,647     $ 635,253  

Net Write-Offs ($000)

   $ 1,305     $ 3,397     $ 2,483     $ 2,428     $ 911  

Percentage of Billed Revenue

     0.26     0.58     0.36     0.42     0.14

Days Sales Outstanding

The following table sets forth information relating to the average number of days that Kentucky Power Company’s bills for services remained outstanding during the calendar year (or other period referred to below) ending on each of the dates referred to below.

 

52


Table of Contents

Average Days Sales Outstanding

 

     2020      2021      2022      2023      2024  

Average Days Sales Outstanding

     24.5        26.93        23.38        21.89        22.57  

Delinquencies

The following table sets forth information relating to the delinquency experience of Kentucky Power Company for services as of each of the dates shown below.

Delinquencies as a Percentage of Total Billed Revenues

 

     As Of
12/31/20
    As Of
12/31/21
    As Of
12/31/22
    As Of
12/31/23
    As Of
12/31/24
 

1 – 30 days past due

     1.35     1.05     1.17     1.11     0.45

31 – 60 days past due

     0.46     0.15     0.17     0.17     0.11

61 – 90 days past due

     0.28     0.07     0.08     0.07     0.06

90 + days past due

     0.52     0.20     0.09     0.09     0.08

Total

     2.61     1.47     1.51     1.43     0.70

 

*

Delinquencies are calculated based upon the past due amounts as of December 31 for each year as a percentage of total billed electric retail revenue for the relevant year. Totals may not add due to rounding.

Amounts due from retail customers are considered delinquent if a retail customer has paid less than the full amount due by the due date.

Where to Find Information About Kentucky Power Company.

AEP, a public utility holding company that wholly owns our sponsor and sole member, Kentucky Power Company, files periodic reports with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. These SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. AEP maintains a website at https://www.aep.com/, where it posts AEP’s SEC filings as well as other filings and reports about Kentucky Power Company. No information contained on that website (other than the materials specifically incorporated by reference herein) constitutes part of this prospectus.

 

53


Table of Contents

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, THE ISSUING ENTITY

We are a limited liability company formed under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act pursuant to a limited liability company agreement executed by our sole member, Kentucky Power Company, and the filing of a certificate of formation with the Secretary of the State of Delaware. The limited liability company agreement will be amended and restated prior to the issuance date, and all references in this prospectus to our limited liability company agreement mean our amended and restated limited liability company agreement. Our limited liability company agreement restricts us from engaging in activities other than those described in this section. We do not have any employees, but we will pay our member for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the member in connection with its services to us in accordance with our limited liability company agreement and administration agreement. We have summarized selected provisions of our limited liability company agreement below, a copy of which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. On the date of issuance of the Bonds, our capital will be equal to 0.5% of the principal amount of such Bonds issued or such other amount as may allow the Bonds to achieve the desired security rating and treat the Bonds as debt under applicable guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service, which we also refer to as the IRS.

As authorized by the Financing Order or any future financing orders, our organizational documents, as well as the basic documents supporting the Bonds, give us the authority and flexibility to issue Additional Series of bonds and to acquire additional cost recovery property which will be pledged to the payment of other Additional Bonds but only so long as the ratings assigned to the Bonds by the rating agencies would not be downgraded or withdrawn as a result of the issuance of such Additional Series. As a result, we may acquire additional cost recovery property and issue one or more Additional Series that are supported by such additional and separate cost recovery property or other collateral to finance the Eligible Costs approved by a financing order. See “Security for the Bonds — Issuance of Additional Bonds” and “Security for the Bonds — Allocations as Between Series of Bonds” in this prospectus.

Any Additional Series may include terms and conditions that would be unique to that particular Additional Series. If a customer does not pay in full all amounts owed under any bill, including charges relating the Bonds and any Additional Series, Kentucky Power Company, as servicer, is required to allocate any resulting shortfalls in charges ratably based on the amounts of charges owing in respect of the Bonds, any Additional Series of bonds issued by us and any amounts owing to any subsequently created affiliate of Kentucky Power Company which issues securitized bonds. As a result, you may experience delays and reductions in the amounts paid on your Bonds. See “RISK FACTORS—OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS – We and other affiliates of Kentucky Power Company may issue additional bonds.”

However, an Additional Series may not be issued unless the rating agency condition has been satisfied. “Security for the Bonds — Issuance of Additional Bonds” in this prospectus. Any new issuance would be offered pursuant to a separate registration statement or other offering document and may include terms and provisions that would be unique to that particular issuance.

As of the date of this prospectus, we have not carried on any business activities and have no operating history. We are not an agency or instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Kentucky but are responsible to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Public Service Commission as described below under the caption “-Our Relationship with the Kentucky Public Service Commission.”

At the time of issuance of the Bonds, our assets will consist of:

 

   

the Cost Recovery Property and all related charges,

 

   

our rights under the statutory true-up mechanism, including all rights to compel the servicer to file for and obtain periodic adjustments to the charges in accordance with the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order, the charge rider and any charge rider adjustments filed in connection therewith,

 

   

the guarantee of the Kentucky Public Service Commission to implement the statutory true-up mechanism,

 

54


Table of Contents
   

the pledge by the Commonwealth of Kentucky not to impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the rights of the bondholders,

 

   

our rights under the sale agreement pursuant to which we will acquire the Cost Recovery Property, and under the bill of sale delivered by Kentucky Power Company pursuant to the sale agreement,

 

   

our rights under the servicing agreement and any subservicing, agency, or collection agreements executed in connection with the servicing agreement,

 

   

our rights under the intercreditor agreement and any other intercreditor agreement executed in connection with the Cost Recovery Property and the Bonds,

 

   

our rights under the administration agreement and any other administration agreement executed in connection with the Cost Recovery Property and the Bonds,

 

   

the collection account for the Bonds and all subaccounts of the collection account, and all amounts of cash, instruments, investment property or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto from time to time and all financial assets and securities entitlements carried therein or credited thereto,

 

   

all present and future claims, demands, causes and choses in action in respect of any or all of the foregoing,

 

   

all accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts, documents, general intangibles, goods, instruments, investment property, letters of credit, letters-of-credit rights, money, commercial tort claims and supporting obligations related to the foregoing, and

 

   

all payments on or under, and all proceeds in respect of, any or all of the foregoing.

The Indenture provides that the Cost Recovery Property, as well as our other assets, other than any cash released to us by the trustee semi-annually from earnings on the capital subaccount, will be pledged by us to the trustee to secure our obligations in respect of the Bonds. Pursuant to the indenture, the collected charges remitted to the trustee by the servicer must be used to pay principal and interest on the Bonds and our other obligations specified in the Indenture.

Restricted Purpose

We have been created for the sole purpose of:

 

   

acquiring, owning, holding, administering, servicing and entering into agreements regarding the receipt and servicing of (i) the Cost Recovery Property and other collateral-related assets, and (ii) additional Cost Recovery Property and other collateral related to one or more Additional Series and related assets;

 

   

managing, selling, assigning, pledging, collecting amounts due on, or otherwise dealing with (i) the Cost Recovery Property and the other collateral-related assets and (ii) additional Cost Recovery Property and other collateral related to one or more Additional Series and related assets;

 

   

negotiating, authorizing, executing, delivering, assuming and performing our obligations under the basic documents applicable to the Bonds and the transaction documents applicable to any Additional Series;

 

   

filing with the SEC one or more registration statements under the Securities Act and filing such other documents necessary or desirable to register the Bonds or any Additional Series under securities laws;

 

   

authorizing, executing, delivering, issuing and registering the Bonds and each Additional Series;

 

   

making payment on the Bonds and on each Additional Series;

 

   

pledging our interest in (i) the Cost Recovery Property and other collateral to the trustee under the Indenture in order to secure the Bonds and (ii) additional Cost Recovery Property and other collateral related to an Additional Series to the applicable trustee under the corresponding indenture in order to secure such Additional Series; and

 

55


Table of Contents
   

performing other activities that are incidental to, necessary, suitable or convenient to accomplish these purposes.

Our limited liability company agreement does not permit us to engage in any activities not directly related to these purposes, including issuing bonds (other than the Bonds and any Additional Series), borrowing money or making loans to other persons (other than the indebtedness incurred under the basic documents and the transaction documents applicable to any Additional Series). The list of permitted activities set forth in our limited liability company agreement may not be altered, amended or repealed without the affirmative vote of our member and affirmative vote of a majority of our managers, which vote must include the affirmative vote of our independent managers.

Our Relationship with Kentucky Power Company

On the issue date for the Bonds, Kentucky Power Company will sell Cost Recovery Property to us pursuant to a sale agreement between us and Kentucky Power Company. Kentucky Power Company will service the Cost Recovery Property pursuant to a servicing agreement between us and Kentucky Power Company and will provide administrative services to us pursuant to an administration agreement between us and Kentucky Power Company.

Our Relationship with the Kentucky Public Service Commission

Pursuant to the Financing Order,

 

   

the Kentucky Public Service Commission or its designated representative has a joint decision-making role with Kentucky Power Company with respect to the structuring, marketing and pricing of the Bonds and all matters related to the structuring and pricing of the Bonds will be determined through a joint decision of Kentucky Power Company and the Kentucky Public Service Commission or its designated representative,

 

   

Kentucky Power Company is directed to take all necessary steps to ensure that the Kentucky Public Service Commission or its designated representative is provided sufficient and timely information to allow the Kentucky Public Service Commission or its designated representative to fully participate in, and exercise its decision-making power over, the proposed securitization, and

 

   

the servicer will file periodic adjustments to charges with the Kentucky Public Service Commission on our behalf.

We have also agreed that certain reports concerning charge collections will be provided to the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

Our Management

Pursuant to our limited liability company agreement, our business will be managed by five or more managers, of whom at least two are independent managers, one of which will be appointed from time to time by Kentucky Power Company or, in the event that Kentucky Power Company transfers its interest in us, by our owner or owners, and the other of which will be appointed by the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Following the initial issuance of Bonds, we will have at least two independent managers, each of whom, among other things, is an individual who (i) has prior experience as an independent director, independent manager or independent member for special-purpose entities, (ii) is employed by a nationally-recognized company that provides professional Independent Managers and other corporate services in the ordinary course of its business, (iii) is duly appointed as an independent manager of ours and (iv) is not and has not been for at least five years from the date of his or her appointment, and while serving as an Independent Manager will not be, any of the following:

 

   

a member, partner, equity holder, manager, director, officer or employee of us, Kentucky Power Company or any of our affiliates or any of our owner’s affiliates (other than as an independent director,

 

56


Table of Contents
 

independent manager or special member for a special purpose bankruptcy-remote entity); provided, that the indirect or beneficial ownership of stock of Kentucky Power Company or its affiliates through a mutual fund or similar diversified investment vehicle with respect to which Kentucky Power Company does not have discretion or control over the investments held by such diversified investment vehicle shall not preclude such owner from being an independent manager,

 

   

a creditor, supplier or service provider (including provider of professional services) to us, Kentucky Power Company or any of their respective equity holders or affiliates, other than a nationally recognized company that routinely provides professional independent managers or independent directors and other corporate services to us, Kentucky Power Company or any of its affiliates in the ordinary course of its business,

 

   

a family member of any member, partner, equity holder, manager, director, officer, employee, creditor, supplier or service provider, or

 

   

a person who controls (whether directly, indirectly or otherwise) Kentucky Power Company or its affiliates or any member, partner, equity holder, manager, officer, employee, director, creditor, supplier or service provider described above.

Kentucky Power Company, as our sole member, has appointed William Bleier as independent manager and the Kentucky Public Service Commission has appointed Sean Emerick as the other independent manager. None of our managers or officers has been involved in any legal proceedings which are specified in Item 401(f) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K.

The following is a list of our managers as of the date of this prospectus:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Background

Trevor I. Mihalik   58   President and manager of the issuing entity. Vice president and chief financial officer of Kentucky Power Company, executive vice president and chief financial officer of AEP, and executive vice president, chief financial officer and director of American Electric Power Service Corporation, a subsidiary of AEP (Service Corporation) since January 2025. Executive vice president and group president of Sempra from November 2023 until January 2025. From 2012 through 2023, he held various senior leadership positions at Sempra including executive vice president and chief financial officer, senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer.
Matthew D. Fransen   48   Manager of the issuing entity. Vice president and treasurer of Kentucky Power Company, treasurer of AEP and senior vice president-treasury and finance of American Electric Power Service Corporation, a subsidiary of AEP (Service Corporation) since December 1, 2024. Joined the Service Corporation in January 2002 and was appointed as director-strategic initiatives in 2010, appointed managing director-strategic initiatives in 2013, became vice president-renewables in February 2016 and vice president-regulated infrastructure development in June 2021. Treasurer of certain other AEP system companies.
Franz D. Messner   57   Assistant treasurer and manager of the issuing entity. Assistant treasurer of Kentucky Power Company and managing director of corporate finance of American Electric Power Service Corporation, a subsidiary of AEP (Service Corporation) since May 2016, and was director of corporate planning and budgeting prior to that. Assistant Treasurer of certain other AEP system companies.

 

57


Table of Contents

Name

 

Age

 

Background

Sean Emerick   59   Manager of the issuing entity. Lead project & program manager since October 2022 for CT Corporation Staffing, Inc., a subsidiary of CT Corporation System. Director, special services, CT Corporation, since 2014. From 2011 to 2014, regional service manager for CT Corporation and, prior to that, vice president and general manager of corporate services at National Registered Agents, Inc. from 2007 to 2011.
William Bleier   34   Manager of the issuing entity. Associate Director, Customer Service for CT Corporation since 2020. From 2017 to 2020 served as Service Manager, Large Corporations and prior to that served as Account Manager, Mid-Market from 2014 to 2017.

Manager Fees and Limitation on Liabilities

We have not paid any compensation to any manager since we were formed. We will not compensate our managers, other than the independent managers, for their services on our behalf. We will pay the annual fees of the independent managers from our revenues and will reimburse them for reasonable expenses. These expenses include the reasonable compensation, expenses and disbursements of the agents, representatives, experts and counsel that the independent managers may employ in connection with the exercise and performance of his or her rights and duties under our limited liability company agreement.

Our limited liability company agreement provides that to the extent permitted by law, the managers will not be personally liable for any of our debts, obligations or liabilities. Our limited liability company agreement further provides that, except as described below, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we will indemnify the managers against any liability incurred in connection with their services as managers for us if they acted in good faith and in a manner which they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests. With respect to a criminal action, the managers will be indemnified unless they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. We will not indemnify the manager for any judgment, penalty, fine or other expense directly caused by their fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct. In addition, unless ordered by a court, we will not indemnify the managers if a final adjudication establishes that their acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and were material to the cause of action. We will pay any indemnification amounts owed to the managers out of funds in the collection accounts, subject to the priority of payments described in “Security for the Bonds-How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated.”

We Are a Separate and Distinct Legal Entity from Kentucky Power Company

Under our limited liability company agreement, we may not file a voluntary petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, without the affirmative vote of our member and the affirmative vote of all of our managers, including the independent managers. Kentucky Power Company has agreed that it will not cause us to file a voluntary petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code. Our limited liability company agreement requires us, except for financial reporting purposes (to the extent required by generally accepted accounting principles) and for federal income tax purposes, and, to the extent consistent with applicable state law, state income and franchise tax purposes, to maintain our existence separate from Kentucky Power Company including:

 

   

taking all necessary steps to continue our identity as a separate legal entity;

 

   

making it apparent to third persons that we are an entity with assets and liabilities distinct from those of Kentucky Power Company, other affiliates of Kentucky Power Company, the managers or any other person; and

 

   

making it apparent to third persons that, except for federal and certain other tax purposes, we are not a division of Kentucky Power Company or any of its affiliated entities or any other person.

 

58


Table of Contents

Administration Agreement

Kentucky Power Company will, pursuant to an administration agreement between Kentucky Power Company and us, provide administrative services to us, including services relating to the preparation of financial statements, required filings with the SEC, any tax returns we might be required to file under applicable law, qualifications to do business, and minutes of our managers’ meetings. We will pay Kentucky Power Company a fixed fee of $100,000 per annum, payable in installments of $50,000 on each Payment Date for performing these services, which shall be prorated based on the fraction of a calendar year during which Kentucky Power Company provides any of the services set forth in the administration agreement, plus we will reimburse Kentucky Power Company for all costs and expenses for services performed by unaffiliated third parties and actually incurred by Kentucky Power Company in performing such services described above.

Intercreditor Agreement

Kentucky Power Company is a party to the KPCo Receivables Purchase Agreement, under which it sells a portion of its accounts receivable to AEP Credit, a Kentucky Power Company affiliate, which in turn sells percentage interests in such receivables to financial institutions pursuant to the AEP Receivables Purchase Agreement. Kentucky Power Company has been appointed under the terms of the KPCo Receivables Agency Agreement as an agent for AEP Credit and the Receivables Agent for purposes of collecting and servicing the Kentucky Power Company receivables sold under this arrangement. Although the charges collected with respect to the Bonds are not subject to such receivable financial arrangement, the charges and accounts receivable are collected from some of the same customers of Kentucky Power Company and are expected to be collected for the foreseeable future under a single bill sent monthly to those customers. The Receivables Agent for such receivables financing arrangement will, prior to the issuance of the Bonds, execute the intercreditor agreement (or a joinder thereto) with AEP Credit, Kentucky Power Company, us and the trustee. The intercreditor agreement provides, among other things, that (i) the charges collected with respect to the Bonds are excluded from the assets sold under the receivables financing arrangement, (ii) in the event the accounts receivable investors have the right to replace Kentucky Power Company as collection agent upon the occurrence of certain events, such investors will not do so without the consent of the trustee (acting at the written direction of bondholders holding a majority in principal amount of the Bonds), and (iii) in the event that the trustee (acting at the written direction of the bondholders holding a majority in principal amount of the Bonds) has the right to replace Kentucky Power Company as servicer under the servicing agreement, the trustee (acting at the written direction of such bondholders) will not replace Kentucky Power Company without the consent of the Receivables Agent for the accounts receivable investors.

If Kentucky Power Company becomes a party to any future trade receivables purchase and sale arrangement or similar arrangement under which it sells all or any portion of its accounts receivables, or if Kentucky Power Company hereafter causes Cost Recovery Property or other similar property to be created under a separate financing order and acts as servicer for such Cost Recovery Property, or similar property, consisting of non-bypassable charges payable by Kentucky Power Company’s customers comparable to those sold by the seller pursuant to the sale agreement, in connection with a separate issuance of bonds, Kentucky Power Company and the other parties to such arrangement shall enter into a joinder or amendment to the intercreditor agreement or into a separate intercreditor agreement in connection therewith, and the terms of the documentation evidencing such trade receivables purchase and sale arrangement or similar arrangement shall expressly exclude the charges from any receivables or other assets pledged or sold under such arrangement and the rating agency condition shall be satisfied. See “RISK FACTORS–SERVICING RISKS–If we replace Kentucky Power Company as the servicer, we may experience difficulties finding and using a replacement servicer.”

Continuing Disclosure: SEC Filings

We plan to file with the SEC required periodic and current reports related to the Bonds consistent with the disclosure and reporting regime established in Regulation AB and will also post those periodic and current reports at a website associated with us or our affiliates.

 

59


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE BONDS

General

We have summarized below selected provisions of the indenture and the Bonds. A form of the indenture and series supplement are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The Bonds are not a debt, liability or other obligation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Kentucky Public Service Commission or of any political subdivision, governmental agency, authority or instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and do not represent an interest in or legal obligation of Kentucky Power Company or any of its affiliates, other than us. Neither Kentucky Power Company nor any of its affiliates will guarantee or insure the Bonds. The Financing Order authorizing the issuance of the Bonds does not constitute a pledge of the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or of any of its political subdivisions. The issuance of the Bonds under the Kentucky Utilities Act will not directly, indirectly or contingently obligate the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any of its political subdivisions to levy or to pledge any form of taxation for the Bonds or to make any appropriation for their payment.

We will issue the bonds and secure their payment under an indenture that we will enter into with U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as trustee, referred to in this prospectus as the “trustee.” We will issue the Bonds in minimum denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, except for one bond which may be of a smaller denomination. The initial principal balance, scheduled final payment date, final maturity date and interest rate for the Bonds are stated in the table below:

 

Tranche

   Expected
Weighted
Average Life
(Years)
     Principal Amount
Offered*
     Scheduled Final
Payment Date
     Final
Maturity Date
     Interest Rate  

A

      $                        
 
*

Principal amounts are approximate and subject to change.

The scheduled final payment date for the Bonds is the date when the outstanding principal balance will be reduced to zero if we make payments according to the sinking fund schedule. The final maturity date for the Bonds is the date when we are required to pay the entire remaining unpaid principal balance, if any, of all outstanding Bonds. The failure to pay the principal of the Bonds by the final maturity date is an event of default, but the failure to pay the principal of the Bonds by the scheduled final payment date will not be an event of default. Please read “-Interest Payments” and “-Principal Payments” and “-Events of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default” in this prospectus.

Payment and Record Dates and Payment Sources

Beginning _________, 2026, we will make payments on the Bonds semi-annually on _____ and _____ of each year, or, if that day is not a business day, the following business day (each, a payment date). So long as the Bonds are in book-entry form, on each payment date, we will make interest and principal payments to the persons who are the holders of record as of the business day immediately prior to that payment date, which is referred to as the “record date.” If we issue certificated Bonds to beneficial owners of the Bonds, the record date will be the last business day of the calendar month immediately preceding the payment date. On each payment date, we will pay amounts on outstanding Bonds from amounts available in the collection account and the related subaccounts held by the trustee in the priority set forth under “Security for the Bonds—How Funds in the Collection Account Will Be Allocated” in this prospectus. These available amounts, which will include amounts collected by the servicer for us with respect to the charges, are described in greater detail under “Security for the Bonds-How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated” and “The Servicing Agreement-Remittances to Collection Account” in this prospectus.

 

60


Table of Contents

Interest Payments

Interest on the Bonds will accrue from and including the issue date to but excluding the first payment date, and thereafter from and including the previous payment date to but excluding the applicable payment date until the Bonds have been paid in full, at the interest rate indicated on the cover of this prospectus and in the table above on page 60. Each of those periods is referred to as an “interest accrual period.” We will calculate interest on the Bonds on the basis of a 360 day year of 12 30-day months.

On each payment date, we will pay interest on the Bonds equal to the following amounts:

 

   

if there has been a payment default, any interest payable but unpaid on any prior payment date, together with interest on such unpaid interest, if any, and

 

   

accrued interest on the principal balance of the Bonds as of the close of business on the preceding payment date (or with respect to the initial payment date, the date of the original issuance of the Bonds) after giving effect to all payments of principal made on the preceding payment date, if any.

We will pay interest on the Bonds before we pay principal on the Bonds. Interest payments will be made from collections of charges, including amounts available in the excess funds subaccount and, if necessary, the amounts available in the capital subaccount. Please read “Security for the Bonds-How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated” in this prospectus.

Please read “Security for the Bonds-How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated” in this prospectus.

Principal Payments

On each payment date, we will pay principal of the Bonds to the bondholders equal to the sum, without duplication, of:

 

   

the unpaid principal amount of any bond whose final maturity date is on that payment date or, if the principal of the Bonds has been accelerated following an event of default, payment of the principal of the Bonds, without regard to the sinking fund schedule, and

 

   

payment of the principal of the Bonds in accordance with the sinking fund schedule, including any previously scheduled payments of principal that were not paid on prior payment dates.

On any payment date, unless an event of default has occurred and is continuing and the Bonds have been declared due and payable, the trustee will make principal payments on the Bonds only until the outstanding principal balances of those Bonds have been reduced to the principal balances specified in the applicable sinking fund schedule for that payment date. Accordingly, principal of the Bonds may be paid later, but not sooner, than reflected in the expected sinking fund schedule, except in the case of an acceleration. The entire unpaid principal balance of the Bonds will be due and payable on the final maturity date. The failure to make a scheduled payment of principal on the Bonds because there are not sufficient funds in the collection account does not constitute a default or an event of default under the indenture, except for the failure to pay in full the unpaid balance upon the final maturity date.

Unless the Bonds have been accelerated following an event of default, any excess funds remaining in the collection account after payment of principal, interest, applicable fees and expenses and payments to the applicable subaccounts of the collection account will be retained in the excess funds subaccount until applied on a subsequent payment date.

If an event of default (other than a breach by the Commonwealth of Kentucky of its pledge) has occurred and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then

 

61


Table of Contents

outstanding may declare the Bonds to be immediately due and payable, in which event the entire unpaid principal amount of the Bonds will become due and payable. Please read “-Events of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default.” If there is a shortfall in the amounts available to make principal payments on the Bonds that are due and payable, including upon an acceleration following an event of default, the trustee will distribute principal from the collection account to the Bonds based on the principal amount then due and payable on the payment date. However, the nature of our business will result in payment of principal upon an acceleration of the Bonds being made as funds become available. Please read “RISK FACTORS—OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS—Foreclosure of the trustee’s lien on the Cost Recovery Property for the Bonds might not be practical, and acceleration of the Bonds before maturity might have little practical effect.” and “-You may experience material payment delays or incur a loss on your investment in the Bonds because the source of funds for payment is limited” in this prospectus.

The expected sinking fund schedule below sets forth the corresponding principal payment that is scheduled to be made on each payment date for the Bonds from the issuance date to the scheduled final payment date. Similarly, the sinking fund schedule below sets forth the principal balance that is scheduled to remain outstanding on each payment date for the Bonds from the issuance date to the scheduled final payment date.

 

62


Table of Contents

Expected Sinking Fund Schedule(1)

 

Semi-Annual
Payment Date

   Tranche A  
   $        
   $    
   $    
   $    
   $    
   $    
  

 

 

 

Total Payments(2)

   $    
 
(1)

Terms are preliminary and subject to change.

(2)

Totals may not add up due to rounding.

We cannot assure you that the principal balance of the Bonds will be reduced at the rate indicated in the table above. The actual reduction in principal balances may occur more slowly. The actual reduction in principal balances will not occur more quickly than indicated in the above table, except in the case of acceleration due to an event of default under the indenture. The Bonds will not be in default if principal is not paid as specified in the schedule above unless the principal is not paid in full on or before the final maturity date.

 

63


Table of Contents

Expected Principal Ending Balances(1)(2)

Outstanding Principal Balance

 

Semi-Annual
Payment Date

   Tranche A
Balance
 

Issuance Date

   $        
     $      
     $      
     $      
     $      
 
(1)

Terms are preliminary and subject to change.

(2)

Totals may not add up due to rounding.

On each payment date, the trustee will make principal payments to the extent the principal balance of the Bonds exceeds the amount indicated for that payment date in the table above and to the extent of funds available in the collection account after payment of certain of our fees and expenses and after payment of interest.

Distribution Following Acceleration

Upon an acceleration of the maturity of the Bonds, the total outstanding principal balance of and interest accrued on the Bonds will become due and payable. Although principal will be due and payable upon acceleration, the true-up mechanism will not be utilized to increase the charges and the amount of the charges will continue to be based upon scheduled principal payments to be made in accordance with the sinking fund schedule. The nature of our business will result in principal being paid as charges are collected and funds become available. Please read “RISK FACTORS-OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS—Foreclosure of the trustee’s lien on the Cost Recovery Property for the Bonds might not be practical, and acceleration of the Bonds before maturity might have little practical effect.” and “Risk Factors-You may experience material payment delays or incur a loss on your investment in the Bonds because the source of funds for payment is limited” in this prospectus.

Optional Redemption

We may not voluntarily redeem the Bonds.

Payments on the Bonds

The trustee will pay on each payment date to the holders of the Bonds, to the extent of available funds in the collection account, all payments of principal and interest then due. The trustee will make each payment other than the final payment with respect to any Bonds to the holders of record of the Bonds on the record date for that payment date. The trustee will make the final payment for the Bonds, however, only upon presentation and surrender of the Bonds at the office or agency of the trustee specified in the notice given by the trustee of the final payment. The trustee will mail or make available electronically a notice of the final payment to the bondholders no later than five days prior to the final payment date, specifying the date set for the final payment and the amount of the payment.

The failure to pay accrued interest on any payment date (even if the failure is caused by a shortfall in charges received) will result in an event of default for the Bonds unless such failure is cured within five business

 

64


Table of Contents

days. Please read “-Events of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default.” Any interest not paid when due (plus interest on the defaulted interest at the applicable interest rate to the extent lawful) will be payable to the bondholders on a special record date. The special record date will be at least 15 business days prior to the date on which the trustee is to make such special payment (a “special payment date”). We will fix any special record date and special payment date. At least ten days before any special record date, the trustee will mail or make available electronically to each affected bondholder a notice that states the special record date, the special payment date and the amount of defaulted interest (plus interest on the defaulted interest) to be paid.

The entire unpaid principal amount of the Bonds will be due and payable:

 

   

on the final maturity date,

 

   

if an event of default under the indenture occurs and is continuing and the trustee or the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds have declared the Bonds to be immediately due and payable.

However, the nature of our business will result in payment of principal upon an acceleration of the Bonds being made as funds become available. Please read “OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS - Foreclosure of the trustee’s lien on the Cost Recovery Property for the Bonds might not be practical, and acceleration of the Bonds before maturity might have little practical effect.” and “-You may experience material payment delays or incur a loss on your investment in the Bonds because the source of funds for payment is limited.”

At the time, if any, we issue the Bonds in the form of definitive bonds and not to DTC or its nominee, the trustee will make payments on a payment date or a special payment date by wire transfer to each holder of a definitive bond of record on the applicable record date to an account maintained by the payee.

If any special payment date or other date specified for any payments to bondholders is not a business day, the trustee will make payments scheduled to be made on that special payment date or other date on the next succeeding business day and no interest will accrue upon the payment during the intervening period.

Fees and Expenses

As set forth in the table below, the issuing entity is obligated to pay fees to the servicer, the trustee, its independent managers and Kentucky Power Company as administrator. The following table illustrates this arrangement.

 

Recipient

  

Source of Payment

  

Fees and Expenses Payable

Servicer    Charge collections and investment earnings.    0.05% of the initial principal balance of the Bonds on an annualized basis (so long as servicer is Kentucky Power Company or an affiliate)
Trustee    Charge collections and investment earnings.    $5,000 per annum; plus expenses
Independent Managers    Charge collections and investment earnings.    $1,500 per annum; plus expenses
Administration Fee    Charge collections and investment earnings.    $50,000 per annum; plus expenses

The annual servicing fee payable to any servicer not affiliated with Kentucky Power Company shall not at any time exceed 0.6% of the initial principal balance of the Bonds unless such higher rate is approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission. The charges will also be used by the trustee for the payment of our other financing costs and expenses relating to the Bonds, such as accounting and audit fees, rating agency fees and legal fees.

 

65


Table of Contents

Bonds Will Be Issued in Book-Entry Form

The Bonds will be available to investors only in the form of book-entry Bonds. You may hold your bonds through DTC in the United States, Clearstream Banking, Luxembourg, S.A., referred to as Clearstream, or Euroclear in Europe. You may hold your bonds directly with one of these systems if you are a participant in the system or indirectly through organizations that are participants.

The Role of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear

Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, will hold the global bond or bonds representing the Bonds. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold omnibus positions on behalf of the Clearstream customers and Euroclear participants, respectively, through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries. These depositaries will, in turn, hold these positions in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

The Function of DTC

DTC, the world’s largest securities depository, is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments (from over 100 countries) that DTC’s participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The DTC Rules applicable to its Participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org.

The Function of Clearstream

Clearstream holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream customers through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream customers, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities. Transactions may be settled by Clearstream in any of various currencies, including United States dollars. Clearstream provides to its customers, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream also deals with domestic securities markets in various countries through established depositary and custodial relationships. Clearstream is registered as a bank in Luxembourg and therefore is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, which supervises Luxembourg banks. Clearstream’s customers are world-wide financial institutions including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, among others, and may include the underwriters of the Bonds. Clearstream’s U.S. customers are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Clearstream has customers located in various countries. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to other institutions that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with an account holder of Clearstream. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.

 

66


Table of Contents

The Function of Euroclear

The Euroclear System was created in 1968 in Brussels. Euroclear holds securities and book-entry interests in securities for Euroclear participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Euroclear participants, and between Euroclear participants and participants of certain other securities intermediaries through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Such transactions may be settled in any of various currencies, including United States dollars. The Euroclear System includes various other services, including, among other things, safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement, securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements for cross-market transfers with DTC described below. The Euroclear System is operated by Euroclear Bank SA/NV. Euroclear participants include central banks and other banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters of the Bonds. Indirect access to the Euroclear System is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

Terms and Conditions of Euroclear

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with Euroclear are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). These Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within the Euroclear System, withdrawals of securities and cash from the Euroclear System and receipts of payments with respect to securities in the Euroclear System. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific securities to specific securities clearance accounts. Euroclear acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.

The Rules for Transfers Among DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear Participants

Transfers between DTC participants will occur in accordance with DTC rules. Transfers between Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with their applicable rules and operating procedures and will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional securities held in registered form.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its depositary; however, those cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in that system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines, which will be based on European time. The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving Bonds in DTC and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream customers and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of securities in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a participant will be made during the subsequent securities settlement processing, dated the business day following the DTC settlement date, and those credits or any transactions in those securities settled during that processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream customer or Euroclear participant on that business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of securities by or through a Clearstream customer or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

 

67


Table of Contents

DTC Will Be the Holder of the Bonds

The bondholders that are not participants or indirect participants but desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or other interest in, Bonds may do so only through participants and indirect participants. In addition, the bondholders will receive all payments of principal of and interest on the Bonds from the trustee through the participants, who in turn will receive them from DTC. Under a book-entry format, the bondholders may experience some delay in their receipt of payments because payments will be remitted by the trustee to Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. DTC will forward those payments to its participants, who thereafter will forward them to indirect participants or the bondholders. It is anticipated that the only “bondholder” will be Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. The trustee will not recognize the bondholders as bondholders, as that term is used in the indenture, and the bondholders will be permitted to exercise the rights of bondholders only indirectly through the participants, who in turn will exercise the rights of the bondholders through DTC.

Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and its operations, DTC is required to make book-entry transfers of book-entry certificates among participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the Bonds and is required to receive and transmit payments of principal and interest on the Bonds. Participants and indirect participants with whom the bondholders have accounts with respect to the Bonds similarly are required to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit those payments on behalf of their respective the bondholders. Accordingly, although the bondholders will not possess Bonds, the bondholders will receive payments and will be able to transfer their interests.

Because DTC can act only on behalf of participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect participants and certain banks, the ability of a bondholder to pledge Bonds to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of those bonds, may be limited due to the lack of a physical certificate for those bonds.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a bondholder under the indenture only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account with DTC the Bonds are credited. Additionally, DTC has advised us that it will take those actions with respect to specified percentages of the Collateral amount only at the direction of and on behalf of participants whose holdings include interests that satisfy those specified percentages. DTC may take conflicting actions with respect to other interests to the extent that those actions are taken on behalf of participants whose holdings include those interests.

Except as required by law, none of any underwriter, the servicer, Kentucky Power Company, the trustee, us or any other party will have any liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in the certificates held by Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

How Bond Payments Will Be Credited by Clearstream and Euroclear

Payments with respect to Bonds held through Clearstream or Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants in accordance with the applicable system’s rules and operating procedures, to the extent received by its depositary. Those payments will be subject to tax reporting in accordance with relevant United States tax laws and regulations. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in this prospectus. Clearstream or the Euroclear operator, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a bondholder under the indenture on behalf of a Clearstream customer or Euroclear participant only in accordance with its applicable rules and operating procedures and subject to its depositary’s ability to effect those actions on its behalf through DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the Bonds among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and those procedures may be discontinued at any time.

 

68


Table of Contents

Definitive Bonds

We will issue Bonds in registered, certificated form to bondholders, or their nominees, rather than to DTC, only under the circumstances provided in the indenture, which will include: (1) us advising the trustee in writing that DTC is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities as nominee and depositary with respect to the book-entry bonds and that we are unable to locate a qualified successor, (2) our electing to terminate the book-entry system through DTC, with written notice to the trustee, or (3) after the occurrence of an event of default under the indenture, holders of Bonds aggregating not less than a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Bonds maintained as book-entry bonds advising us, the trustee, and DTC in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through DTC (or a successor) is no longer in the best interests of those bondholders. Upon issuance of definitive bonds, the Bonds evidenced by such definitive bonds will be transferable directly (and not exclusively on a book-entry basis) and registered holders will deal directly with the trustee with respect to transfers, notices and payments.

Upon surrender by DTC of the definitive securities representing the Bonds and instructions for registration, the issuing entity will sign and the trustee will authenticate and deliver the Bonds in the form of definitive bonds, and thereafter the trustee will recognize the registered holders of the definitive bonds as bondholders under the indenture.

The trustee will make payment of principal of and interest on the Bonds directly to bondholders in accordance with the procedures set forth herein and in the indenture. The trustee will make interest payments and principal payments to bondholders in whose names the definitive bonds were registered at the close of business on the related record date. The trustee will make payments by wire transfer to the bondholder as described in the indenture or in such other manner as may be provided in the series supplement. The trustee will make the final payment on any Bond (whether definitive bonds or notes registered in the name of Cede & Co.), however, only upon presentation and surrender of the bond on the final payment date at the office or agency that is specified in the notice of final payment to bondholders. The trustee will provide the notice to registered bondholders not later than the fifth day prior to the final payment date.

Definitive bonds will be transferable and exchangeable at the offices of the transfer agent and registrar, which initially will be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the transfer agent and registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

Conditions of Issuance of Additional Bonds and Acquisition of Additional Cost Recovery Property

We have been organized as a special purpose finance subsidiary of Kentucky Power Company for the limited purpose of holding Cost Recovery Property and issuing the Bonds and any Additional Series. Each series of bonds issued by us in the future, if any, will be secured by additional and separate Cost Recovery Property and other collateral pledged to secure such Additional Series. As a result, we may acquire additional Cost Recovery Property and issue one or more series of bonds that are supported by such additional and separate Cost Recovery Property or other collateral to finance the Eligible Costs approved by a subsequent financing order issued by the Kentucky Public Service Commission to Kentucky Power Company.

We may issue Additional Series in the future, if any, and acquire additional Cost Recovery Property after the issuance of the Bonds described in this prospectus, subject to satisfaction of the rating agency conditions and the other conditions described in the Indenture.

Kentucky Power Company has agreed under the sale agreement that the execution of a joinder to the intercreditor agreement is a condition precedent to the sale of Cost Recovery Property by Kentucky Power Company to secure an Additional Series. Please read “Sale Agreement-Covenants of the Seller” in this prospectus.

 

69


Table of Contents

Any Additional Series issued by us in the future may include terms and provisions that would be unique to that particular series of additional bonds. Any new issuance would be offered pursuant to a separate registration statement or other offering document and may include terms and provisions that would be unique to that particular issuance.

Allocations as Between Series

The Financing Order requires the cost recovery charges to be shown as a separate line item on the periodic bills sent to customers and that each bill state the portion of charges applicable to the revenue class as approved in the Financing Order, among with other charges and information that must be included on customer bills. Although each Additional Series will have its own Cost Recovery Property reflecting the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive a separate charge, charges relating to the Bonds and charges relating to any Additional Series will be collected through single periodic bills to each customer. In the event a customer does not pay in full all amounts owed under any bill including charges, the servicer is required to allocate partial payments ratably among charges associated with the Bonds and Kentucky Power Company’s other billed amounts that is consistent with Kentucky Power Company’s current process for allocating partial payments. Please read “The Servicing Agreement — Remittances to Collection Account” and “RISK FACTORS—OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS – We and other affiliates of Kentucky Power Company may issue additional bonds” in this prospectus.

Access of Bondholders

Upon written request of any bondholder or group of bondholders of Bonds evidencing not less than 10 percent of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Bonds, the trustee will afford the bondholder or bondholders making such request a copy of a current list of bondholders for purposes of communicating with other bondholders with respect to their rights under the indenture.

The indenture does not provide for any annual or other meetings of bondholders.

Reports to Bondholders

On or prior to each payment date, special payment date or any other date specified in the indenture for payments with respect to the Bonds, the servicer will deliver to the trustee, and the trustee will make available on its website (currently located at https://pivot.usbank.com), a statement prepared by the servicer with respect to the payment to be made on the payment date, special payment date or other date, as the case may be, setting forth the following information:

 

   

the amount of the payment to bondholders allocable to (1) principal and (2) interest,

 

   

the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Bonds, before and after giving effect to payments allocated to principal reported immediately above,

 

   

the difference, if any, between the amount specified immediately above and the principal amount scheduled to be outstanding on that date according to the related expected amortization schedule,

 

   

any other transfers and payments to be made on such payment date, including amounts paid to the trustee and the servicer, and

 

   

the amounts on deposit in the capital subaccount and the excess funds subaccount, after giving effect to the foregoing payments.

Unless and until Bonds are no longer issued in book-entry form, the reports will be provided to the depository for the Bonds, or its nominee, as sole beneficial owner of the Bonds. The reports will be available to bondholders upon written request to the trustee or the servicer. Such reports will not constitute financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The financial information provided to bondholders will not be examined and reported upon by an independent public accountant. In addition, an independent public accountant will not provide an opinion on the financial information.

 

70


Table of Contents

Within the prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes after the end of each calendar year during the term of the Bonds, the trustee, so long as it is acting as paying agent and transfer agent and registrar for the Bonds, will, upon written request by us or any bondholder, mail to persons who at any time during the calendar year were bondholders and received any payment on the Bonds, a statement containing certain information for the purposes of the bondholder’s preparation of United States federal and state income tax returns.

We intend to file with the SEC reports related to the Bonds consistent with the disclosure and regulatory regime established by Regulation AB. Such reports will be filed under the name of Kentucky Power Cost Recovery, LLC and will include reports on Form 10-D, Form 10-K and Form 8-K. Please read “The Servicing Agreement – Reporting and Evidence as to Compliance” in this prospectus.

Website Disclosures

We will, to the extent permitted by and consistent with our legal obligations under applicable law, cause to be posted on a website associated with Kentucky Power Company, currently located at www.aep.com, periodic reports containing to the extent such information is reasonably available to us:

 

   

the final prospectus for the Bonds,

 

   

a statement of charge remittances made to the trustee,

 

   

a statement reporting the balances in the collection account and in each subaccount of the collection account as of the end of each quarter or the most recent date available,

 

   

a statement showing the balance of outstanding Bonds that reflects the actual periodic payments made on the Bonds during the applicable period,

 

   

the semi-annual servicer’s certificate delivered for the Bonds pursuant to the servicing agreement,

 

   

the monthly servicer’s certificate delivered for the Bonds pursuant to the servicing agreement,

 

   

the text (or a link to the website where a reader can find the text) of each true-up filing in respect of the outstanding Bonds and the results of each such true-up filing,

 

   

any change in the long-term or short-term credit ratings of the servicer assigned by the rating agencies,

 

   

material legislative or regulatory developments directly relevant to the Bonds, and

 

   

any reports and other information that we are required to file with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

Information contained on AEP’s website or that can be accessed through the website is not incorporated into and does not constitute a part of this registration statement.

We and the Trustee May Modify the Indenture

Modifications of the Indenture that do not Require Consent of Bondholders

From time to time, and without the consent of the bondholders, but with prior notice to the rating agencies and with the consent or deemed consent of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, we may enter into one or more agreements supplemental to the indenture in order:

 

   

to correct or amplify the description of the Collateral securing the repayment of the Bonds,

 

   

to evidence for a successor to one of the parties to the indenture,

 

   

to add to our covenants for the benefit of the bondholders and the trustee, or surrender any right or power conferred to us in the indenture or to convey any additional property to the trustee,

 

   

to cure any ambiguity or mistake, to correct or supplement any provision in the indenture, which may be inconsistent with any other provision in the indenture, provided however, that (i) such action will not, as evidenced by an officer’s certificate of the issuing entity, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the bondholders and (ii) the rating agency condition shall have been satisfied,

 

71


Table of Contents
   

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment under the indenture of a successor trustee,

 

   

to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the indenture to the extent necessary to qualify under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,

 

   

to evidence the final terms of the Bonds that are described in the series supplement,

 

   

to qualify the Bonds for registration with a clearing agency,

 

   

to satisfy any rating agency requirements,

 

   

to make any changes to the transfer restrictions relating to the Bonds to comply with the securities laws;

 

   

to conform the text of the indenture or the Bonds to any provision of the registration statement to the extent that such provision was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the indenture or the Bonds, or

 

   

to authorize the appointment of any person in connection with the listing of the Bonds on any stock exchange.

We may also, without the consent of the bondholders, enter into other agreements supplemental to the indenture so long as (i) the supplemental agreement does not, as evidenced by an officer’s certificate of the issuing entity experienced in structured finance transactions, adversely affect the interests of any holders of Bonds then outstanding in any material respect, and (ii) the rating agency condition is satisfied.

Modifications of the Indenture that Require the Approval of Bondholders.

We may, with the consent of bondholders holding not less than a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Bonds (and with prior notice to the rating agencies and with the consent or deemed consent of the Kentucky Public Service Commission), enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the indenture for the purpose of, among other things, adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture. In determining whether a majority of holders have consented, Bonds owned by us, Kentucky Power Company or any affiliate of us shall be disregarded. No supplement, however, may, without the consent of each bondholder affected thereby, make the following changes:

 

   

change the date of payment of any installment of principal of or premium, or interest on any Bond, or reduce in any manner the principal amount of any bond, or its interest rate or applicable premium,

 

   

change the required application of collections on the Collateral to payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds, or change any place of payment where, the coin or currency in which, any Bond or any interest thereon is payable,

 

   

reduce the percentage of the aggregate amount of the outstanding Bonds, the consent of the bondholders of which is required for any supplemental indenture, or any waiver under the indenture;

 

   

reduce the percentage of the outstanding amount of the Bonds the holders of which are required to consent to direct the trustee to sell or liquidate the Collateral,

 

   

modify any of the provisions of the indenture in a manner so as to affect the calculation of the amount of any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, due on any Bond or change the expected sinking fund schedules or final maturity dates of any Bonds,

 

   

decrease the required capital amount,

 

   

permit the creation of any lien ranking prior to or on a parity with the lien of the indenture with respect to any of the Collateral, or

 

   

cause any material adverse U.S. federal income tax consequence to the seller, the issuing entity, the trustee or the beneficial owners of the Bonds; or

 

72


Table of Contents
   

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of the provisions of the indenture relating to payments or application of funds.

Promptly following the execution of any supplement to the indenture requiring the approval of the bondholders, we will furnish either a copy of such supplement or written notice of the substance of the supplement to each bondholder, and a copy of such supplement to each rating agency.

Notification of the Rating Agencies, the Kentucky Public Service Commission, the Trustee and the Holders of Any Modification

If we, the servicer or any other party to the applicable agreement:

 

   

proposes to amend, modify, waive, supplement, or terminate the sale agreement or the servicing agreement, or

 

   

waives timely performance or observance by the servicer under the sale agreement, the intercreditor agreement or the servicing agreement,

in each case in a way which would materially and adversely affect the interests of the bondholders, we must satisfy the rating agency condition and then notify the trustee and the Kentucky Public Service Commission in writing, and the trustee will be required to notify the bondholders of the proposed amendment and whether the rating agency condition has been satisfied. The trustee will consent to any proposed amendment only with the written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Bonds materially and adversely affected thereby and with the consent or deemed consent of the Kentucky Public Service Commission; provided that in order to determine which holders are materially and adversely affected, the trustee shall rely upon an officer’s certificate of the servicer. In determining whether a majority of holders have consented, Bonds owned by us, Kentucky Power Company or any affiliate of us shall be disregarded.

Enforcement of the Sale Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Servicing Agreement

The indenture provides that we will take all lawful actions to enforce our rights under the sale agreement, the administration agreement, the intercreditor agreement and the servicing agreement; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of bondholders in any material respect.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee may, and, at the written direction of the holders of a majority of the outstanding amount of all affected Bonds, will, exercise all of our rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims against Kentucky Power Company, as the seller, the administrator and servicer, under or in connection with the sale agreement, administration agreement, intercreditor agreement and servicing agreement, and any right of ours to take this action shall be suspended.

Procedure for obtaining consent or deemed consent of the Kentucky Public Service Commission

To the extent the consent of the Kentucky Public Service Commission is required to effect any amendment or supplemental indenture of the indenture or any other of the applicable basic documents, the indenture and each applicable basic document set forth procedures whereby we may request such consent and the Kentucky Public Service Commission shall, (a) within 15 days of receiving such a request, provide a notice to us either (i) stating that the Kentucky Public Service Commission might object to such amendment or supplemental indenture or (ii) requesting an additional amount of time not to exceed 30 days in which to consider such proposed amendment or supplemental indenture. If the Kentucky Public Service Commission does not deliver such notice of a possible objection or delivers such notice but does not within 45 days of the delivery of such notice provide subsequent written notice confirming that it does in fact object and the reasons therefor or advise that it has

 

73


Table of Contents

initiated a proceeding to determine what action it might take with respect to the matter, then the Kentucky Public Service Commission will be conclusively deemed not to have any objection to the proposed amendment or supplemental indenture, which may subsequently become effective.

Our Covenants

We may not consolidate with or merge into any other entity, except in certain limited circumstances and only if the new entity resulting from such merger assumes all of rights obligations under the transaction documents.

We will not, among other things, for so long as any Bonds are outstanding, take any of the following actions, except to the extent we may be permitted under the Indenture to take any such action in certain limited circumstances and after satisfying all applicable conditions and requirements:

 

   

sell any of the Cost Recovery Property;

 

   

claim any credit on, or make any deduction from the principal or premium, if any, or interest payable in respect of, the Bonds or assert any claim against any present or former bondholder by reason of the payment of the taxes levied upon any part of the Collateral;

 

   

terminate our existence, or dissolve or liquidate in whole or in part;

 

   

permit the validity or effectiveness of the indenture or the series supplement to be impaired or permit any third-party lien to be extended to the Collateral;

 

   

permit the lien of the indenture and the series supplement to be amended, subordinated, or terminated or permit any person to be released from any covenants or obligations with respect to the Bonds;

 

   

enter into any swap, hedge or similar financial arrangement;

 

   

elect to be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for federal tax purposes, file any tax return, make any election or take any other action inconsistent with our treatment, for federal income tax purposes and, to the extent consistent with applicable state tax law, state income and franchise tax purposes, as a disregarded entity that is not separate from our sole member;

 

   

change our name, identity or structure or the location of our chief executive office, unless at least ten business days prior to the effective date of any such change, we deliver to the trustee and each rating agency such documents as are necessary to reflect such change and to continue the perfection of the security interest of the indenture;

 

   

take any action which is subject to the rating agency condition if such action would result in a downgrade, suspension or withdrawal of the then-current ratings assigned to the Bonds; or

 

   

issue any bonds other than the Bonds offered hereby and any Additional Series.

We may not engage in any business other than financing, purchasing, owning and managing the Cost Recovery Property and the other Collateral and issuing the Bonds and Additional Series in the manner contemplated by the Financing Order and the basic documents, and certain related activities.

We will not issue, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness except for the Bonds and any Additional Series. Also, we will not make any loan or advance or credit to, or guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable in connection with the obligations of any other person.

We will not make any payments, distributions, dividends or redemptions to any holder of our equity interests in respect of that interest except in accordance with the priority of payments in the indenture.

We will cause the servicer to deliver to the trustee the annual accountant’s certificates, compliance certificates, reports regarding distributions and statements to bondholders required by the servicing agreement.

 

74


Table of Contents

Events of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default

An “event of default” with respect to the Bonds is defined in the indenture as any one of the following events:

 

   

a default for five business days in the payment of any interest on any Bond,

 

   

a default in the payment of the outstanding unpaid principal of any Bond on the final maturity date,

 

   

a default in the performance of any of our covenants or agreements made in the indenture (other than defaults described above) and the continuation of that default for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date that written notice of the default is given to us by the trustee or the bondholders or (ii) the date that we acquire actual knowledge of the default,

 

   

any representation or warranty made by us in the indenture or any related certificate having been incorrect in any material respect as of the time made, and such breach not having been cured within 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date that notice of the breach is given to us by the trustee or the bondholders or (ii) the date that we acquire actual knowledge of the default,

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation, or

 

   

a breach by the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any of its agencies (including the Kentucky Public Service Commission), officers or employers that violates or is not in accordance with the Commonwealth’s pledge.

If an event of default (other than as specified in the sixth bullet point above) should occur and be continuing with respect to the Bonds, the trustee may, and at the written direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding may declare the unpaid principal of the Bonds and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon to be immediately due and payable. However, the nature of our business will result in payment of principal upon an acceleration of the Bonds being made as funds become available. Please read “OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS—Foreclosure of the trustee’s lien on the Cost Recovery Property for the Bonds might not be practical, and acceleration of the Bonds before maturity might have little practical effect.” and “Risk Factors-You may experience material payment delays or incur a loss on your investment in the Bonds because the source of funds for payment is limited.” The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds may rescind that declaration under certain circumstances set forth in the indenture. Additionally, the trustee may exercise all of our rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims against the seller or the servicer under or in connection with the sale agreement, the servicing agreement and the administration agreement. If an event of default as specified in the sixth bullet above has occurred, the servicer will be obligated to institute (and the trustee, for the benefit of the bondholders, will be entitled and empowered to institute) any suits, actions or proceedings at law, in equity or otherwise, to enforce the Commonwealth’s pledge and to collect any monetary damages as a result of a breach thereof, and each of the servicer and the trustee may prosecute any suit, action or proceeding to final judgment or decree. The servicer will be required to advance its own funds in order to bring any suits, actions or proceedings and, for so long as the legal actions were pending, the servicer will be required, unless otherwise prohibited by applicable law or court or regulatory order in effect at that time, to bill and collect the charges, perform adjustments and discharge its obligations under the servicing agreement. The costs of any such action would be payable by the seller pursuant to the sale agreement. Except for an event of default specified in the first two bullet points above, the trustee will not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of default or a breach of representation or warranty unless a responsible officer of the trustee has actual knowledge of the default or the trustee has received written notice of the default in accordance with the indenture.

If the Bonds have been declared to be due and payable following an event of default, the trustee may elect to have us maintain possession of all or a portion of such Cost Recovery Property and continue to apply charge collections as if there had been no declaration of acceleration. There is likely to be a limited market, if any, for

 

75


Table of Contents

the Cost Recovery Property following a foreclosure on the property due to the nature of the Cost Recovery Property as a property interest created by legislative action and other factors discussed in this prospectus. In addition, the trustee is prohibited from selling the Cost Recovery Property following an event of default, other than a default in the payment of any principal or a default for five business days or more in the payment of any interest on any bond, which requires the direction of holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds, unless:

 

   

the holders of all the outstanding Bonds consent to the sale,

 

   

the proceeds of the sale are sufficient to pay in full the principal of and the accrued interest on the outstanding Bonds, or

 

   

the trustee determines that the proceeds of the Collateral would not be sufficient on an ongoing basis to make all payments on the Bonds as those payments would have become due if the Bonds had not been declared due and payable, and the trustee obtains the written consent of the holders of 66 2/3% of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Bonds.

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, if an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Bonds at the request or direction of any of the holders of Bonds if the trustee reasonably believes it will not be adequately indemnified against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with the request. Subject to the provisions for indemnification and certain limitations contained in the indenture:

 

   

the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Bonds affected will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee and,

No holder of any Bond will have the right to institute any proceeding, to avail itself of any remedies provided in the Kentucky Utilities Act or of the right to foreclose on the Collateral, or otherwise to enforce the lien and security interest on the Collateral or to seek the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the indenture, unless:

 

   

the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds may, in certain cases, waive any default with respect thereto, except a default in the payment of principal or interest or a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified without the consent of all of the holders of the outstanding Bonds affected thereby.

 

   

the holder previously has given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default,

 

   

the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Bonds have made written request of the trustee to institute the proceeding in its own name as trustee,

 

   

the holder or holders have offered the trustee satisfactory indemnity,

 

   

the trustee has for 60 days failed to institute the proceeding, and

 

   

no direction inconsistent with the written request has been given to the trustee during the 60 day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Bonds.

In addition, the trustee and the servicer will covenant and each bondholder will be deemed to covenant that it will not, prior to the date which is 1 year and 1 day after the termination of the indenture, institute against us or against our managers or our member or members any bankruptcy, reorganization or other proceeding under any federal or state bankruptcy or similar law.

Neither any manager nor the trustee in its individual capacity, nor any holder of any ownership interest in us, nor any of their respective owners, beneficiaries, agents, officers, directors, employees, successors or assigns will, in the absence of an express agreement to the contrary, be personally liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Bonds or for our agreements contained in the indenture.

 

76


Table of Contents

Actions by Bondholders

Subject to certain exceptions, the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Bonds affected will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, of exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee under the indenture; provided that:

 

   

the direction is not in conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture and would not involve the trustee in personal liability or expense;

 

   

subject to the other conditions described above under “-Events of Default; Rights Upon Event of Default”, the consent of 100% of the bondholders is required to direct the trustee to sell the Collateral (other than event of default for failure to pay interest or principal at maturity);

 

   

if the trustee elects to retain the Collateral in accordance with the indenture, then any direction to the trustee by less than 100% of the bondholders will be of no force and effect; and

In circumstances under which the trustee is required to seek instructions from the holders of the Bonds with respect to any action or vote, the trustee will take the action or vote for or against any proposal in proportion to the principal amount, as applicable, of Bonds taking the corresponding position. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indenture allows each bondholder to institute suit for the nonpayment of (1) the interest, if any, on its Bonds which remains unpaid as of the applicable due date and (2) the unpaid principal, if any, of its Bonds on the final maturity date therefor.

 

   

the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with the direction.

Annual Report of Trustee

If required by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the trustee will be required to make available electronically on its investor reporting website to all bondholders a brief report. The report must state, among other things:

 

   

the trustee’s eligibility and qualification to continue as the trustee under the indenture,

 

   

any amounts advanced by it under the indenture,

 

   

the amount, interest rate and maturity date of specific indebtedness owing by us to the trustee in the trustee’s individual capacity,

 

   

the property and funds physically held by the trustee,

 

   

any additional issue of the Bonds not previously reported, and

Annual Compliance Statement

 

   

any action taken by it that materially affects the Bonds and that has not been previously reported.

We will file annually with the trustee and the rating agencies a written statement as to whether we have fulfilled our obligations under the indenture.

No Recourse to Others

No recourse may be taken directly or indirectly, by the holders with respect to our obligations on the Bonds, under the indenture or any supplement thereto or any certificate or other writing delivered in connection therewith, against (1) any owner of a beneficial interest in us (including Kentucky Power Company) or (2) any shareholder, partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer, director or employee of the trustee, the managers or any owner of a beneficial interest in us (including Kentucky Power Company) in its individual capacity, or of any

 

77


Table of Contents

successor or assign or any of them in their respective individual or corporate capacities, except as any such person may have expressly agreed in writing. Each holder by accepting a bond specifically confirms the nonrecourse nature of these obligations, and waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Bonds.

Notwithstanding any provision of the indenture or the series supplement to the contrary, bondholders shall look only to the Collateral with respect to any amounts due to the bondholders under the indenture and the Bonds, and, in the event such Collateral is insufficient to pay in full the amounts owed on the Bonds, shall have no recourse against us in respect of such insufficiency. Each bondholder by accepting a Bond specifically confirms the nonrecourse nature of these obligations, and waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of consideration for issuance of Bonds.

 

78


Table of Contents

THE TRUSTEE

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association (“U.S. Bank Trust Co.”), will be the trustee, and will act as the paying agent and registrar for the Bonds. U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank N.A.”) made a strategic decision to reposition its corporate trust business by transferring substantially all of its corporate trust business to its affiliate, U.S. Bank Trust Co., a non-depository trust company (U.S. Bank N.A. and U.S. Bank Trust Co. are collectively referred to herein as “U.S. Bank”). Upon U.S. Bank Trust Co.’s succession to the business of U.S. Bank N.A., it became a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bank N.A. The trustee will maintain the accounts of the issuing entity in the name of the trustee at U.S. Bank N.A.

U.S. Bancorp, with total assets exceeding $686 billion as of September 30, 2024, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. As of September 30, 2024, U.S. Bancorp operated over 2,100 branch offices in 26 states. A network of specialized U.S. Bancorp offices across the nation provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses, and institutions.

U.S. Bank has one of the largest corporate trust businesses in the country with office locations in 49 Domestic and 3 International cities. The indenture will be administered from U.S. Bank’s corporate trust office located at 190 South LaSalle Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603.

U.S. Bank has provided corporate trust services since 1924. As of September 30, 2024, U.S. Bank was acting as trustee with respect to over 151,000 issuances of securities with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of over $6.2 trillion. This portfolio includes corporate and municipal bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations.

The trustee shall make each monthly statement available to the bondholders via the trustee’s internet website at https://pivot.usbank.com. Bondholders with questions may direct them to the trustee’s bondholder services group at (800) 934-6802.

U.S. Bank serves or has served as trustee, paying agent and registrar on several issues of utility rate-payer backed securities.

U.S. Bank N.A. and other large financial institutions have been sued in their capacity as trustee or successor trustee for certain residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”) trusts. The complaints, primarily filed by investors or investor groups against U.S. Bank N.A. and similar institutions, allege the trustees caused losses to investors as a result of alleged failures by the sponsors, mortgage loan sellers and servicers to comply with the governing agreements for these RMBS trusts. Plaintiffs generally assert causes of action based upon the trustees’ purported failures to enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for alleged breaches of representations and warranties, notify securityholders of purported events of default allegedly caused by breaches of servicing standards by mortgage loan servicers and abide by a heightened standard of care following alleged events of default.

U.S. Bank N.A. denies liability and believes that it has performed its obligations under the RMBS trusts in good faith, that its actions were not the cause of losses to investors, that it has meritorious defenses, and it has contested and intends to continue contesting the plaintiffs’ claims vigorously. However, U.S. Bank N.A. cannot assure you as to the outcome of any of the litigation, or the possible impact of these litigations on the trustee or the RMBS trusts.

On March 9, 2018, a law firm purporting to represent fifteen Delaware statutory trusts (the “DSTs”) that issued securities backed by student loans (the “Student Loans”) filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery against U.S. Bank N.A. in its capacities as indenture trustee and successor special servicer, and three

 

79


Table of Contents

other institutions in their respective transaction capacities, with respect to the DSTs and the Student Loans. This lawsuit is captioned The National Collegiate Student Loan Master Trust I, et al. v. U.S. Bank National Association, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0167-JRS (Del. Ch.) (the “NCMSLT Action”). The complaint, as amended on June 15, 2018, alleged that the DSTs have been harmed as a result of purported misconduct or omissions by the defendants concerning administration of the trusts and special servicing of the Student Loans. Since the filing of the NCMSLT Action, certain Student Loan borrowers have made assertions against U.S. Bank N.A. concerning special servicing that appear to be based on certain allegations made on behalf of the DSTs in the NCMSLT Action.

U.S. Bank N.A. has filed a motion seeking dismissal of the operative complaint in its entirety with prejudice pursuant to Chancery Court Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) or, in the alternative, a stay of the case while other prior filed disputes involving the DSTs and the Student Loans are litigated. On November 7, 2018, the Court ruled that the case should be stayed in its entirety pending resolution of the first-filed cases. On January 21, 2020, the Court entered an order consolidating for pretrial purposes the NCMSLT Action and three other lawsuits pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery concerning the DSTs and the Student Loans, which remains pending.

U.S. Bank N.A. denies liability in the NCMSLT Action and believes it has performed its obligations as indenture trustee and special servicer in good faith and in compliance in all material respects with the terms of the agreements governing the DSTs and that it has meritorious defenses. It has contested and intends to continue contesting the plaintiffs’ claims vigorously.

While the legal proceedings discussed above involve certain affiliates of the trustee, none of such legal proceedings are material to the holders.

The trustee may resign at any time upon 30 days’ prior written notice to us. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding may remove the trustee upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the trustee and may appoint a successor trustee. We will remove the trustee if the trustee ceases to be eligible to continue in this capacity under the indenture, the trustee becomes a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding or is adjudicated insolvent, a receiver, other public officer takes charge of the trustee or its property, the trustee becomes incapable of acting or the trustee fails to provide to us certain information we reasonably request which is necessary for us to satisfy our reporting obligations under the securities laws. If the trustee resigns or is removed or a vacancy exists in the office of trustee for any reason, we will be obligated promptly to appoint a successor trustee eligible under the indenture and notice of such appointment is required to be promptly given to each rating agency by the successor trustee. No resignation or removal of the trustee will become effective until acceptance of the appointment by a successor trustee. We are responsible for payment of the expenses associated with any such removal or resignation.

The trustee will at all times satisfy the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act and have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million and a long-term debt or issuer rating of “Baa3” or better by Moody’s and “BBB-” or better by S&P. If the trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business or assets to, another entity, the resulting, surviving or transferee entity will without any further action be the successor trustee; provided, however, that if such successor trustee is not eligible under the Indenture, the successor trustee will be replaced in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. We and our affiliates may, from time to time, maintain various banking, investment banking and trust relationships with the trustee and its affiliates. Please read “THE SALE AGREEMENT” and “THE SERVICING AGREEMENT” in this prospectus for further information.

The trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided that its conduct does not constitute willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith. The trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any default or event of default (other than a payment default) unless a responsible officer of the trustee has actual knowledge thereof or the trustee has received written notice thereof pursuant to the indenture. The trustee shall not be required to take

 

80


Table of Contents

any action it is directed to take under the indenture if the trustee determines in good faith that the action so directed is inconsistent with the indenture, any other basic document or applicable law, or would involve the trustee in personal liability. We have agreed to indemnify the trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents against any and all loss, liability or expense (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, the fees of experts and agents and the reasonable fees, expenses and costs incurred in connection with any action, claim or suit brought to enforce the trustee’s right to indemnification) incurred by it in connection with the administration of the trust and the performance of its duties under the indenture, the series supplement and other basic documents, provided that we are not required to pay any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the trustee through the trustee’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith, and in the case of the settlement of any action, proceeding or investigation, subject to the written consent of the issuing entity and certain other requirements.

We, Kentucky Power Company and our respective affiliates may from time to time enter into normal banking and trustee relationships with U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and its affiliates. No relationships currently exist or existed during the past two years between Kentucky Power Company, us and our respective affiliates, on the one hand, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and its affiliates, on the other hand, that would be outside the ordinary course of business or on terms other than would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated third party.

 

81


Table of Contents

SECURITY FOR THE BONDS

General

The Bonds issued under the indenture will be non-recourse obligations and are payable solely from and secured solely by a pledge of and lien on the Cost Recovery Property and the other collateral as provided in the indenture. If and to the extent the Cost Recovery Property and the other assets of the trust estate are insufficient to pay all amounts owing with respect to the Bonds, then the bondholders will generally have no claim in respect of such insufficiency against us or any other person. By the acceptance of the Bonds, the bondholders waive any such claim.

Issuance of Additional Bonds

We have been organized to serve as a special purpose finance subsidiary of Kentucky Power Company. As authorized by the Financing Order, our organizational documents as well as the transaction documents supporting the Bonds give us the authority and flexibility to issue Additional Series in future transactions, with the approval of the Kentucky Public Service Commission and the satisfaction of the rating agency condition. As a result, we may acquire Additional Cost Recovery Property and issue one or more Additional Series that are supported by such Additional Cost Recovery Property.

Each Additional Series that may be issued will be backed by separate Additional Cost Recovery Property we acquire for the separate purpose of repaying that Additional Series. Each Additional Series that may be issued will have the benefit of a true-up mechanism.

Any Additional Series may include terms and provisions that would be unique to that particular Additional Series. See “Description of the Bonds — Conditions of Issuance of Additional Bonds and Acquisition of Additional Cost Recovery Property” in this prospectus.

Allocations as Between the Bonds and Additional Series

The Bonds will not be subordinated in right of payment to any Additional Series. In the event of a future issuance of an Additional Series, each Additional Series will be secured by its own separate Additional Cost Recovery Property, which will include the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive charges calculated in respect of that Additional Series, and the right to impose true-up adjustments to correct overcollections or undercollections in respect of that Additional Series. Each Additional Series will also have its own collection account, including any related subaccounts, into which revenue from the charges relating to that Additional Series will be deposited and from which amounts will be withdrawn to pay the related Additional Series. Holders of one series of securitized bonds (including the Bonds) will have no recourse to collateral for a different series. The independent manager fees and certain other operating expenses payable by us on a payment date may be assessed to each series of securitized bonds (including the Bonds) on a pro rata basis, based upon the respective outstanding principal amounts of each series. See “— Description of Indenture Accounts” and “— How Funds in the Collection Account Will Be Allocated” in this prospectus.

Although each series of securitized bonds (including the Bonds) will have its own separate Cost Recovery Property, charges relating to the Bonds and charges relating to any Additional Series will be collected through single bills to individual customers that include all charges related to the purchase of electricity, without separately itemizing the charges component of the bill or the charges components applicable to separate series. However, customer electricity bills will state that a portion of the electricity bill consists of the rights to the charges that have been sold to us. In the event a customer does not pay in full all amounts owed under any bill including charges, each servicer will be required to allocate any resulting shortfalls in charges ratably among the amounts of charges owing in respect of the Bond, any amounts owing to any Additional Series and amounts owing to any other subsequently created special-purpose finance subsidiaries of Kentucky Power Company

 

82


Table of Contents

which issue securitized bonds and other Kentucky Power Company billed amounts, in a manner that is consistent with Kentucky Power Company’s current process for allocating partial payments. See “The Servicing Agreement — Remittances to Collection Account” in this prospectus.

Pledge of Collateral

To secure the payment of principal of and interest on the Bonds, we will grant to the trustee a security interest in all of our right, title and interest (whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising) in and to the following property:

 

   

the Cost Recovery Property and all related charges,

 

   

our rights under the statutory true-up mechanism, including all rights to compel the servicer to file for and obtain periodic adjustments to the charges in accordance with the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order, the charge rider and any charge rider adjustments filed in connection therewith,

 

   

the guarantee of the Kentucky Public Service Commission to implement the statutory true-up mechanism,

 

   

the pledge by the Commonwealth of Kentucky not to impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the rights of the bondholders,

 

   

our rights under the sale agreement pursuant to which we will acquire the Cost Recovery Property, and under the bill of sale delivered by Kentucky Power Company pursuant to the sale agreement,

 

   

our rights under the servicing agreement and any subservicing, agency, or collection agreements executed in connection with the servicing agreement,

 

   

our rights under the intercreditor agreement and any other intercreditor agreement executed in connection with the Cost Recovery Property and the Bonds,

 

   

our rights under the administration agreement and any other administration agreement executed in connection with the Cost Recovery Property and the Bonds,

 

   

the collection account for the Bonds and all subaccounts of the collection account, and all amounts of cash, instruments, investment property or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto from time to time and all financial assets and securities entitlements carried therein or credited thereto,

 

   

all present and future claims, demands, causes and choses in action in respect of any or all of the foregoing,

 

   

all accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts, documents, general intangibles, goods, instruments, investment property, letters of credit, letters-of-credit rights, money, commercial tort claims and supporting obligations related to the foregoing, and

 

   

all payments on or under, and all proceeds in respect of, any or all of the foregoing.

The security interest does not extend to:

 

   

return on invested capital on deposit with us that are required to be returned to Kentucky Power Company pursuant to the indenture,

 

   

amounts that have been released to us after principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Bonds have been paid in full,

 

   

amounts deposited with us on the issuance date for payment of costs of issuance with respect to the Bonds (together with any interest earnings thereon); or

 

   

proceeds from the sale of the Bonds required to pay (a) the purchase price for the Cost Recovery Property and paid pursuant to the sale agreement or (b) up-front Financing Costs in accordance with the Financing Order.

 

83


Table of Contents

We refer to the foregoing assets in which we, as assignee of the seller, will grant the trustee a security interest as the “Collateral”. Please read “-How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated.”

Security Interest in the Collateral

The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that the creation, perfection, priority and enforcement of any security interest or lien in Cost Recovery Property to secure repayment of the Bonds and other Financing Costs are governed by the Kentucky Utilities Act and not by the Uniform Commercial Code or other law, except as otherwise provided by the Kentucky Utilities Act. Section 278.686(2) of the Kentucky Utilities Act provides that a valid and binding lien and security interest in Cost Recovery Property may be created only when the last of following has occurred: (a) the issuance of the Financing Order, (b) the execution and delivery of a security agreement granting the security interest in connection with the issuance of Bonds, (c) the debtor has rights to the Cost Recovery Property or the power to transfer rights in the Cost Recovery Property or (d) the value is received for the grant of the security interest in the Cost Recovery Property. Upon the filing of a financing statement with the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, such security interest is perfected against all parties having claims of any kind, including against all claims of lien creditors, and shall have priority over all competing security interests and other claims other than any security interest previously perfected.

The Financing Order creates a valid and enforceable lien and security interest in the Cost Recovery Property and the Indenture states that it constitutes a security agreement within the meaning of the Kentucky Utilities Act. The servicer pledges in the servicing agreement to file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky on or before the date of issuance of Bonds the filing required by Section 278.686(4) of the Kentucky Utilities Act to perfect the lien of the trustee in the Cost Recovery Property. The seller will represent, at the time of issuance of Bonds, that no prior filing has been made under the terms of Section 278.686(4) of the Kentucky Utilities Act with respect to the Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds to be issued other than a filing which provides the trustee with a first priority perfected security interest in such Cost Recovery Property.

Certain items of the Collateral may not constitute Cost Recovery Property and the perfection of the trustee’s security interest in those items of Collateral would therefore be subject to the Uniform Commercial Code or common law and not Section 278.686 of the Kentucky Utilities Act. These items consist of our rights in the following, among other items:

 

   

the sale agreement, the servicing agreement, the intercreditor agreement, the administration agreement and any other basic documents,

 

   

the capital subaccount or any other funds on deposit in the collection account which do not constitute charge collections together with all instruments, investment property or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto and all financial assets and securities entitlements carried therein or credited thereto which do not constitute charge collections,

 

   

all accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts, documents, general intangibles, goods, instruments, investment property, letters-of-credit, letter-of-credit rights, money, commercial tort claims and supporting obligations and all of our other property to the extent not Cost Recovery Property; and

 

   

proceeds of the foregoing items.

Additionally, any contractual rights we have against retail customers (other than the right to impose charges and rights otherwise included in the definition of Cost Recovery Property) would be Collateral to which the Uniform Commercial Code applies.

As a condition to the issuance of the Bonds, we will have made all filings and taken any other action required by the Uniform Commercial Code or common law to perfect the lien of the trustee in all the items included in Collateral which do not constitute Cost Recovery Property. We will also covenant to take all actions necessary to maintain or preserve the lien and security interest on a first priority basis. We will represent, along

 

84


Table of Contents

with the seller, at the time of issuance of the Bonds, that no prior filing has been made with respect to that party under the terms of the Uniform Commercial Code, other than a filing which provides the trustee with a lien and first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral.

Secured Party Rights

Section 278.686 of the Kentucky Utilities Act provides that if a default occurs under the Bonds, the trustee and the holders of the Bonds or their representatives, as secured parties, may exercise rights and remedies with respect to the Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds as if they were secured parties under the Uniform Commercial Code, including under Article 9, Part 6 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The Kentucky Public Service Commission may order that amounts arising from the charges be transferred to a separate account for the holders’ benefit, to which their lien and security interest will apply.

Description of Indenture Accounts

Collection Account.

Pursuant to the Indenture, we will establish a segregated trust account in the name of the trustee with an eligible institution, for the Bonds called the “collection account.” The collection account will be under the sole dominion and exclusive control of the trustee. The trustee will hold the collection account for our benefit as well as for the benefit of the bondholders. The collection account for the Bonds will consist of three subaccounts: a general subaccount,” an “excess funds subaccount,” and a “capital subaccount,” which need not be separate bank accounts. For administrative purposes, the subaccounts may be established by the trustee as separate accounts which will be recognized individually as subaccounts and collectively as the collection account. All amounts in the collection account not allocated to any other subaccount will be allocated to the general subaccount. Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to the collection account include the collection account and each of the subaccounts contained therein.

The following institutions are “eligible institutions” for the establishment of the collection account:

 

   

the corporate trust department of the trustee, so long as the trustee or an affiliate thereof has (i) either a short-term credit or issuer rating from Moody’s of at least “P-1” or a long-term unsecured debt or issuer rating from Moody’s of at least “A2” and (ii) a long-term credit or issuer rating from S&P of at least “A”; or

 

   

a depository institution organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State (or any domestic branch of a foreign bank), which (i) has either (A) a long-term unsecured debt or issuer rating of “AA-” or higher by S&P and “A2” or higher by Moody’s, (B) a short-term issuer rating of “A-1” or higher by S&P and “P-1” or higher by Moody’s, or (C) any other long-term, short-term or certificate of deposit rating acceptable to the Rating Agencies and (ii) whose deposits are insured by the FDIC;

provided, however, that if an eligible institution then being utilized for any purposes under the Indenture or the series supplement no longer meets the definition of eligible institution, then we will replace such eligible institution within 30 days of such eligible institution no longer meeting the definition of eligible institution.

Permitted Investments for Funds in the Collection Account.

Funds in the collection account may be invested only in such investments as meet the criteria described below and which mature on or before the business day preceding the next payment date:

 

   

direct obligations of, or obligations fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to timely payment by, the United States of America,

 

   

demand or time deposits of, unsecured certificates of deposit of, money market deposit accounts of, or bankers’ acceptances issued by, any depository institution (including bank deposit products of the

 

85


Table of Contents
 

trustee or any of its affiliates, acting in its commercial capacity) incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof and subject to supervision and examination by federal or state banking authorities, so long as the commercial paper or other short term debt obligations of such depository institution are, at the time of deposit, rated not less than A-1 and P-1 or their equivalents by each of S&P and Moody’s, or such lower rating as will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the ratings of the Bonds,

 

   

commercial paper (including commercial paper of the trustee or any of its affiliates, acting in its commercial capacity, and other than commercial paper issued by Kentucky Power Company or any of its affiliates) having, at the time of investment or contractual commitment to invest, a rating of not less than A-1 and P-1 or their equivalents by each of S&P and Moody’s, or such lower rating as will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the ratings of the Bonds,

 

   

investments in money market funds having a rating from Moody’s and S&P of Aaa-mf and AAAm, respectively, including funds for which the trustee or any of its affiliates acts as investment manager or advisor,

 

   

repurchase obligations with respect to any security that is a direct obligation of, or fully guaranteed by, the United States of America or certain of its agencies or instrumentalities, entered into with eligible institutions,

 

   

repurchase obligations with respect to any security or whole loan entered into with an eligible institution or with a registered broker-dealer acting as principal and that meets certain ratings criteria, has either a short-term credit rating from Moody’s and S&P of at least P-1 and A-1+, respectively, or a long-term credit rating from Moody’s and S&P of at least P-1 and A-1+, respectively; provided, however, that if any such eligible institution or registered broker-dealer no longer meets the requirements set forth above, then the issuing entity shall replace such eligible institution or registered broker-dealer within 30 days of such eligible institution or registered broker-dealer no longer meeting such requirement, or

 

   

any other investment permitted by each rating agency;

in each case maturing not later than the business day immediately preceding the next payment date or special payment date, of the Bonds.

The trustee will have access to the collection account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the collection account in accordance with the indenture. The servicer will select the eligible investments in which funds will be invested, unless otherwise directed by us.

The servicer will remit charge payments to the collection account in the manner described under “The Servicing Agreement-Remittances to Collection Account.”

General Subaccount

The general subaccount will hold all funds held in the collection account that are not held in the other two subaccounts. The servicer will remit all charge payments to the general subaccount. On each payment date, the trustee will draw on amounts in the general subaccount to pay our expenses and to pay interest and make scheduled payments on the Bonds, and to make other payments and transfers in accordance with the terms of the indenture. Funds in the general subaccount will be invested in the eligible investments described above.

Excess Funds Subaccount

The trustee, at the written direction of the servicer, will allocate to the excess funds subaccount charge collections available with respect to any payment date in excess of amounts necessary to make the payments specified on such payment date. The excess funds subaccount will also hold all investment earnings on the collection account (other than investment earnings on the capital subaccount) in excess of such amounts.

 

86


Table of Contents

Capital Subaccount

In connection with the issuance of the Bonds, the seller, in its capacity as our sole owner, will contribute capital to us in an amount equal to the required capital level, which will be not less than 0.50% of the principal amount of the Bonds issued. This amount will be funded by the seller and not from the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds, and will be deposited into the capital subaccount on the issuance date. In the event that amounts on deposit in the general subaccount and the excess funds subaccount are insufficient to make scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Bonds and payments of fees and expenses contemplated by the first eight bullets under “-How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated” below, the trustee will draw on amounts in the capital subaccount to make such payments up to the lesser of the amount of such insufficiency and the amounts on deposit in the capital subaccount. In the event of any such withdrawal, collected charges available on any subsequent payment date that are not necessary to pay scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Bonds and payments of fees and expenses will be used to replenish any amounts drawn from the capital subaccount. If the Bonds have been retired as of any payment date, the amounts on deposit in the capital subaccount will be released to us, free of the lien of the indenture.

How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated

On each payment date, the trustee will with respect to the Bonds, pay or allocate, solely at the written direction of the servicer, all amounts on deposit in the collection account (including investment earnings thereon) to pay the following amounts in the following priority:

 

  (1)

amounts owed by us to the trustee, the trustee’s fees and expenses and any outstanding indemnity amounts owed to the trustee in an amount not to exceed in any 12-month period $100,000;

 

  (2)

the servicing fee and any unpaid servicing fees from prior payment dates as described under “The Servicing Agreement—Servicing Compensation,” to the servicer;

 

  (3)

the administration fee owed to the administrator and the fees owed to our independent managers and any unpaid administration fees and independent manager fees from prior payment dates (or an allocable share of the administration fee and fees owed to our independent managers, if one or more Additional Series are issued by us);

 

  (4)

all of our other ordinary periodic operating expenses, such as accounting and audit fees, rating agency fees and legal fees and certain reimbursable costs of the administrator and the servicer;

 

  (5)

interest then due on the Bonds, including any past-due interest accrued during prior periods;

 

  (6)

principal due on the final maturity date of the Bonds or, if the principal of the Bonds have been accelerated following an event of default, payment of the principal of the Bonds, without regard to the sinking fund schedule;

 

  (7)

scheduled principal payments of the Bonds according to its expected sinking fund schedule, together with any scheduled principal payments that were not paid on prior Payment Dates;

 

  (8)

any remaining unpaid fees, expenses and indemnity amounts owed to the trustee;

 

  (9)

any other unpaid operating expenses and any remaining amounts owed pursuant to the basic documents;

 

  (10)

replenishment of any shortfalls in the capital subaccount;

 

  (11)

release to Kentucky Power Company any return on invested capital then due and payable;

 

87


Table of Contents
  (12)

to the excess funds subaccount for distribution on subsequent payment dates; and

 

  (13)

after principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Bonds and all of the other foregoing amounts have been paid in full, the balance (including all amounts then held in the applicable capital subaccount and the applicable excess funds subaccount), if any, shall be paid to us free and clear from the lien of the indenture and the series supplement.

If on any payment date funds on deposit in the general subaccount are insufficient to make the payments contemplated by clauses (1) through (9) above, the trustee will first, draw from amounts on deposit in the excess funds subaccount, and second, draw from amounts on deposit in the capital subaccount, up to the amount of the shortfall, in order to make those payments in full. In addition, if on any payment date funds on deposit in the general subaccount are insufficient to make the transfer described in clause (10) above, the trustee will draw from amounts on deposit in the excess funds subaccount to make such transfer. Please read “Risk Factors-Other Risks Associated with an Investment in the Bonds-Kentucky Power Company’s indemnification obligations under the sale and servicing agreements are limited and might not be sufficient to protect your investment in the Bonds.”

If, on any payment date, available collections of the charges, together with available amounts in the subaccounts, are not sufficient to pay interest due on all outstanding bonds on that payment date, amounts available will be allocated pro rata based on the amount of interest payable. If, on any payment date, remaining collections of the charges, together with available amounts in the subaccounts, are not sufficient to pay principal due and payable on all outstanding bonds on that payment date, amounts available will be allocated pro rata based on the principal amount then due and payable. If, on any payment date, remaining collections of the charges, together with available amounts in the subaccounts, are not sufficient to pay principal scheduled to be paid on all outstanding bonds, amounts available will be allocated pro rata based on the principal amounts then scheduled to be paid on the payment date.

State Pledge

Section 65.114 of the Kentucky Utilities Act provides: “The Commonwealth and its agencies pledges, however, for the benefit and protection of financing parties and the electric utility, that it will not: (a) alter the provisions of KRS §§ 278.670 to 278.696 and 65.114 which authorize the commission to create an irrevocable contract right or right to sue by the issuance of a financing order creating Cost Recovery Property, making the securitized surcharges imposed by a financing order irrevocable, binding, or affecting the nonbypassable charges for all existing and future retail customers of the electric utility; (b) take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of Cost Recovery Property or the security for the securitized bonds or revises the securitized costs for which recovery is authorized; (c) in any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees, and other financing parties; and (d) except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized under KRS § 278.678, reduce, alter, or impair securitized surcharges that are to be imposed, billed, charge, collected, and remitted for the benefit of the bondholders, any assignee, and any other financing parties until any and all principal, interest, premium, financing costs, and other fees, expenses, or charges incurred, and any contracts to be performed, in connection with the related securitized bonds have been paid and performed in full.”

The bondholders and the trustee, for the benefit of the bondholders, will be entitled to the benefit of the pledges and agreements of the Commonwealth of Kentucky set forth in Section 65.114 of the Kentucky Utilities Act and we are authorized to include this pledge in any documentation relating to the Bonds. We have included this pledge in the Indenture and the Bonds for the benefit of the trustee and the bondholders, and acknowledge that any purchase by a bondholder of a Bond is made in reliance on this pledge of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

 

88


Table of Contents

WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIFE AND YIELD CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE BONDS

The amount of principal payments, the amount of each interest payment and the actual final payment date of the Bonds and the weighted average life thereof will depend primarily on the timing of receipt of collected charges by the trustee and the statutory true-up mechanism. The aggregate amount of collected charges and the rate of principal amortization on the Bonds will depend, in part, on actual revenues, and thus on energy usage, energy demands, and other rates and charges imposed on Kentucky Power Company’s retail customers, including the various on-peak/off-peak tariff price tiers and actual tariff prices, and the rate of delinquencies and write-offs. The charges are required to be adjusted from time to time based in part on the actual rate of collected charges. However, we can give no assurance that the servicer will be able to forecast accurately actual electricity usage, energy demands, other rates and charges imposed on Kentucky Power Company’s retail customers (and the resulting revenue) and the rate of delinquencies and write-offs or implement adjustments to the charges that will cause collected charges to be received at any particular rate. Please read “The Depositor, Seller, Initial Servicer and Sponsor—Forecasting Revenue,” “Risk Factors-Servicing Risks,” “Servicing Risks-Other Risks Associated with an Investment in the Bonds” and “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order-Statutory True-Ups” in this prospectus.

The Bonds may be retired later than expected. Except in the event of an acceleration of the final payment date of the Bonds after an event of default, however, the Bonds will not be paid at a rate faster than that contemplated in the expected sinking fund schedule of the Bonds even if charge receipts are collected faster than estimated. Instead, receipts in excess of the amounts necessary to amortize the Bonds in accordance with the applicable expected sinking fund schedules, to pay interest and related fees and expenses and to fund subaccounts of the collection account will be allocated to the excess funds subaccount. Amounts on deposit in the excess funds subaccount will be taken into consideration in calculating the next true-up adjustment. Acceleration of the Bonds after an event of default in accordance with the terms of the Bonds might result in payment of principal earlier than the scheduled final payment date. A payment on a date that is earlier than forecast might result in a shorter weighted average life, and a payment on a date that is later than forecast might result in a longer weighted average life. In addition, if a larger portion of the delayed payments on the Bonds is received in later years, the Bonds may have a longer weighted average life.

Weighted Average Life Sensitivity

Weighted average life refers to the average amount of time from the date of issuance of a security until each dollar of principal of the security has been repaid to the investor. The amount of principal payments on the Bonds, the aggregate amount of each interest payment on the Bonds and the actual final payment date of the Bonds will depend on the timing of the servicer’s receipt of charges. Changes in the expected weighted average life of the Bonds in relation to variances in actual energy usage, energy demands, and other rates and charges imposed on Kentucky Power Company’s retail customers (and the resulting revenue), and the rate of delinquencies and write-offs that will cause collected charge levels from forecast levels are shown below.

 

            Weighted Average Life Sensitivity
            -5%
( Standard Deviations from Mean)
   -15%
( Standard Deviations from Mean)

Tranche

   Expected Weighted
Average Life
(Years)
     WAL (yrs)    Change (days)*    WAL (yrs)    Change (days)*

A

     
 
*

Number is rounded to whole days.

 

89


Table of Contents

There can be no assurance that the weighted average life of the Bonds will be as shown in the above table.

Assumptions

For the purposes of preparing the above chart, the following assumptions, among others, have been made: (i) in relation to the initial forecast, the forecast error stays constant over the life of the Bonds and is equal to an overestimate of revenues of    % (    standard deviations from mean) or    % (    standard deviations from mean), (ii) billed revenues are directly correlated to changes in electricity consumption, (iii) the servicer makes timely and accurate mandatory filings to true-up the charges, but makes no interim true-up adjustments, (iv) customer net charge-off rates are held constant at    % and    % for residential customers and non-residential customers, respectively, (v) retail customers remit all charges on or before one month after such charges are billed, (vi) operating expenses are equal to projections, (vii) there is no acceleration of the final maturity date of the Bonds; (viii) a permanent loss of all customers has not occurred; and (ix) the issuance date of the Bonds is     , 2025. There can be no assurance that the weighted average life of the Bonds will be as shown.

This illustrates that the broad-based true-up mechanism and the state pledge described above, along with the other elements of the Bonds, will serve to mitigate credit risk to the payment of the Bonds (i.e., that sufficient charges will be assessed and collected to discharge all principal and interest obligations when due). See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” for further information. With respect to the foregoing, interest is due on each payment date and principal is due upon the final maturity date.

 

90


Table of Contents

THE SALE AGREEMENT

The following summary describes particular material terms and provisions of the sale agreement pursuant to which we will purchase Cost Recovery Property from the seller. We have filed the form of the sale agreement as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Sale and Assignment of the Cost Recovery Property

On the issuance date the seller will offer and sell the Cost Recovery Property to us, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in the sale agreement and the indenture. We will finance the purchase of the Cost Recovery Property through the issuance of the Bonds. On the issuance date, the seller will sell to us, without recourse, its entire right, title and interest in and to the Cost Recovery Property. The Cost Recovery Property will include all of the seller’s rights under the Financing Order related to such Cost Recovery Property to impose, collect and receive charges in an amount sufficient to recover the qualified costs approved in the Financing Order.

Under the Kentucky Utilities Act, all rights and interests under the Financing Order will become Cost Recovery Property upon transfer of such rights to us by Kentucky Power Company in connection with the issuance of the Bonds. The Cost Recovery Property will constitute our present property right for purposes of contracts concerning the sale or pledge of property. Under the Kentucky Utilities Act, the sale of Cost Recovery Property will constitute a true sale under state law whether or not:

 

   

we have any recourse against Kentucky Power Company,

 

   

Kentucky Power Company retains any equity interest in the Cost Recovery Property under state law,

 

   

Kentucky Power Company acts as a collector of charges relating to the Cost Recovery Property, or

Upon the issuance of the Financing Order, the execution and delivery of the sale agreement and the related bill of sale and the filing of a notice with the Kentucky Secretary of State in accordance with the rules prescribed under the Kentucky Utilities Act, the transfer of the Cost Recovery Property will be perfected as against all third persons, including subsequent judicial or other lien creditors.

 

   

Kentucky Power Company treats the transfer as a financing for tax, financial reporting or other purposes.

Seller Representations and Warranties

In the sale agreement, the seller will represent and warrant to us, as of the issuance date, to the effect, among other things, that:

 

   

no portion of the transferred Cost Recovery Property has been sold, transferred, assigned or pledged or otherwise conveyed by the seller to any person other than us and immediately prior to the sale of the Cost Recovery Property, the seller owns the Cost Recovery Property free and clear of all liens and rights of any other person, and no offsets, defenses or counterclaims exist or have been asserted with respect to the Cost Recovery Property;

 

   

on the issuance date, immediately upon the sale under the sale agreement, the Cost Recovery Property transferred on the issuance date will be validly transferred and sold to us, we will own the Cost Recovery Property free and clear of all liens (except for liens created in favor of the trustee for the benefit of the holders pursuant to the Kentucky Utilities Act or any lien that may be granted under the basic documents) and all filings and action to be made or taken by the seller (including filings with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the Kentucky Utilities Act) necessary in any jurisdiction to give us a perfected ownership interest (subject to any lien created by us in your favor under the basic documents or the Kentucky Utilities Act) in the Cost Recovery Property will have been made or taken;

 

91


Table of Contents
   

subject to the clause below regarding assumptions used in calculating the charges as of the issuance date, all written information, as amended or supplemented from time to time, provided by the seller to us with respect to the Cost Recovery Property (including the expected amortization schedule, the Financing Order and the issuance advice letter relating to the Cost Recovery Property) is true and correct in all material respects;

 

   

under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (including the Kentucky Utilities Act) and the United States in effect on the issuance date:

 

   

the Financing Order pursuant to which the rights and interests of the seller have been created, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive and adjust the charges and, the interest in and to the Cost Recovery Property, has become final and non-appealable and is in full force and effect;

 

   

as of the issuance of the Bonds, the Bonds are entitled to the protection provided in the Kentucky Utilities Act and, accordingly, the Financing Order, charges and issuance advice letter are not revocable by the Kentucky Public Service Commission;

 

   

as of the issuance of the Bonds, the charges are in full force and effect and not subject to modification by the Kentucky Public Service Commission except for true-up adjustments made in accordance with the Kentucky Utilities Act, as implemented by the Financing Order;

 

   

the process by which the Financing Order was approved and the Financing Order, issuance advice letter and charge rider comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations;

 

   

the issuance advice letter and the charge rider have been filed in accordance with the Financing Order creating the Cost Recovery Property transferred on the issuance date and an officer of the seller has provided the certification to the Kentucky Public Service Commission required by the issuance advice letter; and

 

   

no other approval, authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with any governmental authority is required in connection with the creation of the Cost Recovery Property transferred on the issuance date, except those that have been obtained or made;

 

   

under the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has pledged that it will not (i) alter the certain provisions of the Kentucky Utilities Act that authorize the Kentucky Public Service Commission to create the irrevocable contract right or right to sue by the issuance of the Financing Order creating the Cost Recovery Property, making the charges imposed by the Financing Order irrevocable, binding, or affecting the nonbypassable charges for all existing and future customers, (ii) take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the security for the Bonds or revises the Recovery Costs for which recovery is authorized, (iii) in any way impair the rights and remedies of the holders, assignees and other financing parties or, (iv) except for true-up adjustments made in accordance with the Kentucky Utilities Act, reduce, alter, or impair the charges relating to such Cost Recovery Property until the principal, interest and premium, and any other charges incurred and any contracts to be performed in connection with the related Bonds have been paid and performed in full, and consequently the Commonwealth of Kentucky could not constitutionally take any action of a legislative character, including the repeal or amendment of the Kentucky Utilities Act, which would substantially limit, alter or impair the Cost Recovery Property or other rights vested in the bondholders pursuant to the Financing Order, or substantially limit, alter, impair or reduce the value or amount of the Cost Recovery Property, unless that action is a reasonable exercise of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s sovereign powers and of a character reasonable and appropriate to further a legitimate public purpose, and, under the takings clauses of the Kentucky and United States Constitutions, the Commonwealth of Kentucky could not repeal or amend the Kentucky Utilities Act, as implemented by the Financing Order, or take any other action in contravention of its pledge quoted above without paying just compensation to the holders, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, if doing so would constitute a permanent appropriation of a substantial property

 

92


Table of Contents
 

interest of the holders in the Cost Recovery Property and deprive the holders of their reasonable expectations arising from their investments in the Bonds; however, there is no assurance that, even if a court were to award just compensation, it would be sufficient to pay the full amount of principal and interest on the Bonds;

 

   

based on information available to the seller on the issuance date, the assumptions used in calculating the charges as of the issuance date are reasonable and are made in good faith; however, notwithstanding the foregoing, Kentucky Power Company makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, that amounts actually collected arising from those charges will in fact be sufficient to meet the payment obligations on the related Bonds or that the assumptions used in calculating such charges will in fact be realized;

 

   

upon the effectiveness of the Financing Order, the issuance advice letter and the charge rider with respect to the transferred Cost Recovery Property and the transfer of such Cost Recovery Property to us pursuant to the sale agreement and the filing of the appropriate notice of transfer with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

 

   

the rights and interests of the seller under the Financing Order, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive and adjust the charges authorized in the Financing Order, will become Cost Recovery Property;

 

   

the Cost Recovery Property will constitute an existing, present and intangible property right or interest therein vested in us;

 

   

the Cost Recovery Property will include the right, title and interest of the seller in the Financing Order and the charges, the right to impose, collect and obtain periodic adjustments (with respect to adjustments, in the manner and with the effect provided in the servicing agreement) of the charges, and the rates and other charges authorized by the Financing Order and all revenues, collections, claims, rights to payments, payments, money or proceeds of or arising from the charges;

 

   

the owner of the Cost Recovery Property will be legally entitled to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive and adjust the charges in the aggregate sufficient to pay the interest on and principal of the related Bonds in accordance with the Indenture, to pay the fees and expenses of servicing the Bonds, to replenish the capital subaccount to the required capital level until the Bonds are paid in full and all ongoing Financing Costs with respect to the Bonds have been paid in full or until the last date permitted for the collection of payments in respect of the charges under the Financing Order, whichever is earlier, and the revenue class allocation percentages in the Financing Order do not prohibit the owner of the transferred Cost Recovery Property from obtaining adjustments and effecting allocations to the charges that are otherwise permitted by the Kentucky Utilities Act, as implemented by the Financing Order, in order to collect payments of such amounts; and

 

   

the Cost Recovery Property is not subject to any lien other than the lien created in favor of the trustee for the benefit of the holders pursuant to the Kentucky Utilities Act or any lien that may be granted under the basic documents;

 

   

the seller is a corporation duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with the requisite corporate or other power and authority to own its properties as such properties are owned on the issuance date and to conduct its business as such business is conducted by it on the issuance date;

 

   

the seller has the requisite corporate or other power and authority to obtain the Financing Order and to own the rights and interests under the Financing Order, to sell and assign those rights and interests to us;

 

   

the seller is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing, and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals, in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of property or the conduct of

 

93


Table of Contents
 

its business require such qualifications, licenses or approvals (except where the failure to so qualify or obtain such licenses and approvals would not be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the seller’s business, operations, assets, revenues or properties).

 

   

the seller has the requisite corporate or other power and authority to execute and deliver the sale agreement and to carry out its terms, and the execution, delivery and performance of the sale agreement have been duly authorized by the seller by all necessary corporate action;

 

   

the sale agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the seller, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions relating to bankruptcy, creditor’s rights and equitable principles;

 

   

the consummation by the seller of the transactions contemplated by the sale agreement and the fulfillment by the seller of the terms of the sale agreement do not (a) conflict with or result in any breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or otherwise constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a default under, the seller’s organizational documents or any indenture, or other agreement or instrument to which the seller is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, (b) result in the creation or imposition of any lien upon the seller’s properties pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument (other than any liens that may be granted in our favor or any liens created in favor of the trustee for the benefit of the holders pursuant to the Kentucky Utilities Act or any lien that may be granted under the basic documents) or (c) violate in any material respect any existing law or any existing order, rule or regulation applicable to the seller of any government authority having jurisdiction over the seller or its properties;

 

   

no proceeding is pending and, to the seller’s knowledge, no proceeding is threatened and, to the seller’s knowledge, no investigation is pending or threatened before any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the seller or its properties involving or relating to the seller or to the issuing entity or, to the seller’s knowledge, any other person:

 

   

asserting the invalidity of the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order, the sale agreement or the other basic documents or the Bonds;

 

   

seeking to prevent the issuance of the Bonds or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the sale agreement or any of the other basic documents;

 

   

seeking any determination or ruling that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the performance by the seller of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order, the Bonds, the sale agreement or any other basic documents; or

 

   

seeking to adversely affect the federal income tax or state income or franchise tax classification of the Bonds as debt;

 

   

except for financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code and other filings under the Kentucky Utilities Act, no governmental approvals, authorizations, consents, orders or other actions or filings with any governmental authority are required for the seller to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the sale agreement except those which have previously been obtained or made or are required to be made by the servicer in the future pursuant to the servicing agreement;

 

   

there is no order by any court providing for the revocation, alteration, limitation or other impairment of the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order, the issuance advice letter, the Cost Recovery Property or the charges or any rights arising under any of them or that seeks to enjoin the performance of any obligations under the Financing Order; and

 

   

after giving effect to the sale of the Cost Recovery Property under the sale agreement, Kentucky Power Company:

 

   

is solvent and expects to remain solvent;

 

94


Table of Contents
   

is adequately capitalized to conduct its business and affairs considering its size and the nature of its business and intended purposes;

 

   

is not engaged and does not expect to engage in a business for which its remaining property represents an unreasonably small portion of its capital;

 

   

reasonably believes that it will be able to pay its debts as they become due; and

 

   

is able to pay its debts as they mature and does not intend to incur, or believes that it will not incur, indebtedness that it will not be able to repay at its maturity.

The seller will not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, that billed charges will be actually collected from customers, that amounts actually collected arising from charges will in fact be sufficient to meet the payment obligations on the related Bonds or that the assumptions used in calculating such charges will in fact be realized.

Certain of the representations and warranties that the seller makes in the sale agreement involve conclusions of law. The seller makes those representations and warranties in order to reflect the understanding of the basis on which we are issuing the Bonds and to reflect the agreement that if this understanding proves to be incorrect, the seller will be obligated to indemnify us.

The representations and warranties made by the seller will survive the execution and delivery of the sale agreement, and our pledge of the Cost Recovery Property to the trustee. The seller will not be in breach of any representation or warranty as a result of any change in law occurring after the issuance date including by means of any legislative enactment, constitutional amendment or voter initiative that renders any of the representations or warranties untrue.

Covenants of the Seller

In the sale agreement, the seller makes the following covenants:

 

   

So long as the Bonds are outstanding, Kentucky Power Company, as the seller will keep in effect its existence and remain in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and continue to operate its electric transmission and distribution system to provide service to its customers under Commission-approved rate schedules.

 

   

Except for the lien in favor of the trustee for the benefit of the bondholders, the seller will not sell, pledge, assign or transfer any of the Cost Recovery Property, and will defined our right and title to the Cost Recovery Property against all claims of third parties.

 

   

If the seller receives any payments in respect of the charges or the proceeds thereof other than in its capacity as the servicer, the seller agrees to pay all those payments to the servicer, on behalf of us, and to hold such amounts in trust for us and the trustee prior to such payment. If the seller becomes a party to (a) any future sale agreement selling to us or any other affiliate of seller property consisting of charges similar to the charges, payable by customers pursuant to the Kentucky Utilities Act or any similar law, or (b) any future trade receivables purchase and sale arrangement or similar arrangement, or an extension to any such existing arrangement, under which the seller sells all or any portion of its accounts receivables, in each case the seller and the other parties to such arrangement shall enter into an amendment or joinder to the intercreditor agreement to acknowledge the rights of the Seller, the issuing entity and any future seller and issuer.

 

   

The seller will notify us and the trustee promptly in writing after becoming aware of any lien on any of the Cost Recovery Property, other than the conveyances under the sale agreement, or any lien under the basic documents or under the Kentucky Utilities Act or the Uniform Commercial Code in favor of the trustee for the benefit of the bondholders.

 

95


Table of Contents
   

The seller agrees to comply with its organizational or governing documents and all laws, treaties, rules, regulations and determinations of any governmental authority applicable to the seller, except to the extent that failure to so comply would not materially adversely affect our or the trustee’s interests in the Cost Recovery Property or under the basic documents to which the seller is a party or the seller’s performance of its obligations under the basic documents to which the seller is a party.

 

   

So long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, the seller will:

 

   

treat the Cost Recovery Property as our property for all purposes other than for financial reporting, state or federal regulatory or tax purposes; and

 

   

treat the Bonds as indebtedness for all purposes and specifically as debt of the issuing entity, other than for financial reporting, state or federal regulatory or tax purposes;

 

   

solely for the purposes of federal income tax law and, to the extent consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, for purposes of state, local and other taxes, as indebtedness of the seller (as the sole owner of the issuing entity) secured by the Collateral unless otherwise required by appropriate taxing authorities;

 

   

disclose in its financial statements that we and not the seller are the owner of the Cost Recovery Property and that our assets are not available to pay creditors of the seller or its affiliates (other than us);

 

   

not own or purchase any Bonds; and

 

   

disclose the effects of all transactions between us and the seller in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

   

The seller agrees that, upon the sale by the seller of the Cost Recovery Property to us pursuant to the sale agreement:

 

   

to the fullest extent permitted by law, including applicable Kentucky Public Service Commission regulations and the Kentucky Utilities Act, we will have all of the rights originally held by the seller with respect to the Cost Recovery Property, including the right (subject to the terms of the servicing agreement) to exercise any and all rights and remedies to collect any amounts payable by any retail customer in respect of the Cost Recovery Property, notwithstanding any objection or direction to the contrary by the seller (and the seller agrees not to make any such objection or to take any such contrary action), and

 

   

any payment by any retail customer directly to us will discharge that customer’s obligations, if any, in respect of the Cost Recovery Property to the extent of that payment, notwithstanding any objection or direction to the contrary by the seller.

So long as any of the Bonds are outstanding neither we nor the seller will take any action, file any tax return, or make any election inconsistent with our treatment for federal income tax purposes, as a disregarded entity that is not separate from the seller.

 

   

The seller will execute and file the filings required by law to fully preserve, maintain, protect and perfect our ownership interest in and the trustee’s lien on the Cost Recovery Property, including all filings required under the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Uniform Commercial Code relating to the transfer of the ownership of the rights and interests related to the Bonds under the Financing Order by the seller to us and the pledge of the Cost Recovery Property to the trustee. The seller will deliver or cause to be delivered to us and the trustee filed-stamped copies of, or filing receipts for, any document filed as provided above, as soon as available following such filing. The seller will institute any action or proceeding necessary to compel performance by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any of their respective agents of any of their obligations or duties under the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order or the issuance advice letter. The seller also will

 

96


Table of Contents
 

take those legal or administrative actions, including defending against or instituting and pursuing legal actions and appearing or testifying at hearings or similar proceedings, in each case, as may be reasonably necessary (i) to protect us, the holders and the trustee from claims, state actions or other actions or proceedings of third parties which, if successfully pursued, would result in a breach of any representation or warranty, or any covenant, of the seller in the sale agreement and (ii) to block or overturn any attempts to cause a repeal of, modification of or supplement to the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order, the issuance advice letter or the rights of the holders by legislative enactment or constitutional amendment that would be materially adverse to us, the trustee or the holders or which would otherwise cause an impairment of our rights or those of the holders and the trustee, and the seller will pay the costs of any such actions or proceedings.

 

   

Even if the sale agreement or the Indenture is terminated, the seller will not, prior to the date which is one year and one day after the termination of the Indenture and payment in full of the Bonds or any other amounts owed under the indenture, petition or otherwise invoke or cause us to invoke the process of any court or government authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining an involuntary case against us under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official or any substantial part of our property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of our affairs.

 

   

So long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, the seller will, and will cause each of its subsidiaries to, pay all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or with respect to any of its franchises, business, income or property before any penalty accrues thereon if the failure to pay any such taxes, assessments and governmental charges would, after any applicable grace periods, notices or other similar requirements, result in a lien on the transferred Cost Recovery Property; provided that no such tax need be paid if the seller or any of its affiliates is contesting the same in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and if the seller or such affiliate has established appropriate reserves as shall be required in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

   

The seller will not withdraw the filing of any issuance advice letter with the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

 

   

The seller will make all reasonable efforts to keep the charge rider in full force and effect at all times.

 

   

Promptly after obtaining knowledge of any breach in any material respect of its representations, warranties or covenants in the sale agreement, the seller will notify in writing us, the trustee, the Kentucky Public Service Commission and the rating agencies of the breach.

 

   

The seller will use the proceeds of the sale of the Cost Recovery Property in accordance with the Financing Order and the Kentucky Utilities Act.

 

   

Upon our request, the seller will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be necessary to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of the sale agreement.

Indemnification

The seller will indemnify, defend and hold harmless us, the trustee (for itself and for the benefit of the bondholders) and any of our and the trustee’s officers, directors, employees and agents against:

 

   

any and all amounts of principal and interest on the Bonds not paid when due or when scheduled to be paid,

 

   

any deposits required to be made by or to us under the basic documents or the Financing Order which are not made when required, and

 

   

any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, payment, costs or reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any of these persons in each case, as a result of the seller’s breach in any material respect of any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in the sale agreement.

 

97


Table of Contents

The seller will indemnify us and the trustee (for itself and for the benefit of the holders) and each of our and the trustee’s respective officers, directors, employees, trustees, managers, and agents for, and defend and hold harmless each such person from and against, any and all taxes (other than taxes imposed on the holders as a result of their ownership of Bonds) that may at any time be imposed on or asserted against any such person as a result of (i) the sale of the Cost Recovery Property to us, (ii) our ownership and assignment of the Cost Recovery Property, (iii) the issuance and sale by us of the Bonds or (iv) the other transactions contemplated in the basic documents, including any franchise, sales, gross receipts, general corporation, tangible personal property, privilege or license taxes, but excluding any taxes imposed as a result of a failure of such person to withhold or remit taxes with respect to payments on the Bonds; it being understood that the holders will be entitled to enforce their rights against the seller under this indemnity solely through a cause of action brought for their benefit by the trustee.

In addition, the seller will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the trustee (for itself), our independent managers and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, payments, costs or expenses incurred by any of these parties as a result of the seller’s breach in any material respects of any of its representations and warranties or covenants contained in the sale agreement, except to the extent of such losses either resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such indemnified persons or resulting from a breach of a representation or warranty made by such indemnified persons in any of the basic documents that gives rise to the seller’s breach. The seller will not be required to indemnify any person otherwise indemnified under the sale agreement for any amount paid or payable by such indemnified person in the settlement of any action, proceeding or investigation without the prior written consent of the seller, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

The seller will indemnify the servicer (if the servicer is not the seller) for the costs of any action instituted by the servicer pursuant to the servicing agreement which are not paid as an operating expense under the indenture.

The seller will indemnify the Kentucky Public Service Commission (for the benefit of the customers) for, and defend and hold harmless against, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, payments, costs or expenses that may be imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against the customers or the Kentucky Public Service Commission as a result of a seller breach in any material respects of any of its representations and warranties or covenants contained in the sale agreement resulting from the seller’s willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in performance of its duties or observance of its covenants under the sale agreement. The indemnification obligation set forth in this paragraph may be enforced by the Kentucky Public Service Commission but is not enforceable by any customer. Any indemnity payments made to the Kentucky Public Service Commission under this paragraph for the benefit of the customers will be paid to the trustee promptly for deposit into the collection account; except that, so long as the seller is also the servicer, any indemnity payments required to made to the Kentucky Public Service Commission under this paragraph for the benefit of the customers will be satisfied by the seller in its capacity as the servicer via a credit to the customers on their bills. Any such credit to the customers will not impact the charges or the Cost Recovery Property.

The indemnification provided for in the sale agreement will survive any repeal of, modification of, or supplement to, or judicial invalidation of, the Kentucky Utilities Act or the Financing Order and will survive the resignation or removal of the trustee, or the termination of the sale agreement and will rank on parity with other general, unsecured obligations of the seller. The seller shall not indemnify any person otherwise indemnified under the sale agreement for any changes in law after the issuance date, whether such changes in law are effected by means of any legislative enactment, constitutional amendment or any final and non-appealable judicial decision.

Kentucky Power Company’s indemnification obligations will rank equally in right of payment with other general unsecured obligations of Kentucky Power Company.

 

98


Table of Contents

Successors to the Seller

Any entity (a) into which the seller may be merged, converted or consolidated (by operation of law or otherwise), (b) that may result from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the seller shall be a party, (c) that may succeed to the properties and assets of the seller substantially as a whole, (d) which is a successor entity resulting from the division of the seller into two or more entities, or (e) which otherwise succeeds to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Seller, in each case may assume the rights and obligations of Kentucky Power Company under the sale agreement. If transmission and distribution are not provided by a single entity after any such transaction, the entity which provides wire service directly to customers may assume Kentucky Power Company’s rights and obligations under the sale agreement. So long as the conditions of any such assumption are met, Kentucky Power Company will automatically be released from its obligations under the sale agreement. The conditions include that:

 

   

immediately after giving effect to any transaction referred to in this paragraph, no representation, warranty or covenant made by the seller in the sale agreement will have been breached in any material respect, and, to the extent the seller is the servicer, no servicer default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a servicer default will have occurred and be continuing,

 

   

the successor must execute an agreement of assumption to perform all of the obligations of the seller under the sale agreement;

 

   

officers’ certificates, opinions of counsel and notices specified in the sale agreement will have been delivered to us, the trustee and the rating agencies (with copies to the Kentucky Public Service Commission),

 

   

the successor must have been assigned all of the seller’s obligations under both the servicing agreement and the administration agreement (to the extent the seller is no longer required to service in such respective role or such obligations of Seller can be assigned); and

 

   

the rating agencies will have received prior written notice of the transaction.

Amendment

The sale agreement may be amended in writing by the seller and us within ten business days prior written notice given to each rating agency and, after the issuance of the Bonds, (a) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision in the sale agreement; provided, however, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an officer’s certificate of the seller delivered to us and the trustee, adversely effect in any material respect the interest of any bondholder without the consent of not less than a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Bonds; or (b) to conform the provisions of the sale agreement to the description of the sale agreement in this prospectus.

In addition, the sale agreement may be amended in writing by the seller and us with (a) the prior written consent of the trustee, (b) the satisfaction of the rating agency condition, and (c) after the issuance of the Bonds, with the consent or deemed consent of the Kentucky Public Service Commission; provided that any such amendment may not, as evidenced by an officer’s certificate of seller delivered to us and the trustee, adversely affect in any material respect the interest of any holder of the Bonds, without the consent of not less than a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Bonds. In determining whether a majority of bondholders have consented, Bonds owned by us, Kentucky Power Company or any affiliate of us shall be disregarded, except that, in determining whether the trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such consent, the trustee shall only be required to disregard any Bonds it actually knows to be so owned. Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent, we will furnish copies of such amendment or consent to each of the rating agencies.

 

99


Table of Contents

THE SERVICING AGREEMENT

The following summary describes the material terms and provisions of the servicing agreement pursuant to which the servicer is undertaking to service the Cost Recovery Property. We have filed the form of the servicing agreement as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Servicing Procedures

The servicer, as our agent, will manage, service and administer, and bill and collect payments in respect of the Cost Recovery Property according to the terms of the servicing agreement. The servicer’s duties will include: obtaining meter reads, calculating revenue, billing the charges, collecting the charges, posting all payments in respect of Cost Recovery Property, responding to inquiries of retail customers, and the Kentucky Public Service Commission or any other governmental authority regarding the Cost Recovery Property, delivering bills to retail customers, investigation and handling delinquencies (and furnishing reports with respect to such delinquencies to us), processing and depositing collections and making periodic remittances, furnishing periodic reports and statements to us, the rating agencies and to the trustee, making all filings with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, taking all other actions necessary to perfect our ownership interests in, and the trustee’s lien on, the Cost Recovery Property, making all filings and taking such other action as may be necessary to perfect and maintain the perfection and priority of the trustee’s lien on and security interest in all Collateral, selling, as our agent, as our interests may appear, defaulted or written off accounts in accordance with the servicer’s usual and customary practices and taking all necessary action in connection with true-up adjustments.

The servicer is required to notify us, the trustee and the rating agencies in writing of any laws or Kentucky Public Service Commission regulations promulgated after the execution of the servicing agreement that have a material adverse effect on the servicer’s ability to perform its duties under the servicing agreement. The servicer is also authorized to execute and deliver documents and to make filings and participate in proceedings on our behalf.

In addition, upon our reasonable request or the reasonable request of the trustee, any rating agency or the Kentucky Public Service Commission, the servicer will provide to us, the trustee, the applicable rating agency or the Kentucky Public Service Commission, public financial information about the servicer and any material information about the Cost Recovery Property that is reasonably available to the servicer without undue cost or burden, as may be reasonably necessary and permitted by law to enable us, the trustee, the rating agencies or the Kentucky Public Service Commission to monitor the servicer’s performance (provided, however, that any such request by the trustee will not create an obligation for the trustee to monitor the servicer’s performance) and, so long as any Bonds are outstanding, the servicer will provide to us, the trustee and the Kentucky Public Service Commission, within a reasonable time after written request for such information, any information available to the servicer or reasonably obtainable by it without undue cost or burden that is necessary to calculate the charges applicable to each revenue class. The servicer will also prepare any reports required to be filed by us with the SEC and will deliver to us and the trustee when required opinions of counsel to the effect that all filings pursuant to the UCC and the Kentucky Utilities Act, including all filings with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the State of Delaware, that are necessary to preserve and protect the interests of the trustee in the Cost Recovery Property have been made.

Servicing Standards and Covenants

The servicing agreement requires the servicer to (i) manage, service, administer and make collections in respect of the Cost Recovery Property with reasonable care and using the same degree of care and diligence that the servicer exercise with respect to similar assets for its own account and, if applicable, for others; (ii) follow customary standards, policies and procedures in performing its duties as servicer that are customary in the electric transmission and distribution industry in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; (iii) use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its customary servicing procedures, to enforce, and maintain rights in respect of, the Cost

 

100


Table of Contents

Recovery Property and to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive and adjust the charges; (iv) comply with all requirements of law including all rules and regulations of the Kentucky Public Service Commission applicable to, and binding on, the servicer that relate to the Cost Recovery Property; (v) file and maintain the effectiveness of UCC financing statements with respect to the Cost Recovery Property; (vi) take such other action on our behalf to ensure that the lien of the trustee on the Collateral remains perfected and of first priority (including, if necessary, making any filings that are required by the UCC if the servicer or the issuing entity changes its name or its jurisdiction of organization); and (vii) within 30 days after each five year anniversary of the issuance date, provide the trustee with confirmation that all filings required under the UCC and the Kentucky Utilities Act to maintain the lien of the trustee in the Cost Recovery Property remain in effect. The servicer shall follow such customary and usual practices and procedures as it shall deem necessary or advisable in its servicing of all or any portion of the Cost Recovery Property, which, in the servicer’s judgment, may include the taking of legal action, at the issuing entity’s expense but subject to the priority of payments set forth in the Indenture.

The servicer is responsible for instituting any action or proceeding to compel performance:

 

  (1)

by the parties to the intercreditor agreement of their duties under that agreement, the Financing Order and the Kentucky Utilities Act or as may be reasonably necessary to block or overturn any attempts to cause a repeal, modification or supplement of the Kentucky Utilities Act or the Financing Order, such actions or proceedings to be undertaken at our expense, and

 

  (2)

by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Public Service Commission of their respective obligations under the Kentucky Utilities Act, the Financing Order or with respect to the Cost Recovery Property and the charges, such actions or proceedings to be undertaken at the expense of the servicer.

In any proceedings related to the exercise of the power of eminent domain by any municipality to acquire a portion of Kentucky Power Company’s electric distribution facilities, the servicer will assert that the court ordering such condemnation must treat such municipality as a successor to Kentucky Power Company under the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order and that customers in such municipalities remain responsible for payment of charges. In addition to the foregoing, the servicer may, but is not obligated to, prosecute or defend any other legal action if such action that is not directly related to one of its enumerated duties under the servicing agreement. The costs and expenses of prosecuting or defending any such legal action shall be paid by us.

The servicing agreement also designates the servicer as the custodian of our records and documents. The servicing agreement requires the servicer to indemnify us, our independent managers and the trustee (for itself and for the benefit of bondholders) for any negligent act or omission relating to the servicer’s duties as custodian, except in the case of willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of us, any independent manager or the trustee.

True-Up Adjustment Process

Among other things, the Financing Order and the servicing agreement both require the servicer to file adjustment requests semi-annually and, beginning 12 months prior to the scheduled final payment date of the Bonds, quarterly for such series, to ensure the expected recovery of amounts sufficient to provide timely payment of principal of and interest on the Bonds, together with other amounts payable with respect to the Bonds. In addition to these mandatory true-up adjustment requests, the servicer may file at any time optional true-up adjustments in order to assure timely payment of the Bonds, replenish any draws on the capital subaccount and pay the other amounts payable with respect to the Bonds. For more information on the true-up process, please read “Kentucky Power Company’s Financing Order—Statutory True-Ups.”

In calculating the mandatory true-up adjustment, the servicer will (a) update the data and assumptions underlying the calculation of the charges, including projected revenues during the applicable calculation period(s) for each revenue class and including interest and our estimated expenses and fees to be paid during

 

101


Table of Contents

such period, as well as the weighted average days outstanding and write-offs, (b) determine the Periodic Payment Requirements, as described in the next paragraph below, and the periodic billing requirement equal to the aggregate amount of charges necessary to be billed during the applicable calculation period(s) in order to collect amounts sufficient to timely pay the Periodic Payment Requirements, taking into consideration forecast usage and revenue data, forecast uncollectible charges and forecast lags in collection based on such updated data and assumptions, (c) determine the charges to be allocated to each revenue class during such calculation period(s) based on such periodic billing requirement and the terms of the Financing Order, the charge rider and any other tariffs filed pursuant thereto, (d) make required notice and other filings with the Kentucky Public Service Commission to reflect the revised charges, including any charge rider adjustment and the applicable revenue forecast, and (e) take all reasonable actions and make all reasonable efforts to effect such mandatory true-up adjustment and to enforce the provisions of the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order.

The servicer will calculate the “Periodic Payment Requirements” for each calculation period as the total amount of charge revenue collections that we must receive during that calculation period (after giving effect to the allocation of amounts in the Excess Funds Subaccount and including any shortfalls in collections for any prior calculation periods) in order to ensure that, as of the last Payment Date occurring in such calculation period, we have sufficient funds to:

 

   

pay all accrued and unpaid interest on the Bonds in full on a timely basis,

 

   

repay principal on the Bonds such that the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Bonds does not exceed the amount provided in the sinking fund schedule for the applicable Payment Date,

 

   

replenish the amounts on deposit in the capital subaccount up to the required capital level,

 

   

pay in full all other fees, expenses and indemnities payable under the Indenture (up to the authorized amounts of such payments set forth in the Financing Order), and

 

   

have amounts necessary for the payment of return on invested capital.

For any true-up adjustment occurring after the last scheduled final payment date for the Bonds, the Periodic Payment Requirement will be calculated to ensure that sufficient charges will be collected to retire the Bonds in full on the next Payment Date.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission must be given at least ten days’ notice prior to making any true-up adjustment. In the event any correction to a true-up adjustment due to mathematical errors in the calculation of the adjustment or otherwise is necessary, the corrections will be made in a future true-up adjustment. The servicer will begin billing the revised charges to customers commencing in the first billing cycle following the date on which any true-up adjustment becomes effective.

In calculating any true-up adjustment, the servicer will allocate payment responsibility among revenue classes in accordance with the requirements of the Financing Order, subject to any adjustment made in an interim true-up adjustment.

Remittances to Collection Account

The servicer is required to remit charges estimated to have been collected to the trustee for deposit in the collection account on each business day as soon as reasonably practicable but in no event later than the second business day after those payments are estimated to have been received. For a description of the allocation of the deposits, please read “Security for the Bonds-How Funds in the Collection Account will be Allocated.” Until charge collections are remitted to the general subaccount of the collection account, the servicer will not segregate them from its general funds. Please read “Risk Factors-Risks Associated With Potential Bankruptcy Proceedings of the Seller or the Servicer” in this prospectus.

 

102


Table of Contents

The servicer is required to remit to the trustee estimated charge collections based on the amount of billed charges and the weighted average number of days that Kentucky Power Company’s customer bills remain outstanding, less its estimated system-wide charge-off percentage. On a monthly basis, the servicer is required to reconcile remittances of estimated payments arising from charges with actual charge payments received by the servicer to more accurately reflect the amount of billed charges that should have been remitted, based on the amounts actually received. To the extent the remittances of estimated payments exceed the amounts that should have been remitted, the servicer will be entitled to receive a payment from us in an amount equal to the excess remittance, or to withhold the excess amount from any subsequent remittance to the trustee. To the extent the remittances of estimated charges are less than the amount that should have been remitted, or a material amount of investment earnings has accrued on the collected charges, the servicer will remit the amount of the shortfall to the trustee within five business days after the date of the monthly reconciliation report in which the reconciliation calculations are specified, Such reconciliation report is expected to be delivered on or before the 25th calendar day of each month. Although the servicer will remit estimated payments arising from the collection of charges to the trustee, the servicer is not obligated to make any payments on the Bonds.

In the event that the servicer makes changes to its current computerized customer information system, including a system which would allow the servicer to track actual payments of the charges and/or otherwise monitor payment and collection activity more efficiently or accurately than is being done today, the servicing agreement will allow the servicer to substitute actual remittance procedures for the estimated remittance procedures described above or otherwise modify the remittance procedures described above as may be appropriate in the interests of efficiency, accuracy, cost and/or system capabilities. However, the servicer will not be allowed to make any modification or substitution that would materially adversely affect the bondholders. The servicer must also give prior written notice to us, the trustee, the rating agencies and the Kentucky Public Service Commission of any such computer system changes.

Servicing Compensation

The servicer will be entitled to receive an annual servicing fee in an amount equal to:

 

   

0.05% of the aggregate initial principal amount of the Bonds for so long as Kentucky Power Company or one of its affiliates is the servicer; or

 

   

if neither Kentucky Power Company nor any of its affiliates is the servicer, an amount agreed upon by the successor servicer and the trustee not to exceed 0.60% of the aggregate initial principal amount of the Bonds.

The servicing fee will be paid to the servicer by the trustee in accordance with the priority of payments semi-annually with half of the servicing fee paid on each payment date.

In addition, the servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed by us for filing fees and fees and expenses for printing, attorneys, accountants, the rating agencies, and other professional services retained by, and other incremental out-of-pocket third-party costs incurred by us and paid by the servicer (or procured by the Servicer on our behalf and paid for by the servicer) to meet our obligations under the basic documents (collectively, the “out-of-pocket reimbursable costs”). Kentucky Power Company and its affiliates are not permitted to include, as part of the out-of-pocket reimbursable costs, the cost of existing personnel or resources. Any out-of-pocket reimbursable costs allocated to Kentucky Power Company that are in excess of the actual out-of-pocket reimbursable costs shall be credited to customers on their bills.

The servicer will be responsible for paying from its own account all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Servicing Agreement, other than any expenses that the servicer is entitled to be reimbursed for, as described in the paragraph above, and any costs and expenses incurred in the course of acting as administrator under the administration agreement.

 

103


Table of Contents

Servicer Representations and Warranties; Limitation on Servicer’s Liability

In the servicing agreement, the servicer will represent and warrant to us, as of the issuance date of the Bonds, that:

 

   

the servicer is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with requisite corporate or other power and authority to own its properties as such properties are owned on the issuance date, to conduct its business as such business is conducted by it on the issuance date, to service the Cost Recovery Property, to hold the records related to the Cost Recovery Property as custodian, and to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of the servicing agreement and the intercreditor agreement;

 

   

the servicer is duly qualified to do business, is in good standing and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business (including the servicing of the Cost Recovery Property as required under the servicing agreement and the intercreditor agreement) requires such qualifications, licenses or approvals (except where a failure to qualify would not be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the servicer’s business, operations, assets, revenues or properties or to its servicing of the Cost Recovery Property);

 

   

the execution, delivery and performance of the servicing agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the servicer under its organizational or governing documents and laws;

 

   

each of the servicing agreement and the intercreditor agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the servicer, enforceable against the servicer in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;

 

   

the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the servicing agreement and the intercreditor agreement (to the extent applicable to the servicer’s responsibilities thereunder) and the fulfilment of the terms of each will not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a default under, the organizational documents of the servicer, or any agreement to which the servicer is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound; or result in the creation or imposition of any lien upon any of its properties pursuant to the terms of any such agreement (other than any lien that may be granted under the basic documents or any lien created pursuant to Section 278.686 of the Kentucky Utilities Act); or violate any existing law or any existing order, rule or regulation applicable to the servicer of any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the servicer or its properties;

 

   

there are no proceedings pending and, to the servicer’s knowledge, there are no proceedings threatened and no investigations pending or threatened before any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the servicer or its properties involving or relating to the servicer or us or to the servicer’s knowledge, any other person (a) asserting the invalidity of the servicing agreement or any of the other basic documents, (b) seeking to prevent the issuance of the Bonds or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the servicing agreement or any of the other basic documents, (c) seeking any determination or ruling that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the performance by the servicer of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, the servicing agreement, any of the other basic documents or the Bonds, or (d) seeking to adversely affect the treatment of the Bonds for U.S. federal income or state income or franchise tax purposes;

 

   

except for the filings to be made under the Kentucky Utilities Act, no governmental approvals, authorizations, consents, orders or other actions or filings with any governmental authority are required for the servicer to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the servicing agreement or the intercreditor agreement except those which have previously been obtained or made, those that are

 

104


Table of Contents
 

required to be made by the servicer in the future pursuant to the servicing agreement and those that the servicer may need to file in the future to continue the effectiveness of any financing statements filed under the Kentucky Utilities Act or the UCC; and

 

   

each report or certificate delivered in connection with any filing made to the Kentucky Public Service Commission by the servicer on our behalf with respect to the charges or true-up adjustments will be true and correct in all material respects as of the delivery ate, or, if based in part on or containing assumptions, forecasts or other predictions of future events, such assumptions, forecasts or predictions are reasonable based on historical performance (and facts known to the servicer on the date such report or certificate is delivered).

The servicer is not responsible for any ruling, decision, action or determination made or not made, or any delay of the Kentucky Public Service Commission (except any delay caused by the servicer’s failure to file required applications in a timely and correct manner or other breach of its duties under the servicing agreement that adversely affects the Cost Recovery Property or the true-up adjustments) in any way related to the Cost Recovery Property, the approval of revised charges or any true-up adjustment. The servicer will also not be liable for the calculation of revised charges and scheduled adjustments to those charges, including any inaccuracy in the assumptions made in that calculation, so long as the servicer has acted in good faith and not in a negligent manner. The servicer will not be liable for any person, including the bondholders, not receiving any payment, amount or return anticipated or expected or in respect of the Bonds generally.

The Servicer Will Indemnify Us, the Bondholders and the Kentucky Public Service Commission in Limited Circumstances

The servicer will indemnify, defend and hold harmless us and the trustee (for itself and for the benefit of bondholders), as well as the independent managers and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, from any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, payments and claims, and reasonable costs or expenses, arising as a result of:

 

   

the servicer’s willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or observance of its covenants under the servicing agreement or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the servicing agreement or the intercreditor agreement,

 

   

the servicer’s breach in any material respects of any of its representations or warranties under the servicing agreement or the intercreditor agreement that results in a servicer default,

 

   

litigation and related expenses relating to the servicer’s status and obligations as servicer (other than any proceeding the servicer is required to institute under the servicing agreement), and

 

   

the costs and expenses (including legal costs and expenses) of enforcing the indemnification obligations of the servicer.

The servicer will not be liable, however, for any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, payments or claims, or costs or expenses, resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence of the party seeking indemnification, or resulting from a breach of a representation or warranty made by any such person in any of the basic documents that gave rise to the servicer’s breach. The indemnities described above will survive the resignation or removal of the trustee and the termination of the servicing agreement.

In addition, the servicer will indemnify the Kentucky Public Service Commission (for the benefit of customers) in connection with any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, payments and claims, including any increase in servicing fees payable to a successor servicer following a servicer default, resulting from the servicer’s willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in performance of its duties or observance of its covenants under the servicing agreement. Any indemnity payments required to made to the Kentucky Public Service Commission under this paragraph for the benefit of customers will be satisfied by the servicer via a credit to customers on their bills. Any such credit to customers will not impact the charges or the Cost Recovery Property.

 

105


Table of Contents

Except for payment of the servicing fee, reimbursement of excess remittances, payment of the purchase price of the Cost Recovery Property and the reimbursement of expenses related to filing a suit or defending an action with respect to the Cost Recovery Property for our benefit that relates to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Financing Order and the Kentucky Utilities Act, the servicer releases us and our independent managers, the trustee and each of our respective officers, directors and agents from any actions, claims and demands which the servicer, in the capacity of servicer or otherwise, may have against us and those other parties relating to the Cost Recovery Property or the servicer’s activities with respect to the Cost Recovery Property, other than actions, claims and demands arising from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of any such party.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission, acting through its authorized legal representative, may enforce the servicer’s obligations imposed pursuant to the Financing Order for the benefit of the customers to the extent permitted by law.

Reporting and Evidence as to Compliance

The servicer must deliver to us, the trustee, the rating agencies and the Kentucky Public Service Commission, on or before March 31 of each year, beginning in March of 2026 or, if earlier, on the date on which the annual report on Form 10-K relating to the Bonds is required to be filed with the SEC, a report on its assessment of compliance with specified servicing criteria as required by Item 1122(a) and Item 1123 of Regulation AB, during the preceding 12 months ended December 31 (or during the period since the issuance date of the Bonds in the case of the first statement), together with a certificate by an officer of the servicer certifying the statements set forth therein.

The servicing agreement also provides that the servicer will engage, at our expense, a firm of independent certified public accountants, which will furnish annually to us, the trustee, the rating agencies and the Kentucky Public Service Commission on or before March 31 of each year, beginning March 31, 2026 or, if earlier, on the date on which the annual report relating to the Bonds is required to be filed with the SEC, an annual accountant’s report, which will include any required attestation report on the servicer’s assessment report described in the immediately preceding paragraph, to the effect that the accounting firm has performed agreed upon procedures in connection with the servicer’s compliance with its obligations under the servicing agreement during the preceding 12 months, identifying the results of the procedures and including any exceptions noted. The report will also indicate that the accounting firm providing the report is independent of the servicer within the meaning of the rules of The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Copies of the above reports will be filed with the SEC. You may also obtain copies of the above statements and certificates by sending a written request addressed to the trustee.

The servicer will also be required to deliver to us, the trustee and the rating agencies monthly reports setting forth certain information relating to collections of the charges received during the preceding calendar month and, shortly before each payment date, a semi-annual report setting forth (1) the amount of principal and interest paid to bondholders on such date, (2) any difference between the principal amount of Bonds that remains outstanding after giving effect to payments made on such Payment Date and the amount that was expect to be outstanding in accordance with the related sinking fund schedule, (3) fees and expenses paid to the trustee, the servicer and other service providers, and (4) the amounts on deposit in the capital subaccount and excess funds subaccount after giving effect to all transfers and payments made on such payment date. The servicer is required to file copies of the semi-annual payment date reports with the SEC.

Matters Regarding the Servicer

The servicing agreement will provide that Kentucky Power Company may not resign from its obligations and duties as servicer thereunder, except with the prior written consent of the Kentucky Public Service Commission and only if Kentucky Power Company delivers to the trustee an opinion of independent legal

 

106


Table of Contents

counsel to the effect that Kentucky Power Company’s performance of its duties under the servicing agreement is no longer permissible under applicable law. No resignation by Kentucky Power Company as servicer will become effective until a successor servicer has been appointed in accordance with the procedures described under “—-Successor Servicer” and has assumed Kentucky Power Company’s servicing obligations under the servicing agreement.

The servicing agreement further provides that neither the servicer nor any of its directors, officers, employees, and agents will be liable to us or to any other person, except as provided under the servicing agreement, for taking any action or for refraining from taking any action under the servicing agreement or for good faith errors in judgment. However, neither the servicer nor any person or entity will be protected against any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties under the servicing agreement or the intercreditor agreement. The servicer and any of its directors, officers, employees or agents may rely in good faith on the advice of counsel or on any document submitted by any responsible officer of us, the trustee or the Kentucky Public Service Commission respecting any matters under the servicing agreement.

The servicing agreement permits the servicer to appoint any person to perform any or all of its obligations. However, unless the appointed person is an affiliate of Kentucky Power Company, such appointment must satisfy the rating agency condition. In all cases, the servicer must remain obligated and liable under the servicing agreement for the performance of the delegated obligations.

Servicer Defaults

Servicer defaults under the servicing agreement consist of:

 

   

any failure by the servicer to remit the charges received from customers or any other amount into the collection account which failure continues unremedied for five business days after the earlier of the date on which (i) written notice of this failure from us or the trustee is received by the servicer and (ii) the failure is actually known by a responsible officer of the servicer;

 

   

any failure by the servicer to perform in any material respect any other covenants or agreements in the servicing agreement or the other basic documents to which it is a party, which failure materially and adversely affects the rights of bondholders and continues unremedied for 60 days after the earlier of the date on which (i) written notice of this failure from us or the Kentucky Public Service Commission is received by the servicer and (ii) such failure is actually known by a responsible officer of the servicer,

 

   

any failure by the servicer to perform in any material respects its obligations to make true-up adjustment filings in the time and manner specified in the servicing agreement, which failure continues unremedied for a period of five business days,

 

   

any representation or warranty made by the servicer in the servicing agreement or any basic document proves to have been incorrect in a material respect when made, which has a material adverse effect on the bondholders and continues unremedied for a period of 60 days after the earlier of the date on which (i) written notice of this breach from us, the trustee or the Kentucky Public Service Commission is received by the servicer and (ii) such breach is actually known by a responsible officer of the servicer, and

 

   

events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation of the servicer. Please read “Risk Factors—Risks Associated With Potential Bankruptcy Proceedings of the Seller or the Servicer” and “How a Bankruptcy May Affect Your Investment” in this prospectus.

Rights Upon a Servicer Default

In the event of a servicer default that remains unremedied, the trustee may, and upon the written instruction of the Kentucky Public Service Commission (on behalf of the customers) or bondholders who hold not less than

 

107


Table of Contents

a majority in principal amount of outstanding Bonds, the trustee shall terminate all the rights and obligations of the servicer under the servicing agreement, other than the servicer’s indemnity obligation and obligation to continue performing its functions as servicer until a successor servicer is appointed. After the termination, the trustee may appoint a successor servicer, or the trustee shall appoint a successor servicer if directed to do so by bondholders who hold not less than a majority in principal amount of outstanding Bonds or at the written direction of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, and in each case with our prior written consent, which we may not unreasonably withhold. The successor servicer will succeed to all the rights and duties of servicer under the servicing agreement and will be entitled to similar compensation arrangements.

If within 30 days after the delivery of a termination notice, a new servicer has not been appointed, the trustee may petition or it shall petition, if so directed by bondholders who hold not less than a majority in principal amount of outstanding Bonds, the Kentucky Public Service Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor servicer.

If a servicer defaults in its duty to remit charge collections to the collection account, as described in the first bullet under “—-Servicer Defaults” and fails to remedy this default, and this failure results in a payment default on the Bonds, the bondholders and the trustee will be entitled to (i) apply to the Kentucky Public Service Commission or the applicable state court for sequestration and payment of revenues arising with respect to the Cost Recovery Property, (ii) foreclose on or otherwise enforce the lien on the Cost Recovery Property and (iii) exercise any other rights and remedies available to the bondholders and the trustee under the Kentucky Utilities Act or under any other applicable law. However, the nature of our business means that payments are made on the Bonds only when collections are realized with respect to the Cost Recovery Property, and enforcing the trustee’s lien will not result in an accelerated repayment of the Bonds. Please read “OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS—Foreclosure of the trustee’s lien on the Cost Recovery Property for the Bonds might not be practical, and acceleration of the Bonds before maturity might have little practical effect.” and “-You may experience material payment delays or incur a loss on your investment in the Bonds because the source of funds for payment is limited.”

Waiver of Past Defaults

The Kentucky Public Service Commission, together with the bondholders evidencing not less than a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Bonds, on behalf of all bondholders, may direct in writing the trustee to waive any default by the servicer in the performance of its obligations under the servicing agreement and its consequences, except a default in making any required remittances to the collection account. The servicing agreement provides that no waiver will impair the bondholders’ rights relating to subsequent defaults. Promptly after executing such a waiver, the servicer will furnish a copy of such waiver to each rating agency.

Successor Servicer

Any successor servicer must meet the following requirements: (1) it must be permitted under the regulations of the Kentucky Public Service Commission to perform the duties of servicer, (2) its appointment must satisfy the rating agency condition, (3) the Kentucky Public Service Commission must consent or be deemed to consent to its appointment, (4) must be approved by the Receivables Agent under the intercreditor agreement, and (5) it must enter with us into a servicing agreement that is substantially similar to the original servicing agreement with Kentucky Power Company.

If for any reason a third-party assumes the role of the servicer under the servicing agreement, the predecessor servicer must cooperate with us, the trustee and the successor servicer in effecting the termination of its rights and responsibilities under the servicing agreement, including the transfer to the successor servicer of all records relating to the Cost Recovery Property and all cash collections of charges then held by the predecessor servicer or subsequently received by it. The predecessor servicer will be liable for the reasonable costs and

 

108


Table of Contents

expenses incurred in transferring its servicing obligations to the successor servicer and amending the servicing agreement if such transfer is the result of a servicer default and, in all other cases, such transfer costs and expenses will be paid by us. The predecessor servicer must continue to service the Cost Recovery Property until its successor has been appointed and has assumed the role of servicer.

Amendment

The servicing agreement may be amended in writing by the servicer and us with (i) the prior written consent of the trustee, (ii) the satisfaction of the rating agency condition and (iii) after the issuance date, the consent or deemed consent of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, so long as such amendment does not, as evidenced by an officer’s certificate of the servicer delivered to us and the trustee, adversely affect in any material respect the interest of any bondholder in any material respect or unless the consent of the bondholders of not less than a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Bonds is obtained. Promptly after obtaining such consents and executing any such amendment, we will furnish copies of such amendment to each of the rating agencies.

In addition, the servicing agreement may be amended in writing by the servicer and us, with ten business days’ prior written notice given to the rating agencies and the trustee, but without the consent of any of the bondholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement, or to add, eliminate or change any of the provisions of the servicing agreement or modify in any manner the rights of the bondholders, so long as such action will not, as evidenced by an officer’s certificate of the servicer delivered to us and the trustee, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any bondholder, or (ii) to conform the provisions of the servicing agreement to the description of the servicing agreement in this prospectus. Promptly after executing any such amendment, we will furnish copies of such amendment to each of the rating agencies.

 

109


Table of Contents

HOW A BANKRUPTCY MAY AFFECT YOUR INVESTMENT

Challenge to True Sale Treatment

Kentucky Power Company will represent and warrant that the transfer of the Cost Recovery Property in accordance with the sale agreement constitutes a true and valid sale and assignment of that Cost Recovery Property by Kentucky Power Company to us. It will be a condition of closing for the sale of the Cost Recovery Property pursuant to the sale agreement that Kentucky Power Company will take the appropriate actions under the Kentucky Utilities Act, including filing a notice of transfer of an interest in the Cost Recovery Property, to perfect this sale. The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that a transfer of Cost Recovery Property by an electric utility to an assignee which the parties have in the governing documentation expressly stated to be a sale or other absolute transfer, in a transaction approved in a financing order, shall be treated as an absolute transfer of all the transferor’s right, title and interest, as in a “true sale” under applicable creditors’ rights principles, and not as a pledge or other financing, of the relevant Cost Recovery Property. We and Kentucky Power Company will treat such a transaction as a sale under applicable law. However, we expect that Bonds will be reflected as debt on Kentucky Power Company’s consolidated financial statements. In addition, we anticipate that the Bonds will be treated as debt of Kentucky Power Company for federal income tax purposes. Please read “The Kentucky Utilities Act-Recovery of Transition to Competition Costs for Kentucky Power Company and Other Kentucky Utilities” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.” In the event of a bankruptcy of a party to a sale agreement, if a party in interest in the bankruptcy were to take the position that the transfer of the Cost Recovery Property to us pursuant to that sale agreement was a financing transaction and not a true sale under applicable creditors’ rights principles, there can be no assurance that a court would not adopt this position. Even if a court did not ultimately recharacterize the transaction as a financing transaction, the mere commencement of a bankruptcy of Kentucky Power Company and the attendant possible uncertainty surrounding the treatment of the transaction could result in delays in payments on the Bonds.

In that regard, we note that the bankruptcy court in In re: LTV Steel Company, Inc., et al., 274 B.R. 278 (Bankr. N. D. Oh. 2001) issued an interim order that observed that a debtor, LTV Steel Company, which had previously entered into securitization arrangements with respect both to its inventory and its accounts receivable may have “at least some equitable interest in the inventory and receivables, and that this interest is property of the Debtor’s estate. . . sufficient to support the entry of” an interim order permitting the debtor to use proceeds of the property sold in the securitization. 274 B.R. at 285. The court based its decision in large part on its view of the equities of the case.

LTV and the securitization investors subsequently settled their dispute over the terms of the interim order and the bankruptcy court entered a final order in which the parties admitted and the court found that the pre-petition transactions constituted “true sales.” The court did not otherwise overrule its earlier ruling. The LTV memorandum opinion serves as an example of the pervasive equity powers of bankruptcy courts and the importance that such courts may ascribe to the goal of reorganization, particularly where the assets sold are integral to the ongoing operation of the debtor’s business.

Even if creditors did not challenge the sale of Cost Recovery Property as a true sale, a bankruptcy filing by Kentucky Power Company could trigger a bankruptcy filing by us with similar negative consequences for bondholders. In a prior bankruptcy case, In re General Growth Properties, Inc., 406 B.R. 171, (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2009), General Growth Properties, Inc. filed for bankruptcy together with many of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including many subsidiaries that were organized as special purpose vehicles. The bankruptcy court upheld the validity of the filings of these special purpose subsidiaries and allowed the subsidiaries, over the objections of their creditors, to use the lenders’ cash collateral to make loans to the parent for general corporate purposes. The creditors received adequate protection in the form of current interest payments and replacement liens to mitigate any diminution in value resulting from the use of the cash collateral, but the opinion serves as a reminder that bankruptcy courts may subordinate legal rights of creditors to the interests of helping debtors reorganize.

 

110


Table of Contents

We and Kentucky Power Company have attempted to mitigate the impact of a possible recharacterization of a sale of Cost Recovery Property as a financing transaction under applicable creditors’ rights principles. The sale agreement will provide that if the transfer of the applicable Cost Recovery Property is thereafter recharacterized by a court as a financing transaction and not a true sale, the transfer by Kentucky Power Company will be deemed to have granted to us on behalf of ourselves and the trustee a first priority security interest in all Kentucky Power Company’s right, title and interest in and to the Cost Recovery Property and all proceeds thereof. In addition, the sale agreement will require the filing of a notice of security interest in the Cost Recovery Property and the proceeds thereof in accordance with the Kentucky Utilities Act. As a result of this filing, we would be a secured creditor of Kentucky Power Company and entitled to recover against the Collateral or its value. This does not, however, eliminate the risk of payment delays or reductions and other adverse effects caused by an Kentucky Power Company bankruptcy. Further, if, for any reason, a Cost Recovery Property notice is not filed under the Kentucky Utilities Act or we fail to otherwise perfect our interest in the Cost Recovery Property, and the transfer is thereafter deemed not to constitute a true sale, we would be an unsecured creditor of Kentucky Power Company.

The Kentucky Utilities Act provide that the creation, granting, perfection and enforcement of liens and security interests in Cost Recovery Property are governed by the Kentucky Utilities Act and not by the Uniform Commercial Code or any other law, except as otherwise provided in the Kentucky Utilities Act. Under the Kentucky Utilities Act, a valid and enforceable lien and security interest in Cost Recovery Property may be created only by a financing order issued under the Kentucky Utilities Act and the execution and delivery of a security agreement with a holder of Bonds or a trustee or agent for the holder. The lien and security interest attaches automatically from the time value is received for the Bonds. Upon perfection through the filing of notice with the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to rules established by the Secretary of Commonwealth of Kentucky, the security interest shall be a continuously perfected lien and security interest in the Cost Recovery Property, with priority in the order of filing and take precedence over any subsequent judicial or other lien creditor. None of this, however, mitigates the risk of payment delays and other adverse effects caused by an Kentucky Power Company bankruptcy. Further, if, for any reason, a Cost Recovery Property notice is not filed under the Kentucky Utilities Act or we fail to otherwise perfect our interest in the Cost Recovery Property sold pursuant to the sale agreement, and the transfer is thereafter deemed not to constitute a true sale, we would be an unsecured creditor of Kentucky Power Company.

Consolidation of the Issuing Entity and Kentucky Power Company

If Kentucky Power Company were to become a debtor in a bankruptcy case, a party in interest might attempt to substantively consolidate the assets and liabilities of Kentucky Power Company and us. We and Kentucky Power Company have taken steps to attempt to minimize this risk. Please read “Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, The Issuing Entity” in this prospectus. However, no assurance can be given that if Kentucky Power Company were to become a debtor in a bankruptcy case, a court would not order that our assets and liabilities be substantively consolidated with those of Kentucky Power Company. Substantive consolidation would result in payment of the claims of the beneficial owners of the Bonds to be subject to substantial delay and to adjustment in timing and amount under a plan of reorganization in the bankruptcy case.

Status of Cost Recovery Property as Current Property

Kentucky Power Company will represent in the sale agreement, and the Kentucky Utilities Act provide, that the Cost Recovery Property sold pursuant to such sale agreement constitutes a current property right on the date that it is first transferred or pledged in connection with the issuance of Bonds. Nevertheless, no assurance can be given that, in the event of a bankruptcy of Kentucky Power Company, a court would not rule that the applicable Cost Recovery Property comes into existence only as retail customers use electricity.

 

   

If a court were to accept the argument that the applicable Cost Recovery Property comes into existence only as retail customers use electricity, no assurance can be given that a security interest in favor of the

 

111


Table of Contents
 

bondholders would attach to the charges in respect of electricity consumed after the commencement of the bankruptcy case or that the Cost Recovery Property has been sold to us. If it were determined that the Cost Recovery Property had not been sold to us, and the security interest in favor of the bondholders did not attach to the applicable charges in respect of electricity consumed after the commencement of the bankruptcy case, then we would have an unsecured claim against Kentucky Power Company. If so, there would be delays and/or reductions in payments on the Bonds. Whether or not a court determined that Cost Recovery Property had been sold to us pursuant to a sale agreement, no assurances can be given that a court would not rule that any charges relating to electricity consumed after the commencement of the bankruptcy could not be transferred to us or the trustee.

In addition, in the event of a bankruptcy of Kentucky Power Company, a party in interest in the bankruptcy could assert that we should pay, or that we should be charged for, a portion of Kentucky Power Company’s costs associated with the transmission or distribution of the electricity, consumption of which gave rise to the charge receipts used to make payments on the Bonds.

Regardless of whether Kentucky Power Company is the debtor in a bankruptcy case, if a court were to accept the argument that Cost Recovery Property sold pursuant to the sale agreement comes into existence only as customers use electricity, a tax or government lien or other nonconsensual lien on property of Kentucky Power Company arising before that Cost Recovery Property came into existence could have priority over our interest in that Cost Recovery Property. Adjustments to the charges may be available to mitigate this exposure, although there may be delays in implementing these adjustments.

Estimation of Claims; Challenges to Indemnity Claims

If Kentucky Power Company were to become a debtor in a bankruptcy case, to the extent we do not have secured claims as discussed above, claims, including indemnity claims, by us or the trustee against Kentucky Power Company as seller under the sale agreement and the other documents executed in connection therewith would be unsecured claims and would be subject to being discharged in the bankruptcy case. In addition, a party in interest in the bankruptcy may request that the bankruptcy court estimate any contingent claims that we or the trustee have against Kentucky Power Company. That party may then take the position that these claims should be estimated at zero or at a low amount because the contingency giving rise to these claims is unlikely to occur. If a court were to hold that the indemnity provisions were unenforceable, we would be left with a claim for actual damages against Kentucky Power Company based on breach of contract principles. The actual amount of these damages would be subject to estimation and/or calculation by the court.

No assurances can be given as to the result of any of the above-described actions or claims. Furthermore, no assurance can be given as to what percentage of their claims, if any, unsecured creditors would receive in any bankruptcy proceeding involving Kentucky Power Company.

Enforcement of Rights by the Trustee

Upon an event of default under the indenture, the Kentucky Utilities Act permits the trustee to enforce the security interest in the Cost Recovery Property sold pursuant to the sale agreement in accordance with the terms of the indenture. In this capacity, the trustee is permitted to request the Kentucky Public Service Commission to order the sequestration and payment to holders of Bonds of all revenues arising from the applicable charges. There can be no assurance, however, that the Kentucky Public Service Commission would issue this order after a seller bankruptcy in light of the automatic stay provisions of Section 362 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In that event, the trustee may under the indenture seek an order from the bankruptcy court lifting the automatic stay with respect to this action by the Kentucky Public Service Commission and an order requiring an accounting and segregation of the revenues arising from the Cost Recovery Property sold pursuant to the sale agreement. There can be no assurance that a court would grant either order.

 

112


Table of Contents

Bankruptcy of the Servicer

The servicer is entitled to commingle the charges that it receives with its own funds until each date on which the servicer is required to remit funds to the trustee as specified in the servicing agreement. The Kentucky Utilities Act provides that the relative priority of a lien created under the Kentucky Utilities Act is not defeated or adversely affected by the commingling of charges arising with respect to the Cost Recovery Property with funds of the electric utility. In the event of a bankruptcy of the servicer, a party in interest in the bankruptcy might assert, and a court might rule, that the charges commingled by the servicer with its own funds and held by the servicer, prior to and as of the date of bankruptcy were property of the servicer as of that date, and are therefore property of the servicer’s bankruptcy estate, rather than our property. If the court so rules, then the court would likely rule that the trustee has only a general unsecured claim against the servicer for the amount of commingled charges held as of that date and could not recover the commingled charges held as of the date of the bankruptcy.

However, if the court were to rule on the ownership of the commingled charges, the automatic stay arising upon the bankruptcy of the servicer could delay the trustee from receiving the commingled charges held by the servicer as of the date of the bankruptcy until the court grants relief from the stay. A court ruling on any request for relief from the stay could be delayed pending the court’s resolution of whether the commingled charges are our property or are property of the servicer, including resolution of any tracing of proceeds issues.

The servicing agreement will provide that the trustee, as our assignee, together with the other persons specified therein, may vote to appoint a successor servicer that satisfies the rating agency condition. The servicing agreement will also provide that the trustee, together with the other persons specified therein, may petition the Kentucky Public Service Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor servicer that meets this criterion. However, the automatic stay in effect during a servicer bankruptcy might delay or prevent a successor servicer’s replacement of the servicer. Even if a successor servicer may be appointed and may replace the servicer, a successor may be difficult to obtain and may not be capable of performing all of the duties that Kentucky Power Company as servicer was capable of performing. Furthermore, should the servicer enter into bankruptcy, it may be permitted to stop acting as servicer.

 

113


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will use the proceeds of the issuance of the Bonds to pay the expenses of the issuance and sale of the Bonds and to purchase Cost Recovery Property from Kentucky Power Company. In accordance with the Financing Order, Kentucky Power Company will use the proceeds it receives from the sale of the Cost Recovery Property to reduce its recoverable Eligible Costs. Thereafter, proceeds from the Bonds will be used to repay any outstanding short-term debt at Kentucky Power Company and to fund capital expenditures to support utility operations and services.

 

114


Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Subject to the terms and conditions in the underwriting agreement among us, Kentucky Power Company and the underwriters, for whom Jefferies LLC, Guggenheim Securities, LLC and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. are acting as representatives, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters have severally agreed to purchase, the principal amount of the Bonds listed opposite each underwriter’s name below:

 

Underwriter

   Tranche A  

Jefferies LLC

   $        

Guggenheim Securities, LLC

  

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

  

Total

   $    
  

 

 

 

Under the underwriting agreement, the underwriters will take and pay for all of the Bonds we offer, if any is taken. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

The Underwriters’ Sales Price for the Bonds

The Bonds sold by the underwriters to the public will be initially offered at the prices to the public set forth on the cover of this prospectus. The underwriters propose initially to offer the Bonds to dealers at such prices, less a selling concession not to exceed the percentage listed below. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may reallow, a discount not to exceed the percentage listed below.

 

     Selling
Concession
     Reallowance
Discount
 

Tranche A

     

After the initial public offering, the public offering prices, selling concessions and reallowance discounts may change.

No Assurance as to Resale Price or Resale Liquidity for the Bonds

The Bonds are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. They will not be listed on any securities exchange. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the Bonds, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop for the Bonds.

Various Types of Underwriter Transactions That May Affect the Price of the Bonds

The underwriters may engage in overallotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids with respect to the Bonds in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment transactions involve syndicate sales in excess of the offering size, which create a syndicate short position. Stabilizing transactions are bids to purchase the Bonds, which are permitted, so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specific maximum price. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the Bonds in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the Bonds originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction. These overallotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the prices of the Bonds to be higher than they would otherwise be. Neither we, Kentucky Power Company, the trustee, our managers nor any of the underwriters represent that the underwriters will engage in any of these transactions or that these transactions, if commenced, will not be discontinued without notice at any time.

 

115


Table of Contents

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have in the past provided, and may in the future from time to time provide, investment banking and general financing and banking services to Kentucky Power Company and its affiliates for which they have in the past received, and in the future may receive, customary fees. In addition, each underwriter may from time to time take positions in the Bonds. Jefferies LLC, as structuring agent, has rendered certain structuring services to the issuing entity for which it was compensated. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110 this structuring agent fee and the reimbursement of expenses are deemed underwriting compensation in connection with the offering.

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering will be $    .

We and Kentucky Power Company have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against some liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the Bonds, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters, including the validity of the Bonds and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as receipt of ratings confirmations, officers’ certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject offers in whole or in part.

The issuing entity expects to deliver the Bonds against payment for the Bonds on or about the date specified in the last paragraph of the cover page of this prospectus, which will be the fifth business day following the date of pricing of the Bonds. Since trades in the secondary market generally settle in one business day, purchasers who wish to trade Bonds on the date of pricing or the succeeding business days will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Bonds initially will settle in T +5, to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

 

116


Table of Contents

AFFILIATIONS AND CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The issuing entity is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kentucky Power Company. Kentucky Power Company is a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of AEP. Each of the sponsor, the initial servicer and the depositor may maintain other banking relationships in the ordinary course with U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, the trustee, and its affiliate, U.S. Bank National Association, in its separate capacity as securities intermediary.

 

117


Table of Contents

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

General

The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Bonds. Except as specifically provided below with respect to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below), this discussion does not address the tax consequences to persons other than initial purchasers who are U.S. Holders (as defined below) that acquire the Bonds at original issue for cash equal to the issue price of the Bonds and hold their Bonds as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code, and it does not address all of the tax consequences relevant to investors that are subject to special treatment under the United States federal income tax laws (such as financial institutions, life insurance companies, dealers in securities, S corporations, taxpayers subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, retirement plans, regulated investment companies, persons who hold the Bonds as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “synthetic security,” “conversion transaction,” or other integrated investment, risk reduction or constructive sale transaction, persons that have a “functional currency” other than the United States dollar, investors in pass-through entities, tax-exempt organizations and persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to the Bonds as a result of such income being recognized on an “applicable financial statement” (within the meaning of Section 451(b) of the Internal Revenue Code)). This summary also does not address the consequences to holders of the Bonds of U.S. federal taxes other than income taxes, or under state, local or foreign tax laws. Please read “Material Kentucky Income Tax Consequences.” Further, by acquiring a Bond, a bondholder agrees to treat the Bond as a debt of Kentucky Power Company to the extent consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law unless otherwise required by appropriate taxing authorities.

This summary is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the Treasury Regulations promulgated and proposed thereunder, judicial decisions and published administrative rulings and pronouncements of the IRS and interpretations thereof. All of these authorities and interpretations are subject to change, and any change may apply retroactively and affect the accuracy of the opinions, statements and conclusions set forth in this discussion.

U.S. Holder and Non-U.S. Holder Defined

A “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Bond that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is (i) a citizen or individual resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if (A) a court in the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (B) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. A “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Bond that is not a U.S. Holder but does not include (i) an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) a former citizen of the United States or (iii) a former resident of the United States.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a holder of a Bond, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners are encouraged to consult their tax advisors about the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them. Similarly, former citizens and former residents of the United States are encouraged to consult their tax advisors about the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to them.

ALL PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF BONDS IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WELL AS THE EFFECT OF ANY FOREIGN, STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER LAWS.

 

118


Table of Contents

Taxation of the Issuing Entity and Characterization of the Bonds

Based on Revenue Procedure 2005-62, 2005-2 CB 507, as modified by Revenue Procedure 2024-15, 2024-12 I.R.B. 717, it is the opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, as tax counsel to us and Kentucky Power Company, that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (1) we will not be treated as a taxable entity separate and apart from Kentucky Power Company and (2) the Bonds will be treated as debt of Kentucky Power Company. By acquiring a Bond, a beneficial owner agrees to treat the Bond as debt of Kentucky Power Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This opinion is based on certain representations made by us and Kentucky Power Company, on the application of current law to the facts as established by the indenture and other relevant documents and assumes compliance with the indenture and such other documents as in effect on the date of issuance of the Bonds.

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

Payments of Interest

Interest on the Bonds will taxable as ordinary income by a U.S. Holder at the time such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with such U.S. Holder’s method of tax accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Original Issue Discount

One or more classes of Bonds may be issued with original issue discount (“OID”). Notwithstanding a U.S. Holder’s usual method of tax accounting, any OID on a class of Bonds will be includible in the U.S. Holder’s income when it accrues in accordance with the constant yield method, which takes into account the compounding of interest, in advance of receipt of the cash attributable to such income. In general, a class of Bonds will be treated as issued with OID if the “stated redemption price at maturity” of that class of Bonds (ordinarily, the initial principal amount of that class of Bonds) exceeds the “issue price” of that class of Bonds (ordinarily, the price at which a substantial amount of that class of Bonds is sold to the public) by more than a statutorily defined “de minimis” amount.

Sale or Retirement of Bonds

On a sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a Bond, a U.S. Holder will have taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount received by the U.S. Holder and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Bond. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a Bond is the U.S. Holder’s cost, subject to adjustments such as increases in basis for any OID previously included in income and reductions in basis for principal payments received previously. Gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Bond was held for more than one year at the time of disposition. If a U.S. Holder sells the Bond between interest payment dates, a portion of the amount received will reflect interest that has accrued on the Bond but that has not yet been paid by the sale date, and this amount will generally be taxed in the same manner as described above in “—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Payments of Interest.” To the extent that amount has not already been included in the U.S. Holder’s income, it will be treated as ordinary interest income and not as capital gain.

3.8% Tax on “Net Investment Income”

Certain non-corporate U.S. holders will be subject to an additional 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which may include the interest payments and any gain realized with respect to the Bonds, to the extent of their net investment income that, when added to their other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds $200,000 for an unmarried individual, $250,000 for a married taxpayer filing a joint return (or a surviving spouse), or $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax on net investment income.

 

119


Table of Contents

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information reporting generally will apply to payments of interest on, and the proceeds of the sale or other disposition (including a redemption, exchange or retirement) of, the Bonds, and backup withholding will apply to such payments unless a U.S. Holder provides to the applicable withholding agent its taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, as well as certain other information or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for establishing such an exemption.

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

Payments of Interest

Subject to the discussions under “—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” and “—FATCA”, payments of interest on the Bonds received by a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be exempt from U.S. federal income and withholding tax under the “portfolio interest” exemption if the interest is not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder properly certifies as to its non-U.S. status, as described below, and the Non-U.S. Holder:

 

   

does not actually or constructively own, including through an interest in AEP, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of Kentucky Power Company stock entitled to vote;

 

   

is not a bank whose receipt of interest is in connection with an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

   

is not a “controlled foreign corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is related to us or Kentucky Power Company, actually or constructively.

The portfolio interest exemption applies only if the Non-U.S. Holder appropriately certifies as to its non-U.S. status to the applicable withholding agent. A Non-U.S. Holder generally can meet this certification requirement by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or appropriate substitute or successor form) to the applicable withholding agent. If the Non-U.S. Holder holds the Bonds through a financial institution or other agent acting on its behalf, it may be required to provide appropriate certifications to its agent. The agent then generally will be required to provide appropriate certifications to the applicable withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries.

If the Non-U.S. Holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, currently at a 30% rate, unless (1) it provides the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or appropriate substitute or successor form) claiming an exemption from (or a reduction of) withholding under an applicable income tax treaty or (2) the payments of interest are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States and it meets the certification requirements described below (see “Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business”).

Sale or Retirement of Bonds

A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of the Bonds, unless:

 

   

the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other requirements are met; or

 

120


Table of Contents
   

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States).

Gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

Gain described in the second bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the manner described under “—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business.”

To the extent any portion of the amount realized on the sale, redemption, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a Bond is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on the Bond, this amount will generally be taxed in the same manner as described in “—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Payments of Interest.”

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning, and disposing of the Bonds, including any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business

If any interest on the Bonds or gain from the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of the Bonds is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by a Non-U.S. Holder, then the interest income or gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular graduated income tax rates generally in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. Holder, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. Effectively connected interest income will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder satisfies certain certification requirements by providing to the applicable withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form). In addition, if a Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, the portion of its earnings and profits that is effectively connected with its U.S. trade or business may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for a lower rate. For this purpose, interest received on a Bond and gain recognized on the disposition of a Bond will be included in earnings and profits if the interest or gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a U.S. trade or business.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments to a Non-U.S. Holder of interest on a Bond, and amounts withheld from such payments, if any, generally will be required to be reported to the IRS and the Non-U.S. Holder. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement.

Backup withholding generally will not apply to payments to a Non-U.S. Holder of interest on a Bond if the certification described in “—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Payments of Interest” is duly provided or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

Payment of the proceeds from the disposition of a Bond effected by the U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting requirements and backup withholding unless a Non-U.S. Holder properly certifies under penalties of perjury as to its foreign status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or other applicable or successor form) and certain other conditions are met or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

 

121


Table of Contents

Information reporting requirements and backup withholding generally will not apply to any payment of the proceeds from the disposition of a Bond effected outside the United States by a foreign office of a broker. However, unless such a broker has documentary evidence in its records that a holder is not a U.S. person and certain other conditions are met, or a Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption, information reporting will apply to a payment of the proceeds of a disposition of a Bond effected outside the U.S. by such a broker if it has certain relationships with the U.S.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

FATCA

Under the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” (“FATCA”), a 30% withholding tax is generally imposed on certain payments, including payments of interest on, or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, a Bond paid to a made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other foreign financial entities if those foreign entities fail to comply with the requirements of FATCA. The withholding agent will be required to withhold amounts under FATCA on payments made to Non-U.S. Holders that are subject to the FATCA requirements but fail to provide the withholding agent with proof that they have complied with such requirements.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA currently applies to payments of interest on a Bond. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a Bond, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds (other than the amount treated as interest) entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in the Bonds.

THE PRECEDING DISCUSSION OF MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF ACQUIRING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF THE BONDS, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAWS AND THE CONSEQUENCES UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.

 

122


Table of Contents

MATERIAL KENTUCKY INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

Assuming that the Bonds will be treated as debt obligations of Kentucky Power Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, interest paid on the Bonds generally will be taxed for Kentucky income tax purposes consistently with its taxation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (although certain corporate bondholders may be entitled to a deduction from Kentucky gross income for interest received on the Bonds) and such interest received by an entity or person not otherwise subject to Kentucky corporate or individual income tax will not be subject to Kentucky income tax. Stites & Harbison PLLC, expects to issue an opinion, that, for Kentucky income tax purposes (1) we will not be treated as a taxable entity separate and apart from Kentucky Power Company, our sole member, and (2) the Bonds will constitute indebtedness of Kentucky Power Company, assuming, in each case, that such treatment applies for U.S. federal income tax purposes. These opinions are not binding on any taxing authority or any court, and there can be no assurance that contrary positions may not be taken by any taxing authority.

This discussion is based on current provisions of the Kentucky tax statutes and regulations, judicial decisions and administrative interpretations and rulings. All of these authorities and interpretations are subject to change, and any change may apply retroactively and affect the accuracy of the opinions set forth in this discussion.

The discussion under “Material Kentucky Income Tax Consequences” is for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a bondholder’s particular situation. It is recommended that prospective bondholders consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Bonds, including the tax consequences under federal, state, local, non-U.S. and other tax laws and the effects of changes in such laws. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

 

123


Table of Contents

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

General

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, known as ERISA, and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code impose certain requirements on employee benefit plans and other arrangements subject to ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code. ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code also impose certain requirements on fiduciaries of such plans in connection with the investment of the assets of the plans. For purposes of this discussion, “plans” include “employee benefit plans” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA that is subject to Title I of ERISA, “plans” as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code that is subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, including individual retirement accounts and annuities and Keogh plans, as well as entities that are deemed to hold plan assets of any of the foregoing by virtue of such employee benefit plan’s or plan’s investment in the entity, including some collective investment funds and insurance company general or separate accounts in which the assets of those plans, accounts or arrangements are invested. A fiduciary of an investing plan is any person who in connection with the assets of the plan:

 

   

has discretionary authority or control over the management or disposition of assets, or

 

   

provides investment advice for a fee.

Some plans, such as governmental plans, and certain church plans, and the fiduciaries of those plans, are not subject to ERISA requirements. Accordingly, assets of these plans may be invested in the Bonds without regard to the ERISA considerations described below, subject to the provisions of other applicable law, including a federal, state, local or other law that is similar to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of Title I of ERISA or the prohibited transaction provisions of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (any such law, “applicable similar law” and these plans, (“other law plans”)). For example, a governmental plan which is qualified and exempt from taxation under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, however, is subject to the prohibited transaction rules in Section 503 of the Internal Revenue Code.

ERISA imposes certain general fiduciary requirements on fiduciaries, including:

 

   

investment prudence and diversification, and

 

   

the investment of the assets of the plan in accordance with the documents governing the plan.

In considering an investment in the Bonds, the fiduciary of a plan should determine whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code relating to the fiduciary’s duties to the plan, including, but not limited to, the duties of investment prudence and diversification, and delegation of control under ERISA, and the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code also prohibit a broad range of transactions involving the assets of a plan and persons who have certain specified relationships to the plan, referred to as “parties in interest,” as defined under ERISA or “disqualified persons” as defined under Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code unless a statutory or administrative exemption is available. The types of transactions that are prohibited include but are not limited to:

 

   

sales, exchanges or leases of property;

 

   

loans or other extensions of credit; and

 

   

the furnishing of goods or services.

Certain persons that participate in a prohibited transaction may be subject to an excise tax under Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or a penalty imposed under Section 502(i) of ERISA, unless a statutory or administrative exemption is available. In addition, the persons involved in the prohibited transaction

 

124


Table of Contents

may have to cancel or unwind the transaction and pay an amount to the plan for any losses realized by the plan or profits realized by these persons. In addition, individual retirement accounts involved in the prohibited transaction may be disqualified which would result in adverse tax consequences to the owner of the account.

Regulation of Assets Included in a Plan

A fiduciary’s investment of the assets of a plan in the Bonds may cause our assets to be deemed assets of the investing plan. United States Department of Labor regulations at 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA (collectively, the “plan asset regulations”), provide that the assets of an entity will be deemed to be assets of a plan that purchases an interest in the entity if the interest that is purchased by the plan is an equity interest, equity participation by benefit plan investors is “significant” within the meaning of the plan asset regulations and none of the other exceptions contained in the plan asset regulations applies. An equity interest is defined in the plan asset regulations as an interest in an entity other than an instrument which is treated as indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no substantial equity features. Although there is no authority directly on point, it is anticipated that the Bonds will be treated as indebtedness under local law without any substantial equity features.

If the Bonds were deemed to be equity interests in us and none of the exceptions contained in the plan asset regulations were applicable, then our assets would be considered to be assets of any plans that purchase the Bonds. The extent to which the Bonds are owned by benefit plan investors will not be monitored. If our assets were deemed to constitute “plan assets” pursuant to the plan asset regulations, transactions we might enter into, or may have entered into in the ordinary course of business, might constitute non-exempt prohibited transactions under ERISA and or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code.

In addition and without regard to whether the Bonds are characterized as other than equity interests in us for purposes of the plan asset regulations, the acquisition, holding or disposition of the Bonds by or on behalf of a plan could give rise to a prohibited transaction if we or the trustee, Kentucky Power Company, any other servicer, AEP, any underwriter or certain of their affiliates is or becomes a party in interest or disqualified person with respect to an investing plan unless the transaction qualifies for relief under a prohibited transaction exemption. Each purchaser of the Bonds will be deemed to have represented and warranted that its purchase, holding and disposition of the Bonds will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Prohibited Transaction Exemptions

If you are a fiduciary of a plan or any other person proposing to acquire the Bonds on behalf of, or using assets of, a plan, before purchasing any Bonds, you should consider and consult with counsel as to whether the acquisition, holding and disposition of the Bonds may constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code and if so, whether any prohibited transaction exemption may provide relief for such transactions. In particular, you should consider and consult with counsel as to the availability of one of the Department of Labor’s prohibited transaction class exemptions, referred to as PTCEs, or one of the statutory exemptions provided by ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, which include:

 

   

PTCE 75-1, which exempts certain transactions between a plan and certain broker-dealers, reporting dealers and banks;

 

   

PTCE 84-14, which exempts certain transactions effected on behalf of a plan by a “qualified professional asset manager;”

 

   

PTCE 90-1, which exempts certain transactions between insurance company separate accounts and parties in interest;

 

   

PTCE 91-38, which exempts certain transactions between bank collective investment funds and parties in interest;

 

125


Table of Contents
   

PTCE 95-60, which exempts certain transactions between insurance company general accounts and parties in interest;

 

   

PTCE 96-23, which exempts certain transactions effected on behalf of a plan by an “in-house asset manager;” and

 

   

the statutory service provider exemption provided by Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code, which exempts certain transactions between plans and parties in interest that are parties in interest solely by reason of providing services to a plan or having a relationship to a service provider to the plan and are not fiduciaries with respect to the transaction.

We cannot provide any assurance that any of these class exemptions or statutory exemptions will apply with respect to any particular investment in the Bonds by, or on behalf of, a plan or, even if it were deemed to apply, that any exemption would apply to all transactions that may occur in connection with the investment. Even if one of these class exemptions or statutory exemptions were deemed to apply, Bonds may not be purchased with assets of any plan if we or the trustee, Kentucky Power Company, any other servicer, AEP, any underwriter or any of their affiliates:

 

   

has investment discretion over the assets of the plan used to purchase the Bonds;

 

   

has authority or responsibility to give, or regularly gives, investment advice regarding the assets of the plan used to purchase the Bonds, for a fee and under an agreement or understanding that the advice will serve as a primary basis for investment decisions for the assets of the plan, and will be based on the particular investment needs of the plan; or

 

   

is an employer maintaining or contributing to the plan.

Consultation with Counsel and Representation

The sale of the Bonds to a plan will not constitute a representation by us or the trustee, Kentucky Power Company, any other servicer, AEP, any underwriter or any of their affiliates that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements relating to investments by such plans or other-law plans generally or by any particular plan or other-law plan, or that such an investment is appropriate for such plans or other-law plans generally or for a particular plan or other-law plan.

If you are a fiduciary or any other person which proposes to purchase the Bonds on behalf of or with assets of a plan, you should consider your general fiduciary obligations under ERISA and you should consult with your legal counsel as to the potential applicability of ERISA and/or the Internal Revenue Code to any investment and the availability of any prohibited transaction exemption in connection with any investment. In addition, if you are a fiduciary or any other person acting on behalf of, or using assets of, an other-law plan, you should consider and consult with legal counsel as to whether the acquisition, holding and disposition of the Bonds by, on behalf of, or using assets of, an other-law plan would violate any applicable similar law.

By acquiring any interest in the Bonds, each purchaser and subsequent transferee will be deemed to have represented and warranted that either (1) it is not a plan or an other-law plan and is not acting on behalf of, or using assets of, a plan or other-law plan to acquire or hold the Bonds or (2) its acquisition, holding and disposition of the Bonds will not, in the case of a plan, constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or, in the case of an other-law plan, constitute or result in a violation of applicable similar law.

This summary is based on current provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, the regulations thereunder and other related guidance. All of these authorities and interpretations are subject to change, and any change may apply retroactively and affect the accuracy of the opinions, statements and conclusions set forth in this discussion.

 

126


Table of Contents

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Other than as disclosed herein, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending against us, the sponsor, seller, trustee, or servicer, or of which any property of the foregoing is subject, that is material to the holders of the Bonds. See “The Trustee” in this prospectus for a discussion of certain legal proceedings involving certain affiliates of the trustee, none of which are material to holders of the Bonds.

 

127


Table of Contents

RATINGS FOR THE BONDS

We expect that the Bonds will receive credit ratings from two NRSROs. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning NRSRO. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. No person is obligated to maintain the rating on any Bonds and, accordingly, we can give no assurance that the ratings assigned to the Bonds upon initial issuance will not be lowered or withdrawn by a NRSRO at any time thereafter. If a rating of the Bonds is lowered or withdrawn, the liquidity of the Bonds may be adversely affected. In general, ratings address credit risk and do not represent any assessment of any particular rate of principal payments on the Bonds other than the payment in full of the Bonds by the final maturity date, as well as the timely payment of interest.

Under Rule 17g-5 of the Exchange Act, NRSROs providing the sponsor with the requisite certification will have access to all information posted on a website by the sponsor for the purpose of determining the initial rating and monitoring the rating after the closing date in respect of the Bonds. As a result, an NRSRO other than the NRSRO hired by the sponsor (hired NRSRO) may issue ratings on the Bonds (Unsolicited Ratings), which may be lower, and could be significantly lower, than the ratings assigned by the hired NRSROs. The Unsolicited Ratings may be issued prior to, or after, the closing date in respect of the Bonds. Issuance of any Unsolicited Rating will not affect the issuance of the Bonds. Issuance of an Unsolicited Rating lower than the ratings assigned by the hired NRSRO on the Bonds might adversely affect the value of the Bonds and, for regulated entities, could affect the status of the Bonds as a legal investment or the capital treatment of the Bonds. Investors in the Bonds should consult with their legal counsel regarding the effect of the issuance of a rating by a non-hired NRSRO that is lower than the rating of a hired NRSRO.

A portion of the fees paid by Kentucky Power Company to a NRSRO which is hired to assign a rating on the Bonds is contingent upon the issuance of the Bonds. In addition to the fees paid by Kentucky Power Company to a NRSRO at closing, Kentucky Power Company will pay a fee to the NRSRO for ongoing surveillance for so long as the Bonds are outstanding. However, no NRSRO is under any obligation to continue to monitor or provide a rating on the Bonds.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

To the extent that we are required by law to file such reports and information with the SEC under the Exchange Act, we will file annual and current reports and other information with the SEC. We are incorporating by reference any future filings we or the sponsor, but solely in its capacity as our sponsor, make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering, excluding any information that is furnished to, and not filed with, the SEC. These reports will be filed under our own name as issuing entity. Under the Indenture, we may voluntarily suspend or terminate the filing obligations as issuing entity (under the SEC rules) with the SEC, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we and Kentucky Power Company have filed with the SEC relating to the Bonds. This prospectus describes the material terms of some of the documents we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement. However, this prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement and the exhibits.

Information filed with the SEC can be inspected at the SEC’s Internet site located at http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain a copy of our filings with the SEC at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

1645 Winchester Avenue

Ashland, Kentucky 41101

Phone: 606-929-1488

 

128


Table of Contents

Our SEC Securities Act file number is 333-284112 and 333-284112-01.

We or Kentucky Power Company as depositor will also file with the SEC all of the periodic reports we or the depositor are required to file under the Exchange Act and the rules, regulations or orders of the SEC thereunder; however, neither we nor Kentucky Power Company as depositor intend to file any such reports relating to the Bonds following completion of the reporting period required by Rule 15d-1 or Regulation 15D under the Exchange Act, unless required by law. Unless specifically stated in the report, the reports and any information included in the report will neither be examined nor reported on by an independent public accountant. A more detailed description of the information to be included in these periodic reports, please read “Description of the Bonds-Website Disclosures.”

 

129


Table of Contents

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information we or the depositor file with the SEC. This means we can disclose important information to you by referring you to the documents containing the information. The information we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, unless we update or supersede that information with information that we or the depositor file subsequently that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We are incorporating into this prospectus any future distribution report on Form 10-D, current report on Form 8-K or any amendment to any such report which we or Kentucky Power Company, solely in its capacity as our depositor, make with the SEC until the offering of the Bonds is completed. These reports will be filed under our own name as issuing entity. Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any separately filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this prospectus.

 

130


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 AND VOLCKER RULE MATTERS

Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act and its implementing regulations, commonly known as the “Volcker Rule”, prevent “banking entities” from (1) engaging in “proprietary trading”, (2) acquiring or retaining any “ownership interest” in, or sponsoring, a “covered fund” and (3) entering into certain relationships with a “covered fund” (as such terms are defined in the Volcker Rule). A “covered fund” does not include an issuer that may rely on an exclusion or exemption from the definition of “investment company” under the Investment Company Act other than the exclusions contained in Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act. We have been structured so as not to be a “covered fund” under the Volcker Rule.

We are not registered or required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act. In making this determination, we will be relying on an exclusion or exemption under the Investment Company Act contained in Section 3(c)(5) under the Investment Company Act, although there may be additional exclusions or exemptions available to the issuing entity. Investors that constitute “banking entities” should carefully review and familiarize themselves with the Volcker Rule and should consult their own legal advisors regarding the effects of the Volcker Rule on such investors and their investment in the Bonds.

 

131


Table of Contents

RISK RETENTION

This offering of the Bonds is exempt from the risk retention requirements imposed by Section 15G of the Exchange Act due to the exemption provided in Rule 19(b)(8) of Regulation RR.

For information regarding the requirements of the EU Securitisation Regulation and the UK Securitisation Regulation as to risk retention and other matters, please read “Risk Factors Other Risks Associated with an Investment in the Bonds – Regulatory provisions affecting certain investors could adversely affect the liquidity of the Bonds” in this prospectus.

 

132


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters relating to us and the issuance of the Bonds will be passed upon for Kentucky Power Company and us by Sidley Austin LLP, special counsel to Kentucky Power Company. Certain other legal matters relating to the issuance of the Bonds will be passed on by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel to us, by Stites & Harbison PLLC, special Kentucky counsel to Kentucky Power Company and us, and by Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel to the underwriters. Certain legal matters relating to the federal income tax consequences of the issuance of the Bonds will be passed upon for us by Sidley Austin LLP. Certain legal matters relating to the Kentucky income tax consequences of the issuance of the Bonds will be passed upon for us by Stites & Harbison PLLC.

 

133


Table of Contents

OFFERING RESTRICTIONS IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

THE BONDS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO, AND SHOULD NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO, ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (“EEA”). FOR THESE PURPOSES, THE EXPRESSION “RETAIL INVESTOR” MEANS A PERSON WHO IS ONE (OR MORE) OF THE FOLLOWING: (1) A RETAIL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (11) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF DIRECTIVE 2014/65/EU (AS AMENDED, “MIFID II”); (2) A CUSTOMER WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/97 (AS AMENDED), WHERE THAT CUSTOMER WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A PROFESSIONAL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (10) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF MIFID II; OR (3) NOT A QUALIFIED INVESTOR (“QUALIFIED INVESTOR”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (AS AMENDED OR SUPERSEDED, THE “PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE”). CONSEQUENTLY NO KEY INFORMATION DOCUMENT REQUIRED BY REGULATION (EU) NO 1286/2014 (AS AMENDED, THE “PRIIPS REGULATION”) FOR OFFERING OR SELLING THE BONDS OR OTHERWISE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO RETAIL INVESTORS IN THE EEA HAS BEEN PREPARED; AND THEREFORE OFFERING OR SELLING THE BONDS OR OTHERWISE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN THE EEA MAY BE UNLAWFUL UNDER THE PRIIPS REGULATION.

THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT A PROSPECTUS FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN PREPARED ON THE BASIS THAT ANY OFFER OF BONDS IN ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EEA WHICH HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (EACH, A “RELEVANT MEMBER STATE”) WILL BE MADE ONLY TO A QUALIFIED INVESTOR. ACCORDINGLY, ANY PERSON MAKING OR INTENDING TO MAKE AN OFFER IN THAT RELEVANT MEMBER STATE OF BONDS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE OFFERING CONTEMPLATED IN THIS PROSPECTUS MAY DO SO ONLY WITH RESPECT TO QUALIFIED INVESTORS. NEITHER WE NOR ANY UNDERWRITER HAS AUTHORIZED, NOR DO WE OR THEY AUTHORIZE, THE MAKING OF ANY OFFER OF BONDS OTHER THAN TO QUALIFIED INVESTORS.

ANY DISTRIBUTOR SUBJECT TO MIFID II THAT IS OFFERING, SELLING OR RECOMMENDING THE BONDS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERTAKING ITS OWN TARGET MARKET ASSESSMENT IN RESPECT OF THE BONDS AND DETERMINING ITS OWN DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MIFID II PRODUCT GOVERNANCE RULES UNDER COMMISSION DELEGATED DIRECTIVE (EU) 2017/593 (AS AMENDED, THE “DELEGATED DIRECTIVE”). NEITHER WE NOR ANY UNDERWRITER MAKES ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AS TO A DISTRIBUTOR’S COMPLIANCE WITH THE DELEGATED DIRECTIVE.

EACH UNDERWRITER HAS REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT IT HAS NOT OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE, AND WILL NOT OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE MAKE AVAILABLE, ANY BONDS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE OFFERING CONTEMPLATED BY THIS PROSPECTUS TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR (AS DEFINED ABOVE) IN THE EEA. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE EXPRESSION “OFFER” INCLUDES THE COMMUNICATION IN ANY FORM AND BY ANY MEANS OF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE TERMS OF THE OFFER AND THE BONDS SO AS TO ENABLE AN INVESTOR TO DECIDE TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR THE BONDS.

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF UNITED KINGDOM

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THIS PROSPECTUS IS BEING COMMUNICATED ONLY TO, AND IS DIRECTED ONLY AT, (1) PERSONS WHICH HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS AND WHICH FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (AS AMENDED, THE

 

134


Table of Contents

“ORDER”); (2) PERSONS WHICH FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER; OR (3) PERSONS TO WHICH IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED OR DIRECTED (EACH SUCH PERSON, A “RELEVANT PERSON”). ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS PROSPECTUS RELATES, INCLUDING THE BONDS, IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. THIS PROSPECTUS MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY ANY PERSON WHICH IS NOT A RELEVANT PERSON.

EACH OF THE UNDERWRITERS HAS REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT (I) IT HAS ONLY COMMUNICATED OR CAUSED TO BE COMMUNICATED AND WILL ONLY COMMUNICATE OR CAUSE TO BE COMMUNICATED AN INVITATION OR INDUCEMENT TO ENGAGE IN INVESTMENT ACTIVITY (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 21 OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000, AS AMENDED (THE “FSMA”)) RECEIVED BY IT IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUE OR SALE OF THE BONDS IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SECTION 21(1) OF THE FSMA DOES NOT APPLY TO THE ISSUING ENTITY; AND (II) IT HAS COMPLIED AND WILL COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE FSMA WITH RESPECT TO ANYTHING DONE BY IT IN RELATION TO THE BONDS IN, FROM OR OTHERWISE INVOLVING THE UNITED KINGDOM.

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF CANADA

THE BONDS MAY BE SOLD IN CANADA ONLY TO PURCHASERS PURCHASING, OR DEEMED TO BE PURCHASING, AS PRINCIPAL THAT ARE ACCREDITED INVESTORS, AS DEFINED IN NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 45-106 PROSPECTUS EXEMPTIONS OR SUBSECTION 73.3(1) OF THE SECURITIES ACT (ONTARIO), AND ARE PERMITTED CLIENTS, AS DEFINED IN NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 31-103 REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, EXEMPTIONS AND ONGOING REGISTRANT OBLIGATIONS. ANY RESALE OF THE BONDS MUST BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE PROSPECTUS REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS.

SECURITIES LEGISLATION IN CERTAIN PROVINCES OR TERRITORIES OF CANADA MAY PROVIDE A PURCHASER WITH REMEDIES FOR RESCISSION OR DAMAGES IF THIS PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENT THERETO) CONTAINS A MISREPRESENTATION, PROVIDED THAT THE REMEDIES FOR RESCISSION OR DAMAGES ARE EXERCISED BY THE PURCHASER WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT PRESCRIBED BY THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF THE PURCHASER’S PROVINCE OR TERRITORY. THE PURCHASER SHOULD REFER TO ANY APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF THE PURCHASER’S PROVINCE OR TERRITORY FOR PARTICULARS OF THESE RIGHTS OR CONSULT WITH A LEGAL ADVISOR.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 3A.3 OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 33-105 UNDERWRITING CONFLICTS (NI 33-105), THE UNDERWRITERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF NI 33-105 REGARDING UNDERWRITER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING.

 

135


Table of Contents

GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS

Set forth below is a list of the defined terms used in this prospectus:

AEP means American Electric Power Company, Inc.

AEP Creditmeans AEP Credit, Inc., or its successor.

AEP Receivables Purchase Agreement” means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2014, among AEP Credit, American Electric Power Service Corporation, the Receivables Agent and the other entities party thereto as purchasers, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

Bankruptcy Code means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

Basic documentsmeans the administration agreement, the sale agreement, servicing agreement, indenture, intercreditor agreement and any supplements thereto or the bill of sale given by the seller and the notes evidencing the Bonds, the underwriting agreement, the certificate of formation, the initial limited liability company agreement of the issuing entity and the amended and restated limited liability agreement of the issuing entity.

Business day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Ashland, Kentucky, Chicago, Illinois, St. Paul, Minnesota, New York, New York, or Columbus, Ohio are, or DTC or the corporate trust office of the trustee at which the indenture will be administered is, authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Charges or “cost recovery charges” means, with regard to Kentucky Power Company, the amounts authorized to be imposed on all retail customer bills and collected, through a nonbypassable mechanism, by the servicer, to recover qualified costs pursuant to the Financing Order (referred to in the Financing Order as “securitized surcharges”).

Charge rider” means the Securitized Surcharge Rider (S.S.R.), in the form attached to the Financing Order as Appendix B, filed with the Kentucky Public Service Commission pursuant to the Kentucky Utilities Act to evidence the charges pursuant to the Financing Order.

Charge rider adjustment” means a revision to the charge rider or any other notice filing filed with the Kentucky Public Service Commission in respect of the charge rider pursuant to a true-up adjustment.

Clearstream means Clearstream Banking, Luxembourg, S.A.

Collection account means the segregated trust account relating to the Bonds designated the collection account and held by the trustee at U.S. Bank National Association under the indenture.

Commonwealth” means the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Cost Recovery Property means, with regard to Kentucky Power Company or an issuing entity (such as us), means all “securitized property” (as defined in Section 278.670(19) of the Kentucky Utilities Act) created pursuant to a financing order and sold or otherwise conveyed to us under a sale agreement, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive, and adjust the charges authorized under such financing order and to obtain periodic adjustments to such charges authorized under the Kentucky Utilities Act as provided in such financing order and all revenues, collections, claims, rights to payments, payments, moneys, or proceeds arising from the rights and interests specified in such financing order, regardless of whether those revenues, collections, claims, rights to payment, payments, moneys, or proceeds are imposed, billed, received, collected, or maintained together with or commingled with other revenues, collections, rights to payment, payments, moneys, or proceeds.

 

136


Table of Contents

DTC means the Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, and its nominee holder, Cede & Co.

Eligible Costs means Recovery Costs and Financing Costs.

ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Euroclear means the Euroclear System.

Excess funds subaccountmeans that subaccount of the collection account into which funds collected by the servicer in excess of amounts necessary to make the payments specified on a given payment date.

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

FDICmeans the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successor thereto.

Financing Costsmeans “financing costs” (as defined in the Kentucky Utilities Act).

Indenture means the indenture to be entered into among the issuing entity, the trustee and the securities intermediary, providing for the issuance of Bonds, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.

Internal Revenue Codemeans the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Kentucky Public Service Commission means the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

KPCo Receivables Agency Agreement means the Third Amended and Restated Agency Agreement, dated August 25, 2004, among Kentucky Power Company, AEP Credit and the Receivables Agent, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

KPCo Receivables Purchase Agreement means the Third Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated August 25, 2004, between Kentucky Power Company and AEP Credit, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

kW means kilowatt.

kWh means kilowatt-hour.

Moody’s means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor in interest.

MWh means megawatt-hour.

Nonbypassable refers to the right of the servicer to collect the charges from all existing and future retail customers, including special contract customers, even if those customers elect to purchase electricity from an alternative supplier following a fundamental change in regulation of public utilities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Non-U.S. Holder means a holder of Bonds that is neither a U.S. Holder nor subject to rules applicable to former citizens and residents of the United States.

NRSRO means a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

 

137


Table of Contents

Payment date means the date or dates on which interest and principal are to be payable on the Bonds.

Periodic Payment Requirement for any calculation period means the total dollar amount of charge collections reasonably calculated by the Servicer in accordance with the Servicing Agreement as necessary to be received during such period (after giving effect to the allocation and distribution of amounts on deposit in the Excess Funds Subaccount at the time of calculation and which are projected to be available for payments on the Bonds at the end of such calculation period and including any shortfalls in Periodic Payment Requirements for any prior calculation period) in order to ensure that, as of the last Payment Date occurring in such calculation period, (a) all accrued and unpaid interest on the Bonds then due shall have been paid in full on a timely basis, (b) the outstanding amount of the Bonds is equal to the aggregate Projected Unrecovered Balance on each Payment Date during such calculation period, (c) the balance on deposit in the capital subaccount equals the aggregate Required Capital Level and (d) all other fees and expenses due and owing and required or allowed to be paid under the applicable provisions of the Indenture as of such date shall have been paid in full; provided that, with respect to any mandatory true-up adjustment or interim true-up adjustment occurring after the last Scheduled Final Payment Date for the Bonds, the Periodic Payment Requirements shall be calculated to ensure that sufficient charges will be collected to retire the Bonds in full as of the next Payment Date.

Periodic Principal means, with respect to any Payment Date, the excess, if any, of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds over the outstanding Unrecovered Balance specified for such Payment Date on the Expected Amortization Schedule.

Projected Unrecovered Balance means, as of any Payment Date, the sum of the projected outstanding principal amount of the Bonds for such Payment Date set forth in the Expected Amortization Schedule.

PTCE means a prohibited transaction class exemption of the United States Department of Labor.

Kentucky Public Service Commission” means the Public Service Commission of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any successor.

Rating agencies means Moody’s and S&P.

Rating agency condition means, with respect to any action we propose to take, the requirement that we provide not less than ten business days’ prior written notice to each rating agency rating the Bonds of such action, and request written confirmation that such action will not result in a suspension, reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating by such rating agency of the Bonds issued by us provided, that if any rating agency (other than S&P) has neither replied to such notification nor responded in a manner that indicates that such rating agency is reviewing and considering the notification within such ten Business Day period, then (i) we are required to confirm that such rating agency has received our request, and (ii) if the rating agency neither replies to such second (2nd) request nor responds in a manner that indicates it is reviewing and considering the notice within five business days following such second (2nd) request, the rating agency condition shall be deemed to be satisfied with respect to such rating agency. For the purposes of this definition, any confirmation, request, acknowledgment or approval that is required to be in writing may be in the form of electronic mail or a press release (which may contain a general waiver of a rating agency’s right to review or consent).

Receivables Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., or its successor, in its capacity as administrative agent under the AEP Receivables Purchase Agreement.

Record date means the date or dates with respect to each payment date on which it is determined the person in whose name each Bond is registered will be paid on the respective payment date.

Recovery Costsmeans “securitization costs” (as defined in the Kentucky Utilities Act).

 

138


Table of Contents

Regulation AB means the rules of the SEC promulgated under Subpart 229.1100—Asset-Backed Securities (Regulation AB), 17 C.F.R. §§229.1100-229.1125, as such may be amended from time to time.

Required capital level means the amount required to be funded in the capital subaccount, which will equal 0.50% of the principal amount issued by us.

S&P means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc. or any successor in interest.

Sale agreement means the sale agreement to be entered into between the issuing entity and Kentucky Power Company, pursuant to which Kentucky Power Company sells and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC buys the Cost Recovery Property.

Scheduled Final Payment Date” means with respect to the Bonds, the date when all interest and principal is scheduled to be paid in accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule, as specified in the Series Supplement; provided that the Scheduled Final Payment Date in an issue of Bonds shall not be later than 20 years and three months after the date of issuance. For the avoidance of doubt, the Scheduled Final Payment Date shall be the last Scheduled Payment Date set forth in the Expected Amortization Schedule. The “last Scheduled Final Payment Date” means the Scheduled Final Payment Date of the Bonds.

Securities Actmeans the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Securities Intermediarymeans U.S. Bank National Association and its successors in interest.

Securitized bonds” means, as defined pursuant to the Kentucky Utilities Act, bonds, debentures, notes, certificates of participation, certificates of beneficial interest, certificates of ownership, or other evidence of indebtedness or ownership that have a maturity date as determined reasonable by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, but not later than 30 years from the issue date, that are issued by an electric utility or assignee pursuant to a financing order, the proceeds of which are used directly or indirectly to recover, finance, or refinance capitalized cost assets and financing costs that are secured by or payable from cost recovery property.

Series supplement means the supplement to the indenture which establishes the specific terms of the Bonds.

Servicing agreement means the servicing agreement to be entered into between the issuing entity and Kentucky Power Company, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time, pursuant to which Kentucky Power Company undertakes to service the Cost Recovery Property.

Subsequent financing order” means, following the initial issuance of the Bonds, any other financing order issued under the Kentucky Utilities Act by the Kentucky Public Service Commission to Kentucky Power Company with respect to an additional series of “securitized bonds” for the benefit of Kentucky Power Company.

Treasury Regulations means proposed or issued regulations promulgated from time to time under the Internal Revenue Code.

True-up means a mechanism required by the Kentucky Utilities Act and the Financing Order whereby the servicer will apply to the Kentucky Public Service Commission for adjustments to the applicable charges based on actual collected charges and updated assumptions by the servicer as to future collections of charges. The Kentucky Public Service Commission will approve properly filed adjustments. Adjustments will immediately be reflected in the customers’ next billing cycle. Any corrections for mathematical errors will be reflected in the next true-up.

 

139


Table of Contents

Trust Indenture Act means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Trusteemeans U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, and its successors in interest.

U.S. Holder means a holder of a Bond that is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a partnership or corporation (or other entity treated like a corporation for federal income tax purposes) organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source, (iv) a trust with respect to which both (A) a court in the United States is able to exercise primary authority over its administration and (B) one or more United States persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or (v) a trust that has elected to be treated as a United States person under applicable Treasury Regulations.

 

 

140


Table of Contents
 
 

$477,749,000 Series 2025 Senior Secured Bonds,

Kentucky Power Company

Sponsor, Depositor and Initial Servicer

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

Issuing Entity

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

JEFFERIES LLC   GUGGENHEIM SECURITIES, LLC   SMBC NIKKO SECURITIES AMERICA, INC.

 

 

Through and including      (the 90th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and when offering an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

 
 


Table of Contents

PART II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

Item 12. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the various expenses expected to be incurred by the registrants in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered by this prospectus, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All amounts are estimated except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

   $ 73,228.50  

Printing expenses

   $ 300,000  

Indenture Trustee fees and expenses

   $ 35,000  

Legal fees and expenses

   $ 4,516,877  

Accounting fees and expenses

   $ 95,000  

Kentucky Public Service Commission financial advisor fees and expenses

   $ 1,302,193  

Rating Agencies’ fees and expenses

   $ 633,017  

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

   $ 568,370  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 7,523,686  

Item 13. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act provides that subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in the limited liability company agreement of a limited liability company, a limited liability company may, and shall have the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. Under the limited liability company agreement of Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, we will indemnify our managers to the fullest extent permitted by law against any liability incurred with respect to their services as managers under our limited liability company agreement, except for liabilities arising from their own fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY

The By-laws of Kentucky Power, as amended and restated on March 20, 2008 (the “By-laws”), provide that Kentucky Power Company shall indemnify any person who was or is made party to a proceeding because such person is or was a director, officer or employee of Kentucky Power Company, or is or was serving at the request of Kentucky Power Company as a director, trustee, partner, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, whether for profit or not against liability incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding and against all reasonable expenses incurred in successfully asserting a claim for indemnification if (i) such person conducted himself or herself in good faith, (ii) such person reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity with Kentucky Power Company, that his or her conduct was in the best interests of Kentucky Power Company, and in all other cases that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to its best interests, and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the By-laws further provide that no indemnification shall be made in connection with (i) any proceeding by or in the right of Kentucky Power Company in which the person seeking indemnification was adjudged liable to Kentucky Power Company, or (ii) any proceeding charging any person with improper benefit to him or herself, whether or not involving action in such person’s official capacity, in which such person was adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by such person. Determinations of and authorizations for indemnification must be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in the By-laws.


Table of Contents

Section 271B.8-510 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (“KRS”) permits a Kentucky corporation to indemnify an individual who was, is or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in to a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, because he is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if: (i) he conducted himself in good faith, (ii) he honestly believed, in the case of conduct in his official capacity with the corporation, that his conduct was in its best interests and, in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to its best interests and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. A corporation shall not so indemnify a director unless authorized in the specific case after a determination has been made in the manner specified in KRS 271B.8-550 that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because he has met such standard of conduct. Indemnification may be made against the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine or reasonable expenses (including counsel fees) incurred with respect to a proceeding, except that if the proceeding was by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may be made only against reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding. Pursuant to KRS Section 271B.8530, a corporation may pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if (i) the director undertakes in writing the personal obligation to repay such advance upon an ultimate determination that he failed to meet such standard of conduct; and (ii) a determination is made in the manner specified in KRS Section 271B.8-550 that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under KRS 271B.8-500 to 271B.8-580.

A corporation may not indemnify a director under KRS Section 271B.8-510 in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation or in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to him, whether or not involving action in his official capacity, in which he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him. Unless limited by the articles of incorporation, a director or an officer who is not a director who has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he is or was a director or officer of the corporation is entitled to indemnification by the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding. Unless its articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a Kentucky corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer who is not a director, employee or agent of the corporation to the same extent that it may indemnify and advance expenses to directors. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to KRS 271B.8-500-271B.8-580 is not exclusive of any rights to which those seeking indemnification of advancement of expenses may otherwise be entitled. KRS 271B.8-570 empowers a Kentucky corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its directors, officers, employees or agents, whether or not the corporation would have the power under KRS 271B.8-510 or KRS 271B.8-520 to indemnify them against such liability.

Unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a director or an officer who is not a director of the corporation who is a party to a proceeding may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. Such court, after giving any notice the court considers necessary, may order indemnification if it determines (i) the director or officer is entitled to mandatory indemnification under KRS 271B.8-520 or (ii) the director or officer is fairly and reasonable entitled to indemnification in view of all relevant circumstances, whether or not he met the standard of conduct set forth in KRS 271B.8-510 or was adjudged liable as described in subsection (4) of KRS 271B.8-510, but if he was adjudged so liable his indemnification shall be limited to reasonable expenses incurred.

The above is a general summary of certain provisions of Kentucky Power Company’s By-laws and the KRS and is subject in all respects to the specific and detailed provisions of Kentucky Power Company’s By-laws and the KRS.

Insurance

Kentucky Power Company maintains insurance policies insuring its directors and officers against certain obligations that may be incurred by them.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

Item 14. Exhibits

List of Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT
NO.

  

DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement***
  3.1    Certificate of Formation of Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC*
  3.2    Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC*
  3.3    Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC***
  4.1    Form of Indenture between Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC and the Trustee (including forms of the Series 2025 Senior Secured Bonds and the form of the Series Supplement)***
  5.1    Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP with respect to legality***
  8.1    Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP with respect to federal tax matters***
  8.2    Opinion of Stites & Harbison PLLC with respect to Kentucky tax matters***
 10.1    Form of Servicing Agreement between Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC and Kentucky Power Company, as Servicer***
 10.2    Form of Purchase and Sale Agreement between Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC and Kentucky Power Company, as Seller**
 10.3    Form of Administration Agreement between Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC and Kentucky Power Company, as Administrator**
 10.4    Intercreditor Agreement among AEP Credit, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and each indenture trustee, servicer and issuer party thereto from time to time, dated as of September 7, 2022, and amended and restated as of December 9, 2024*
 10.5    Form of Joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement among Kentucky Power Company, Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, AEP Credit, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.**
 23.1    Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included as part of its opinions filed as Exhibits 5.1, 8.1 and 99.2)***
 23.2    Consent of Stites & Harbison PLLC (included as part of its opinion filed as Exhibits 8.2 and 99.3)***
 24.1    Power of Attorney of Kentucky Power Company**
 24.2    Power of Attorney of Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC***
 25.1    Form of T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association**
 99.1    Financing Order**
 99.2    Form of Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP with respect to U.S. constitutional matters***
 99.3    Form of Opinion of Stites & Harbison PLLC with respect to Kentucky constitutional matters***
 107    Filing Fee Table**
 
*

Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form SF-1 of Kentucky Power Company and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC (File Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01) filed on January 2, 2025.

 

II-3


Table of Contents
**

Previously filed with Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form SF-1 of Kentucky Power Company and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC (File Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01) filed on April 18, 2025.

***

Filed herewith.

Item 15. Undertakings

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, each registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of such registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, each registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that:

 

  (1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  (2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act of a third party that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement in accordance with Item 1100(c)(1) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1100(c)(1)) shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under Subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

II-4


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form SF-1 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on the 16th day of May, 2025.

 

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY

/s/ Trevor I. Mihalik

Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature    Title    Date

(i) Principal Executive Officer:

     
William J. Fehrman*   

Chief Executive Officer

  

(ii) Principal Financial Officer:

     

/s/ Trevor I. Mihalik

Trevor I. Mihalik

  

Chief Financial Officer

   May 16, 2025

(iii) Principal Accounting Officer:

     

/s/ Kate Sturgess

Kate Sturgess

  

Chief Accounting Officer

   May 16, 2025

(iv) A Majority of the Directors:

     
William J. Fehrman*
David M. Feinberg*
Cynthia G. Wiseman*
Trevor I. Mihalik*
   Directors   

 

By*  

/s/ Trevor I. Mihalik

    May 16, 2025
  Trevor I. Mihalik
   
  Attorney-in-Fact    

 

II-5


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form SF-1 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on the 16th day of May, 2025.

 

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

By:

 

/s/ Matthew D. Fransen

Name:

 

Matthew D. Fransen

Title:

 

Manager

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date

/s/ Matthew D. Fransen

 

Manager

  May 16, 2025
Matthew D. Fransen
Trevor I. Mihalik*   Manager  
Franz D. Messner*   Manager  
Sean Emerick*   Manager  
William Bleier*   Manager  

 

By:*

 

 

/s/ Matthew D. Fransen

    May 16, 2025
  Matthew D. Fransen
   
  Attorney-in-Fact
   

 

II-6

Exhibit 1.1

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

$   SERIES 2025 SENIOR SECURED RECOVERY BONDS

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

  , 2025

To the Representative named in Schedule I hereto

of the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. Introduction. Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), proposes to issue and sell $   aggregate principal amount of its Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds (the “Bonds”), identified in Schedule I hereto. The Issuer and Kentucky Power Company, a Kentucky Corporation (“Kentucky Power”), and the Issuer’s direct parent and a subsidiary utility company operating within American Electric Power Company, Inc. (“AEP”), hereby confirm their agreement with the several Underwriters (as defined below) as set forth herein.

The term “Underwriters” as used herein shall be deemed to mean the entity or several entities named in Schedule II hereto and any underwriter substituted as provided in Section 7 hereof and the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to mean any one of such Underwriters. Jefferies LLC shall act as the “Representative” on behalf of itself and the other Underwriters. All obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are several and not joint. Any action taken by the Representative on behalf of itself and the Underwriters under or in respect of this underwriting agreement (“Underwriting Agreement”) will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

2. Description of the Bonds. The Bonds will be issued pursuant to an indenture to be dated as of  , 2025, as supplemented by a series supplement thereto (as so supplemented, the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”) and U.S. Bank National Association as securities intermediary (the “Securities Intermediary”). The Bonds will be senior secured obligations of the Issuer and will be supported by certain cost recovery property (the “Cost Recover Property”), as more fully described in the amended and restated Financing Order issued on April 11, 2025 (the “Financing Order”) by the Kentucky Public Service Commission (the “Kentucky Commission”) relating to the Bonds, which Cost Recovery Property is to be sold to the Issuer by Kentucky Power pursuant to the Cost Recovery Property Sale Agreement, to be dated on or about   , 2025, between Kentucky Power and the Issuer (the “Sale Agreement”). The Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds will be serviced pursuant to the Cost Recovery Property Servicing Agreement, to be dated on or about  , 2025, between Kentucky Power, as servicer, and the Issuer, as owner of the Cost Recovery Property (the “Servicing Agreement”).


3. Representations and Warranties of the Issuer. The Issuer represents and warrants to the several Underwriters that:

(a) The offer and sale of the Bonds have been registered on Form SF-1 pursuant to guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and in accordance with such guidance the Issuer and the Bonds meet the requirements for the use of Form SF-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Issuer, in its capacity as co-registrant and issuing entity with respect to the Bonds, and Kentucky Power, in its capacity as co-registrant and as sponsor for the Issuer, have prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement on such form on January 2, 2025 (Registration Statement Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01), as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated April 18, 2025, including a prospectus (the “Registration Statement”), for the registration under the Securities Act of up to $ aggregate principal amount of the Bonds. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission and no stop order suspending such effectiveness has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened by the Commission. References herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to refer to the Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, and any information in a prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the Effective Date (as defined below), deemed or retroactively deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act (“Rule 430A”) that has not been superseded or modified. “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means the Registration Statement as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), which the parties agree is the time of the first contract of sale (as used in Rule 159 under the Securities Act) for the Bonds, and shall be considered the “Effective Date” of the Registration Statement relating to the Bonds. Information contained in a form of prospectus (as amended or supplemented as of the Effective Date) that is deemed retroactively to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A shall be considered to be included in the Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430A. The final prospectus relating to the Bonds, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, is referred to herein as the “Final Prospectus”; and the most recent preliminary prospectus that omitted information to be included upon pricing in a form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and that was used after the initial effectiveness of the Registration Statement and prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below) is referred to herein as the “Pricing Prospectus.” The Pricing Prospectus and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses (as defined below) identified in Section B of Schedule III, together with the InTex File (as defined below) hereby considered together, are referred to herein as the “Pricing Package.”

(b) (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Issuer or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act) of the Bonds and (ii) at the date hereof, the Issuer was not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

(c) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, at the time of each amendment (whether by post-effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus) and on the Effective Date relating to the Bonds, the Registration Statement fully complied, and the Final Prospectus, both as of its date and at the Closing Date, and the Indenture, at the Closing Date, will fully comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of

 

2


the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), respectively, and, in each case, the applicable instructions, rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; the Registration Statement, at each of the aforementioned dates, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; the Final Prospectus, both as of its date and at the Closing Date, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that the foregoing representations and warranties in this paragraph (c) shall not apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Underwriter Information as defined in Section 11(b) below or to any statements in or omissions from any Statements of Eligibility on Form T-1 (or amendments thereto) of the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or to any statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus relating to The Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) Book-Entry System that are based solely on information contained in published reports of DTC.

(d) As of the Applicable Time, as of its date, and on the date of its filing, the Pricing Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) (other than the Pricing Term Sheet, as defined in Section 5(b) below) and the InTex file, did not and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit (with respect to each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the InTex file, when taken together with the Pricing Prospectus) to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that the principal amount of the Bonds, the initial principal balance, the scheduled final payment date, the final maturity date, the expected average life and related sensitivity data, proceeds to the Issuer, underwriters’ allocation, selling concession, reallowance, discounts, issuance date and the expected sinking fund schedule described in the Pricing Prospectus were subject to completion or change based on market conditions and the interest rate, price to the public and underwriting discounts and commissions as well as certain other information dependent on the foregoing and other pricing related information was not included in the Pricing Prospectus). The Pricing Package, at the Applicable Time, did not, and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offer and the sale of the Bonds on the Closing Date will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The two preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Pricing Prospectus, the Pricing Term Sheet or any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with any Underwriter Information.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, relating to the Bonds, in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Issuer’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act. References to the term “Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. “InTex File” means the files available at the InTex deal titled “   ” concerning the characteristics of the Bonds and of the Cost Recovery Property. References to the term “Applicable Time” means   P.M., Eastern Time, on the date hereof, except that if, subsequent to such Applicable Time, the Issuer, Kentucky Power and the Underwriters have

 

3


determined that the information contained in the Pricing Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus issued prior to such Applicable Time included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and the Issuer, Kentucky Power and the Underwriters have agreed to terminate the old purchase contracts and have entered into new purchase contracts with purchasers of the Bonds, then “Applicable Time” will refer to the first of such times when such new purchase contracts are entered into. The Issuer represents, warrants and agrees that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each of the free writing prospectuses listed on Schedule III hereto as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and that each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has fully complied and will fully comply with the applicable requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.

(e) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offer and sale of the Bonds on the Closing Date or until any earlier date that the Issuer or Kentucky Power notified or notifies the Representative as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development the result of which is that such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or includes or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or, when considered together with the Pricing Prospectus, omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, (i) Kentucky Power or the Issuer has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representative and (ii) Kentucky Power or the Issuer has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with any Underwriter Information.

(f) The Issuer has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Law, as amended, with full limited liability company power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, the Bonds, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Indenture, the amended and restated limited liability company operating agreement of the Issuer dated as of   , 2025 (the “LLC Agreement”), the amended and restated intercreditor agreement made as of September 7, 2022 and amended and restated as of December 9, 2024 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”) by and among (a) each Person designated in an Effective Joinder (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) (i) as a “Company” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), (ii) as a “Receivables Sub-Servicer” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), and (iii) as a “Securitization Property Servicer” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement); (b) each Person designated in an Effective Joinder as a “Bond Issuer” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement); (c) each Person designated in an Effective Joinder as an “indenture trustee” (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement); (d) AEP Credit, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Receivables Buyer”); and (e) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as

 

4


Receivables Administrative Agent (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) for the Receivables Purchasers referred to in the Intercreditor Agreement and as Control Agent (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), the Joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement (the “Joinder Agreement”) dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Receivables Buyer, the Receivables Administrative Agent and Control Agent for the Receivables Purchasers, Kentucky Power as a Company, Securitization Property Servicer and Receivables Sub-Servicer, the Issuer as a Bond Issuer and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as an indenture trustee, the administration agreement to be dated the Closing Date between the Issuer and Kentucky Power (the “Administration Agreement”) and the other agreements and instruments contemplated by the Pricing Prospectus (collectively, the “Issuer Documents”) and to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus; the Issuer has been duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the business, properties or financial condition of the Issuer; the Issuer has conducted and will conduct no business in the future that would be inconsistent with the description of the Issuer’s business set forth in the Pricing Prospectus; the Issuer is not a party to or bound by any agreement or instrument other than the Issuer Documents and other agreements or instruments incidental to its formation and the Rating Agency Letters (as defined below); the Issuer has no material liabilities or obligations other than those arising out of the transactions contemplated by the Issuer Documents and as described in the Pricing Prospectus; Kentucky Power is the beneficial owner of all of the limited liability company interests of the Issuer; and based on current law, the Issuer is not classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

(g) The issuance and sale of the Bonds by the Issuer, the purchase of the Cost Recovery Property by the Issuer from Kentucky Power and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated by the Issuer, and the fulfillment of the terms hereof on the part of the Issuer to be fulfilled, will not result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under the Issuer’s articles of organization or limited liability company operating agreement (collectively, the “Issuer Charter Documents”), or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is now a party.

(h) This Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer, which has the necessary limited liability company power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement.

(i) The Issuer (i) is not in violation of the Issuer Charter Documents, (ii) is not in default and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties is subject, except for any such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its business, property or financial condition, and (iii) is not in violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or court decree to which it or its property may be subject, except for any such violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its business, property or financial condition.

 

5


(j) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Issuer, and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Issuer and will be a valid and binding instrument, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; and limitations on enforceability of rights to indemnification by federal or state securities laws or regulations or by public policy. On the Closing Date, the Indenture will (i) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and (ii) conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Pricing Prospectus and Final Prospectus.

(k) The Bonds have been duly authorized by the Issuer for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement and, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Issuer entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; and limitations on enforceability of rights to indemnification by federal or state securities laws or regulations or by public policy, and the Bonds conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Pricing Prospectus and Final Prospectus. The Issuer has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Bonds in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Underwriting Agreement and in the Pricing Prospectus and Final Prospectus.

(l) There is no litigation or governmental proceeding to which the Issuer is a party or to which any property of the Issuer is subject or which is pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened against the Issuer that (i) could reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the performance by the Issuer of any of the Issuer Documents or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Issuer’s business, property or financial condition.

(m) Other than the filing of the issuance advice letter and non-action on the part of the Kentucky Commission contemplated by Section IV.B.4. (Issuance Advice Letter and Financing Costs) of the Financing Order, no approval, authorization, consent or order of any public board or body (except such as have been already obtained and other than in connection or in compliance with the provisions of applicable blue-sky laws or securities laws of any state, as to which the Issuer makes no representations or warranties), is legally required for the issuance and sale by the Issuer of the Bonds.

 

6


(n) The Issuer is not, and, after giving effect to the sale and issuance of the Bonds and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

(o) The Issuer will rely on an exclusion or exemption from the definition of “investment company” under the 1940 Act under Rule 3a-7 promulgated thereunder, although there may be additional exclusions or exemptions available to the Issuer. The Issuer is not a “covered fund” for purposes of regulations adopted to implement Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

(p) The nationally recognized accounting firm which has performed certain procedures with respect to certain statistical and structural information contained in the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, are independent public accountants.

(q) Each of the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Joinder Agreement, the Administration Agreement and LLC Agreement has been duly authorized by the Issuer, and when executed and delivered by the Issuer on or prior to the Closing Date and the other parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and limitations on enforceability of rights to indemnification by federal or state securities laws or regulations or by public policy.

(r) The Issuer has complied with the written representations, acknowledgements and covenants (the “17g-5 Representations”) relating to compliance with Rule 17g-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) set forth in (i) the undertaking letter related to the Bonds by Kentucky Power to Moody’s (as defined below) and (ii) the undertaking letter related to the Bonds from Kentucky Power to S&P (as defined below, and together with Moody’s, the “Rating Agencies”) and the Issuer (collectively, the “Rating Agency Letters”), other than (x) any noncompliance of the 17g-5 Representations that would not have a material adverse effect on the rating of the Bonds or the Bonds or (y) any noncompliance arising from the breach by an Underwriter of the representations and warranties and covenants set forth in Section 13 hereof.

(s) The Issuer will comply, and has complied, in all material respects, with its diligence and disclosure obligations in respect to the Bonds under Rule 193 of the Securities Act and Items 1111(a)(7) and 1111(a)(8) of Regulation AB under the Securities Act.

 

7


(t) The Bonds are not subject to the risk retention requirements imposed by Section 15G of the Exchange Act.

4. Representations and Warranties of Kentucky Power. Kentucky Power represents and warrants to the several Underwriters that:

(a) Kentucky Power, in its capacity as co-registrant and sponsor for the Issuer and with respect to the Bonds, meets the requirements to use Form SF-1 under the Securities Act and has filed with the Commission the Registration Statement for the registration under the Securities Act of up to $   aggregate principal amount of the Bonds. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission and no stop order suspending such effectiveness has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of Kentucky Power, threatened by the Commission.

(b) (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that Kentucky Power or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act) of the Bonds and (ii) the date hereof, Kentucky Power was not and is not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

(c) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, at the time of each amendment (whether by post-effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus) and on the Effective Date relating to the Bonds, the Registration Statement fully complied, and the Final Prospectus, both as of its date and at the Closing Date, and the Indenture, at the Closing Date, will fully comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively, and, in each case, the applicable instructions, rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; the Registration Statement, at each of the aforementioned dates, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; the Final Prospectus, both as of its date and at the Closing Date, will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that the foregoing representations and warranties in this paragraph (b) shall not apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Underwriter Information or to any statements in or omissions from any Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1, or amendments thereto, of the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or to any statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus relating to DTC’s Book-Entry System that are based solely on information contained in published reports of DTC.

(d) As of the Applicable Time, as of its date, and on the date of its filing the Pricing Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than the Pricing Term Sheet) and the InTex File, did and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit (with respect to each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the InTex file, when taken together with the Pricing Prospectus) to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that the principal amount of the Bonds, the initial principal balance, the scheduled final payment date, the final maturity date, the expected average life and related security data proceeds to the Issuer,

 

8


underwriters’ allocation, selling concession, reallowance discounts, issuance date, the expected amortization schedule and the expected sinking fund schedule described in the Pricing Prospectus were subject to completion or change based on market conditions, and the interest rate, price to the public and underwriting discounts and commissions as well as certain other information dependent on the foregoing and other pricing related information was not included in the Pricing Prospectus). The Pricing Package, at the Applicable Time, did not, and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offer and the sale of the Bonds on the Closing Date, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The two preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Pricing Prospectus, the Pricing Term Sheet or any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with any Underwriter Information. Kentucky Power represents, warrants and agrees that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each of the free writing prospectuses listed on Schedule III hereto as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and that each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has fully complied and will fully comply with the applicable requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.

(e) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offer and sale of the Bonds on the Closing Date or until any earlier date that the Issuer or Kentucky Power notified or notifies the Representative as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development the result of which is that such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or includes or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or, when considered together with the Pricing Prospectus, omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, (i) Kentucky Power or the Issuer has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representative and (ii) Kentucky Power or the Issuer has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with any Underwriter Information.

(f) Kentucky Power has been duly formed and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as set forth in or contemplated by the Pricing Prospectus, and is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the business, property or financial condition of Kentucky Power and its subsidiaries considered as a whole, and has all requisite power and authority to sell Cost Recovery Property as described in the Pricing Prospectus and to otherwise perform its obligation under any Issuer Document to which it is a party. Kentucky Power is the beneficial owner of all of the limited liability company interests of the Issuer.

 

9


(g) Kentucky Power has no significant subsidiaries within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X.

(h) The transfer by Kentucky Power of all of its rights and interests under the Financing Order relating to the Bonds to the Issuer and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated by Kentucky Power, and the fulfillment of the terms hereof on the part of Kentucky Power to be fulfilled, will not result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, Kentucky Power’s organizational documents (the “Kentucky Power Charter Documents”), or in a material breach of any of the terms of, or constitute a material default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which Kentucky Power is now a party.

(i) This Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Kentucky Power, which has the necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement.

(j) Kentucky Power (i) is not in violation of the Kentucky Power Charter Documents, (ii) is not in default and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties is subject, except for any such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, property or financial condition of Kentucky Power and its subsidiaries considered as a whole, or (iii) is not in violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or court decree to which it or its property may be subject, except for any such violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, property or financial condition of Kentucky Power and its subsidiaries considered as a whole.

(k) Except as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, there is no litigation or governmental proceeding to which Kentucky Power or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of Kentucky Power or any of its subsidiaries is subject or which is pending or, to the knowledge of Kentucky Power, threatened against Kentucky Power or any of its subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the Issuer’s business, property, or financial condition or on Kentucky Power’s ability to perform its obligations under the Sale Agreement and the Servicing Agreement.

(l) Other than the filing of the issuance advice letter and non-action on the part of the Kentucky Commission contemplated by Section IV.B.4. (Issuance Advice Letter and Financing Costs) of the Financing Order, no approval, authorization, consent or order of any public board or body (except such as have been already obtained and other than in connection or in compliance with the provisions of applicable blue-sky laws or securities laws of any state, as to which Kentucky Power makes no representations or warranties), is legally required for the issuance and sale by the Issuer of the Bonds.

(m) Kentucky Power is not and after giving effect to the sale and issuance of the Bonds, neither Kentucky Power or the Issuer will be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

 

10


(n) Relying on an exclusion or exemption from the definition of “investment company” under the 1940 Act under Section 3(c)(5) thereof, although additional exclusions or exemptions may be available, the Issuer is not a “covered fund” for purposes of the regulations adopted to implement Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

(o) Each of the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Joinder Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement (by execution of the Joinder Agreement), will have been prior to the Closing Date duly and validly authorized by Kentucky Power, and when executed and delivered by Kentucky Power and the other parties thereto will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of Kentucky Power, enforceable against Kentucky Power in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and limitations on enforceability of rights to indemnification by federal or state securities laws or regulations or by public policy.

(p) There are no Kentucky transfer taxes related to the transfer of the Cost Recovery Property or the issuance and sale of the Bonds to the Underwriters pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement required to be paid at or prior to the Closing Date by Kentucky Power or the Issuer.

(q) The nationally recognized accounting firm referenced in Section 3(p) and 9(r) is a firm of independent public accountants with respect to Kentucky Power as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(r) Kentucky Power, in its capacity as sponsor with the respect to the Bonds, has caused the Issuer to comply with the 17g-5 Representations, other than (x) any noncompliance of the 17g-5 Representations that would not have a material adverse effect on the rating of the Bonds or the Bonds or (y) any noncompliance arising from the breach by an Underwriter of the representations and warranties and covenants set forth in Section 13 hereof.

(s) Kentucky Power will comply, and has complied, in all material respects, with its diligence and disclosure obligations in respect to the Bonds under Rule 193 of the Securities Act and Items 1111(a)(7) and 1111(a)(8) of Regulation AB.

(t) Neither Kentucky Power nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of Kentucky Power, any director, officer, agent or employee of Kentucky Power or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and Kentucky Power will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(u) The Bonds are not subject to the risk retention requirements imposed by Section 15G of the Exchange Act.

 

11


5. Investor Communications.

(a) Issuer and Kentucky Power represent and agree that, unless they obtain the prior consent of the Representative, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Issuer and Kentucky Power and the Representative, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Bonds that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” required to be filed by the Issuer or Kentucky Power, as applicable, with the Commission or retained by the Issuer or Kentucky Power, as applicable, under Rule 433 under the Securities Act; provided, that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Pricing Term Sheet and each other Free Writing Prospectus identified in Schedule III hereto.

(b) Kentucky Power and the Issuer (or the Representative at the direction of the Issuer) will prepare a final pricing term sheet relating to the Bonds (the “Pricing Term Sheet”), containing only information that describes the final pricing terms of the Bonds and otherwise in a form consented to by the Representative, and will file the Pricing Term Sheet within the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) under the Securities Act following the date such final pricing terms have been established for the offering of the Bonds. The Pricing Term Sheet is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Underwriting Agreement.

(c) Each Underwriter may provide to investors one or more of the Free Writing Prospectuses, including the Pricing Term Sheet, subject to the following conditions:

(i) An Underwriter shall not convey or deliver any Written Communication (as defined herein) to any person or entity in connection with the initial offering of the Bonds, unless such Written Communication (A) constitutes a prospectus satisfying the requirements of Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or (B)(i) is made in reliance on Rule 134 under the Securities Act, is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule III hereto or is an Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) and (ii) such Written Communication is preceded or accompanied by a prospectus satisfying the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. “Written Communication” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

An “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus” means any free writing prospectus that contains only preliminary or final terms of the Bonds and is not required to be filed by Kentucky Power or the Issuer pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act and that contains information substantially the same as the information contained in the Pricing Prospectus or Pricing Term Sheet (including, without limitation, (i) the class, size, rating, price, CUSIPs, coupon, yield, spread, benchmark, status and/or legal maturity date of the Bonds, the weighted average life, expected first and final scheduled payment dates, trade date, settlement date, transaction parties, credit enhancement, logistical details related to the location and timing of access to the roadshow, ERISA eligibility, legal investment status and payment window of one or more classes of Bonds and (ii) a column or other entry showing the status of the subscriptions for the Bonds, both for the Bonds as a whole and for each Underwriter’s retention, and/or expected pricing parameters of the Bonds).

(ii) Each Underwriter shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations in connection with the use of Free Writing Prospectuses and the Pricing Term Sheet, including but not limited to Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act.

 

12


(iii) All Free Writing Prospectuses provided to investors, whether or not filed with the Commission, shall bear a legend including substantially the following statement:

The Issuer and Kentucky Power have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Issuer and Kentucky Power have filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and Kentucky Power and the offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the base prospectus if you request it by calling Jefferies LLC toll-free at 877-821-7388 or visiting Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com.

The Issuer and the Representative shall have the right to require additional specific legends or notations to appear on any Free Writing Prospectus, the right to require changes regarding the use of terminology and the right to determine the types of information appearing therein with the approval of, in the case of the Issuer, Representative and, in the case of the Representative, the Issuer (which in either case shall not be unreasonably withheld).

(iv) Each Underwriter covenants with the Issuer and Kentucky Power that after the Final Prospectus is available such Underwriter shall not distribute any written information concerning the Bonds to an investor unless such information is preceded or accompanied by the Final Prospectus or by notice to the investor that the Final Prospectus is available for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

(v) Each Underwriter covenants that if an Underwriter shall use an Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus that contains information in addition to (x) “issuer information,” including information with respect to Kentucky Power, as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act or (y) the information in the Pricing Package, the liability arising from its use of such additional information shall be the sole responsibility of the Underwriter using such Underwriting Free Writing Prospectus unless the Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus (or any information contained therein) was consented to in advance by Kentucky Power; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (v) shall not be interpreted as tantamount to the indemnification obligations contained in Section 11(b) hereof.

6. Purchase and Sale. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Issuer shall sell to each of the Underwriters, and each Underwriter shall purchase from the Issuer, at the time and place herein specified, severally and not jointly, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto, the principal amount of the Bonds set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto. The Underwriters agree to make a public offering of the Bonds. The Issuer shall pay (in the form of a discount to the principal amount of the offered Bonds) to the Underwriters a commission equal to $    .

7. Time and Place of Closing. Delivery of the Bonds against payment of the aggregate purchase price therefor by wire transfer in federal funds shall be made at the place, on the date and at the time specified in Schedule I hereto, or at such other place, time and date as shall be agreed upon in writing by the Issuer and the Representative. The hour and date of such delivery and

 

13


payment are herein called the “Closing Date.” The Bonds shall be delivered to DTC or to U.S. Bank National Association, as custodian for DTC, in fully registered global form registered in the name of Cede & Co., for the respective accounts specified by the Representative not later than the close of business on the business day preceding the Closing Date or such other time as may be agreed upon by the Representative. The Issuer agrees to make the Bonds available to the Representative for checking purposes not later than 1:00 P.M. New York Time on the last business day preceding the Closing Date at the place specified for delivery of the Bonds in Schedule I hereto, or at such other place as the Issuer may specify.

If any Underwriter shall fail or refuse to purchase and pay for the aggregate principal amount of Bonds that such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for hereunder, the Issuer shall immediately give notice to the other Underwriters of the default of such Underwriter, and the other Underwriters shall have the right within 24 hours after the receipt of such notice to determine to purchase, or to procure one or more others, who are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) (or, if not members of the FINRA, who are not eligible for membership in the FINRA and who agree (i) to make no sales within the United States, its territories or its possessions or to persons who are citizens thereof or residents therein and (ii) in making sales to comply with the FINRA’s Conduct Rules) and satisfactory to the Issuer, to purchase, upon the terms herein set forth, the aggregate principal amount of Bonds that the defaulting Underwriter had agreed to purchase. If any non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters shall determine to exercise such right, such Underwriter or Underwriters shall give written notice to the Issuer of the determination in that regard within 24 hours after receipt of notice of any such default, and thereupon the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding three business days, as the Issuer shall determine. If in the event of such a default no non-defaulting Underwriter shall give such notice, then this Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Issuer, upon like notice given to the non-defaulting Underwriters, within a further period of 24 hours. If in such case the Issuer shall not elect to terminate this Underwriting Agreement, it shall have the right, irrespective of such default:

(a) to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase and pay for the respective aggregate principal amount of Bonds that it had agreed to purchase hereunder as hereinabove provided and, in addition, the aggregate principal amount of Bonds that the defaulting Underwriter shall have so failed to purchase up to an aggregate principal amount of Bonds equal to one-ninth (1/9) of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds that such non-defaulting Underwriter has otherwise agreed to purchase hereunder, and/or

(b) to procure one or more persons, reasonably acceptable to the Representative, who are members of the FINRA (or, if not members of the FINRA, who are not eligible for membership in the FINRA and who agree (i) to make no sales within the United States, its territories or its possessions or to persons who are citizens thereof or residents therein and (ii) in making sales to comply with the FINRA’s Conduct Rules), to purchase, upon the terms herein set forth, either all or a part of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds that such defaulting Underwriter had agreed to purchase or that portion thereof that the remaining Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase pursuant to the foregoing clause (a).

In the event the Issuer shall exercise its rights under (a) and/or (b) above, the Issuer shall give written notice thereof to the non-defaulting Underwriters within such further period of 24 hours, and thereupon the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding three business days, as the Issuer shall determine.

 

14


In the computation of any period of 24 hours referred to in this Section 7, there shall be excluded a period of 24 hours in respect of each Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday that would otherwise be included in such period of time.

Any action taken by the Issuer or Kentucky Power under this Section 7 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Underwriting Agreement. Termination of this Underwriting Agreement pursuant to Section 7 shall be without any liability on the part of the Issuer, Kentucky Power or any non-defaulting Underwriter, except as otherwise provided in Sections 8(a)(vi) and 11 hereof.

8. Covenants.

(a) Covenants of the Issuer. The Issuer covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(i) The Issuer will upon request promptly deliver to the Representative and Counsel to the Underwriters a conformed copy of the Registration Statement, certified by an officer of the Issuer to be in the form as originally filed and all amendments thereto.

(ii) The Issuer will deliver to the Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the date hereof, as many copies of the Pricing Prospectus and Final Prospectus as they may reasonably request.

(iii) The Issuer will cause or has caused the Final Prospectus to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act as soon as practicable and will advise the Underwriters of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing the use of the Registration Statement or the institution of any proceeding therefor of which Issuer shall have received notice. The Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof. The Issuer has complied and will comply with Rule 433 and Rule 163B under the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Bonds.

(iv) If, during such period of time (not exceeding nine months) after the Final Prospectus has been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act as in the opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters (as defined below) a prospectus covering the Bonds is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), any event relating to or affecting the Issuer, the Bonds or the Cost Recovery Property or of which the Issuer shall be advised in writing by the Representative shall occur that in the Issuer’s reasonable judgment after consultation with Counsel for the Underwriters (as defined below) should be set forth in a supplement to, or an amendment of the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus in order to make the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus not misleading in the light of the circumstances when it is delivered to a purchaser (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Issuer will, at its expense, amend or supplement the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus by either

 

15


(A) preparing and furnishing to the Underwriters at the Issuer’s expense a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or supplements or an amendment or amendments to the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus or (B) making an appropriate filing pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 of the Exchange Act, which will supplement or amend the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus so that, as supplemented or amended, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), not misleading; provided that should such event relate solely to the activities of any of the Underwriters, then such Underwriters shall assume the expense of preparing and furnishing any such amendment or supplement. The Issuer will also fulfill its obligations set out in Section 3(e) above. The Issuer will advise the Underwriters promptly in writing when any supplement to the Pricing Package, the Final Prospectus or any amendment to the Final Prospectus has been filed or distributed.

(v) The Issuer will furnish such proper information as may be lawfully required and otherwise cooperate in qualifying the Bonds for offer and sale under the blue-sky laws of the states of the United States as the Representative may designate; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to qualify as a foreign limited liability company or dealer in securities, to file any consents to service of process under the laws of any jurisdiction, or meet any other requirements deemed by the Issuer to be unduly burdensome.

(vi) The Issuer or Kentucky Power will, except as herein provided, pay or cause to be paid all expenses and taxes (except transfer taxes) in connection with (i) the preparation and filing by it of the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus and Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, (ii) the issuance and delivery of the Bonds as provided in Section 7 hereof (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of Counsel for the Underwriters and all trustee, rating agency and Kentucky Commission advisor fees), (iii) the qualification of the Bonds under blue-sky laws (including counsel fees not to exceed $15,000), (iv) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of reasonable quantities of the Registration Statement and, except as provided in Section 8(a)(iv) hereof, of the Pricing Package and Final Prospectus. If the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Bonds terminates in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7 (but excluding terminations arising thereunder out of an Underwriter default), 9, 10 or 12 hereof, the Issuer or Kentucky Power (i) will reimburse the Underwriters for the reasonable fees and disbursements of Counsel for the Underwriters, and (ii) will reimburse the Underwriters for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, such out-of-pocket expenses in an aggregate amount not exceeding $200,000, incurred in contemplation of the performance of this Underwriting Agreement. The Issuer shall not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits.

(vii) During the period from the date of this Underwriting Agreement to the date that is five days after the Closing Date, the Issuer will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any asset-backed securities (other than the Bonds).

 

16


(viii) To the extent, if any, that any rating necessary to satisfy the condition set forth in Section 9(v) of this Underwriting Agreement is conditioned upon the furnishing of documents or the taking of other actions by the Issuer on or after the Closing Date, the Issuer shall furnish such documents and take such other actions.

(ix) For a period from the date of this Underwriting Agreement until the retirement of the Bonds or until such time as the Underwriters shall cease to maintain a secondary market in the Bonds, whichever occurs first, the Issuer shall file with the Commission, and to the extent permitted by and consistent with the Issuer’s obligations under applicable law, make available on the website associated with the Issuer’s parent, such periodic reports, if any, as are required (without regard to the number of holders of Bonds to the extent permitted by and consistent with the Issuer’s obligations under applicable law) from time to time under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided that the Issuer shall not voluntarily suspend or terminate its filing obligations with the Commission unless permitted under applicable law and the terms of the Basic Documents. The Issuer shall also, to the extent permitted by and consistent with the Issuer’s obligations under applicable law, include in the periodic and other reports to be filed with the Commission as provided above or posted on the website associated with the Issuer’s parent, such information as required by Section 3.07(g) of the Indenture with respect to the Bonds. To the extent that the Issuer’s obligations are terminated or limited by an amendment to Section 3.07(g) of the Indenture, or otherwise, such obligations shall be correspondingly terminated or limited hereunder.

(x) The Issuer and Kentucky Power will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Final Prospectus or amendment or supplement to the Pricing Package during the period when a prospectus relating to the Bonds is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, without prior notice to the Underwriters, or to which Winston & Strawn LLP, who are acting as counsel for the Underwriters (“Counsel for the Underwriters”), shall reasonably object by written notice to Kentucky Power and the Issuer.

(xi) So long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to the Representative, if and to the extent not posted on EDGAR or the Issuer or its affiliate’s website, (A) as soon as available, a copy of each report of the Issuer filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to the Bondholders (to the extent such reports are not publicly available on the Commission’s website), (B) upon request, a copy of any filings with the Kentucky Commission pursuant to the Financing Order including, but not limited to, any issuance advice letter or any routine or non-routine true-up adjustment filings, and (C) from time to time, any information concerning the Issuer as the Representative may reasonably request.

(xii) So long as the Bonds are rated by any Rating Agency, the Issuer will comply with the 17g-5 Representations, other than (x) any noncompliance of the 17g-5 Representations that would not have a material adverse effect on the rating of the Bonds or the Bonds or (y) any noncompliance arising from the breach by an Underwriter of the representations and warranties and covenants set forth in Section 13 hereof.

 

17


(b) Covenants of Kentucky Power. Kentucky Power covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that, to the extent that the Issuer has not already performed such act pursuant to Section 8(a):

(i) To the extent permitted by applicable law and the agreements and instruments that bind Kentucky Power, Kentucky Power will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Issuer to comply with the covenants set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.

(ii) Kentucky Power will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(iii) If, during such period of time (not exceeding nine months) after the Final Prospectus has been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act as in the opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus covering the Bonds is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), any event relating to or affecting Kentucky Power, the Bonds or the Cost Recovery Property or of which Kentucky Power shall be advised in writing by the Representative shall occur that in Kentucky Power’s reasonable judgment after consultation with Counsel for the Underwriters should be set forth in a supplement to, or an amendment of, the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus in order to make the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus not misleading in the light of the circumstances when it is delivered to a purchaser (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), Kentucky Power will cause the Issuer, at Kentucky Power’s or the Issuer’s expense, to amend or supplement the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus by either (A) preparing and furnishing to the Underwriters at Kentucky Power’s or the Issuer’s expense a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or supplements or an amendment or amendments to the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus or (B) causing the Issuer to make an appropriate filing pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 of the Exchange Act, which will supplement or amend the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus so that, as supplemented or amended, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Pricing Package or the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), not misleading; provided, that should such event relate solely to the activities of any of the Underwriters, then such Underwriters shall assume the expense of preparing and furnishing any such amendment or supplement. Kentucky Power will also fulfill its obligations set out in Section 4(d). Kentucky Power will cause the Issuer to advise the Representative promptly in writing when any supplement to the Pricing Package, the Final Prospectus or any amendment to the Final Prospectus has been filed or distributed.

(iv) During the period from the date of this Underwriting Agreement to the date that is five days after the Closing Date, Kentucky Power will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any asset-backed securities (other than the Bonds).

(v) Kentucky Power will cause the proceeds for the issuance and sale of the Bonds to be applied for the purposes described in the Pricing Prospectus.

(vi) As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months, after the date hereof, Kentucky Power will make generally available (by posting on its website or otherwise) to its security holders, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

 

18


(vii) To the extent, if any, that any rating necessary to satisfy the condition set forth in Section 9(v) of this Underwriting Agreement is conditioned upon the furnishing of documents or the taking of other actions by Kentucky Power on or after the Closing Date, Kentucky Power shall furnish such documents and take such other actions.

(viii) The initial cost recovery charge will be calculated in accordance with the Financing Order.

(ix) Kentucky Power will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Final Prospectus or amendment or supplement to the Pricing Package during the period when a prospectus relating to the Bonds is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, without prior notice to the Underwriters or to which Counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object by written notice to Kentucky Power.

(x) So long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, Kentucky Power, in its capacity as sponsor with respect to the Bonds, will cause the Issuer to furnish to the Representative, if and to the extent not posted on EDGAR or Kentucky Power or its affiliate’s website, (A) upon request, a copy of any filings with the Kentucky Commission pursuant to the Financing Order including, but not limited to any issuance advice letter, any routine or non-routine true-up adjustment filings, and (B) from time to time, any public financial information in respect of Kentucky Power, or any material information regarding the Cost Recovery Property to the extent it is reasonably available (other than confidential or proprietary information) concerning the Issuer as the Representative may reasonably request.

(xi) So long as the Bonds are rated by a Rating Agency, Kentucky Power, in its capacity as sponsor with respect to the Bonds, will cause the Issuer to comply with the 17g-5 Representations, other than (x) any noncompliance of the 17g-5 Representations that would not have a material adverse effect on the rating of the Bonds or the Bonds or (y) any noncompliance arising from the breach by an Underwriter of the representations and warranties and covenants set forth in Section 13 hereof.

9. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Bonds shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Issuer and Kentucky Power contained in this Underwriting Agreement, on the part of Kentucky Power contained in Article III of the Sale Agreement, and on the part of Kentucky Power contained in Section 6.01 of the Servicing Agreement as of the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Issuer and Kentucky Power made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Issuer and Kentucky Power of their obligations hereunder, and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act prior to   P.M., New York time, on the second business day after the date of this Underwriting Agreement. In addition, all material required to be filed by the Issuer or Kentucky Power pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act that was prepared by either of them or that was prepared by any Underwriter and timely provided to the Issuer or Kentucky Power shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by such Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act.

 

19


(b) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending before, or threatened by, the Commission on the Closing Date; and the Underwriters shall have received one or more certificates, dated the Closing Date and signed by an officer of Kentucky Power and the Issuer, as appropriate, to the effect that no such stop order is in effect and that no proceedings for such purpose are pending before, or to the knowledge of Kentucky Power or the Issuer, as the case may be, threatened by, the Commission.

(c) Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Bonds, the Indenture, the other Issuer Documents, the Registration Statement and other related matters; and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(d) Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel for the Issuer, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding the filing of a voluntary bankruptcy petition.

(e) Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel for the Issuer, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain Delaware Uniform Commercial Code matters.

(f) Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel for the Issuer, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain Delaware limited liability company matters.

(g) Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain aspects of the transactions contemplated by the Issuer Documents, including the Indenture and the Trustee’s security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code and certain federal tax matters.

(h) Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding securities laws matters.

(i) Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, (i) to the effect that a court sitting in bankruptcy would not order the substantive consolidation of the assets and liabilities of the Issuer with those of Kentucky Power in connection with a bankruptcy, reorganization or other insolvency proceeding involving Kentucky Power, (ii) that if Kentucky Power were to become a debtor in such insolvency proceeding, such court would hold that the Cost Recovery Property is not property of the estate of Kentucky Power and (iii) regarding certain bankruptcy and creditor’s rights matters relating to the Issuer.

 

20


(j) Stites & Harbison PLLC, special Kentucky counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding enforceability, certain Kentucky perfection and priority issues and certain corporate matters.

(k) Stites & Harbison PLLC, special Kentucky counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain Kentucky constitutional matters relating to the Cost Recovery Property.

(l) Stites & Harbison PLLC, special Kentucky counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, with respect to the characterization of the transfer of the Cost Recovery Property by Kentucky Power to the Issuer as a “true sale” for Kentucky law purposes.

(m) Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative its written respective opinions, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain federal constitutional matters relating to the Cost Recovery Property.

(n) Chapman and Cutler LLP, special counsel for the Indenture Trustee, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain matters relating to the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary.

(o) Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain bankruptcy matters relating to the Issuer.

(p) Stites & Harbison PLLC, Kentucky regulatory counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain Kentucky regulatory issues.

(q) Stites & Harbison PLLC, special Kentucky tax counsel for the Issuer and Kentucky Power, shall have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, regarding certain Kentucky tax matters.

 

21


(r) On or before the date of this Underwriting Agreement and on or before the Closing Date, a nationally recognized accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative shall have furnished to the Representative one or more reports regarding certain calculations and computations relating to the Bonds, in form or substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, in each case in respect of which the Representative shall have made specific requests therefor and shall have provided acknowledgment or similar letters to such firm reasonably necessary in order for such firm to issue such reports.

(s) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, there shall not have been any change specified in the letters required by subsection (r) of this Section 9 which is, in the judgment of the Representative, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the delivery of the Bonds as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus.

(t) The LLC Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Joinder Agreement, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement and the Indenture and any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall have been executed and delivered.

(u) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement and in the Pricing Prospectus and as of the Closing Date there shall have been no (i) material adverse change in the business, property or financial condition of Kentucky Power and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, or of the Issuer or (ii) adverse development concerning the business or assets of Kentucky Power and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or of the Issuer which would be reasonably likely to result in a material adverse change in the prospective business, property or financial condition of Kentucky Power and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, or of the Issuer or (iii) development which would be reasonably likely to result in a material adverse change, in the Cost Recovery Property, the Bonds or the Financing Order.

(v) At the Closing Date, (i) the Bonds shall be rated at least the ratings set forth in the Pricing Term Sheet by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business (“S&P”), respectively, and the Issuer shall have delivered to the Underwriters a letter from each such rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory to the Underwriters, confirming that the Bonds have such ratings, and (ii) none of Moody’s and S&P shall have, since the date of this Underwriting Agreement, downgraded or publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its ratings of the Bonds.

(w) The Issuer and Kentucky Power shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representative at the Closing Date certificates of officers of Kentucky Power and the Issuer, reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Issuer and Kentucky Power herein, in the Sale Agreement, Servicing Agreement and the Indenture at and as of the Closing Date, as to the performance by the Issuer and Kentucky Power of all of their obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in subsections (b) and (w) of this Section and as to such other matters as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

22


(x) An issuance advice letter, in a form consistent with the provisions of the Financing Order, shall have been filed with the Kentucky Commission and the Kentucky Commission shall not have issued a Disapproval Order prior to noon on the fourth business day after the pricing date for the Bonds.

(y) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Representative evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, that appropriate filings have been or are being made in accordance with the “Kentucky Utilities Act,” as codified at KRS §§ 278.010, 278.670-.696 and KRS §65.114, the Financing Order and other applicable law reflecting the grant of a security interest by the Issuer in the collateral relating to the Bonds to the Indenture Trustee, including the filing of the requisite notices in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Kentucky.

(z) On or prior to the Closing Date, Kentucky Power shall have funded the capital subaccount of the Issuer with cash in an amount equal to $    .

(aa) The Issuer and Kentucky Power shall have furnished or caused to be furnished or agree to furnish to the Rating Agencies at the Closing Date such opinions and certificates as the Rating Agencies shall have reasonably requested prior to the Closing Date.

Any opinion letters delivered on the Closing Date to the Rating Agencies beyond those being delivered to the Underwriters above shall either (x) include the Underwriters as addressees or (y) be accompanied by reliance letters addressed to the Underwriters referencing such letters.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 9 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Underwriting Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Underwriting Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and Counsel for the Underwriters, all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representative. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Issuer in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

10. Conditions of Issuer’s Obligations. The obligation of the Issuer to deliver the Bonds shall be subject to the conditions that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect at the Closing Date and no proceeding for that purpose shall be pending before, or threatened by, the Commission at the Closing Date and the Kentucky Commission shall not have issued a Disapproval Order with respect to the issuance advice letter prior to noon on the fourth business day after the pricing date for the Bonds, as described in Section 9(x). In case these conditions shall not have been fulfilled, this Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Issuer upon notice thereof to the Underwriters. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as otherwise provided in Sections 8(a)(vi) and 11 hereof.

11. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) Kentucky Power and the Issuer, jointly and severally, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, each Underwriter’s officers and directors and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or

 

23


several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act or Exchange Act or any other statute or common law and shall reimburse each such Underwriter and controlling person for any reasonable legal or other expenses (including, to the extent hereinafter provided, reasonable counsel fees) as and when incurred by them in connection with investigating any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or in connection with defending any actions, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Pricing Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Pricing Package, the Final Prospectus or, in each case, any amendment or supplement thereto, collectively, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading or (iii) any information prepared by or on behalf of Kentucky Power or the Issuer and provided to the Underwriters; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 11 shall not apply to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arising out of, or based upon, any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or any such omission or alleged omission, in each case if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Underwriter Information (as defined in Section 11(b) hereof), or arising out of, or based upon, statements in or omissions from that part of the Registration Statement that shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of the Indenture Trustee with respect to any indenture qualified pursuant to the Registration Statement; provided, further that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 11 shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or of any officer or director of such Underwriter or of any person controlling such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act) on account of any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions, joint or several, arising from the sale of the Bonds to any person to whom such Underwriter has sold Bonds if a copy of the Pricing Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement thereto if any amendments or supplements thereto shall have been furnished to the Underwriters reasonably prior to the time of the sale involved) shall not have been given or sent to such person by or on behalf of such Underwriter at the time of or prior to the sale of the Bonds to such person unless the alleged omission or alleged untrue statement was not corrected in the Pricing Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement thereto if any amendments or supplements thereto have been furnished to the Underwriters reasonably prior to the time of the sale involved) at the time of such sale. The indemnity agreement of Kentucky Power and the Issuer contained in this Section 11 and the representations and warranties of the Issuer and Kentucky Power contained in Sections 3 and 4 hereof shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any termination of this Underwriting Agreement or of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, its officers or its directors or any such controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of the Bonds.

(b) Each Underwriter shall severally and not jointly indemnify, defend and hold harmless Kentucky Power and the Issuer, each of Kentucky Power’s and the Issuer’s respective officers, directors, and managers, and each person who controls the Issuer or Kentucky Power within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act or any other statute or common law and shall reimburse each of them for any reasonable legal or other expenses (including, to the extent hereinafter provided, reasonable

 

24


counsel fees) as and when incurred by them in connection with investigating any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or in connection with defending any actions, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Final Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Pricing Package, collectively, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information. The only “Underwriter Information” furnished to Kentucky Power by the Underwriters in writing expressly for use in such foregoing documents is set forth in Schedule IV hereto. The indemnity agreement of the respective Underwriters contained in this Section 11 and the representations and warranties of the Underwriters contained in Sections 5 and 13 hereof shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any termination of this Underwriting Agreement or of any investigation made by or on behalf of Kentucky Power or the Issuer, their directors, managers or officers, any such Underwriter, or any such controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of the Bonds.

(c) Kentucky Power, the Issuer and the several Underwriters each shall, upon the receipt of notice of the commencement of any action against it or any person controlling it as aforesaid, in respect of which indemnity may be sought on account of any indemnity agreement contained herein, promptly give written notice of the commencement thereof to the party or parties against whom indemnity shall be sought under (a) or (b) above, but the failure to notify such indemnifying party or parties of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party or parties from any liability hereunder to the extent such indemnifying party or parties is/are not materially prejudiced as a result of such failure to notify and in any event shall not relieve such indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party otherwise than on account of such indemnity agreement. In case such notice of any such action shall be so given, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume (in conjunction with any other indemnifying parties) the defense of such action, in which event such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by such indemnifying party or parties and reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or parties who shall be defendant(s) in such action, and such defendant(s) shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them; but if the indemnifying party shall elect not to assume the defense of such action, such indemnifying party will reimburse such indemnified party or parties for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action (including impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel for the indemnifying party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest involved in the representation by a single counsel of both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel, satisfactory to the indemnifying party, whose reasonable fees and expenses shall be paid by such indemnifying party, to participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel) representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action).

 

25


Each indemnifying party and indemnified party hereunder agrees that, without the prior written consent of the other parties, whether they are indemnified parties or indemnifying parties, as applicable (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld in the case of any indemnifying party but may be withheld in the sole discretion of any indemnified party), it will not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought under the indemnification provisions of this Underwriting Agreement, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such other party from all liability arising out of such claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such other party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in subparagraph (a) or (b) above shall be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party, each indemnifying party agrees to contribute to such indemnified party with respect to any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses for which each such indemnification provided for in subparagraph (a) or (b) above shall be unavailable or insufficient, in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by Kentucky Power and the Issuer on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Bonds pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement or (ii) if an allocation solely on the basis provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law or is inequitable or against public policy, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of each indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which have resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses and (iii) any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that no indemnified party guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any indemnifying party not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or the indemnified party and each such party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. Kentucky Power, the Issuer and each of the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subparagraph (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 11, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute in excess of the amount equal to the excess of (i) the total underwriting discount and commissions received by it, over (ii) the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. The obligations of each Underwriter to contribute pursuant to this Section 11 are several and not joint and shall be in the same proportion as such Underwriter’s obligation to underwrite Bonds is to the total number of Bonds set forth in Schedule II hereto.

12. Termination. This Underwriting Agreement may be terminated, at any time prior to the Closing Date with respect to the Bonds by the Representative by written notice to the Issuer if after the date hereof and at or prior to the Closing Date (a) trading in securities on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) shall have been generally suspended by the Commission or by the NYSE, (b) there shall have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities (including without limitation, an act of terrorism), declaration by the United States of a national emergency

 

26


or war or other national or international calamity or crisis, including, but not limited to, a material escalation of hostilities that existed prior to the date of this Underwriting Agreement, (c) a material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or (d) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities, and the effect of any such event specified in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above on the financial markets of the United States shall be such as to materially and adversely affect, in the reasonable judgment of the Representative, their ability to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Bonds on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Final Prospectus. Any termination hereof pursuant to this Section 12 shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as otherwise provided in Sections 8(a)(vi) and 11 hereof.

13. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Underwriters. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, represent, warrant and agree with the Issuer and Kentucky Power that, unless the Underwriters obtained, or will obtain, the prior written consent of the Issuer or Kentucky Power, the Representative (x) has not delivered, and will not deliver, any Rating Information (as defined below) to any Rating Agency until and unless the Issuer or Kentucky Power advises the Underwriters that such Rating Information is posted to password-protected website maintained by the Servicer pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)(iii)(B) of Rule 17g-5 under the Exchange Act in the same form as it will be provided to such Rating Agency, and (y) has not participated, and will not participate, with any Rating Agency in any oral communication of any Rating Information without the participation of a representative of the Issuer or Kentucky Power. For purposes of this Section 13, “Rating Information” means any information provided to a Rating Agency for the purpose of determining an initial credit rating on the Bonds.

14. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. Each of the Issuer and Kentucky Power acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Issuer and Kentucky Power with respect to the offering of the Bonds contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to Kentucky Power, or an agent of, the Issuer or Kentucky Power. Additionally, none of the Underwriters is advising the Issuer or Kentucky Power as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Issuer and Kentucky Power shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Issuer or Kentucky Power with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Issuer or Kentucky Power, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Issuer or Kentucky Power.

15. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and may be given by United States mail, courier service, telecopy, telefax or facsimile (confirmed by telephone or in writing in the case of notice by telecopy, telefax or facsimile) or any other customary means of communication, and any such communication shall be effective when delivered, or if mailed, three days after deposit in the United States mail with proper postage for ordinary mail prepaid, and if sent to the Representative, to it at the address specified in Schedule I hereto; and if sent to Kentucky Power, to it at 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Attention: Treasurer; and if sent to the Issuer, to it at 1645 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101, Attention: Manager. The parties hereto, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent communications.

 

27


16. Successors. This Underwriting Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 11 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

17. Applicable Law. This Underwriting Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE PARTIES AND/OR THE INTERPRETATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS, AND ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE OF ANY ACTION INSTITUTED HEREUNDER IN ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS AND CONSENTS TO THE GRANTING OF SUCH LEGAL OR EQUITABLE RELIEF AS IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY SUCH COURT.

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO HAVE A JURY PARTICIPATE IN RESOLVING ANY DISPUTE, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO, OR INCIDENTAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. INSTEAD, ANY SUCH DISPUTE RESOLVED IN COURT WILL BE RESOLVED IN A BENCH TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY.

18. Counterparts. This Underwriting Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Underwriting Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

 

28


19. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) among the Issuer, Kentucky Power and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

20. Third-Party Beneficiary; Amendments. The Commission shall be a third-party beneficiary, for the benefit of the customers of Kentucky Power, of this Underwriting Agreement and shall be authorized to enforce the provisions of this Underwriting Agreement for the benefit of such customers. This Underwriting Agreement may only be amended upon the written consent of the parties hereto and of the Kentucky Commission.

21. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Underwriting Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Underwriting Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Underwriting Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Underwriting Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) aa “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

29


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among Kentucky Power, the Issuer and the several Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,

 

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY

By:    
Name:    
Title:    
KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED BY:

 

JEFFERIES LLC

By:    
Name:    
Title:    
GUGGENHEIM SECURITIES, LLC
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
SMBC NIKKO SECURITIES AMERICA, INC.
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

 

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


Schedule I

Underwriting Agreement dated [     ], 2025

Registration Statement Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01

 

Representative:    Jefferies LLC
Address:    [         ]
Attention:    [John Kearney]

 

Title, Purchase Price and Description of Bonds
Title:    Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds

 

     Total
Principal
Amount
of Bonds
     Bond
Rate
    Price to
Public
    Underwriting
Discounts
and

Commissions
    Proceeds to
Issuer (Before
Expenses)
 

Bonds

   $           [ •]%      [ •]%      [ •]%    $   [•] 

Original Issue Discount (if any):

   $             

Redemption provisions:

None

           

Other provisions:

None

           

Closing Date, Time and Location:

    

[    ], 2025, 10:00 a.m.; offices of Sidley Austin LLP; 1000 Louisiana Street, Houston,
Texas 77002 and  simultaneously in the offices of Winston & Strawn LLP, 200 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10166
 
 
 

 

1


SCHEDULE II

Principal Amount of Bonds to be Purchased

 

Underwriter

   Principal
Amount of Bonds
 

Jefferies LLC

   $     [•] 

Guggenheim Securities, LLC

   $   [•] 

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

   $   [•] 

Total

   $   [•] 
  

 

 

 

 

1


SCHEDULE III

Schedule of Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed

Electronic Road Show

InTex file

Information consistent with the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus included in the Bloomberg pricing message, dated [ ]

Free Writing Prospectuses required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433

Preliminary Term Sheet, dated [     ]

Pricing Term Sheet, dated [     ]

 

1


SCHEDULE IV

Descriptive List of Underwriter Provided Information

Pricing Prospectus

under the heading “PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION” in the Preliminary Prospectus: (i) the paragraph immediately under “The Underwriters’ Sales Price for the Bonds;” (ii) the third sentence under the caption “No Assurance as to Resale Price or Resale Liquidity for the Bonds;” (iii) the entire first full paragraph under the caption “Various Types of Underwriter Transactions That May Affect the Price of the Bonds” (except the last sentence thereof); and (iv) the second sentence of the second full paragraph and the last sentence of the fifth full paragraph under the caption “Various Types of Underwriter Transactions Which May Affect the Price of the Bonds”; and (b) under the heading “OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS” in the Preliminary Prospectus, the first sentence under the caption “The absence of a secondary market for the Bonds might limit your ability to resell your Bonds.”

Final Prospectus

[under the heading “PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION” in the Prospectus: (i) the paragraph immediately under “The Underwriters’ Sale Price for the Bonds”; (ii) the third sentence under the caption “No Assurance as to Resale Price or Resale Liquidity for the Bonds”; (iii) the entire first full paragraph under the caption “Various Types of Underwriter Transactions Which May Affect the Price of the Bonds” (except the last sentence thereof); and (iv) the second sentence of the second full paragraph and the last sentence of the fifth full paragraph under the caption “Various Types of Underwriter Transactions Which May Affect the Price of the Bonds”; and (b) under the heading “OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS” in the Prospectus, the first sentence under the caption “The absence of a secondary market for the Bonds might limit your ability to resell your Bonds.”]

 

1

Exhibit 3.3

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

Dated Effective as of

May 6, 2025


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

     1  

SECTION 1.01

  Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.02

  Sole Member; Registered Office and Agent      2  

SECTION 1.03

  Other Offices      3  

SECTION 1.04

  Name      3  

SECTION 1.05

  Purpose; Nature of Business Permitted; Powers      3  

SECTION 1.06

  Limited Liability Company Agreement; Certificate of Formation      5  

SECTION 1.07

  Separate Existence      5  

SECTION 1.08

  Limitation on Certain Activities      9  

SECTION 1.09

  No State Law Partnership      10  

SECTION 1.10

  Additional Bonds      10  

ARTICLE II CAPITAL

     11  

SECTION 2.01

  Initial Capital      11  

SECTION 2.02

  Additional Capital Contributions      11  

SECTION 2.03

  Capital Account      12  

SECTION 2.04

  Interest      12  

ARTICLE III ALLOCATIONS; BOOKS

     12  

SECTION 3.01

  Allocations of Income and Loss      12  

SECTION 3.02

  Company to be Disregarded for Tax Purposes      13  

SECTION 3.03

  Books of Account      13  

SECTION 3.04

  Access to Accounting Records      13  

SECTION 3.05

  Annual Tax Information      13  

SECTION 3.06

  Internal Revenue Service Communications      13  

ARTICLE IV MEMBER

     13  

SECTION 4.01

  Powers      13  

SECTION 4.02

  Compensation of Member      15  

SECTION 4.03

  Other Ventures      15  

SECTION 4.04

  Actions by the Member      15  

ARTICLE V OFFICERS

     16  

SECTION 5.01

  Designation; Term; Qualifications      16  

SECTION 5.02

  Removal and Resignation      17  

SECTION 5.03

  Vacancies      17  

SECTION 5.04

  Compensation      17  

 

i


ARTICLE VI MEMBERSHIP INTEREST

     17  

SECTION 6.01

  General      17  

SECTION 6.02

  Distributions      18  

SECTION 6.03

  Rights on Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up      18  

SECTION 6.04

  Redemption      18  

SECTION 6.05

  Voting Rights      18  

SECTION 6.06

  Transfer of Membership Interests      18  

SECTION 6.07

  Admission of Transferee as Member      19  

ARTICLE VII MANAGERS

     19  

SECTION 7.01

  Managers      19  

SECTION 7.02

  Powers of the Managers      21  

SECTION 7.03

  Compensation      22  

SECTION 7.04

  Removal of Managers      22  

SECTION 7.05

  Resignation of Manager      22  

SECTION 7.06

  Vacancies      22  

SECTION 7.07

  Meetings of the Managers      23  

SECTION 7.08

  Electronic Communications      23  

SECTION 7.09

  Committees of Managers      23  

SECTION 7.10

  Limitations on Independent Managers      23  

ARTICLE VIII EXPENSES

     24  

SECTION 8.01

  Expenses      24  

ARTICLE IX PERPETUAL EXISTENCE; DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND WINDING-UP

     24  

SECTION 9.01

  Existence      24  

SECTION 9.02

  Dissolution      25  

SECTION 9.03

  Accounting      25  

SECTION 9.04

  Certificate of Cancellation      26  

SECTION 9.05

  Winding Up      26  

SECTION 9.06

  Order of Payment of Liabilities Upon Dissolution      26  

SECTION 9.07

  Limitations on Payments Made in Dissolution      26  

SECTION 9.08

  Limitation on Liability      26  

ARTICLE X INDEMNIFICATION

     26  

SECTION 10.01

  Indemnity      26  

SECTION 10.02

  Indemnity for Actions By or In the Right of the Company      27  

SECTION 10.03

  Indemnity If Successful      27  

SECTION 10.04

  Expenses      27  

SECTION 10.05

  Advance Payment of Expenses      28  

SECTION 10.06

  Other Arrangements Not Excluded      28  

 

ii


ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     29  

SECTION 11.01

  No Bankruptcy Petition; Dissolution      29  

SECTION 11.02

  Amendments      30  

SECTION 11.03

  KPSC Condition      30  

SECTION 11.04

  Governing Law      32  

SECTION 11.05

  Headings      32  

SECTION 11.06

  Severability      32  

SECTION 11.07

  Assigns      32  

SECTION 11.08

  Enforcement by Each Independent Manager and the Commission      32  

SECTION 11.09

  Waiver of Partition; Nature of Interest      32  

SECTION 11.10

  Benefits of Agreement; No Third-Party Rights      32  

SECTION 11.11

  Notices to Indenture Trustee and Rating Agencies      33  

SECTION 11.12

  Counterparts      33  

 

EXHIBITS, SCHEDULES AND APPENDIX

Schedule A

  Schedule of Capital Contribution of Member

Schedule B

  Initial Managers

Schedule C

  Initial Officers

Exhibit A

  Management Agreement

Appendix A

  Definitions

 

iii


AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED

LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) of KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), is made and entered into as of May 6, 2025, by KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY, a Kentucky corporation (including any additional or successor members of the Company other than Special Members, the “Member”).

WHEREAS, the Member has caused to be filed a Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to form the Company under and pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del.C. §18-101, et seq.), as amended from time to time (the “LLC Act”) and has entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of December 12, 2024 (the “Original LLC Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, in accordance with the LLC Act, the Member desires to enter into this Agreement to amend and restate in its entirety the Original LLC Agreement and to set forth the rights, powers and interests of the Member with respect to the Company and its Membership Interest therein and to provide for the management of the business and operations of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Member, intending to be legally bound, hereby agrees to amend and restate in its entirety the Original LLC Agreement as follows:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1.01 Definitions.

(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Appendix A attached hereto.

(b) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.

(c) The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit, Annex, Appendix and Attachment references contained in this Agreement are references to Articles, Sections, Schedules, Exhibits, Annexes, Appendixes and Attachments in or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term “including” shall mean “including without limitation.”

 

1


(d) The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

(e) Non-capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Act, as the context requires, have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Act, but without giving effect to amendments to the Act after the date hereof which have a material adverse effect on the Company, the Bondholders or the holders of any Additional Series.

SECTION 1.02 Sole Member; Registered Office and Agent.

(a) The initial sole member of the Company shall be Kentucky Power Company, a Kentucky corporation, or any successor as sole member pursuant to Sections 1.02(c), 6.06 and 6.07. The registered office and registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The Member may change said registered office and agent from one location to another in the State of Delaware. The Member shall provide written notice of any such change to the Trustees.

(b) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the Member to cease to be a member of the Company (other than upon continuation of the Company without dissolution upon the transfer or assignment by the Member of all of its limited liability company interest in the Company and the admission of the transferee or an additional member of the Company pursuant to Sections 6.06 and 6.07), each Person acting as an Independent Manager (as defined herein) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall, without any action of any Person and simultaneously with the Member ceasing to be a member of the Company, automatically be admitted to the Company as a Special Member and shall continue the Company without dissolution. No Special Member may resign from the Company or transfer its rights as Special Member unless (i) a successor Special Member has been admitted to the Company as Special Member by executing a counterpart to this Agreement, and (ii) such successor has also accepted its appointment as an Independent Manager pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, the Special Members shall automatically cease to be members of the Company upon the admission to the Company of a substitute Member. Each Special Member shall be a member of the Company that has no interest in the profits, losses and capital of the Company and has no right to receive any distributions of Company assets (and no Special Member shall be treated as a member of the Company for federal income tax purposes). Pursuant to Section 18-301 of the LLC Act, a Special Member shall not be required to make any capital contributions to the Company and shall not receive a limited liability company interest in the Company. A Special Member, in its capacity as Special Member, may not bind the Company. Except as required by any mandatory provision of the LLC Act, each Special Member, in its capacity as Special Member, shall have no right to vote on, approve or otherwise consent to any action by, or matter relating to, the Company, including the merger, consolidation, division or conversion of the Company. In order to implement the admission to the Company of each Special Member, each Person acting as an Independent Manager pursuant to this Agreement shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement. Prior to its admission to the Company as Special Member, each Person acting as an Independent Manager pursuant to this Agreement shall not be a member of the Company. A “Special Member” means, upon such Person’s admission to the Company as a member of the Company pursuant to this Section 1.02(b), a Person acting as an Independent Manager, in such Person’s capacity as a

 

2


member of the Company. A Special Member shall only have the rights and duties expressly set forth in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a Special Member is not included within the defined term “Member.”

(c) The Company may admit additional Members with the affirmative vote of both (i) a majority of the Managers that are not Independent Managers and (ii) each Independent Manager. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, it shall be a condition to the admission of any additional Member that the sole Member shall have received an opinion of outside tax counsel (as selected by the Member in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Member and each Trustee) that the admission of such additional Member shall not cause the Company to be treated, for federal income tax purposes, as having more than one “sole owner” and that the Company shall not be treated, for federal income tax purposes, as an entity separate from such “sole owner.”

SECTION 1.03 Other Offices. The Company may have an office at 1645 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101, or at any other offices that may at any time be established by the Member at any place or places within or outside the State of Delaware. The Member shall provide notice to each Trustee of any change in the location of the Company’s office.

SECTION 1.04 Name. The name of the Company shall be “Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC”. The name of the Company may be changed from time to time by the Member with ten (10) days’ prior written notice to the Managers, each Trustee, and the Commission, and the filing of an appropriate amendment to the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State as required by the LLC Act.

SECTION 1.05 Purpose; Nature of Business Permitted; Powers. The purposes for which the Company is formed are limited to:

(a) acquire, own, hold, administer, service or enter into agreements regarding the receipt and servicing of (i) Cost Recovery Property and the other Collateral, along with certain other related assets, and (ii) additional “securitized property” (as used herein, as defined in the Act) and other Collateral related to one or more Additional Series, along with certain other related assets;

(b) manage, sell, assign, pledge, collect amounts due on or otherwise deal with the (i) Cost Recovery Property and the other Collateral and related assets to be so acquired in accordance with the terms of the Basic Documents and (ii) additional securitized property and other Collateral to be so acquired in accordance with the terms of the transaction documents applicable to any Additional Series (the “Additional Documents”);

(c) negotiate, authorize, execute, deliver, assume the obligations under, and perform its duties under, the Basic Documents, the Additional Documents and any other agreement or instrument or document relating to the activities set forth in subclauses (a) and (b) above; provided, that each party to any such agreement under which material obligations are imposed upon the Company shall covenant that it shall not, prior to the date which is one year and one day after the termination of the Indenture or the termination of any other indenture pursuant to which any Additional Series is issued, and the payment in full of the Bonds or Additional Series,

 

3


as applicable, and any other amounts owed under the Indenture or other indenture pursuant to which an additional Series is issued, acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Company to invoke the process of any court or Governmental Authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining an involuntary case against the Company under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any substantial part of the property of the Company; or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company; and provided, further, that the Company shall be permitted to incur indebtedness or other liabilities payable to service providers and trade creditors in the ordinary course of business in connection with the activities permitted under this Section 1.05;

(d) file with the SEC one or more registration statements, including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments thereto and any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (including any prospectus supplement, prospectus and exhibits contained therein), and file such applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other papers and documents necessary or desirable to register the Bonds or any Additional Series under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various jurisdictions;

(e) authorize, execute, deliver, issue and register the Bonds and each Additional Series;

(f) make payments on the Bonds and on each Additional Series;

(g) pledge its interest in (i) Cost Recovery Property and other Collateral to the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture in order to secure the Bonds and (ii) the additional securitized property and other Collateral related to an Additional Series to the applicable Additional Trustee under the corresponding indenture in order to secure such Additional Series; and

(h) engage in any lawful act or activity and exercise any powers permitted to limited liability companies formed under the laws of the State of Delaware that, in either case, are incidental to, or necessary, suitable or convenient for the accomplishment of the above-mentioned purposes.

The Company shall engage only in any activities related to the foregoing purposes or required or authorized by the terms of the Basic Documents, Additional Documents or other agreements referenced above. The Company shall have all powers reasonably incidental, necessary, suitable or convenient to effect the foregoing purposes, including all powers granted under the LLC Act.

The Company may issue the Bonds pursuant to the Financing Order. The Company is hereby authorized to execute, deliver and perform, and the Member, any Manager (other than an Independent Manager), or any officer of the Company, acting singly or collectively, on behalf of the Company, are hereby authorized to execute and deliver, the Bonds, the Basic Documents and all registration statements, documents, agreements, certificates or financing statements contemplated thereby or related thereto, all without any further act, vote or approval of any Member, Manager or other Person, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the

 

4


LLC Act, or other applicable law, rule or regulation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the LLC Act or other applicable law, any Basic Document executed prior to the date hereof by any Member, Manager or officer on behalf of the Company is hereby ratified and approved in all respects. The authorization set forth in the preceding two (2) sentences shall not be deemed a restriction on the power and authority of the Member or any Manager, including any Independent Manager, to enter into other agreements or documents on behalf of the Company as authorized pursuant to this Agreement and the LLC Act. The Company shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges granted by the LLC Act or by any other law or by this Agreement, together with any powers incidental thereto, insofar as such powers and privileges are incidental, necessary, suitable or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business purposes or activities of the Company.

SECTION 1.06 Limited Liability Company Agreement; Certificate of Formation. This Agreement shall constitute a “limited liability company agreement” within the meaning of the LLC Act. Paula A. Haynes, as an authorized person within the meaning of the LLC Act, has caused a certificate of formation of the Company to be executed and filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 4, 2024 (such execution and filing being hereby ratified and approved in all respects). The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Formation of the Company as provided in the LLC Act.

SECTION 1.07 Separate Existence. Except for financial reporting purposes (to the extent required by generally accepted accounting principles) and for federal income tax purposes and, to the extent consistent with applicable state tax law, state income and franchise tax purposes, the Member and the Managers shall take all steps necessary to continue the identity of the Company as a separate legal entity and to make it apparent to third Persons that the Company is an entity with assets and liabilities distinct from those of the Member, Affiliates of the Member or any other Person, and that, the Company is not a division of any of the Affiliates of the Company or any other Person. In that regard, and without limiting the foregoing in any manner, the Company shall:

(a) maintain the assets of the Company in such a manner that it is not costly or difficult to segregate, identify or ascertain its individual assets from those of any other Person, including any Affiliate;

(b) conduct all transactions with Affiliates on an arm’s-length basis;

(c) not guarantee, become obligated for or pay the debts of any Affiliate or hold the credit of the Company out as being available to satisfy the obligations of any Affiliate or other Person (nor, except as contemplated in the Basic Documents or the Additional Documents, indemnify any Person for losses resulting therefrom), nor, except as contemplated in the Basic Documents or the Additional Documents, have any of its obligations guaranteed by any Affiliate or hold the Company out as responsible for the debts of any Affiliate or other Person or for the decisions or actions with respect to the business and affairs of any Affiliate, nor seek or obtain credit or incur any obligation to any third party based upon the creditworthiness or assets of any Affiliate or any other Person (i.e. other than based on the assets of the Company) nor allow any Affiliate to do such things based on the credit of the Company;

 

5


(d) except as expressly otherwise permitted hereunder or under any of the Basic Documents or Additional Documents, not permit the commingling or pooling of the Company’s funds or other assets with the funds or other assets of any Affiliate;

(e) maintain separate deposit and other bank accounts and funds (separately identifiable from those of the Member or any other Person) to which no Affiliate has any access (except Kentucky Power, solely in its capacity as Servicer or as Administrator), which accounts shall be maintained in the name and, to the extent not inconsistent with applicable federal tax law, with the tax identification number of the Company;

(f) maintain full books of accounts and records (financial or other) and financial statements separate from those of its Affiliates or any other Person (except as described herein with respect to tax purposes and financial reporting), prepared and maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (including, all resolutions, records, agreements or instruments underlying or regarding the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents, the Additional Documents or otherwise) and audited annually by an independent accounting firm which shall provide such audit to the Indenture Trustee or, in the case of an Additional Series, to the applicable Additional Trustee;

(g) pay its own liabilities out of its own funds, including fees and expenses of (i) the Administrator pursuant to the Administration Agreement, (ii) the administrator for any Additional Series pursuant to the corresponding administration agreement, (iii) the Servicer pursuant to the Servicing Agreement and (iv) the servicer for any Additional Series pursuant to the corresponding servicing agreement;

(h) not hire or maintain any employees, but shall compensate (either directly or through reimbursement of the Company’s allocable share of any shared expenses) all consultants, agents and Affiliates, to the extent applicable, for services provided to the Company by such consultants, agents or Affiliates, in each case, from the Company’s own funds;

(i) allocate fairly and reasonably the salaries of and the expenses related to providing the benefits of officers or managers shared with the Member, any Special Member or any Manager;

(j) allocate fairly and reasonably any overhead shared with the Member, any Special Member or any Manager;

(k) pay from its own bank accounts for accounting and payroll services, rent, lease and other expenses (or the Company’s allocable share of any such amounts provided by one or more other Affiliates) and not have such operating expenses (or the Company’s allocable share thereof) paid by any Affiliates, provided, that the Member shall be permitted to pay the initial organization expenses of the Company and certain of the expenses related to the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents or the Additional Documents, in each case as provided therein;

(l) maintain adequate capitalization to conduct its business and affairs considering the Company’s size and the nature of its business and intended purposes and, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents and by the Additional Documents, refrain from engaging in a business for which its remaining property represents an unreasonably small capital;

 

6


(m) conduct all of the Company’s business (whether in writing or orally) solely in the name of the Company through the Member and the Company’s Managers, officers and agents and hold the Company out as an entity separate from any Affiliate;

(n) not make or declare any distributions of cash or property to the Member except in accordance with appropriate limited liability company formalities and only consistent with sound business judgment to the extent that it is permitted pursuant to the Basic Documents, the Additional Documents, the Financing Order and any Subsequent Financing Order and not violative of any applicable law;

(o) otherwise practice and adhere to all limited liability company procedures and formalities to the extent required by this Agreement or all other appropriate constituent documents and the laws of its state of formation and all other appropriate jurisdictions;

(p) not appoint an Affiliate or any employee of an Affiliate as an agent of the Company, except as otherwise permitted in the Basic Documents or in the Additional Documents (although such Persons can qualify as a Manager or as an officer of the Company);

(q) not acquire obligations or securities of or make loans or advances to or pledge its assets for the benefit of any Affiliate, the Member or any Affiliate of the Member;

(r) not permit the Member or any Affiliate to acquire obligations of or make loans or advances to the Company;

(s) except as expressly provided in the Basic Documents or the Additional Documents, not permit the Member or any Affiliate to guarantee, pay or become liable for the debts of the Company nor permit any such Person to hold out its creditworthiness as being available to pay the liabilities and expenses of the Company nor, except for the indemnities in this Agreement, the Basic Documents and the Additional Documents, indemnify any Person for losses resulting therefrom;

(t) maintain separate minutes of the actions of the Member and the Managers, including the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents and by the Additional Documents;

(u) cause (i) all written and oral communications, including letters, invoices, purchase orders, and contracts, of the Company to be made solely in the name of the Company, (ii) the Company to have its own tax identification number (to the extent not inconsistent with applicable federal tax law), stationery, checks and business forms, separate from those of any Affiliate, (iii) all Affiliates not to use the stationery or business forms of the Company, and cause the Company not to use the stationery or business forms of any Affiliate, and (iv) all Affiliates not to conduct business in the name of the Company, and cause the Company not to conduct business in the name of any Affiliate;

 

7


(v) direct creditors of the Company to send invoices and other statements of account of the Company directly to the Company and not to any Affiliate and cause the Affiliates to direct their creditors not to send invoices and other statements of accounts of such Affiliates to the Company;

(w) cause the Member to maintain as official records all resolutions, agreements, and other instruments underlying or regarding the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents and by the Additional Documents;

(x) disclose, and cause the Member to disclose, in its financial statements the effects of all transactions between the Member and the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and in a manner which makes it clear that (i) the Company is a separate legal entity, (ii) the assets of the Company (including the Cost Recovery Property transferred to the Company pursuant to the Sale Agreement) are not assets of any Affiliate and are not available to pay creditors of any Affiliate and (iii) neither the Member nor any other Affiliate is liable or responsible for the debts of the Company;

(y) except as described herein with respect to tax purposes and financial reporting, treat and cause the Member to treat the transfer of securitized property (including the Cost Recovery Property) from the Member to the Company as a sale under the Act;

(z) except as described herein with respect to tax purposes and financial reporting, describe and cause each Affiliate to describe the Company, and hold the Company out as a separate legal entity and not as a division or department of any Affiliate, and promptly correct any known misunderstanding regarding the Company’s identity separate from any Affiliate or any Person;

(aa) so long as any of the Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding, treat the Bonds and each Additional Series, as applicable, as debt for all purposes and specifically as debt of the Company, other than for financial reporting, state or federal regulatory or tax purposes;

(bb) solely for purposes of (i) federal taxes and, to the extent consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, or (ii) state, local and other taxes, in each case so long as any of the Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding, treat the Bonds and Additional Series, as applicable, as indebtedness of the Member secured by the Collateral, unless otherwise required by appropriate taxing authorities;

(cc) file its own tax returns, if any, as may be required under applicable law, to the extent (i) not part of a consolidated group filing a consolidated return or returns or (ii) not treated as a division or disregarded entity for tax purposes of another taxpayer, and pay any taxes so required to be paid under applicable law;

(dd) maintain its valid existence in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and maintain its qualification to do business under the laws of such other jurisdictions as its operations require;

(ee) not form, or cause to be formed, any subsidiaries;

 

8


(ff)  comply with all laws applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Basic Documents and the Additional Documents; and

(gg) cause the Member to observe in all material respects all limited liability company procedures and formalities, if any, required by its constituent documents and the laws of its state of formation and all other appropriate jurisdictions.

Failure of the Company, or the Member or any Manager on behalf of the Company, to comply with any of the foregoing covenants or any other covenants contained in this Agreement shall not affect the status of the Company as a separate legal entity or the limited liability of the Member or the Managers.

SECTION 1.08 Limitation on Certain Activities. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the Company, and the Member or Managers on behalf of the Company, shall not:

(a) engage in any business or activity other than as set forth in Article I hereof;

(b) without the affirmative vote of its Member and the affirmative vote of all of the Managers, including each Independent Manager, file a voluntary bankruptcy petition or any other petition for relief with respect to the Company under the Bankruptcy Code or similar law, consent to the institution of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings against the Company or otherwise institute insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings with respect to the Company or take any company action in furtherance of any such filing or institution of a proceeding;

(c) without the affirmative vote of all Managers, including each Independent Manager, and then only to the extent permitted by the Basic Documents and by the Additional Documents, convert, merge or consolidate with any other Person or sell all or substantially all of its assets or acquire all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock or other ownership interest of any other Person;

(d) take any action, file any tax return, or make any election inconsistent with the treatment of the Company, for purposes of federal income taxes and, to the extent consistent with applicable state tax law, state income and franchise tax purposes, as a disregarded entity that is not separate from the Member;

(e) incur any indebtedness or assume or guarantee any indebtedness of any Person (other than the indebtedness incurred under the Basic Documents and under the Additional Documents);

(f) issue any bonds other than (i) the Bonds contemplated by the Basic Documents and (ii) any Additional Series; or

(g) to the fullest extent permitted by law, without the affirmative vote of its Member and the affirmative vote of all Managers, including each Independent Manager, execute any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company.

 

9


So long as any of the Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding, the Company and the Member shall give written notice to the Commission and to each applicable Rating Agency of any action described in clauses (b), (c) or (g) of this Section 1.08 which is taken by or on behalf of the Company with the required affirmative vote of the Member and all Managers as therein described.

SECTION 1.09 No State Law Partnership. No provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to constitute a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, or the Member a partner or joint venturer of or with any Manager or the Company, for any purposes.

SECTION 1.10 Additional Bonds.

(a) Following the issuance by the Commission of any Subsequent Financing Order or pursuant to remaining authority under the Financing Order, the Company may, subject to the terms contained in this Section 1.10, acquire additional and separate securitized property and issue an Additional Series under any such subsequent indenture that are backed by such separate additional securitized property. Any Additional Series may include terms and provisions unique to such Additional Series.

(b) In addition to all applicable requirements set forth in any subsequent indenture for any additional “securitized bonds” (as defined in the Act), the following conditions must be satisfied in connection with any issuance of additional securitized bonds:

(i) Kentucky Power has existing authority under the Financing Order to issue additional securitized bonds or Kentucky Power requests and receives a Subsequent Financing Order from the Commission to recover additional securitized costs through the issuance of additional securitized bonds;

(ii) Kentucky Power must serve as initial servicer and administrator for such Additional Series and the Additional Series must provide in its Additional Documents that the servicer and the administrator cannot be replaced without the requisite approval of the holders of all Bonds and Additional Series then-Outstanding;

(iii) satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition;

(iv) each Additional Series has recourse only to the securitized property created by the Financing Order or any Subsequent Financing Order, as the case may be, and funds on deposit in the trust accounts held by the trustee or securities intermediary under the indenture with respect to such Additional Series, is nonrecourse to the Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds and does not constitute a claim against the Company if revenue from the “securitized surcharges” (as defined in the Act) and funds on deposit in the trust accounts with respect to such Additional Series are insufficient to pay such other series in full;

(v) the Company has provided to each Trustee and the Rating Agencies then rating any series of the Company’s Outstanding Bonds or Additional Series an opinion of a nationally recognized law firm experienced in such matters to the effect that such issuance would not result in the Company’s substantive consolidation with Kentucky Power and that there has been a true sale of the securitized property for such Additional Series, subject to the customary exceptions, qualifications and assumptions contained therein;

 

10


(vi) transaction documentation for the Additional Series provides that the Additional Trustee on behalf of holders of the securitized bonds of the Additional Series will not file or join in filing of any bankruptcy petition against the Company;

(vii) if holders of such Additional Series are deemed to have any interest in any of the Collateral dedicated to the Bonds, holders of such Additional Series must agree that (A) any such interest is subordinate to the claims and rights of the Holders of the Bonds and (B) their interest in the Collateral dedicated to the Additional Series is only a first priority perfected interest in the assets relating to the Additional Series, as the case may be, in accordance with the related intercreditor agreement;

(viii) each Additional Series will have its own bank accounts or trust accounts and funds for each Additional Series shall be remitted in accordance with the related servicing agreement and related intercreditor agreement;

(ix) no Additional Series will be issued under the Indenture; and

(x) each Additional Series will bear its own independent manager fees, indenture trustee fees, servicer fees and administration fees.

ARTICLE II

CAPITAL

SECTION 2.01 Initial Capital. The initial capital of the Company shall be the sum of cash contributed to the Company by the Member (the “Capital Contribution”) in the amount set out opposite the name of the Member on Schedule A hereto, as amended from time to time and incorporated herein by this reference.

SECTION 2.02 Additional Capital Contributions. The assets of the Company are expected to generate a return sufficient to satisfy all obligations of the Company under this Agreement and the Basic Documents and any other obligations of the Company. It is expected that no capital contributions to the Company will be necessary after the purchase of the Cost Recovery Property. On or prior to the date of each issuance of Bonds and Additional Series, the Member shall make an additional contribution to the Company in an amount equal to at least 0.50% of the initial principal amount of such issuance or such greater amount as agreed to by the Member in connection with such issuance by the Company of the Bonds or Additional Series, as applicable, which amount the Company shall deposit into the, (x) the Capital Subaccount established by the Indenture Trustee as provided under Section 8.02 of the Indenture, in the case of the Bonds, and (y) the applicable capital subaccount established by the Additional Trustee as provided under the Additional Documents, in the case of an Additional Series. No capital contribution by the Member to the Company will be made for the purpose of mitigating losses on Cost Recovery Property that has previously been transferred to the Company, and all capital contributions shall be made in accordance with all applicable limited liability company procedures and requirements, including proper record keeping by the Member and the Company. Each capital contribution will be

 

11


acknowledged by a written receipt signed by any one of the Managers. The Managers acknowledge and agree that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, such additional contribution will be invested only in Eligible Investments, and all income earned thereon shall be allocated or paid by (a) the Indenture Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, with respect to the Bonds, and (b) the applicable Additional Trustee under the Additional Documents in accordance with the provisions of the applicable indenture, with respect to each Additional Series.

SECTION 2.03 Capital Account. A Capital Account shall be established and maintained for the Member on the Company’s books (the “Capital Account”).

SECTION 2.04 Interest. Except as provided in the Act, the Financing Order, any Subsequent Financing Order, the Basic Documents and the Additional Documents (which Financing Order and Subsequent Financing Order provide, or shall provide, for a procedure that permits the Member to earn a return at its weighted average cost of capital authorized by the Commission in a rate proceeding), no interest shall be paid or credited to the Member on its Capital Account or upon any undistributed profits left on deposit with the Company. Except as provided herein or by law, the Member shall have no right to demand or receive the return of its Capital Contribution.

ARTICLE III

ALLOCATIONS; BOOKS

SECTION 3.01 Allocations of Income and Loss.

(a) Book Allocations. The net income and net loss of the Company shall be allocated entirely to the Member.

(b) Tax Allocations. Because the Company is not making (and will not make) an election to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation under Section 301.7701-3(a) of the Treasury Regulations, and because the Company is a business entity that has a single owner and is not a corporation, it is expected to be disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for federal income tax purposes under Section 301.7701-3(b)(1) of the Treasury Regulations. Accordingly, all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company for all taxable periods will be treated for federal income tax purposes, and for state and local income and other tax purposes to the extent permitted by applicable law, as realized or incurred directly by the Member. To the extent not so permitted, all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company shall be allocated entirely to the Member as permitted by applicable tax law, and the Member shall pay (or indemnify the Company, each Trustee and each of their officers, managers, employees or agents for, and defend and hold harmless each such person from and against its payment of) any taxes levied or assessed upon all or any part of the Company’s property or assets based on existing law as of the date hereof, including any sales, gross receipts, general corporation, personal property, privilege, franchise or license taxes (but excluding any taxes imposed as a result of a failure of such person to properly withhold or remit taxes imposed with respect to payments on any Bond). The Indenture Trustee (on behalf of the Secured Parties) and each Additional Trustee (on behalf of the secured parties under the corresponding Additional

 

12


Documents) shall be a third party beneficiary of the Member’s obligations set forth in this Section 3.01, it being understood that (a) Bondholders shall be entitled to enforce their rights against the Member under this Section 3.01 solely through a cause of action brought for their benefit by the Indenture Trustee and (b) holders of an Additional Series shall be entitled to enforce their rights against the Member under this Section 3.01 solely through a cause of action brought for their benefit by the applicable Additional Trustee.

SECTION 3.02 Company to be Disregarded for Tax Purposes. The Company shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder in the manner necessary to effect the intention of the parties that the Company be treated, for federal income tax purposes, as a disregarded entity that is not separate from the Member pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-1 et seq. and that the Company be accorded such treatment until its dissolution pursuant to Article IX hereof and shall take all actions, and shall refrain from taking any action, required by the Code or Treasury Regulations thereunder in order to maintain such status of the Company. In addition, for federal income tax purposes, the Company may not claim any credit on, or make any deduction from the principal or premium, if any, or interest payable in respect of, the Bonds or any Additional Series (other than amounts properly withheld from such payments under the Code or other tax laws) or assert any claim against any present or former Bondholder, or any present or former holder of an Additional Series, by reason of the payment of the taxes levied or assessed upon any part of the Collateral.

SECTION 3.03 Books of Account. At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained full, true, complete and correct books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, using the fiscal year and taxable year of the Member. In addition, the Company shall keep all records required to be kept pursuant to the LLC Act.

SECTION 3.04 Access to Accounting Records. All books and records of the Company shall be maintained at any office of the Company or at the Company’s principal place of business, and the Member, and its duly authorized representative, shall have access to them at such office of the Company and the right to inspect and copy them at reasonable times.

SECTION 3.05 Annual Tax Information. The Managers shall cause the Company to deliver to the Member all information necessary for the preparation of the Member’s federal income tax return.

SECTION 3.06 Internal Revenue Service Communications. The Member shall communicate and negotiate with the Internal Revenue Service on any federal tax matter on behalf of the Member and the Company.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBER

SECTION 4.01 Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the LLC Act, all powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be controlled by, the Member pursuant to Section 4.04. The Member may delegate

 

13


any or all such powers to the Managers. Without prejudice to such general powers, but subject to the same limitations, it is hereby expressly declared that the Member shall have the following powers:

(a) To select and remove the Managers, other than the Independent Manager(s) selected and appointed by the Commission, and all officers and agents of the Company, prescribe such powers and duties for them as may be consistent with the LLC Act and other applicable law and this Agreement, fix their compensation, and require from them security for faithful service; provided, that, except as provided in Section 7.06, at all times when any Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding and the Indenture (or any other indenture pursuant to which any Additional Series is issued) remains in full force and effect (and otherwise in accordance with the Indenture and any such other indenture) the Company shall have at least two Independent Managers. Prior to issuance of any Bonds, the Member shall appoint one Independent Manager and the Commission shall appoint one Independent Manager. An “Independent Manager” means an individual who (1) has prior experience as an independent director, independent manager or independent member for special purpose entities, (2) is employed by a nationally-recognized company that provides professional independent managers or independent directors and other corporate services in the ordinary course of its business, (3) is duly appointed as an Independent Manager and (4) is not and has not been for at least five years from the date of his or her or its appointment, and while serving as an Independent Manager, will not be, any of the following:

(i) a member, partner, equityholder, manager, director, officer or employee of the Company, the Member or any of their respective equityholders or Affiliates, other than as an independent director, independent manager or special member for a special purpose entity; provided, that the indirect or beneficial ownership of stock of the Member or its Affiliates through a mutual fund or similar diversified investment vehicle with respect to which the owner does not have discretion or control over the investments held by such diversified investment vehicle shall not preclude such owner from being an Independent Manager;

(ii) a creditor, supplier or service provider (including provider of professional services) to the Company, the Member or any of their respective equityholders or Affiliates (other than a nationally-recognized company that routinely provides professional independent managers or independent directors and other corporate services to the Company, the Member or any of its Affiliates in the ordinary course of its business);

(iii) a family member of any such member, partner, equityholder, manager, director, officer, employee, creditor, supplier or service provider; or

(iv) a Person that controls (whether directly, indirectly or otherwise) any of the Persons described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above.

A natural person who otherwise satisfies the foregoing definition and satisfies subparagraph (i) by reason of being the independent manager or independent director of a “special purpose entity” affiliated with the Company shall be qualified to serve as an Independent Manager of the Company, provided that the fees that such individual earns from serving as an independent manager or independent director of Affiliates of the Company in any given year constitute in the aggregate less than five percent (5%) of such individual’s annual income for that year. For

 

14


purposes of this paragraph, a “special purpose entity” is an entity, whose organizational documents contain restrictions on its activities and impose requirements intended to preserve such entity’s separateness that are substantially similar to the Special Purpose Provisions (as defined herein) of this Agreement.

The Company shall pay each Independent Manager annual fees year (the “Independent Manager Fee”) determined in accordance with this Agreement, which Independent Manager Fee shall initially be $1,500 per year. Such fees shall be determined without regard to the income of the Company, shall not be deemed to constitute distributions to the recipient of any profit, loss or capital of the Company and shall be considered a fixed Operating Expense of the Company subject to the limitations on such expenses set forth in the Financing Order. Each Manager, including each Independent Manager, is hereby deemed to be a “manager” within the meaning 18-101(12) of the LLC Act.

Promptly following any resignation or replacement of any Independent Manager, the Member shall give written notice to each applicable Rating Agency, the Indenture Trustee, and the Commission of any such resignation or replacement.

(b) Subject to Sections 1.07 and 1.08 and Article VII hereof, to conduct, manage and control the affairs and business of the Company, and to make such rules and regulations therefor consistent with the LLC Act and other applicable law and this Agreement.

(c) To change the registered agent and office of the Company in Delaware from one location to another; to fix and locate from time to time one or more other offices of the Company; and to designate any place within or outside of the State of Delaware for the conduct of the business of the Company.

SECTION 4.02 Compensation of Member. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall have authority to reimburse the Member for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Member in connection with its service to the Company. It is understood that the compensation paid to the Member under the provisions of this Section 4.02 shall be determined without regard to the income of the Company, shall not be deemed to constitute distributions to the recipient of any profit, loss or capital of the Company and shall be considered as a fixed Operating Expense of the Company subject to the limitations on such expenses set forth in the Financing Order.

SECTION 4.03 Other Ventures. Notwithstanding any duties (including fiduciary duties) otherwise existing at law or in equity, it is expressly agreed that the Member, the Managers and any Affiliates, officers, directors, managers, stockholders, partners or employees of the Member, may engage in other business ventures of any nature and description, whether or not in competition with the Company, independently or with others, and the Company shall not have any rights in and to any independent venture or activity or the income or profits derived therefrom.

SECTION 4.04 Actions by the Member. All actions of the Member may be taken by written resolution of the Member which shall be signed on behalf of the Member by an authorized officer of the Member and filed with the records of the Company.

 

15


ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

SECTION 5.01 Designation; Term; Qualifications.

(a) Officers. The Managers may, from time to time, designate one or more Persons to be officers of the Company. Any officer so designated shall have such title and authority and perform such duties as the Managers may, from time to time, delegate to them. Each officer shall hold office for the term for which such officer is designated and until its successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until its death, resignation or removal as provided in this Agreement. Any Person may hold any number of offices. No officer need be a Manager, the Member, a Delaware resident, or a United States citizen. The Member hereby appoints the Persons identified on Schedule C to be the officers of the Company.

(b) President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company, shall preside at all meetings of the Managers, shall be responsible for the general and active management of the business of the Company and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Managers are carried into effect. The President or any other officer authorized by the President or the Managers may execute all contracts, except: (i) where required or permitted by law or this Agreement to be otherwise signed and executed, including Section 1.08; and (ii) where signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Managers to some other officer or agent of the Company.

(c) Vice President. In the absence of the President or in the event of the President’s inability to act, the Vice President, if any (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by the Managers, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election), shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Vice Presidents, if any, shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Managers may from time to time prescribe.

(d) Secretary and Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall be responsible for filing legal documents and maintaining records for the Company. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Managers and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Company and of the Managers in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. The Secretary shall give, or shall cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the Member, if any, and special meetings of the Managers, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Managers or the President, under whose supervision the Secretary shall serve. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Managers (or if there be no such determination, then in order of their designation), shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary’s inability to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Managers may from time to time prescribe.

 

16


(e) Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the Company funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Manager. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Manager, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and to the Managers, at its regular meetings or when the Managers so require, an account of all of the Treasurer’s transactions and of the financial condition of the Company. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Managers (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their designation), shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer’s inability to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Managers may from time to time prescribe.

(f) Officers as Agents. The officers of the Company, to the extent their powers as set forth in this Agreement or otherwise vested in them by action of the Managers are not inconsistent with this Agreement, are agents of the Company for the purpose of the Company’s business and, subject to Section 1.08, the actions of the officers taken in accordance with such powers shall bind the Company.

(g) Duties of Managers and Officers. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, each Manager (other than the Independent Managers) and officer of the Company shall have a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care similar to that of directors and officers of business corporations organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 5.02 Removal and Resignation. Any officer of the Company may be removed as such, with or without cause, by the Managers at any time. Any officer of the Company may resign as such at any time upon written notice to the Company. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time is specified therein, at the time of its receipt by the Managers.

SECTION 5.03 Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company may be filled by the Managers.

SECTION 5.04 Compensation. The compensation, if any, of the officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Managers. Such compensation shall be determined without regard to the income of the Company, shall not be deemed to constitute distributions to the recipient of any profit, loss or capital of the Company and shall be considered a fixed Operating Expense of the Company subject to the limitations on such expenses set forth in the Financing Order.

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST

SECTION 6.01 General. “Membership Interest” means the limited liability company interest of the Member in the Company. The Membership Interest constitutes personal

 

17


property and, subject to Section 6.06, shall be freely transferable and assignable in whole but not in part upon registration of such transfer and assignment on the books of the Company in accordance with the procedures established for such purpose by the Managers of the Company.

SECTION 6.02 Distributions. The Member shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Company legally available therefor, distributions payable in cash in such amounts, if any, as the Managers shall declare, subject to the priority of payment provisions in the Indenture and in any additional indenture with respect to an Additional Series. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to the Member on account of its interest in the Company if such distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the LLC Act, the Act, the Financing Order, any Subsequent Financing Order (if applicable) or any other applicable law or any Basic Document or any Additional Documents (if applicable).

SECTION 6.03 Rights on Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

(a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Member shall be entitled to all remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to the Member after satisfaction (whether by payment or reasonable provision for payment) of all liabilities, debts and obligations of the Company.

(b) Neither the sale of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Company, nor the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with another Person or other entity, shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purpose of this Section 6.03.

SECTION 6.04 Redemption. The Membership Interest shall not be redeemable.

SECTION 6.05 Voting Rights. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Member shall have the sole right to vote on all matters as to which members of a limited liability company shall be entitled to vote pursuant to the LLC Act and other applicable law.

SECTION 6.06 Transfer of Membership Interests.

(a) The Member may transfer its Membership Interest, in whole but not in part, but the transferee shall not be admitted as a Member except in accordance with Section 6.07. Until the transferee is admitted as a Member, the Member shall continue to be the sole member of the Company (subject to Section 1.02) and to be entitled to exercise any rights or powers of a Member of the Company with respect to the Membership Interest transferred.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported transfer of any Membership Interest in violation of the provisions of this Agreement shall be wholly void and shall not effectuate the transfer contemplated thereby. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary and to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Member may not transfer any Membership Interest in violation of any provision of this Agreement or in violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws.

 

18


SECTION 6.07 Admission of Transferee as Member.

(a) A transferee of a Membership Interest desiring to be admitted as a Member must execute a counterpart of, or an agreement adopting, this Agreement and, except as permitted by paragraph (b) below, shall not be admitted without unanimous affirmative vote of the Managers, which vote must include the affirmative vote of each Independent Manager. Upon admission of the transferee as a Member, the transferee shall have the rights, powers and duties and shall be subject to the restrictions and liabilities of the Member under this Agreement and the LLC Act. The transferee shall also be liable, to the extent of the Membership Interest transferred, for the unfulfilled obligations, if any, of the transferor Member to make capital contributions to the Company, but shall not be obligated for liabilities unknown to the transferee at the time such transferee was admitted as a Member and that could not be ascertained from this Agreement. Except as set forth in paragraph (b) below, whether or not the transferee of a Membership Interest becomes a Member, the Member transferring the Membership Interest is not released from any liability to the Company under this Agreement or the LLC Act.

(b) The approval of the Managers, including each Independent Manager, shall not be required for the transfer of the Membership Interest from the Member to any successor pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Sale Agreement or the admission of such Person as a Member. Once the transferee of a Membership Interest pursuant to this paragraph (b) becomes a Member, the prior Member shall cease to be a member of the Company and shall be released from any liability to the Company under this Agreement and the LLC Act.

ARTICLE VII

MANAGERS

SECTION 7.01 Managers.

(a) Subject to Sections 1.07 and 1.08, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of two or more Managers designated by the Member, one Independent Manager designated by the Member and one Independent Manager designated by the Commission. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Member may determine at any time in its sole and absolute discretion the number of Managers. Subject in all cases to the terms of this Agreement, the authorized number of Managers may be increased or decreased by the Member at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, upon notice to all Managers; provided, that, except as provided in Section 7.06, from and after the issuance of the Bonds, the Company shall have at least two Independent Managers at all times when any Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding and the Indenture (or any other indenture pursuant to which any Additional Series is issued) remains in full force and effect (and otherwise in accordance with the Indenture and any such other indenture). The initial number of Managers shall be five, two of which shall be Independent Managers. Each Manager designated by the Member shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified or until such Manager’s earlier death, resignation, expulsion or removal. Each Manager shall execute and deliver the Management Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Managers need not be a Member. The initial Managers are listed on Schedule B hereto.

 

19


(b) Designation of Managers.

(i) Each Manager, other than one Independent Manager, shall be designated by the Member and shall hold office for the term for which designated and until a successor has been designated.

(ii) At all times, one of the Independent Managers shall have been selected by and shall be subject to removal by the Commission. Such Independent Manager shall be compensated in accordance with the terms of the Financing Order and any applicable Subsequent Financing Order. The Company shall submit to the Commission by delivering to the Commission’s Executive Director, referencing Case No. 2023-00159, a list of names of three Persons ranked in order of Company preference proposed as candidates for the Independent Manager to be selected by the Commission, and the Commission shall either affirmatively select a Person from such list or disapprove the selection of all such Persons as an Independent Manager within fifteen days. If the Commission does not approve or disapprove such proposal within fifteen days, the Commission shall be deemed to have selected the highest Company-ranked candidate. If the Commission disapproves all such Persons proposed, the Commission may select any individual the Commission deems appropriate, so long as such individual qualifies as an “Independent Manager” pursuant to the definition herein; provided that if Commission fails to select a qualified individual as an Independent Manager within 30 days after disapproval of all three candidates proposed by the Company, then the highest Company-ranked candidate shall be deemed to have been selected by the Commission.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.02 with respect to an Independent Manager, the Managers shall be obliged to devote only as much of their time to the Company’s business as shall be reasonably required in light of the Company’s business and objectives. A Manager shall perform his or her duties as a Manager in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Company, and with such care as an ordinarily prudent Person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Managers shall act by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Managers. Each Manager shall have the authority to sign duly authorized agreements and other instruments on behalf of the Company without the joinder of any other Manager.

(e) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, any action may be taken by the Managers without a meeting and without prior notice if authorized by the written consent of a majority of the Managers (or such greater number as is required by this Agreement), which written consent shall be filed with the records of the Company.

(f) Every Manager is an agent of the Company for the purpose of its business, and the act of every Manager, including the execution in the Company name of any instrument for carrying on the business of the Company, binds the Company, unless such act is in contravention of this Agreement or unless the Manager so acting otherwise lacks the authority to act for the Company and the Person with whom he or she is dealing has knowledge of the fact that he or she has no such authority.

 

20


(g) To the extent permitted by law, the Managers shall not be personally liable for the Company’s debts, obligations or liabilities.

SECTION 7.02 Powers of the Managers.

(a) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Managers shall have the right and authority to take all actions which the Managers deem incidental, necessary, suitable or convenient for the day-to-day management and conduct of the Company’s business.

(b) Each Independent Manager may not delegate their duties, authorities or responsibilities hereunder. If any Independent Manager resigns, dies or becomes incapacitated, or such position is otherwise vacant, no action requiring the unanimous affirmative vote of the Managers shall be taken until a successor Independent Manager is appointed by the Member and qualifies and approves such action.

(c) To the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 18-1101(c) of the LLC Act, and notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, the Independent Managers shall consider only the interests of the Company, including its creditors, in acting or otherwise voting on the matters referred to in Section 1.08. Except for duties to the Company as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence (including duties to the Member and the Company’s creditors solely to the extent of their respective economic interests in the Company but excluding (i) all other interests of the Member, (ii) the interests of other Affiliates of the Company, and (iii) the interests of any group of Affiliates of which the Company is a part), the Independent Managers shall not have any fiduciary duties to the Member, any Manager or any other Person bound by this Agreement; provided, however, the foregoing shall not eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. To the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 18-1101(e) of the LLC Act, an Independent Manager shall not be liable to the Company, the Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement for breach of contract or breach of duties (including fiduciary duties), unless the Independent Manager acted in bad faith or engaged in willful misconduct.

(d) No Independent Manager shall at any time serve as trustee in bankruptcy for any Affiliate of the Company.

(e) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Managers may exercise all powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not prohibited by the LLC Act, other applicable law or this Agreement directed or required to be exercised or done by the Member. All duly authorized instruments, contracts, agreements and documents providing for the acquisition or disposition of property of the Company shall be valid and binding on the Company if executed by one or more of the Managers.

(f) Notwithstanding the terms of Section 7.01, 7.07 or 7.09 or any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (x) no meeting or vote with respect to any action described in clauses (b), (c) or (g) of Section 1.08 or any amendment to any of the Special Purpose Provisions (as hereinafter defined) shall be conducted unless each Independent Manager is present and (y) neither the Company nor the Member, any Manager or any officer on behalf of the Company shall (i) take any action described in clauses (b), (c) or (g) of Section 1.08 unless each

 

21


Independent Manager has consented thereto or (ii) adopt any amendment to any of the Special Purpose Provisions unless each Independent Manager has consented thereto. The vote or consent of an Independent Manager with respect to any such action or amendment shall not be dictated by the Member or any other Manager or officer of the Company.

SECTION 7.03 Compensation. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may reimburse any Manager, directly or indirectly, for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Manager in connection with its services rendered to the Company. Such compensation shall be determined by the Managers without regard to the income of the Company, shall not be deemed to constitute distributions to the recipient of any profit, loss or capital of the Company and shall be considered a fixed Operating Expense of the Company subject to the limitations on such expenses set forth in the Financing Order.

SECTION 7.04 Removal of Managers.

(a) Subject to Section 4.01, the Member may remove (i) any Manager, other than an Independent Manager, with or without cause at any time and (ii) the Independent Manager appointed by the Member with Cause at any time. The Commission, in its sole determination, shall have the right to remove the Independent Manager appointed by the Commission, with Cause at any time.

(b) Subject to Sections 4.01 and 7.05, any removal of a Manager shall become effective on such date as may be specified by the Member and in a notice delivered to any remaining Managers or the Manager designated to replace the removed Manager (except that it shall not be effective on a date earlier than the date such notice is delivered to the remaining Managers or the Manager designated to replace the removed Manager). Should a Manager be removed who is also the Member, the Member shall continue to participate in the Company as the Member and receive its share of the Company’s income, gains, losses, deductions and credits pursuant to this Agreement.

SECTION 7.05 Resignation of Manager. A Manager other than an Independent Manager may resign as a Manager at any time by thirty (30) days’ prior notice to the Member. An Independent Manager may not withdraw or resign as a Manager of the Company without the consent of the Member. The Independent Manager appointed by the Commission may not withdraw or resign without the consent of the Commission. No resignation or removal of an Independent Manager, and no appointment of a successor Independent Manager, shall be effective until such successor (i) shall have accepted his or her appointment as an Independent Manager by a written instrument, which may be a counterpart signature page to the Management Agreement, and (ii) shall have executed a counterpart to this Agreement.

SECTION 7.06 Vacancies. Subject to Section 4.01 and Section 7.01, any vacancies among the Managers may be filled by the Member (or in the case of the Independent Manager appointed by the Commission, by the Commission in accordance with Section 7.01(b)(ii)). In the event of a vacancy in the position of an Independent Manager, the Member shall, as soon as practicable, appoint a successor Independent Manager using the process provided in Section 7.01(b) above. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Independent Manager shall be removed or replaced unless the Company or the

 

22


Commission, as applicable, provides the Indenture Trustee with no less than two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice of (a) any proposed removal of such Independent Manager, and (b) the identity of the proposed replacement Independent Manager, together with a certification that such replacement satisfies the requirements for an Independent Manager set forth in this Agreement.

SECTION 7.07 Meetings of the Managers. The Managers may hold meetings, both regular and special, within or outside the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Managers may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Managers. Special meetings of the Managers may be called by the President on not less than one day’s notice to each Manager by telephone, facsimile, mail, email or any other means of communication, and special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary in like manner and with like notice upon the written request of any one or more of the Managers.

SECTION 7.08 Electronic Communications. The Managers, or any committee designated by the Managers, may participate in meetings of the Managers, or any committee, by means of telephone or video conference or similar communications equipment that allows all Persons participating in the meeting to hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in Person at the meeting. If all the participants are participating by telephone or video conference or similar communications equipment, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the principal place of business of the Company.

SECTION 7.09 Committees of Managers.

(a) The Managers may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Managers, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Managers. The Managers may designate one or more Managers as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.

(b) In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another Manager to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

(c) Any such committee, to the extent provided in a resolution of the Managers, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Managers in the management of the business and affairs of the Company. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Managers. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Managers when required.

SECTION 7.10 Limitations on Independent Managers. All right, power and authority of each Independent Manager shall be limited to the extent necessary to exercise those rights and perform those duties specifically set forth in this Agreement.

 

23


ARTICLE VIII

EXPENSES

SECTION 8.01 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Basic Documents or the Additional Documents, the Company shall be responsible for all expenses and the allocation thereof including without limitation:

(a) all expenses incurred by the Member or its Affiliates in organizing the Company;

(b) all expenses related to the business of the Company and all routine administrative expenses of the Company, including the maintenance of books and records of the Company, the preparation and dispatch to the Member of checks, financial reports, tax returns and notices required pursuant to this Agreement;

(c) all expenses incurred in connection with any litigation or arbitration involving the Company (including the cost of any investigation and preparation) and the amount of any judgment or settlement paid in connection therewith;

(d) all expenses for indemnity or contribution payable by the Company to any Person;

(e) all expenses incurred in connection with the collection of amounts due to the Company from any Person;

(f) all expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of amendments to this Agreement;

(g) all expenses incurred in connection with the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company; and

(h) all expenses otherwise allocated in good faith to the Company by the Managers.

ARTICLE IX

PERPETUAL EXISTENCE; DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND WINDING-UP

SECTION 9.01 Existence.

(a) The Company shall have a perpetual existence, unless dissolved in accordance with this Agreement. So long as any of the Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding, the Member shall not be entitled to consent to the dissolution of the Company.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy of the Member or Special Member will not cause such Member or Special Member, respectively, to cease to be a member of the Company, and upon the occurrence of such an event, the business

 

24


of the Company shall continue without dissolution. For purposes of this Section 9.01(b), “Bankruptcy” means, with respect to any Person (A) if such Person (i) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (ii) files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, (iii) is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against it an order for relief, in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for itself any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation, (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any proceeding of this nature, or (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Person or of all or any substantial part of its properties, or (B) if 120 days after the commencement of any proceeding against the Person seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation, the proceeding has not been dismissed or if within 90 days after the appointment without such Person’s consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of its properties, the appointment is not vacated or stayed, or within 90 days after the expiration of any such stay, the appointment is not vacated. The foregoing definition of “Bankruptcy” is intended to replace and shall supersede and replace the definition of “Bankruptcy” set forth in Sections 18-101(1) and 18-304 of the LLC Act. Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the last remaining member of the Company to cease to be a member of the Company or that causes the Member to cease to be a member of the Company (other than a continuation of the Company without dissolution upon an assignment by the Member of all of its limited liability company interest in the Company and the admission of the transferee pursuant to Sections 6.06 and 6.07), to the fullest extent permitted by law, the personal representative of such member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of the last remaining member of the Company or the Member in the Company.

SECTION 9.02 Dissolution. The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of the earliest of the following events:

(a) subject to Section 1.08, the election to dissolve the Company made in writing by the Member and each Manager, including each Independent Manager, (i) as permitted under the Basic Documents and, if applicable, the Additional Documents and (ii) after the discharge in full of the Bonds and each Additional Series;

(b) the termination of the legal existence of the last remaining member of the Company or the occurrence of any event that causes the last remaining member of the Company to cease to be a member of the Company unless the business of the Company is continued without dissolution in a manner permitted by the LLC Act or this Agreement; or

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company pursuant to Section 18-802 of the LLC Act.

SECTION 9.03 Accounting. In the event of the dissolution, liquidation and winding-up of the Company, a proper accounting shall be made of the Capital Account of the Member and of the net income or net loss of the Company from the date of the last previous accounting to the date of dissolution.

 

25


SECTION 9.04 Certificate of Cancellation. As soon as possible following the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 9.02 and the completion of the winding up of the Company, the Person winding up the business and affairs of the Company, as an authorized person, shall cause to be executed a Certificate of Cancellation of the Certificate of Formation and file the Certificate of Cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as required by the LLC Act.

SECTION 9.05 Winding Up. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 9.02, the Company shall continue solely for the purpose of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its creditors. The Member, or if there is no Member, the Managers, shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and liquidation of the Company, shall take full account of the liabilities of the Company and its assets, shall either cause its assets to be sold or distributed, and if sold as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair market value thereof, shall cause the proceeds therefrom, to the extent sufficient therefor, to be applied and distributed as provided in Section 9.06.

SECTION 9.06 Order of Payment of Liabilities Upon Dissolution. After determining that all debts and liabilities of the Company, including all contingent, conditional or unmatured liabilities of the Company, in the process of winding-up, including, without limitation, debts and liabilities to the Member in the event it is a creditor of the Company to the extent otherwise permitted by law, have been paid or adequately provided for, the remaining assets shall be distributed in cash or in kind to the Member.

SECTION 9.07 Limitations on Payments Made in Dissolution. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the Member shall only be entitled to look solely to the assets of the Company for the return of its positive Capital Account balance and shall have no recourse for its Capital Contribution and/or share of net income (upon dissolution or otherwise) against any Manager.

SECTION 9.08 Limitation on Liability. Except as otherwise provided by the LLC Act and except as otherwise characterized for tax and financial reporting purposes, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Member or Manager shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Member or a Manager.

ARTICLE X

INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 10.01 Indemnity. Subject to the provisions of Section 10.04 hereof, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify any Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the Company, by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Manager, Member, officer,

 

26


controlling Person, legal representative or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a member, manager, director, officer, partner, shareholder, controlling Person, legal representative or agent of another limited liability company, partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if such Person acted in good faith and in a manner which such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such Person’s conduct was unlawful; provided that such Person shall not be entitled to indemnification if such judgment, penalty, fine or other expense was directly caused by such Person’s fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct or, in the case of an Independent Manager, bad faith or willful misconduct.

SECTION 10.02 Indemnity for Actions By or In the Right of the Company. Subject to the provisions of Section 10.04 hereof, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify any Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the rights of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member, Manager, officer, controlling Person, legal representative or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a member, manager, director, officer, partner, shareholder, controlling Person, legal representative or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with the defense or settlement of the actions or suit if such Person acted in good faith and in a manner which such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided that such Person shall not be entitled to indemnification if such judgment, penalty, fine or other expense was directly caused by such Person’s fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct or, in the case of an Independent Manager, bad faith or willful misconduct. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such Person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the Company or for amounts paid in settlement to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

SECTION 10.03 Indemnity If Successful. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify any Person who is or was a Manager, Member, officer, controlling Person, legal representative or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a member, manager, director, officer, partner, shareholder, controlling Person, legal representative or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 10.01 and 10.02 or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, to the extent that such Person has been successful on the merits.

SECTION 10.04 Expenses. Any indemnification under Sections 10.01 and 10.02, as well as the advance payment of expenses permitted under Section 10.05 unless ordered by a court or advanced pursuant to Section 10.05 below, must be made by the Company only as

 

27


authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Manager, Member, officer, controlling Person, legal representative or agent is proper in the circumstances. The determination must be made:

(a) by the Member if the Member was not a party to the act, suit or proceeding; or

(b) if the Member was a party to the act, suit or proceeding by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.

SECTION 10.05 Advance Payment of Expenses. The expenses of each Person who is or was a Manager, Member, officer, controlling Person, legal representative or agent, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a member, manager, director, officer, partner, shareholder, controlling Person, legal representative or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Company as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Person to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. The provisions of this Section 10.05 shall not affect any rights to advancement of expenses to which personnel other than the Member or the Managers (other than each Independent Manager) may be entitled under any contract or otherwise by law.

SECTION 10.06 Other Arrangements Not Excluded. The indemnification and advancement of expenses authorized in or ordered by a court pursuant to this Article X:

(a) does not exclude any other rights to which a Person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, decision of the Member or otherwise, for either an action of any Person who is or was a Manager, Member, officer, controlling Person, legal representative or agent, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a member, manager, director, officer, partner, shareholder, controlling Person, legal representative or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in the official capacity of such Person or an action in another capacity while holding such position, except that indemnification and advancement, unless ordered by a court pursuant to Section 10.05 above, may not be made to or on behalf of such Person if a final adjudication established that its acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and were material to the cause of action; and

(b) continues for a Person who has ceased to be a Member, Manager, officer, legal representative or agent and inures to the benefit of the successors, heirs, executors and administrators of such a Person.

 

28


ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 11.01 No Bankruptcy Petition; Dissolution.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Member, each Special Member and each Manager hereby covenant and agree (or shall be deemed to have hereby covenanted and agreed) that, prior to the date which is one year and one day after the termination of the Indenture, or the termination of any other indenture pursuant to which any Additional Series is issued, and the payment in full of the Bonds and each Additional Series and any other amounts owed under the Indenture or other indenture pursuant to which any Additional Series is issued, it will not acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Company to invoke the process of any court or Governmental Authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining an involuntary case against the Company under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 11.01 shall constitute a waiver of any right to indemnification, reimbursement or other payment from the Company pursuant to this Agreement. This Section 11.01 is not intended to apply to the filing of a voluntary bankruptcy petition on behalf of the Company which is governed by Section 1.08 of this Agreement.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Member, each Special Member and each Manager hereby covenants and agrees (or shall be deemed to have hereby covenanted and agreed) that, until the termination of the Indenture, or other termination of any other indenture pursuant to which any Additional Series is issued, and the payment in full of the Bonds and each Additional Series and any other amounts owed under the Indenture or other indenture pursuant to which any Additional Series is issued, the Member, such Special Member and such Manager will not consent to, or make application for, or institute or maintain any action for, the dissolution of the Company under Section 18-801 or 18-802 of the LLC Act or otherwise.

(c) In the event that the Member, any Special Member or any Manager takes action in violation of this Section 11.01, the Company agrees that it shall file an answer with the court or otherwise properly contest the taking of such action and raise the defense that the Member, the Special Member or Manager, as the case may be, has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be estopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as its counsel advises that it may assert.

(d) The provisions of this Section 11.01 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, withdrawal or removal of the Member, any Special Member or any Manager. Nothing herein contained shall preclude participation by the Member, any Special Member or a Manager in assertion or defense of its claims in any such proceeding involving the Company.

 

29


SECTION 11.02 Amendments.

(a) The power to alter, amend or repeal this Agreement shall be only on the written consent of the Member and, after the issuance of any Bonds, subject to the satisfaction of the KPSC Condition described in Section 11.03, provided, that:

(i) the Company shall not alter, amend or repeal any provision of Sections 1.02(b) and (c), 1.05, 1.07, 1.08, 3.01(b), 3.02, 4.01, 6.06, 6.07, 7.01, 7.02, 7.04, 7.05, 7.06, 7.10, 9.01, 9.02, 11.02, 11.03 or 11.08 of this Agreement or the definition of “Independent Manager” contained herein or the requirement that at all times after the issuance of the Bonds the Company have at least two Independent Managers when any Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding and the Indenture (or any other indenture pursuant to which any Additional Series is issued) remains in full force and effect (and otherwise in accordance with the Indenture and any such other indenture) (collectively, the “Special Purpose Provisions”) without, in each case, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Managers, which vote must include the affirmative vote of each Independent Manager; and

(ii) the Company may amend Sections 4.01 (with respect to the Independent Manager Fee described in subsection (a)), 4.02, 5.04, and 7.03 of this Agreement.

So long as any of the Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding, the Company and the Member shall give written notice to each applicable Rating Agency, each Trustee, and the Commission of any amendment to this Agreement. The effectiveness of any amendment of the Special Purpose Provisions shall be subject to the Rating Agency Condition (other than an amendment which is necessary: (i) to cure any ambiguity or (ii) to correct or supplement any such provision in a manner consistent with the intent of this Agreement).

(b) The Company’s power to alter or amend the Certificate of Formation shall be vested in the Member. Upon obtaining the approval of any amendment, supplement or restatement as to the Certificate of Formation, the Member on behalf of the Company shall cause a Certificate of Amendment or Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation to be prepared, executed and filed in accordance with the LLC Act.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, including Sections 11.02(a) and (b), unless and until any Bonds or Additional Series are Outstanding, the Member may, without the need for any consent or action of, or notice to, any other Person, including any Manager, any officer, any Trustee or any Rating Agency, alter, amend or repeal this Agreement in any manner.

SECTION 11.03 KPSC Condition. Except as expressly permitted in Section 11.02, after the issuance of any Bonds, no alteration, amendment or repeal of the Agreement shall be effective, except upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent in this Section 11.03.

(a) At least 15 days prior to the effectiveness of any such alteration, amendment or repeal, the Member may submit the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal to the Commission by delivering to the Commission’s Executive Director a written request for consent to the same, which request shall contain:

 

30


(i) a reference to Case No. 2023-00159;

(ii) a statement as to the possible effect of the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal on Ongoing Financing Costs;

(iii) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal has been approved by all Persons required hereunder to approve the same; and

(iv) a statement identifying the Person to whom the Commission or its staff is to address its consent to the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal, as the case may be, or to request additional time.

(b) If the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, within 15 days (subject to extension as provided in clause (c)) of receiving a notification complying with subparagraph (a), shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (a)(iv) a written statement that the Commission might object to the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal, then, subject to clause (d) below, such proposed alteration, amendment or repeal shall not be effective unless and until either (A) the Commission subsequently delivers a written statement that it does not object to such proposed amendment or modification or (B) the Commission is conclusively deemed to not have any objection pursuant to clause (d) below.

(c) If the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, within 15 days of receiving a notification complying with subparagraph (a), shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (a)(iv) a written statement requesting an additional amount of time not to exceed 30 days in which to consider such proposed amendment or modification, then such proposed amendment or modification shall not be effective if, within such extended period, the Commission shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (a)(iv) a written statement as described in subparagraph (b), unless and until either (A) the Commission subsequently delivers a written statement that it does not object to such proposed amendment or modification or (B) the Commission is conclusively deemed to not have any objection pursuant to clause (d) below.

(d) If (A) the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, has not delivered written notice that the Commission might object to such proposed amendment or modification within the time periods described in subparagraphs (b) or (c), whichever is applicable, or (B) the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director has delivered such written notice but does not within 45 days of the delivery of the notification in (a) above, provide subsequent written notice confirming that it does in fact object and the reasons therefore or advise that he or she has initiated a proceeding to determine what action it might take with respect to the matter, then the Commission shall be conclusively deemed not to have any objection to the proposed amendment or modification and such amendment or modification may subsequently become effective.

(e) Following the delivery of a notice to the Commission by the Member under Section 11.03(a) above, the Member shall have the right at any time to withdraw from the Commission further consideration of any notification of a proposed amendment or modification. Such withdrawal shall be evidenced by the prompt written notice thereof by the Member to the Commission, each Trustee, each Independent Manager and the Servicer.

 

31


SECTION 11.04 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.

SECTION 11.05 Headings. The headings of the various Articles and Sections herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 11.06 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision (if any) or the remaining provisions hereof (unless such construction shall be unreasonable), and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 11.07 Assigns. Each and all of the covenants, terms, provisions and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Member, and its permitted successors and assigns.

SECTION 11.08 Enforcement by Each Independent Manager and the Commission. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Member agrees that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Member, and is enforceable against the Member by each Independent Manager in accordance with its terms and by the Commission (for the benefit of the Customers).

SECTION 11.09 Waiver of Partition; Nature of Interest. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Member and the Special Members hereby irrevocably waives any right or power that such Person might have to cause the Company or any of its assets to be partitioned, to cause the appointment of a receiver for all or any portion of the assets of the Company, to compel any sale of all or any portion of the assets of the Company pursuant to any applicable law or to file a complaint or to institute any proceeding at law or in equity to cause the dissolution, liquidation, winding up or termination of the Company. The Member shall not have any interest in any specific assets of the Company, and the Member shall not have the status of a creditor with respect to any distribution pursuant to this Agreement.

SECTION 11.10 Benefits of Agreement; No Third-Party Rights. Except for Trustees with respect to the Special Purpose Provisions, Persons entitled to indemnification hereunder and the Commission (for the benefit of the Customers), none of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditor of the Company or by any creditor of the Member or Special Member. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create any right in any Person (other than the Trustees with respect to the Special Purpose Provisions and Persons entitled to indemnification hereunder) not a party hereto, and this Agreement shall not be construed in any respect to be a contract in whole or in part for the benefit of any third Person.

 

32


SECTION 11.11 Notices to Indenture Trustee and Rating Agencies. Any notice or other communication required to be given hereunder to the Indenture Trustee, Additional Trustee or the Rating Agencies shall be in writing and addressed to the notice address specified in the Indenture for the Indenture Trustee, the corresponding Additional Documents for such Additional Trustee or the applicable Rating Agency, as applicable.

SECTION 11.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original of this Agreement and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW)

 

33


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is hereby executed by the undersigned as the sole Member of the Company and is effective as of the date first written above.

 

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY

By:

 

/s/ Franz D. Messner

 

Name: Franz D. Messner

 

Title: Assistant Treasurer

Signature Page to

A&R Limited Liability Company Agreement


ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:

 

Trevor I. Mihalik,

as Manager

/s/ Trevor I. Mihalik

Matthew D. Fransen,

as Manager

/s/ Matthew D. Fransen

Franz D. Messner,

as Manager

/s/ Franz D. Messner

Sean Emerick,

as Independent Manager

/s/ Sean Emerick

William Bleier,

as Independent Manager

/s/ William Bleier

Signature Page to

A&R Limited Liability Company Agreement


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEMBER

 

MEMBER’S

NAME

  

CAPITAL

CONTRIBUTION

  

MEMBERSHIP

INTEREST

PERCENTAGE

  

CAPITAL

ACCOUNT

Kentucky Power Company    $100    100%    $100

SCHEDULE A

 

1


SCHEDULE B

INITIAL MANAGERS

Trevor I. Mihalik

Matthew D. Fransen

Franz D. Messner

Sean Emerick

William Bleier

SCHEDULE B

 

1


SCHEDULE C

INITIAL OFFICERS

 

Name    Office
Trevor I. Mihalik    President
Matthew D. Fransen    Vice President and Treasurer
Kate Sturgess    Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
Christen M. Blend    Secretary
Franz D. Messner    Assistant Treasurer
David C. House    Assistant Secretary

SCHEDULE C

 

1


EXHIBIT A

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

       , 20  

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

1645 Winchester Avenue

Ashland, Kentucky 41101

Attention: Vice President – Regulatory and Finance

Email: Treasury_Operations_AEP@aep.com

Re: Management Agreement — Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

Ladies and Gentlemen:

For good and valuable consideration, each of the undersigned Persons, who have been designated as managers of Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), in accordance with the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of May 6, 2025 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “LLC Agreement”), hereby agree as follows:

1.  Each of the undersigned accepts such Person’s rights and authority as a Manager under the LLC Agreement and agrees to perform and discharge such Person’s duties and obligations as a Manager under the LLC Agreement, and further agrees that such rights, authorities, duties and obligations under the LLC Agreement shall continue until such Person’s successor as a Manager is designated or until such Person’s resignation or removal as a Manager in accordance with the LLC Agreement. Each of the undersigned agrees and acknowledges that he or she has been designated as a “manager” of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

2.  Until one year and one day has passed since the date that the last obligation under the Basic Documents and Additional Documents, as applicable, was paid, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the undersigned agrees, solely in his or her capacity as a creditor of the Company on account of any indemnification or other payment owing to the undersigned by the Company, not to acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Company to invoke the process of any court or governmental authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining a case against the Company under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company.

3.  THIS MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

 

EXHIBIT A

1


Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the LLC Agreement.

This Management Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original of this Management Agreement and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW)

 

EXHIBIT A

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Management Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

[Manager Name]

 

[Manager Name]

 

[Manager Name]

 

[Member Appointed Independent Manager]

 

[Commission Appointed Independent Manager]

 

EXHIBIT A

3


APPENDIX A

DEFINITIONS

(See attached)

 

APPENDIX A

1


A. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

Act” means collectively, Chapter 278 of Title XXIV Public Utilities (KRS §§ 278.010, 278.670-.696) and Chapter 65 Counties, Cities, and Other Local Units of the act relating to investor-owned utilities (KRS § 65.114), as amended from time to time.

Additional Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 1.05(b) of this Agreement.

Additional Series” means any additional series of “securitized bonds” (as defined in the Act) issued by the Company after the Closing Date, either pursuant to remaining authority under the Financing Order, under a Subsequent Financing Order or otherwise as authorized or approved by the Commission.

Additional Trustee” means any indenture trustee under the Additional Documents for an Additional Series.

Administration Agreement” means the Administration Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Administrator and the Company, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Administration Fee” means the fee payable to the Administrator on each Payment Date rendered during the period from, but not including, the preceding Payment Date (or from the closing date specified in the Indenture in the case of the first Payment Date) to and including the current Payment Date, determined pursuant to the Administration Agreement.

Administrator” means Kentucky Power, as Administrator under the Administration Agreement, or any successor Administrator to the extent permitted under the Administration Agreement.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Agreement” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Bankruptcy” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01(b) of this Agreement.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.), as amended from time to time.

Basic Documents” means the Indenture, the Administration Agreement, the Sale Agreement and the Bill of Sale, the Certificate of Formation, this Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Series Supplement, the Letter of Representations, the Underwriting Agreement and all other documents and certificates delivered in connection therewith.

 

APPENDIX A

2


Bill of Sale” means the Bill of Sale, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Seller and the Company, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Bond Register” means the register maintained pursuant to the Indenture, providing for the registration of the Bonds and transfers and exchanges thereof.

Bond Registrar” means the registrar at any time of the Bond Register, appointed pursuant to the Indenture.

Bonds” means the “securitized bonds” authorized by the Financing Order and issued by the Company under the Indenture and Series Supplement on the Closing Date.

Book-Entry Bonds” means any Bonds issued in Book-Entry Form; provided, however, that after the occurrence of a condition whereupon book-entry registration and transfer are no longer permitted and Definitive Bonds are to be issued to the Holder of such Bonds, such Bonds shall no longer be “Book-Entry Bonds”.

Book-Entry Form” means, with respect to any Bond, that such Bond is not certificated and the ownership and transfers thereof shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in the Indenture and the Series Supplement pursuant to which such Bond was issued.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Ashland, Kentucky, New York, New York, or Columbus, Ohio are, or DTC or the Corporate Trust Office is, authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Cause” means, with respect to an Independent Manager, (i) acts or omissions by such Independent Manager that constitute willful disregard of, or willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence with respect to, such Independent Manager’s duties under or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) that such Independent Manager has engaged in or has been charged with or has been indicted or convicted for any crime or crimes of fraud or other acts constituting a crime under any law applicable to such Independent Manager, (iii) that such Independent Manager has breached its fiduciary duties of loyalty or care as and to the extent of such duties in accordance with the terms of the Company’s organizational documents, (iv) there is a material increase in the fees charged by such Independent Manager or a material change to such Independent Manager’s terms of service, (v) such Independent Manager is unable to perform his or her duties as Independent Manager due to death, disability, incapacity or other cause, or (vi) such Independent Manager no longer meets the criteria specified in the definition of Independent Manager.

Capital Account” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03 of this Agreement.

Capital Contribution” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 of this Agreement.

Capital Subaccount” has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.

 

APPENDIX A

3


Certificate of Formation” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 4, 2024, pursuant to which the Company was formed, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time.

Charge” means any “securitized surcharge” (as defined in Section 278.670(20) of the Act), which is authorized by the Financing Order.

Charge Rider” means the Securitized Surcharge Rider (S.S.R.), in the form attached to the Financing Order as Appendix B, filed with the Commission pursuant to the Act to evidence the Charges pursuant to the Financing Order.

Charge Rider Adjustment” means a revision to the Charge Rider or any other notice filing filed with the Commission in respect of the Charge Rider pursuant to a true-up adjustment.

Clearing Agency” means an organization registered as a “clearing agency” pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

Closing Date” means the date on which the Bonds are to be originally issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Series Supplement.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral” means (x) in the case of the Bonds, (a) the Cost Recovery Property created under and pursuant to the Act and Financing Order, and transferred by Kentucky Power to the Company pursuant to the Sale Agreement (including, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the right to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive, and adjust Charges, the right to obtain periodic adjustments to the Charges, and all revenues, collections, claims, rights to payments, payments, moneys and proceeds arising from the rights and interests specified in the Financing Order); (b) all Charges related to the Cost Recovery Property; (c) the Sale Agreement and the Bill of Sale executed in connection therewith and all property and interests in property transferred under the Sale Agreement and the Bill of Sale with respect to the Cost Recovery Property and the Bonds; (d) the Servicing Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Administration Agreement and any subservicing, agency, other intercreditor, administration or collection agreements executed in connection therewith, to the extent related to the Cost Recovery Property and the Bonds; (e) the Collection Account, all subaccounts thereof and all amounts of cash, instruments, investment property or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto from time to time and all Financial Assets; (f) all rights to compel the Servicer to file for and obtain periodic adjustments to the Charges in accordance with the Act, the Financing Order, the Charge Rider and any Charge Rider Adjustments filed in connection therewith; (g) all present and future claims, demands, causes and choses in action in respect of any or all of the foregoing, whether such claims, demands, causes and choses in action constitute Cost Recovery Property, accounts, general intangibles, instruments, contract rights, chattel paper or proceeds of such items or any other form of property; (h) all accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts, documents, general intangibles, goods, instruments, investment property, letters of credit, letters-of-credit rights, money, commercial tort claims and supporting obligations related to the foregoing; and (i) all payments on or under, and all proceeds in respect of, any or all of the foregoing; and (y) in the case of an Additional Series; and (y) in the case of the Additional Series, as defined in the applicable Additional Documents.

 

APPENDIX A

4


Collection Account” means the account established and maintained by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and any subaccounts contained therein.

Commission” means the Public Service Commission of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any successor.

Company” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the applicable Indenture Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be administered.

Cost Recovery Property” means all “securitized property” (as defined in Section 278.670(19) of the Act) created pursuant to the Financing Order or Subsequent Financing Order, as applicable, and sold or otherwise conveyed to the Company under the Sale Agreement (or the applicable sale agreement for an Additional Series), including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive, and adjust the Charges authorized under the Financing Order or Subsequent Financing Order, as applicable, and to obtain periodic adjustments to such charges authorized under the Act as provided in the Financing Order or Subsequent Financing Order and all revenues, collections, claims, rights to payments, payments, moneys, or proceeds arising from the rights and interests specified in the Financing Order or Subsequent Financing Order, as applicable, regardless of whether those revenues, collections, claims, rights to payment, payments, moneys, or proceeds are imposed, billed, received, collected, or maintained together with or commingled with other revenues, collections, rights to payment, payments, moneys, or proceeds.

Definitive Bonds” means Bonds issued in definitive form in accordance with the Indenture.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.

Eligible Investments” has the meaning specified in the Indenture for the Bonds or the applicable indenture for the applicable Additional Series, as applicable.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Federal Book-Entry Regulations” means 31 C.F.R. Part 357 et seq. (Department of Treasury).

Financial Asset” means “financial asset” as set forth in Section 8-102(a)(9) of the NY UCC.

Financing Costs” means all “financing costs” (as defined in Section 278.670(6) of the Act) recoverable under the Financing Order or the applicable Subsequent Financing Order, as applicable.

Financing Order” means the Financing Order, issued on April 11, 2025, by the Commission pursuant to the Act, authorizing the creation of Cost Recovery Property, which amends, restates and supersedes the Financing Order issued by the Commission on January 10, 2024.

 

APPENDIX A

5


Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any federal, state, local or other political subdivision thereof and any court, administrative agency or other instrumentality or entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative function of government.

Holder” or “Bondholder” means the Person in whose name a Bond is registered on the Bond Register.

Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Company, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as Indenture Trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as Securities Intermediary, as originally executed and, as from time to time supplemented or amended by the Series Supplement or indentures supplemental thereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture, as so supplemented or amended, or both, and shall include the forms and terms of the Bonds established thereunder.

Indenture Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as indenture trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or any successor indenture trustee under the Indenture.

Independent Manager” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a) of this Agreement.

Independent Manager Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a) of this Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of September 7, 2022, as amended and restated as of December 9, 2024, by and among the AEP Credit, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and control agent, and the issuers, servicers and indenture trustees from time to time party thereto; as supplemented by the Joinder to Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Kentucky Power, the Company, the Indenture Trustee, AEP Credit, Inc., and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Internal Revenue Service” means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America.

Kentucky Power” means Kentucky Power Company, a Kentucky corporation.

KPSC Condition” means the satisfaction of any precondition to any amendment or modification to or action under any Basic Documents through the obtaining of Commission consent or acquiescence, as described in the related Basic Document.

Letter of Representations” means any applicable agreement between the Company, as issuer, and the applicable Clearing Agency, with respect to such Clearing Agency’s rights and obligations (in its capacity as a Clearing Agency) with respect to any Book-Entry Bonds, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

APPENDIX A

6


LLC Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101 et seq., as amended from time to time.

Manager” means each person selected to be a manager of the Company from time to time, including each Independent Manager, each in such person’s capacity as a “manager” of the Company. Each Manager is designated as a “manager” of the Company within the meaning of Section 18-101(12) of the LLC Act.

Member” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

Membership Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01 of this Agreement.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto. References to Moody’s are effective so long as Moody’s is a Rating Agency.

NY UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date hereof in the State of New York.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by a Manager or duly authorized officer of the Company.

Ongoing Financing Costs” means the Financing Costs described as such in the Financing Order or the applicable Subsequent Financing Order, as applicable, including costs that Kentucky Power and the Commission will continue to incur after the issuance of the Financing Order or such Subsequent Financing Order, Operating Expenses and any other costs identified in the Basic Documents or Additional Documents, as applicable; provided, however, that Ongoing Financing Costs do not include (a) the Company’s costs of issuance of the Bonds or the applicable Additional Series, as applicable, or (b) the portion of costs associated with Kentucky Power’s servicing functions as Servicer (or as a servicer under the Additional Documents) or administrative functions as Administrator (as an administrator under the Additional Documents) that are already being recovered in rates as part of Kentucky Power’s cost of service or net income.

Operating Expenses” means all unreimbursed fees, costs and expenses of the Company, including all amounts owed by the Company to (a) with respect the Bonds: the Indenture Trustee, any Manager, the Servicing Fee, the Administration Fee, Reimbursable Administrative Expenses, Reimbursable Servicing Expenses, legal and accounting fees, Rating Agency fees and any other costs and expenses of the Company and Kentucky Power specified as being Operating Expenses in the Basic Documents, and any franchise or other taxes owed on investment income in the Collection Account, and (b) with respect to an Additional Series: the applicable indenture trustee, any Manager, the applicable servicing fee, the applicable administration fee, the applicable reimbursable administrative expenses, the applicable reimbursable servicing expenses, legal and accounting fees, rating agency fees and any other costs and expenses of the Company and Kentucky Power specified as being Operating Expenses in the Additional Documents, and any franchise or other taxes owed on investment income in the applicable collection account.

 

APPENDIX A

7


Original LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this LLC Agreement.

Outstanding” means, as of the date of determination, all Bonds or Additional Series theretofore authenticated and delivered under the Indenture or Additional Documents, as applicable, except:

(a) Bonds or any Additional Series, as applicable, theretofore canceled by the Bond Registrar or delivered to the Bond Registrar for cancellation;

(b) Bonds or Additional Series, applicable, or portions thereof the payment for which money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the applicable Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the holders of such Bonds or Additional Series; and

(c) Bonds or Additional Series in exchange for or in lieu of other Bonds or Additional Series which have been issued pursuant to the Indenture or Additional Documents, as applicable, unless proof satisfactory to the applicable Trustee is presented that any such Bonds or Additional Series are held by a Protected Purchaser;

provided that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite Outstanding Amount of the Bonds or Additional Series, or any Tranche thereof, have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or under any Basic Document or Additional Document, as applicable, Bonds or Additional Series owned by the Company, any other obligor upon the Bonds or Additional Series, the Member, the Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding (unless one or more such Persons owns 100% of such Bonds or Additional Series), except that, in determining whether the applicable Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Bonds or Additional Series, as applicable, that such Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Bonds or Additional Series so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the applicable Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Bonds or Additional Series and that the pledgee is not the Company, any other obligor upon the Bonds or Additional Series, the Member, the Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons.

Outstanding Amount” means the aggregate principal amount of all Bonds, an Additional Series or, if the context requires, all Bonds or Additional Series of a Tranche, Outstanding at the date of determination under the Indenture.

Paying Agent” means, with respect to (a) the Indenture, the Indenture Trustee and any other Person appointed as a paying agent for the Bonds pursuant to the Indenture and (b) the indenture for an Additional Series, the Additional Trustee and any other Person appointed as a paying agent for the Additional Series pursuant to such indenture.

Payment Date” means, with respect to any Tranche of the Bonds, the dates specified in the Series Supplement; provided, that if any such date is not a Business Day, the Payment Date shall be the Business Day immediately succeeding such date.

 

APPENDIX A

8


Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust (including any beneficiary thereof), unincorporated organization or Governmental Authority.

Protected Purchaser” has the meaning specified in Section 8-303 of the NY UCC.

Rating Agency” means, with respect to any Tranche of the Bonds or of an Additional Series, any of Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s which provides a rating with respect to the Bonds. If no such organization or successor is any longer in existence, “Rating Agency” shall be a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or other comparable Person designated by the Company, notice of which designation shall be given to the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer.

Rating Agency Condition” means, with respect to any action, (a) not less than ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notification to each Rating Agency of such action, and written confirmation from each Rating Agency to the Servicer, the applicable Trustee and the Company that such action will not result in a suspension, reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating by such Rating Agency of any Tranche of the Bonds or Additional Series, and (b) that prior to the taking of the proposed action no other Rating Agency shall have provided written notice to the Company that such action has resulted or would result in the suspension, reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating of any Tranche of the Bonds or Additional Series; provided, that if within such ten (10) Business Day period, any Rating Agency (other than Standard & Poor’s) has neither replied to such notification nor responded in a manner that indicates that such Rating Agency is reviewing and considering the notification, then (i) the Company shall be required to confirm that such Rating Agency has received the Rating Agency Condition request, and if it has, promptly request the related Rating Agency Condition confirmation and (ii) if the Rating Agency neither replies to such notification nor responds in a manner that indicates it is reviewing and considering the notification within five (5) Business Days following such second (2nd) request, the applicable Rating Agency Condition requirement shall not be deemed to apply to such Rating Agency. For the purposes of this definition, any confirmation, request, acknowledgment or approval that is required to be in writing may be in the form of electronic mail or a press release (which may contain a general waiver of a Rating Agency’s right to review or consent).

Reimbursable Administrative Expenses” is defined in Section 2 of the Administration Agreement.

Reimbursable Servicing Expenses” is defined in Section 6.06(a) of the Servicing Agreement.

Sale Agreement” means the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between Kentucky Power, as seller, and the Company, as purchaser, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Secretary of State” means the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, as the case may be, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to the duties of such offices.

Secured Parties” means the Indenture Trustee, the Bondholders and any credit enhancer described in the Series Supplement.

 

APPENDIX A

9


Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Securities Intermediary” means U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, or any other eligible financial institution, solely in the capacity of a “securities intermediary” (as defined in the NY UCC and Federal Book-Entry Regulations) and an account bank, or any successor securities intermediary or account bank under the Indenture.

Seller” has the meaning specified in the preamble to the Sale Agreement.

Series Supplement” means the Series Supplement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company, the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Servicer” means Kentucky Power, as Servicer under the Servicing Agreement, or any successor Servicer to the extent permitted under the Servicing Agreement.

Servicing Agreement” means the Servicing Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and Kentucky Power, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Servicing Fee” means the fee payable to the Servicer on each Payment Date for services rendered during the period from, but not including, the preceding Payment Date (or from the Closing Date in the case of the first Payment Date) to and including the current Payment Date, determined pursuant to the Servicing Agreement.

Special Member” has the meaning specified in Section 1.02(b) of this Agreement.

Special Purpose Provisions” has the meaning specified in Section 11.02(a)(i) of this Agreement.

Standard & Poor’s” or “S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc., or any successor thereto. References to S&P are effective so long as S&P is a Rating Agency.

Subsequent Financing Order” means a “financing order” (as defined in the Act) issued by the Commission to Kentucky Power subsequent to the Financing Order.

Tranche” means any one of the tranches of Bonds or of an Additional Series, as the context so requires.

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations, including proposed or temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code. References herein to specific provisions of proposed or temporary regulations shall include analogous provisions of final Treasury Regulations or other successor Treasury Regulations.

Trustee” means the Indenture Trustee or any Additional Trustee, as the context so requires.

 

APPENDIX A

10


UCC” means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in the relevant jurisdiction, as amended from time to time.

Underwriters” means the underwriters who purchase Bonds of any Tranche from the Company and sell such Bonds in a public offering.

Underwriting Agreement” means the Underwriting Agreement, to be entered into, by and among Kentucky Power, the representatives of the several Underwriters named therein and the Company, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

B. Other Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in any Basic Document are inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory accounting principles, the definitions contained in such Basic Document shall control. As used in the Basic Documents, the term “including” means “including without limitation,” and other forms of the verb “to include” have correlative meanings. All references to any Person shall include such Person’s permitted successors.

C. Computation of Time Periods. Unless otherwise stated in any of the Basic Documents, as the case may be, in the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”.

D. Reference; Captions. The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Basic Document shall refer to such Basic Document as a whole and not to any particular provision of such Basic Document; and references to “Section”, “subsection”, “Schedule” and “Exhibit” in any Basic Document are references to Sections, subsections, Schedules and Exhibits in or to such Basic Document unless otherwise specified in such Basic Document. The various captions (including the tables of contents) in each Basic Document are provided solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any Basic Document.

E. Terms Generally. The definitions contained in this Appendix A are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter forms of such terms.

 

APPENDIX A

11

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of [•], 2025

 

 

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC,

as Issuer,

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Indenture Trustee,

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Securities Intermediary


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I

     2  

SECTION 1.01.

   Definitions      2  

SECTION 1.02.

   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      2  

SECTION 1.03.

   Rules of Construction      2  

ARTICLE II

     3  

SECTION 2.01.

   Form      3  

SECTION 2.02.

   Denominations of Bonds      3  

SECTION 2.03.

   Execution, Authentication and Delivery      4  

SECTION 2.04.

   Temporary Bonds      5  

SECTION 2.05.

   Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Bonds      5  

SECTION 2.06.

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Bonds      6  

SECTION 2.07.

   Persons Deemed Owner      7  

SECTION 2.08.

   Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest; Interest on Overdue Principal; Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest Rights Preserved      7  

SECTION 2.09.

   Cancellation      8  

SECTION 2.10.

   Outstanding Amount; Authentication and Delivery of Bonds      8  

SECTION 2.11.

   Book-Entry Bonds      11  

SECTION 2.12.

   Notices to Clearing Agency      12  

SECTION 2.13.

   Definitive Bonds      13  

SECTION 2.14.

   CUSIP Number      13  

SECTION 2.15.

   Letter of Representations      13  

SECTION 2.16.

   Tax Treatment      13  

SECTION 2.17.

   State Pledge      14  

SECTION 2.18.

   Security Interests      14  

ARTICLE III

     16  

SECTION 3.01.

   Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest      16  

SECTION 3.02.

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      16  

SECTION 3.03.

   Money for Payments To Be Held in Trust      16  

SECTION 3.04.

   Existence      18  

SECTION 3.05.

   Protection of Collateral      18  

SECTION 3.06.

   Opinions as to Collateral      18  

SECTION 3.07.

   Performance of Obligations; Servicing; SEC Filings      19  

SECTION 3.08.

   Certain Negative Covenants      22  

SECTION 3.09.

   Annual Statement as to Compliance      23  

SECTION 3.10.

   Issuer May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms      23  

SECTION 3.11.

   Successor or Transferee      25  

SECTION 3.12.

   No Other Business      26  

SECTION 3.13.

   No Borrowing      26  


          Page  

SECTION 3.14.

   Servicer’s Obligations      26  

SECTION 3.15.

   Guarantees, Loans, Advances and Other Liabilities      26  

SECTION 3.16.

   Capital Expenditures      26  

SECTION 3.17.

   Restricted Payments      26  

SECTION 3.18.

   Notice of Events of Default      27  

SECTION 3.19.

   Additional Bonds      27  

SECTION 3.20.

   Further Instruments and Acts      28  

SECTION 3.21.

   Inspection      28  

SECTION 3.22.

   Sale Agreement, Servicing Agreement, Administration Agreement and Intercreditor Agreement Covenants      29  

SECTION 3.23.

   Taxes      31  

ARTICLE IV

     31  

SECTION 4.01.

   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance      31  

SECTION 4.02.

   Conditions to Defeasance      33  

SECTION 4.03.

   Application of Trust Money      34  

SECTION 4.04.

   Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent      34  

ARTICLE V

     35  

SECTION 5.01.

   Events of Default      35  

SECTION 5.02.

   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      36  

SECTION 5.03.

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Indenture Trustee      37  

SECTION 5.04.

   Remedies; Priorities      39  

SECTION 5.05.

   Optional Preservation of the Collateral      40  

SECTION 5.06.

   Limitation of Suits      40  

SECTION 5.07.

   Unconditional Rights of Holders To Receive Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest      41  

SECTION 5.08.

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies      41  

SECTION 5.09.

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative      41  

SECTION 5.10.

   Delay or Omission Not a Waiver      41  

SECTION 5.11.

   Control by Holders      42  

SECTION 5.12.

   Waiver of Past Defaults      42  

SECTION 5.13.

   Undertaking for Costs      43  

SECTION 5.14.

   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws      43  

SECTION 5.15.

   Action on Bonds      43  

ARTICLE VI

     43  

SECTION 6.01.

   Duties of Indenture Trustee      43  

SECTION 6.02.

   Rights of Indenture Trustee      45  

SECTION 6.03.

   Individual Rights of Indenture Trustee      47  

SECTION 6.04.

   Indenture Trustee’s Disclaimer      47  

SECTION 6.05.

   Notice of Defaults      48  

SECTION 6.06.

   Reports by Indenture Trustee to Holders      48  

 

ii


          Page  

SECTION 6.07.

   Compensation and Indemnity      49  

SECTION 6.08.

   Replacement of Indenture Trustee and Securities Intermediary      50  

SECTION 6.09.

   Successor Indenture Trustee by Merger      52  

SECTION 6.10.

   Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee      52  

SECTION 6.11.

   Eligibility; Disqualification      53  

SECTION 6.12.

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer      53  

SECTION 6.13.

   Representations and Warranties of Indenture Trustee      53  

SECTION 6.14.

   Annual Report by Independent Registered Public Accountants      54  

SECTION 6.15.

   Custody of Collateral      54  

SECTION 6.16.

   Related Parties      54  

ARTICLE VII

     55  

SECTION 7.01.

   Issuer To Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      55  

SECTION 7.02.

   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      55  

SECTION 7.03.

   Reports by Issuer      55  

SECTION 7.04.

   Reports by Indenture Trustee      56  

ARTICLE VIII

     57  

SECTION 8.01.

   Collection of Money      57  

SECTION 8.02.

   Collection Account      57  

SECTION 8.03.

   General Provisions Regarding the Collection Account      61  

SECTION 8.04.

   Release of Collateral      62  

SECTION 8.05.

   Opinion of Counsel      63  

SECTION 8.06.

   Reports by Independent Registered Public Accountants      63  

ARTICLE IX

     63  

SECTION 9.01.

   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      63  

SECTION 9.02.

   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders      65  

SECTION 9.03.

   KPSC Condition      66  

SECTION 9.04.

   Execution of Supplemental Indentures      68  

SECTION 9.05.

   Effect of Supplemental Indenture      68  

SECTION 9.06.

   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      68  

SECTION 9.07.

   Reference in Bonds to Supplemental Indentures      68  

ARTICLE X

     68  

SECTION 10.01.

   Compliance Certificates and Opinions, etc.      68  

SECTION 10.02.

   Form of Documents Delivered to Indenture Trustee      70  

SECTION 10.03.

   Acts of Holders      71  

SECTION 10.04.

   Notices, etc., to Indenture Trustee, Issuer, Commission, and Rating Agencies      71  

SECTION 10.05.

   Notices to Holders; Waiver      72  

SECTION 10.06.

   Rule 17g-5 Compliance      73  

SECTION 10.07.

   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      73  

SECTION 10.08.

   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      73  

 

iii


          Page  

SECTION 10.09.

   Successors and Assigns      73  

SECTION 10.10.

   Severability      73  

SECTION 10.11.

   Benefits of Indenture      73  

SECTION 10.12.

   Legal Holidays      74  

SECTION 10.13.

   GOVERNING LAW      74  

SECTION 10.14.

   Counterparts      74  

SECTION 10.15.

   Recording of Indenture      74  

SECTION 10.16.

   Issuer Obligation      74  

SECTION 10.17.

   No Recourse to Issuer      75  

SECTION 10.18.

   Basic Documents      75  

SECTION 10.19.

   No Petition      75  

SECTION 10.20.

   Securities Intermediary      76  

SECTION 10.21.

   Submission to Non-Exclusive Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial      76  

 

iv


EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit A    Form of Bonds
Exhibit B    Form of Series Supplement
Exhibit C    Servicing Criteria to be Addressed by Indenture Trustee in Assessment of Compliance

APPENDIX

 

APPENDIX A    Definitions

 

v


TRUST INDENTURE ACT CROSS REFERENCE TABLE

 

   

 

TIA SECTION

 

 

 

INDENTURE SECTION

 

    
     310    (a)(1)   6.11      
       (a)(2)   6.11   
       (a)(3)   6.10(b)(i)   
       (a)(4)   N.A.   
       (a)(5)   6.11   
       (b)   6.11   
  311    (a)   6.12   
       (b)   6.12   
  312    (a)   7.01 and 7.02   
       (b)   7.02(b)   
       (c)   7.02(c)   
  313    (a)   7.04   
       (b)(1)   7.04   
       (b)(2)   7.04   
       (c)   7.04   
       (d)   N/A   
  314    (a)   3.09, 4.01, and 7.03(a)   
       (b)   3.06 and 4.01   
       (c)(1)   2.10, 4.01, 8.04(b) and 10.01(a)   
       (c)(2)   2.10, 4.01, 8.04(b) and 10.01(a)   
       (c)(3)   2.10, 4.01 and 10.01(a)   
       (d)   2.10, 8.04(b) and 10.01(b)   
       (e)   10.01(a)   
       (f)   10.01(a)   
  315    (a)   6.01(b)(i) and (ii)   
       (b)   6.05   

 

vi


    

 

TIA SECTION

 

 

 

INDENTURE SECTION

 

    
       (c)   6.01(a)   
       (d)   6.01(c)(i)-(iii)      
       (e)   5.13   
  316    (a) (last sentence)   Appendix A – definition of “Outstanding”   
       (a)(1)(A)   5.11   
       (a)(1)(B)   5.12   
       (a)(2)   N/A   
       (b)   5.07   
       (c)   Appendix A – definition of “Record Date”   
  317    (a)(1)   5.03(a)   
       (a)(2)   5.03(c)(iv)   
       (b)   3.03   
  318    (a)   10.07   
       (b)   10.07   
       (c)   10.07   
 
**

“N/A” shall mean “not applicable.”

THIS CROSS REFERENCE TABLE SHALL NOT, FOR ANY PURPOSE, BE DEEMED TO BE PART OF THIS INDENTURE.

 

vii


INDENTURE

This INDENTURE dated as of [•], 2025, by and between KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, in its capacity as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”) for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined herein), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, in its capacity as securities intermediary and account bank (the “Securities Intermediary”).

In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other and each of the Holders:

RECITALS OF THE ISSUER

The Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the creation and issuance of the Bonds issuable hereunder, which will be of substantially the tenor set forth herein and in the Series Supplement.

The Bonds shall be non-recourse obligations and shall be secured by and payable solely out of the proceeds of the Cost Recovery Property and the other Collateral. If and to the extent that such proceeds of the Cost Recovery Property and the other Collateral are insufficient to pay all amounts owing with respect to the Bonds, then, except as otherwise expressly provided hereunder, the Holders shall have no Claim in respect of such insufficiency against the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee, and the Holders, by their acceptance of the Bonds, waive any such Claim.

All things necessary to (a) make the Bonds, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Indenture Trustee hereunder and duly issued by the Issuer, valid obligations, and (b) make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuer, in each case, in accordance with their respective terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That the Issuer, in consideration of the premises herein contained and of the purchase of the Bonds by the Holders and of other good and lawful consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and to secure, equally and ratably without prejudice, priority or distinction, except as specifically otherwise set forth in this Indenture, the payment of the Bonds, the payment of all other amounts due under or in connection with this Indenture (including, without limitation, all fees, expenses, counsel fees and other amounts due and owing to the Indenture Trustee) and the performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions contained herein or in the Bonds, has hereby executed and delivered this Indenture and by these presents does hereby and under the Series Supplement will convey, grant, assign, transfer and pledge, in each case, in and unto the Indenture Trustee, its successors and assigns forever, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, all and singular, all of the Issuer’s right, title, and interest in, to and under any and all of the property described in the “Granting Clause” section of the Series Supplement (such property herein referred to as the “Collateral”). The Series Supplement will more particularly describe the obligations of the Issuer secured by the Collateral.


AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED, DECLARED AND AGREED between the parties hereto that all Bonds are to be issued, countersigned and delivered and that all of the Collateral is to be held and applied, subject to the further covenants, conditions, releases, uses and trusts hereinafter set forth, and the Issuer, for itself and any successor, does hereby covenant and agree to and with the Indenture Trustee and its successors in said trust, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions. Except as otherwise specified herein or as the context may otherwise require, the capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in Appendix A attached hereto and made a part hereof for all purposes of this Indenture. Terms used herein that are defined in the Act or the UCC and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Act or the UCC, as applicable, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, that provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“indenture securities” means the Bonds.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Indenture Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Issuer and any other obligor on the indenture securities.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time;

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

 

2


(d) “including” means including without limitation;

(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular; and

(f) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

ARTICLE II

THE BONDS

SECTION 2.01. Form. The Bonds and the Indenture Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibit A, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or by the Series Supplement and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing the Bonds, as evidenced by their execution of the Bonds. Any portion of the text of any Bond may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Bond.

The Bonds shall be typewritten, printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods (with or without steel engraved borders), all as determined by the officers executing the Bonds, as evidenced by their execution of the Bonds.

Each Bond shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Bonds set forth in Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.02. Denominations of Bonds. The Bonds shall be issuable in the Minimum Denomination specified in the Series Supplement and, except as otherwise provided in the Series Supplement, in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Bonds shall, at the election of and as authorized by a Responsible Officer of the Issuer, be issued in one tranche, and shall be designated generally as the “Bonds” of the Issuer, with such further particular designations added or incorporated in such title for the Bonds as a Responsible Officer of the Issuer may determine. All Bonds shall be identical in all respects except for the denominations thereof. All Bonds shall be in all respects equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof without preference, priority, or distinction on account of the actual time or times of authentication and delivery, all in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Indenture.

 

3


The Bonds shall be created by the Series Supplement authorized by a Responsible Officer of the Issuer which shall establish the terms and provisions thereof, including the following matters:

(a) the principal amount;

(b) the Bond Interest Rate or the formula, if any, used to calculate Bond Interest Rate or Bond Interest Rates;

(c) the Payment Dates;

(d) the Scheduled Payment Dates;

(e) the Scheduled Final Payment Date;

(f) the Final Maturity Date;

(g) the place or places for the payment of interest, principal and premium, if any;

(h) the Minimum Denominations;

(i) the Expected Amortization Schedule;

(j) provisions with respect to the definitions set forth in Appendix A hereto;

(k) whether or not the Bonds are to be Book-Entry Bonds and the extent to which Section 2.11 should apply; and

(l) any other provisions expressing or referring to the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are to be issued under this Indenture that are not in conflict with the provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.03. Execution, Authentication and Delivery. The Bonds shall be executed on behalf of the Issuer by any of its Responsible Officers. The signature of any such Responsible Officer on the Bonds may be manual, electronic or facsimile.

Bonds bearing the manual, electronic or facsimile signature of individuals who were at any time Responsible Officers of the Issuer shall bind the Issuer, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of the Bonds or did not hold such offices at the date of the Bonds.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Issuer may deliver Bonds executed by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to an Issuer Order for authentication; and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Bonds as provided in this Indenture and not otherwise.

No Bond shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Bond a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for therein executed by the Indenture Trustee by the manual, electronic or facsimile signature of one of its authorized signatories, and such certificate upon any Bond shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Bond has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

4


SECTION 2.04. Temporary Bonds. Pending the preparation of Definitive Bonds pursuant to Section 2.13, the Issuer may execute, and upon receipt of an Issuer Order the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Temporary Bonds which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, of the tenor of the Definitive Bonds in lieu of which they are issued and with such variations not inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture as the officers executing the Bonds may determine, as evidenced by their execution of the Bonds.

If Temporary Bonds are issued, the Issuer will cause Definitive Bonds to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Bonds, the Temporary Bonds shall be exchangeable for Definitive Bonds upon surrender of the Temporary Bonds at the office or agency of the Issuer to be maintained as provided in Section 3.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more Temporary Bonds, the Issuer shall execute and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of Definitive Bonds in Minimum Denominations. Until so delivered in exchange, the Temporary Bonds shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Bonds.

SECTION 2.05. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Bonds. The Issuer shall cause to be kept a register (the “Bond Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Issuer shall provide for the registration of Bonds and the registration of transfers of Bonds. U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association shall be “Bond Registrar” for the purpose of registering Bonds and transfers of Bonds as herein provided. Upon any resignation of any Bond Registrar, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor or, if it elects not to make such an appointment, assume the duties of Bond Registrar.

If a Person other than the Indenture Trustee is appointed by the Issuer as Bond Registrar, the Issuer will give the Indenture Trustee prompt written notice of the appointment of such Bond Registrar and of the location, and any change in the location, of the Bond Register, and the Indenture Trustee shall have the right to inspect the Bond Register at all reasonable times and to obtain copies thereof, and the Indenture Trustee shall have the right to rely conclusively upon a certificate executed on behalf of the Bond Registrar by a Responsible Officer thereof as to the names and addresses of the Holders and the principal amounts and number of the Bonds.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Bond at the office or agency of the Issuer to be maintained as provided in Section 3.02, provided that the requirements of Section 8-401 of the UCC are met, the Issuer shall execute, and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and the Holder shall obtain from the Indenture Trustee, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Bonds in any Minimum Denominations, of the same aggregate principal amount.

 

 

5


At the option of the Holder, Bonds may be exchanged for other Bonds in any Minimum Denominations, of the same aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bonds to be exchanged at such office or agency as provided in Section 3.02. Whenever any Bonds are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall, provided that the requirements of Section 8-401 of the UCC are met, execute, and, upon any such execution, the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and the Holder shall obtain from the Indenture Trustee, the Bonds which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Bonds issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of other Bonds shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Bonds surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Bond presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by: (a) a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, with such signature guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one of the following recognized Signature Guaranty Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) such other guarantee program acceptable to the Indenture Trustee; and (b) such other documents as the Indenture Trustee may require.

No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of Bonds, but the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge or any fees or expenses of the Indenture Trustee that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Bonds, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.04 or 2.06 not involving any transfer.

The preceding provisions of this Section 2.05 notwithstanding, the Issuer shall not be required to make, and the Bond Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of any Bond that has been submitted within fifteen (15) days preceding the due date for any payment with respect to such Bond until after such due date has occurred.

SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Bonds. If (a) any mutilated Bond is surrendered to the Indenture Trustee, or the Indenture Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Bond and (b) there is delivered to the Indenture Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by it to hold the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Issuer, the Bond Registrar or the Indenture Trustee that such Bond has been acquired by a Protected Purchaser, the Issuer shall, provided that the requirements of Section 8-401 of the UCC are met, execute and, upon the Issuer’s written request, the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bond, a replacement Bond of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding; provided, however, that, if any such destroyed, lost or stolen Bond, but not a mutilated Bond, shall have become or within seven (7) days shall be due and payable, instead of issuing a replacement Bond, the Issuer may pay such destroyed, lost or stolen Bond when so due or payable without surrender thereof. If, after the delivery of such replacement Bond or payment of a destroyed, lost or stolen Bond pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, a Protected Purchaser of the original Bond in lieu of which such replacement Bond was issued presents for payment such original Bond, the Issuer and the

 

6


Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to recover such replacement Bond (or such payment) from the Person to whom it was delivered or any Person taking such replacement Bond from such Person to whom such replacement Bond was delivered or any assignee of such Person, except a Protected Purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee in connection therewith.

Upon the issuance of any replacement Bond under this Section 2.06, the Issuer and/or the Indenture Trustee may require the payment by the Holder of such Bond of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other reasonable expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Indenture Trustee and the Bond Registrar) connected therewith.

Every replacement Bond issued pursuant to this Section 2.06 in replacement of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bond shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bond shall be found at any time or enforced by any Person, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Bonds duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 2.06 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bonds.

SECTION 2.07. Persons Deemed Owner. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Bond, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Bond Registrar and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Bond is registered (as of the day of determination) as the owner of such Bond for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Bond and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Bond be overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

SECTION 2.08. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest; Interest on Overdue Principal; Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest Rights Preserved.

(a) The Bonds shall accrue interest as provided in the Series Supplement at the applicable Bond Interest Rate, and such interest shall be payable on each applicable Payment Date. Any installment of interest, principal or premium, if any, payable on any Bond which is punctually paid or duly provided for on the applicable Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Bond (or one or more Predecessor Bonds) is registered on the Record Date for such Payment Date by wire transfer to an account maintained by such Holder in accordance with payment instructions delivered to the Indenture Trustee by such Holder, except that with respect to Book-Entry Bonds, payments will be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account designated by the Holder of the applicable Global Bond unless and until such Global Bond is exchanged for Definitive Bonds (in which event payments shall be made as provided above), and except for the final installment of principal and premium, if any, payable with respect to such Bond on a Payment Date, which shall be payable as provided below.

 

7


(b) The principal of each Bond shall be paid, to the extent funds are available therefor in the Collection Account, in installments on each Payment Date as specified in the Series Supplement; provided that installments of principal not paid when scheduled to be paid in accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule shall be paid upon receipt of money available for such purpose, in the order set forth in Section 8.02(e). Failure to pay principal in accordance with such Expected Amortization Schedule because moneys are not available pursuant to Section 8.02 to make such payments shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture; provided, however, that failure to pay the entire unpaid principal amount of the Bonds upon the Final Maturity Date for the Bonds shall constitute a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the entire unpaid principal amount of the Bonds shall be due and payable, if not previously paid, on the date on which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of the Bonds representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds have declared the Bonds to be immediately due and payable in the manner provided in Section 5.02. All payments of principal and premium, if any, on the Bonds shall be made pro rata to the Holders entitled thereto unless otherwise provided in the Series Supplement. The Indenture Trustee shall notify the Person in whose name a Bond is registered at the close of business on the Record Date preceding the Payment Date on which the Issuer expects that the final installment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Bond will be paid. Such notice shall be mailed or made available electronically no later than five (5) days prior to such Payment Date and shall specify that such final installment will be payable only upon presentation and surrender of such Bond and shall specify the place where such Bond may be presented and surrendered for payment of such installment.

(c) If interest on the Bonds is not paid when due, such defaulted interest shall be paid (plus interest on such defaulted interest at the applicable Bond Interest Rate to the extent lawful) to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent Special Record Date, which date shall be at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Special Payment Date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such Special Record Date and Special Payment Date, and, at least ten (10) days before any such Special Record Date, the Issuer shall mail or make available electronically to each affected Holder a notice that states the Special Record Date, the Special Payment Date and the amount of defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest) to be paid.

SECTION 2.09. Cancellation. All Bonds surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Indenture Trustee, be delivered to the Indenture Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by the Indenture Trustee. The Issuer may at any time deliver to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation any Bonds previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuer may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Bonds so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Indenture Trustee. No Bonds shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Bonds canceled as provided in this Section 2.09, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Bonds may be held or disposed of by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with its standard retention or disposal policy as in effect at the time.

SECTION 2.10. Outstanding Amount; Authentication and Delivery of Bonds. The aggregate Outstanding Amount of Bonds that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture shall not exceed the aggregate of the amount of Bonds that are authorized in the Financing Order, together with any applicable Subsequent Financing Order, but otherwise shall be unlimited.

 

8


Bonds created and established by the Series Supplement may at any time be executed by the Issuer and delivered to the Indenture Trustee for authentication and thereupon the same shall be authenticated and delivered by the Indenture Trustee upon Issuer Request and upon delivery by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee, and receipt by the Indenture Trustee, or the causing to occur by the Issuer, of the following; provided, however, that (i) compliance with such conditions and delivery of such documents shall only be required in connection with the original issuance of the Bonds, and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Series Supplement, Bonds shall not be executed, authenticated or delivered if the Commission has issued a Disapproval Order pursuant to, and by the deadline specified in, the Financing Order:

(a) Issuer Action. An Issuer Order authorizing and directing the authentication and delivery of the Bonds by the Indenture Trustee and specifying the principal amount of Bonds to be authenticated.

(b) Authorizations. Copies of (i) the Financing Order which shall be in full force and effect and be Final, (ii) certified resolutions of the Managers or Member of the Issuer authorizing the execution and delivery of the Series Supplement and the execution, authentication and delivery of the Bonds and (iii) a duly executed Series Supplement.

(c) Opinions. An opinion letter or opinion letters, portions of which may be delivered by one or more external counsel for the Issuer, for the Servicer, or for the Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, in each case subject to the customary exceptions, qualifications and assumptions contained therein, to the collective effect, that (a) all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to: (i) the authentication and delivery of the Issuer’s Bonds and (ii) the execution of the Series Supplement to this Indenture dated as of the date of this Indenture, have been complied with, and (b) the execution of the Series Supplement to this Indenture dated as of the date of this Indenture is permitted by this Indenture, together with the other Opinions of Counsel set forth in Section 3.06(a) hereof and in Sections 9(d)-(g) and (i)-(q) of the Underwriting Agreement relating to the Issuer’s Bonds.

(d) Authorizing Certificate. An Officer’s Certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Issuer certifying that (a) the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the Series Supplement and the execution and delivery of the Bonds and (b) the Series Supplement is in the form attached thereto and complies with the requirements of Section 2.02.

(e) The Collateral. The Issuer shall have made or caused to be made all filings with the Commission and the Kentucky Secretary of State pursuant to the Financing Order and the Act and all other filings necessary to perfect the Grant of the Collateral to the Indenture Trustee and the Lien of this Indenture.

(f) Certificates of the Issuer and the Seller.

 

9


(i) An Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer, dated as of the Closing Date:

(A) to the effect that (A) the Issuer is not in Default under this Indenture and that the issuance of the Bonds will not result in any Default or in any breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of or constitute a default under the Financing Order or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it or its property is bound or any order of any court or administrative agency entered in any Proceeding to which the Issuer is a party or by which it or its property may be bound or to which it or its property may be subject and (B) all conditions precedent provided in this Indenture relating to the execution, authentication and delivery of the Bonds have been complied with;

(B) to the effect that the Issuer has not assigned any interest or participation in the Collateral except for the Grant contained in this Indenture and the Series Supplement; the Issuer has the power and right to Grant the Collateral to the Indenture Trustee as security hereunder and thereunder; and the Issuer, subject to the terms of this Indenture, has Granted to the Indenture Trustee a first priority perfected security interest in all of its right, title and interest in and to such Collateral free and clear of any Lien arising as a result of actions of the Issuer or through the Issuer, except Permitted Liens;

(C) to the effect that the Issuer has appointed a firm of Independent registered public accountants as contemplated in Section 8.06;

(D) to the effect that attached thereto are duly executed, true and complete copies of the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, which are, to the knowledge of the Issuer, in full force and effect and, to the knowledge of the Issuer, that no party is in default of its obligations under such agreements; and

(E) stating that all filings with the Commission, the Kentucky Secretary of State and the Delaware Secretary of State pursuant to the Act, the UCC and the Financing Order and all UCC financing statements with respect to the Collateral which are required to be filed by the terms of the Financing Order, the Act, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement and this Indenture have been filed as required.

(ii) An Officer’s Certificate from the Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that, in the case of the Cost Recovery Property identified in the Bill of Sale, immediately prior to the conveyance thereof to the Issuer pursuant to the Sale Agreement:

(A) the Seller was the original and the sole owner of such Cost Recovery Property, free and clear of any Lien; the Seller had not assigned any interest or participation in such Cost Recovery Property and the proceeds thereof other than to the Issuer pursuant to the Sale Agreement; the Seller has the power, authority and right to own, sell and assign such Cost Recovery Property and the proceeds thereof to the Issuer; and the Seller, subject to the terms of the Sale Agreement, has validly sold and assigned to the Issuer all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the Cost Recovery Property and the proceeds thereof, free and clear of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) and such sale and assignment is absolute and irrevocable and has been perfected;

 

10


(B) the attached copy of the Financing Order creating such Cost Recovery Property is true and complete and is in full force and effect; and

(C) an amount equal to the Required Capital Level has been deposited or caused to be deposited by the Seller with the Indenture Trustee for crediting to the Capital Subaccount.

(g) Accountant’s Certificate or Letter. One or more certificates or letters, addressed to the Issuer, of a firm of Independent registered public accountants of recognized national reputation to the effect that (a) such accountants are Independent with respect to the Issuer within the meaning of this Indenture, and are independent public accountants within the meaning of the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and (b) with respect to the Collateral, they have applied such procedures as instructed by the addressees of such certificate or letter.

(h) Rating Agency Condition. The Indenture Trustee shall receive evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Bonds have received the ratings from the Rating Agencies required by the Underwriting Agreement as a condition to the issuance of the Bonds.

(i) Requirements of Series Supplement. Such other funds, accounts, documents, certificates, agreements, instruments or opinions as may be required by the terms of the Series Supplement.

(j) Required Capital Level. Evidence satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee that the Required Capital Level has been credited to the Capital Subaccount.

(k) Commission Deliverables. Copies of the (i) Issuance Advice Letter, (ii) Charge Rider, (iii) Lowest Cost Objective Certification of Kentucky Power, (iv) Lowest Cost Objective Certification of the Underwriters and (v) Lowest Cost Objective Certification of the Financial Advisor, each filed with the Commission pursuant to the Financing Order.

(l) Other Requirements. Such other documents, certificates, agreements, instruments or opinions as the Indenture Trustee may reasonably require.

SECTION 2.11. Book-Entry Bonds.

(a) Unless the Series Supplement provides otherwise, all of the Bonds shall be issued in Book-Entry Form, and the Issuer shall execute and the Indenture Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.11 and the Issuer Order, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Bonds, evidencing the Bonds which (i) shall be an aggregate original principal amount equal to the aggregate original principal amount of the Bonds to be issued pursuant to the Issuer Order, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Clearing Agency therefor or its nominee, which shall initially be Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency, (iii) shall be delivered by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to such Clearing Agency’s or such nominee’s instructions, and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit A.

 

11


(b) Each Clearing Agency designated pursuant to this Section 2.11 must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Clearing Agency hereunder, be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

(c) No Holder of Bonds issued in Book-Entry Form shall receive a Definitive Bond representing such Holder’s interest in any of the Bonds, except as provided in Section 2.13. Unless (and until) certificated, fully registered Bonds (the “Definitive Bonds”) have been issued to the Holders pursuant to Section 2.13 or pursuant to the Series Supplement relating thereto:

(i) the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall be in full force and effect;

(ii) the Issuer, the Servicer, the Paying Agent, the Bond Registrar and the Indenture Trustee may deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes (including the making of distributions on the Bonds and the giving of instructions or directions hereunder) as the authorized representative of the Holders;

(iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 2.11 conflict with any other provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall control;

(iv) the rights of Holders shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and the Clearing Agency Participants and shall be limited to those established by applicable law and agreements between such Holders and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants. Pursuant to the Letter of Representations, unless and until Definitive Bonds are issued pursuant to Section 2.13, the initial Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit distributions of principal of and interest on the Book-Entry Bonds to such Clearing Agency Participants; and

(v) whenever this Indenture requires or permits actions to be taken based upon instruction or directions of the Holders evidencing a specified percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Bonds, the Clearing Agency shall be deemed to represent such percentage only to the extent that it has received instructions to such effect from the Holders and/or the Clearing Agency Participants owning or representing, respectively, such required percentage of the beneficial interest in the Bonds and has delivered such instructions to a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee.

SECTION 2.12. Notices to Clearing Agency. Unless and until Definitive Bonds shall have been issued to Holders pursuant to Section 2.13, whenever notice, payment, or other communications to the holders of Book-Entry Bonds is required under this Indenture, the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer and the Paying Agent, as applicable, shall make all such payments to, and give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to Holders, to the Clearing Agency.

 

12


SECTION 2.13. Definitive Bonds. If (a) (i) the Issuer advises the Indenture Trustee in writing that the Clearing Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities under any Letter of Representations and (ii) the Issuer is unable to locate a qualified successor Clearing Agency, (b) the Issuer, at its option, advises the Indenture Trustee in writing that it elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing Agency or (c) after the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder, Holders holding Bonds aggregating not less than a majority of the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Bonds maintained as Book-Entry Bonds advise the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer and the Clearing Agency (through the Clearing Agency Participants) in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through the Clearing Agency is no longer in the best interests of the Holders, the Issuer shall notify the Clearing Agency, the Indenture Trustee and all such Holders in writing of the occurrence of any such event and of the availability of Definitive Bonds to the Holders requesting the same. Upon surrender to the Indenture Trustee of the Global Bonds by the Clearing Agency accompanied by registration instructions from such Clearing Agency for registration, the Issuer shall execute, and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Definitive Bonds in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing Agency. None of the Issuer, the Bond Registrar, the Paying Agent or the Indenture Trustee shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Bonds, the Indenture Trustee shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Bonds as Holders hereunder.

Definitive Bonds will be transferable and exchangeable at the offices of the Bonds Registrar. With respect to any transfer of such listed Bonds, the new Definitive Bonds registered in the names specified by the transferee and the original transferor shall be available at the offices of such transfer agent.

SECTION 2.14. CUSIP Number. The Issuer in issuing any Bonds may use a “CUSIP” number and, if so used, the Indenture Trustee shall use the CUSIP number provided to it by the Issuer in any notices to the Holders thereof as a convenience to such Holders; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed in the notice or on the Bonds and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Bonds. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Indenture Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number with respect to any Bond.

SECTION 2.15. Letter of Representations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Series Supplement, the parties hereto shall comply with the terms of each Letter of Representations applicable to such party.

SECTION 2.16. Tax Treatment. The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, by entering into this Indenture, and the Holders and any Persons holding a beneficial interest in any Bond, by acquiring any Bond or interest therein, (a) express their intention that, solely for the purposes of U.S. federal income tax law and, to the extent consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, solely for the purposes of state, local and other taxes, the Bonds qualify under applicable tax law as indebtedness of the Member secured by the Collateral and (b) solely for the purposes of U.S. federal income tax law and, to the extent consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, solely for purposes of state, local and other taxes, so long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, agree to treat the Bonds as indebtedness of the Member secured by the Collateral unless otherwise required by appropriate taxing authorities.

 

13


SECTION 2.17. State Pledge. Bonds are “securitized bonds” as such term is defined in the Act. Principal and interest due and payable on the Bonds are payable from and secured primarily by Cost Recovery Property created and established by the Financing Order obtained from the Commission pursuant to the Act. Cost Recovery Property consists of the rights and interests of the Seller in the relevant Financing Order, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive, and adjust certain charges (defined in the Act as “securitized surcharges”), to be included as a separate line item in regular electric utility bills of existing and future electric service customers of Kentucky Power, a Kentucky electric utility, or its successors or assigns, as more fully described in the Financing Order. Each Bond shall state:

“Neither the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is pledged to the payment of the principal of, or interest on, this bond.1 The Commonwealth and its agencies pledges, however, for the benefit and protection of financing parties and the electric utility, that it will not: (a) alter the provisions of KRS §§ 278.670 to 278.696 and 65.114 which authorize the commission to create an irrevocable contract right or right to sue by the issuance of a financing order creating securitized property, making the securitized surcharges imposed by a financing order irrevocable, binding, or affecting the nonbypassable charges for all existing and future retail customers of the electric utility, its successors, or assignees; (b) take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property or the security for the securitized bonds or revises the securitized costs for which recovery is authorized; (c) in any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees, and other financing parties; and (d) except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized under KRS § 278.678, reduce, alter, or impair securitized surcharges that are to be imposed, billed, charge, collected, and remitted for the benefit of the bondholders, any assignee, and any other financing parties until any and all principal, interest, premium, financing costs, and other fees, expenses, or charges incurred, and any contracts to be performed, in connection with the related securitized bonds have been paid and performed in full.”2

The Issuer hereby acknowledges that the purchase of any Bond by a Holder or the purchase of any beneficial interest in a Bond by any Person and the Indenture Trustee’s obligations to perform hereunder are made in reliance on such agreement and pledge by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

SECTION 2.18. Security Interests. The Issuer hereby makes the following representations and warranties: (a) other than the security interests granted to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Indenture, the Issuer has not pledged, granted, sold, conveyed or otherwise assigned any interests or security interests in the Collateral and no security agreement, financing statement or equivalent security or Lien instrument listing the Issuer as debtor covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any jurisdiction, except such as may have been filed, recorded or made by the Issuer in favor of the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Secured Parties in connection with this Indenture; (b) this Indenture constitutes a valid and continuing lien on, and first priority perfected security interest in, the Collateral in favor of the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Secured Parties, which lien and security interest is prior to all other Liens and is enforceable

 

 
1 

KRS § 278.694(3).

2 

KRS § 65.114(2), (3).

 

14


as such as against creditors of and purchasers from the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity and by an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (c) with respect to all Collateral, this Indenture, together with the Series Supplement, creates a valid and continuing first priority perfected security interest (as defined in the UCC and as such term is used in the Act) in such Collateral, which security interest is prior to all other Liens and is enforceable as such as against creditors of and purchasers from the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity and by an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (d) the Issuer has good and marketable title to the Collateral free and clear of any Lien, claim or encumbrance of any Person other than Permitted Liens; (e) all of the Collateral constitutes either Cost Recovery Property or accounts, deposit accounts, investment property or general intangibles (as each such term is defined in the UCC) except that proceeds of the Collateral may also take the form of instruments or money; (f) the Issuer has taken, or caused the Servicer to take, all action necessary to perfect the security interest in the Collateral granted to the Indenture Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties; (g) the Issuer has filed (or has caused the Servicer to file) all appropriate financing statements in the proper filing offices in the appropriate jurisdictions under applicable law in order to perfect the security interest in the Collateral granted to the Indenture Trustee; (h) the Issuer has not authorized the filing of and is not aware, after due inquiry, of any financing statements against the Issuer that include a description of the Collateral other than those filed in favor of the Indenture Trustee; (i) the Issuer is not aware of any judgment or tax Lien filings against the Issuer; (j) (1) the Collection Account (including all subaccounts thereof, other than the Cash Subaccounts) constitutes a “securities account” within the meaning of the UCC and (2) each Cash Subaccount constitutes a “deposit account” within the meaning of the UCC; (k) the Issuer has taken all steps necessary to cause the Securities Intermediary of each such Securities Account to identify in its records the Indenture Trustee as the Person having a Security Entitlement against the Securities Intermediary in such Securities Account, no Collection Account is in the name of any Person other than the Indenture Trustee, and the Issuer has not consented to the Securities Intermediary of the Collection Account and the Indenture Trustee acting as “bank” with respect to the Cash Subaccount to comply with entitlement orders or instructions of any Person other than the Indenture Trustee; and (l) all of the Collateral constituting investment property has been and will have been credited to the Collection Account or a subaccount thereof, and the Securities Intermediary for the Collection Account has agreed to treat all assets credited to the Collection Account (other than cash) as Financial Assets and all cash will be allocated to the applicable Cash Subaccount. Accordingly, the Indenture Trustee has a first priority perfected security interest in the Collection Account, all funds and Financial Assets on deposit therein, and all securities entitlements relating thereto. The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2.18 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the issuance of the Bonds, shall be deemed re-made on each date on which any funds in the Collection Account are distributed to Issuer as provided in Section 8.04 or otherwise released from the Lien of the Indenture and may not be waived by any party hereto except pursuant to a supplemental indenture executed in accordance with Article IX and as to which the Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied.

 

15


ARTICLE III

COVENANTS

SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest. The principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds shall be duly and punctually paid by the Issuer, or the Servicer on behalf of the Issuer, in accordance with the terms of the Bonds and this Indenture; provided that except on a Final Maturity Date or upon the acceleration of the Bonds following the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Issuer shall only be obligated to pay the principal of the Bonds on each Payment Date therefor to the extent moneys are available for such payment pursuant to Section 8.02. Amounts properly withheld under the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder or other tax laws by any Person from a payment to any Holder of interest or principal or premium, if any, shall be considered as having been paid by the Issuer to such Holder for all purposes of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuer shall initially maintain in St. Paul, Minnesota, an office or agency where Bonds may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission of the location, and of any change in the location, of any such office or agency. The Issuer hereby initially appoints the Indenture Trustee to serve as its agent for the foregoing purposes and the Corporate Trust Office of the Indenture Trustee shall serve as the offices provided above in this Section 3.02. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Indenture Trustee with the address thereof, such surrenders may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Indenture Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office, and the Issuer hereby appoints the Indenture Trustee as its agent to receive all such surrenders.

SECTION 3.03. Money for Payments To Be Held in Trust.

(a) As provided in Section 8.02(a), all payments of amounts due and payable with respect to any Bonds that are to be made from amounts withdrawn from the Collection Account pursuant to Section 8.02(d) shall be made on behalf of the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or by another Paying Agent, and no amounts so withdrawn from such Collection Account for payments with respect to any Bonds shall be paid over to the Issuer except as provided in this Section 3.03 and Section 8.02.

(b) Each Paying Agent shall meet the eligibility criteria set forth for any Indenture Trustee under Section 6.11. The Issuer will cause each Paying Agent other than the Indenture Trustee to execute and deliver to the Indenture Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Indenture Trustee (and if the Indenture Trustee acts as Paying Agent, it hereby so agrees), subject to the provisions of this Section 3.03, that such Paying Agent will:

(i) hold all sums held by it for the payment of amounts due with respect to the Bonds in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and pay such sums to such Persons as herein provided;

 

16


(ii) give the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies, and the Commission written notice of any Default by the Issuer of which it has actual knowledge (and if the Indenture Trustee is the Paying Agent, a Responsible Officer of the Paying Agent has actual knowledge) in the making of any payment required to be made with respect to the Bonds;

(iii) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Indenture Trustee, forthwith pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent;

(iv) immediately, with notice to the Rating Agencies and the Commission, resign as a Paying Agent and forthwith pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums held by it in trust for the payment of Bonds if at any time the Paying Agent determines that it has ceased to meet the standards required to be met by a Paying Agent at the time of such determination; and

(v) comply with all requirements of the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and other tax laws with respect to the withholding from any payments made by it on any Bonds of any applicable withholding taxes imposed thereon and with respect to any applicable reporting requirements in connection therewith.

(c) The Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, by Issuer Order direct any Paying Agent to pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Indenture Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which the sums were held by such Paying Agent; and upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Indenture Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

(d) Subject to applicable laws with respect to escheatment of funds, any money held by the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the payment of any amount due with respect to any Bond and remaining unclaimed for two (2) years after such amount has become due and payable shall be discharged from such trust and be paid to the Issuer upon receipt of an Issuer Request; and, subject to Section 10.16, the Holder of such Bond shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuer for payment thereof (but only to the extent of the amounts so paid to the Issuer), and all liability of the Indenture Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer, cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than thirty (30) days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer. The Indenture Trustee may also adopt and employ, at the written direction and expense of the Issuer, any other reasonable means of notification of such repayment (including mailing notice of such repayment to Holders whose right to or interest in moneys due and payable but not claimed is determinable from the records of the Indenture Trustee or of any Paying Agent, at the last address of record for each such Holder).

 

17


SECTION 3.04. Existence. The Issuer shall keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware (unless it becomes, or any successor Issuer hereunder is or becomes, organized under the laws of any other State or of the United States of America, in which case the Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises under the laws of such other jurisdiction) and will obtain and preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the other Basic Documents, the Bonds, the Collateral and each other instrument or agreement referenced herein or therein.

SECTION 3.05. Protection of Collateral. The Issuer shall from time to time execute and deliver all such supplements and amendments hereto and all filings with the Commission or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to the Financing Order or to the Act and all financing statements, continuation statements, instruments of further assurance and other instruments, and shall take such other action necessary or advisable to:

(a) maintain or preserve the Lien and security interest (and the priority thereof) of this Indenture and the Series Supplement or carry out more effectively the purposes hereof;

(b) perfect, publish notice of or protect the validity of any Grant made or to be made by this Indenture;

(c) enforce any of the Collateral;

(d) preserve and defend title to the Collateral and the rights of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders in such Collateral against the Claims of all Persons and parties, including, without limitation, the challenge by any party to the validity or enforceability of the Financing Order, the Charge Rider, the Cost Recovery Property or any proceeding relating thereto and institute any action or proceeding necessary to compel performance by the Commission or the Commonwealth of Kentucky of any of its obligations or duties under the Act, the State Pledge, or the Financing Order, as the case may be; or

(e) pay any and all taxes levied or assessed upon all or any part of the Collateral.

The Issuer hereby designates the Indenture Trustee its agent and attorney-in-fact to execute or authorize, as the case may be, any filings with the Commission or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, financing statements, continuation statements or other instrument required pursuant to this Section 3.05, it being understood that the Indenture Trustee shall have no such obligation or any duty to prepare or file such documents. The Indenture Trustee is specifically authorized to file financing statements covering the Collateral, including, without limitation, financing statements that describe the Collateral as “all assets” or “all personal property” of the Issuer.

SECTION 3.06. Opinions as to Collateral.

(a) On the Closing Date, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer either stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken with respect to the recording and filing of this Indenture, any indentures supplemental hereto, and any other requisite documents, and with respect to the

 

18


execution and filing of any filings with the Commission, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to the Act and the Financing Order and any financing statements and continuation statements, as are necessary to perfect and make effective the Lien, and the perfected security interest created by this Indenture and the Series Supplement and reciting the details of such action and, based on a review of a current report of the appropriate governmental filing office, no other financing statement has been filed under the applicable UCC, or stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to make effective such Lien and perfected security interest.

(b) No later than March 31 of each calendar year beginning with the calendar year ending on December 31, 2025, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer either stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken with respect to the recording, filing, re-recording and refiling of this Indenture, any indentures supplemental hereto and any other requisite documents and with respect to the execution and filing of any filings with the Commission, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to the Act and the Financing Order and any financing statements and continuation statements as are necessary to maintain the Lien and the perfected security interest created by this Indenture and reciting the details of such action or stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to maintain such Lien and perfected security interest. Such Opinion of Counsel shall also describe the recording, filing, re-recording and refiling of this Indenture, any indentures supplemental hereto and any other requisite documents and the execution and filing of any filings with the Commission, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, financing statements and continuation statements that will, in the opinion of such counsel, be required within the twelve-month period following the date of such opinion to maintain the Lien and the perfected security interest created by this Indenture and the Series Supplement.

(c) Prior to the effectiveness of any amendment to the Sale Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Servicing Agreement, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer either (i) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all filings, including UCC financing statements and other filings with the Commission, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to the Act or the Financing Order, have been executed and filed that are necessary fully to maintain the Lien and perfected security interest of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee in the Cost Recovery Property and the Collateral, respectively, and the proceeds thereof, and reciting the details of such filings or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, or (ii) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action shall be necessary to maintain such Lien and perfected security interest.

SECTION 3.07. Performance of Obligations; Servicing; SEC Filings.

(a) The Issuer (i) shall diligently pursue any and all actions to enforce its rights under each instrument or agreement included in the Collateral and (ii) shall not take any action and shall use its best efforts not to permit any action to be taken by others that would release any Person from any of such Person’s covenants or obligations under any such instrument or agreement or that would result in the amendment, hypothecation, subordination, termination or discharge of, or impair the validity or effectiveness of, any such instrument or agreement, except, in each case, as expressly provided in this Indenture, the Series Supplement, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or such other instrument or agreement.

 

19


(b) The Issuer may contract with other Persons to assist it in performing its duties under this Indenture, and any performance of such duties by a Person identified to the Indenture Trustee herein or in an Officer’s Certificate shall be deemed to be action taken by the Issuer. Initially, the Issuer has contracted with the Servicer to assist the Issuer in performing its duties under this Indenture.

(c) The Issuer shall punctually perform and observe all of its obligations and agreements contained in this Indenture, the Series Supplement, the other Basic Documents and in the instruments and agreements included in the Collateral, including filing or causing to be filed all filings with the Commission, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to the Act or the Financing Order, all UCC financing statements and continuation statements required to be filed by it by the terms of this Indenture, the Series Supplement, the Sale Agreement and the Servicing Agreement in accordance with and within the time periods provided for herein and therein.

(d) If the Issuer shall have knowledge of the occurrence of a Servicer Default under the Servicing Agreement, the Issuer shall promptly give written notice thereof to the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies, and the Commission, and shall specify in such notice the response or action, if any, the Issuer has taken or is taking with respect to such Servicer Default. If a Servicer Default shall arise from the failure of the Servicer to perform any of its duties or obligations under the Servicing Agreement with respect to the Cost Recovery Property, the Collateral or the Charges, the Issuer shall take all reasonable steps available to it to remedy such failure.

(e) As promptly as possible after the giving of notice of termination to the Servicer, the Rating Agencies, and the Commission of the Servicer’s rights and powers pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Servicing Agreement, the Indenture Trustee may (or, at the written direction and with the written consent of the Holders evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds or at the written direction of the Commission, shall), subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, appoint a successor Servicer (the “Successor Servicer”) with the Issuer’s prior written consent thereto (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), and, pursuant to Section 7.02 of the Servicing Agreement, such Successor Servicer shall have accepted its appointment by a written assumption in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee and have provided prompt written notice of such assumption to the Issuer and the Rating Agencies. A Person shall qualify as a Successor Servicer only if such Person satisfies the requirements of the Servicing Agreement. If within thirty (30) days after the delivery of the notice referred to above, a new Servicer shall not have been appointed, the Indenture Trustee may petition the Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a Successor Servicer. In connection with any such appointment, Kentucky Power may make such arrangements for the compensation of such Successor Servicer as it and such successor shall agree, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.02 and in the Servicing Agreement.

 

20


(f) Upon any termination of the Servicer’s rights and powers pursuant to the Servicing Agreement, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer, the Holders and the Rating Agencies. As soon as a Successor Servicer is appointed, the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Issuer, the Holders and the Rating Agencies of such appointment, specifying in such notice the name and address of such Successor Servicer.

(g) The Issuer shall (or shall cause the Depositor to) post on its website and, to the extent consistent with the Issuer’s and the Depositor’s obligations under applicable law, file with or furnish to the SEC in periodic reports and other reports as are required from time to time under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and shall direct the Indenture Trustee to post on its website for investors the following information (other than any such information filed with the SEC and publicly available to investors unless the Issuer specifically requests such items to be posted) with respect to the Outstanding Bonds, in each case to the extent such information is reasonably available to the Issuer:

(i) the final Prospectus;

(ii) statements of any remittances of Charges made to the Indenture Trustee (to be included in a Form 10-D or Form 10-K, or successor forms thereto);

(iii) a statement reporting the balances in the Collection Account and in each subaccount of the Collection Account as of each Payment Date (to be included on the next Form 10-D or Form 10-K, or successor forms thereto) and as of the end of year (to be included on the next Form 10-K filed);

(iv) a statement showing the balance of Outstanding Bonds that reflects the actual periodic payments made on the Bonds during the applicable period (to be included in the next Form 10-D or Form 10-K filed, or successor forms thereto);

(v) the Servicer’s Certificate as required to be submitted pursuant to the Servicing Agreement (to be filed with a Form 10-D, Form 10-K or Form 8-K, or successor forms thereto);

(vi) the Monthly Servicer’s Certificate as required to be submitted pursuant to the Servicing Agreement;

(vii) the text (or a link to the website where a reader can find the text) of each filing of a True-Up Adjustment and the results of each such filing;

(viii) any change in the long-term or short-term credit ratings of the Servicer assigned by the Rating Agencies;

(ix) material legislative or regulatory developments directly relevant to the Outstanding Bonds (to be filed or furnished in a Form 8-K); and

(x) any reports and other information that the Issuer is required to file with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

 

21


Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall preclude the Issuer from voluntarily suspending or terminating its filing obligations as Issuer with the SEC to the extent permitted by applicable law.

The address of the Indenture Trustee’s website for investors is https://pivot.usbank.com. The Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer, the Holders and the Rating Agencies of any change to the address of the website for investors.

(h) The Issuer shall make all filings required under the Act relating to the transfer of the ownership or security interest in the Cost Recovery Property other than those required to be made by the Seller or the Servicer pursuant to the Basic Documents.

SECTION 3.08. Certain Negative Covenants. So long as any Bonds are Outstanding, the Issuer shall not:

(a) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture and the other Basic Documents, or in connection with the issuance of an Additional Series, sell, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of any of the properties or assets of the Issuer, including those included in the Collateral, unless directed to do so by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with Article V;

(b) claim any credit on, or make any deduction from the principal or premium, if any, or interest payable in respect of, the Bonds (other than amounts properly withheld from such payments under the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder or other tax laws) or assert any claim against any present or former Holder by reason of the payment of the taxes levied or assessed upon any part of the Collateral;

(c) terminate its existence or dissolve or liquidate in whole or in part, except in a transaction permitted by Section 3.10;

(d) (i) permit the validity or effectiveness of this Indenture or the other Basic Documents to be impaired, or permit the Lien of this Indenture and the Series Supplement to be amended, hypothecated, subordinated, terminated or discharged, or permit any Person to be released from any covenants or obligations with respect to the Bonds under this Indenture except as may be expressly permitted hereby, (ii) permit any Lien (other than the Lien of this Indenture or the Series Supplement) to be created on or extend to or otherwise arise upon or burden the Collateral or any part thereof or any interest therein or the proceeds thereof (other than tax liens arising by operation of law with respect to amounts not yet due) or (iii) permit the Lien granted pursuant to this Indenture and the Series Supplement not to constitute a valid first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral;

(e) elect to be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise take any action, file any tax return, or make any election inconsistent with the treatment of the Issuer, for purposes of U.S. federal income tax law and, to the extent consistent with applicable State tax law, State income and franchise tax purposes, as a disregarded entity that is not separate from the sole owner of the Issuer;

 

22


(f) change its name, identity or structure or the location of its chief executive office, unless at least ten (10) Business Days’ prior to the effective date of any such change the Issuer delivers to the Indenture Trustee (with copies to the Rating Agencies) such documents, instruments or agreements, executed by the Issuer, as are necessary to reflect such change and to continue the perfection of the security interest granted pursuant to this Indenture and the Series Supplement;

(g) take any action which is subject to a Rating Agency Condition without satisfying the Rating Agency Condition;

(h) except to the extent permitted by applicable law, voluntarily suspend or terminate its filing obligations with the SEC as described in Section 3.07(g); or

(i) issue any “securitized bonds” under, and as defined in, the Act (other than the Bonds and any Additional Series).

SECTION 3.09. Annual Statement as to Compliance. The Issuer will deliver to the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies and the Commission not later than March 31 of each year (commencing with March 31, 2026), an Officer’s Certificate stating, as to the Responsible Officer signing such Officer’s Certificate, that:

(a) a review of the activities of the Issuer during the preceding twelve (12) months ended December 31 (or, in the case of the first such Officer’s Certificate, since the Closing Date) and of performance under this Indenture has been made; and

(b) to the best of such Responsible Officer’s knowledge, based on such review, the Issuer has in all material respects complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture throughout such twelve-month period (or such shorter period in the case of the first such Officer’s Certificate), or, if there has been a default in the compliance of any such condition or covenant, specifying each such default known to such Responsible Officer and the nature and status thereof.

SECTION 3.10. Issuer May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms.

(a) The Issuer shall not consolidate or merge with or into any other Person, unless:

(i) the Person (if other than the Issuer) formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger shall (A) be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State, (B) expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, in form and substance satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, the performance or observance of every agreement and covenant of this Indenture and the Series Supplement on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed, all as provided herein and in the Series Supplement, and (C) assume all obligations and succeed to all rights of the Issuer under the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement and each other Basic Document to which the Issuer is a party;

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, no Default, Event of Default or Servicer Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

23


(iii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with respect to such merger or consolidation;

(iv) the Issuer shall have delivered to Kentucky Power, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies an opinion or opinions of outside tax counsel (as selected by the Issuer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Kentucky Power and the Indenture Trustee, and which may be based on a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (unless the Internal Revenue Service has announced that it will not rule on the issues described in this paragraph)) to the effect that the consolidation or merger will not result in a material adverse U.S. federal or State income tax consequence to the Issuer, Kentucky Power, the Indenture Trustee or the then-existing Holders;

(v) any action as is necessary to maintain the Lien and the perfected security interest in the Collateral created by this Indenture and the Series Supplement shall have been taken as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer delivered to the Indenture Trustee; and

(vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer each stating that such consolidation or merger and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture and the Series Supplement and that all conditions precedent herein provided for in this Section 3.10(a) with respect to such transaction have been complied with (including any filing required by the Exchange Act).

(b) Except as specifically provided herein, the Issuer shall not sell, convey, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets included in the Collateral, to any Person, unless:

(i) the Person that acquires the properties and assets of the Issuer, the conveyance or transfer of which is hereby restricted (A) shall be a United States citizen or a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State, (B) expressly assumes, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, in form and substance satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, the performance or observance of every agreement and covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed, all as provided herein and in the Series Supplement, (C) expressly agrees by means of such supplemental indenture that all right, title and interest so sold, conveyed, exchanged, transferred or otherwise disposed of shall be subject and subordinate to the rights of Holders, (D) unless otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture referred to in clause (B) above, expressly agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee against and from any loss, liability or expense arising under or related to this Indenture, the Series Supplement and the Bonds (including the enforcement costs of such indemnity), (E) expressly agrees by means of such supplemental indenture that such Person (or if a group of Persons, then one specified Person) shall make all filings with the SEC (and any other appropriate Person) required by the Exchange Act in connection with Bonds and (F) if such sale, conveyance, exchange, transfer or disposal relates to the Issuer’s rights and obligations under the Sale Agreement or the Servicing Agreement, assumes all obligations and succeeds to all rights of the Issuer under the Sale Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, as applicable;

 

24


(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default, Event of Default or Servicer Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with respect to such transaction;

(iv) the Issuer shall have delivered to Kentucky Power, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies an opinion or opinions of outside tax counsel (as selected by the Issuer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Kentucky Power and the Indenture Trustee, and which may be based on a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service) to the effect that the disposition will not result in a material adverse federal or State income tax consequence to the Issuer, Kentucky Power, the Indenture Trustee or the then-existing Holders;

(v) any action as is necessary to maintain the Lien and the perfected security interest in the Collateral created by this Indenture and the Series Supplement shall have been taken as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer delivered to the Indenture Trustee; and

(vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer each stating that such sale, conveyance, exchange, transfer or other disposition and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture and the Series Supplement and that all conditions precedent herein provided for in this Section 3.10(b) with respect to such transaction have been complied with (including any filing required by the Exchange Act).

SECTION 3.11. Successor or Transferee.

(a) Upon any consolidation or merger of the Issuer in accordance with Section 3.10(a), the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Person had been named as the Issuer herein.

(b) Except as set forth in Section 6.07, upon a sale, conveyance, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all the assets and properties of the Issuer in accordance with Section 3.10(b), the Issuer will be released from every covenant and agreement of this Indenture and the other Basic Documents to be observed or performed on the part of the Issuer with respect to the Bonds and the Cost Recovery Property immediately following the consummation of such acquisition upon the delivery of written notice to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission from the Person acquiring such assets and properties stating that the Issuer is to be so released.

 

25


SECTION 3.12. No Other Business. The Issuer shall not engage in any business other than (a) financing, purchasing, owning and managing the Cost Recovery Property and the other Collateral and the issuance of the Bonds in the manner contemplated by the Financing Order and this Indenture and the other Basic Documents and activities incidental thereto and (b) issuing securities in connection with one or more Additional Series, pledging its interest in the related collateral, entering into the agreements related to such Additional Series and performing activities that are necessary, suitable or convenient to accomplish any such Additional Series.

SECTION 3.13. No Borrowing. The Issuer shall not issue, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable, directly or indirectly, for any indebtedness for borrowed money except for (a) the Bonds and any other indebtedness expressly permitted by or arising under the Basic Documents or (b) as permitted by the Commission in connection with the issuance of an Additional Series.

SECTION 3.14. Servicers Obligations. The Issuer shall enforce the Servicer’s compliance with and performance of all of the Servicer’s material obligations under the Servicing Agreement.

SECTION 3.15. Guarantees, Loans, Advances and Other Liabilities. Except as otherwise contemplated by the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement or this Indenture, or as permitted by the Commission in connection with the issuance of an Additional Series, the Issuer shall not make any loan or advance or credit to, or guarantee (directly or indirectly or by an instrument having the effect of assuring another’s payment or performance on any obligation or capability of so doing or otherwise), endorse or otherwise become contingently liable, directly or indirectly, in connection with the obligations, stocks or dividends of, or own, purchase, repurchase or acquire (or agree contingently to do so) any stock, obligations, assets or securities of, or any other interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person.

SECTION 3.16. Capital Expenditures. Other than the purchase of Cost Recovery Property from the Seller on the Closing Date or any expenditure made in connection with the issuance of any Additional Series, the Issuer shall not make any expenditure (by long-term or operating lease or otherwise) for capital assets (either realty or personalty).

SECTION 3.17. Restricted Payments. Except as provided in Section 8.04(c), or as required by the terms of any Additional Series, the Issuer shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) pay any dividend or make any distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, to any owner of an interest in the Issuer or otherwise with respect to any ownership or equity interest or similar security in or of the Issuer, (b) redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value any such ownership or equity interest or similar security or (c) set aside or otherwise segregate any amounts for any such purpose; provided, however, that, if no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused thereby, the Issuer may make, or cause to be made, any such distributions to any owner of an interest in the Issuer or otherwise with respect to any ownership or equity interest or similar security in or of the Issuer using funds distributed to the Issuer pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(xi) to the extent that such distributions would not cause the balance of the Capital Subaccount to decline below the Required Capital Level. The Issuer will not, directly or indirectly, make payments to or distributions from the Collection Account except in accordance with this Indenture and the other Basic Documents.

 

26


SECTION 3.18. Notice of Events of Default. The Issuer agrees to give the Indenture Trustee, the Commission and the Rating Agencies prompt written notice of each Default or Event of Default hereunder as provided in Section 5.01, and each default on the part of the Seller or the Servicer of its obligations under the Sale Agreement or the Servicing Agreement, respectively.

SECTION 3.19. Additional Bonds.

(a) Following the issuance by the Commission of any Subsequent Financing Order or pursuant to remaining authority under the Financing Order, the Issuer may, in its sole discretion but subject to the terms contained in this Section 3.19, acquire additional and separate “securitized property” (as defined in the Act) and issue an Additional Series under any such subsequent indenture that are backed by such separate additional securitized property. Any Additional Series may include terms and provisions unique to such Additional Series.

(b) In addition to all applicable requirements set forth in any subsequent indenture for any Additional Series, the following conditions must be satisfied in connection with any issuance of an Additional Series:

 

  (i)

Kentucky Power has existing authority under the Financing Order to issue additional securitized bonds or Kentucky Power requests and receives a Subsequent Financing Order from the Commission to recover additional securitized costs through the issuance of additional securitized bonds;

 

  (ii)

Kentucky Power must serve as initial servicer and administrator for such Additional Series and that the servicer and the administrator cannot be replaced without the requisite approval of the holders of all Bonds then-Outstanding;

 

  (iii)

satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition;

 

  (iv)

each Additional Series has recourse only to the securitized property created by the Financing Order or any Subsequent Financing Order, as the case may be, and funds on deposit in the trust accounts held by the trustee or securities intermediary under the indenture with respect to such Additional Series, is nonrecourse to the Cost Recovery Property securing the Bonds and does not constitute a claim against the Issuer if revenue from the securitized surcharges and funds on deposit in the trust accounts with respect to such Additional Series are insufficient to pay such other series in full;

 

  (v)

the Issuer has provided to the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies then rating any series of the Issuer’s Outstanding Bonds an Opinion of Counsel of a nationally recognized law firm experienced in such matters to the effect that such issuance would not result in the Issuer’s substantive consolidation with Kentucky Power and that there has been a true sale of the securitized property for such Additional Series, subject to the customary exceptions, qualifications and assumptions contained therein;

 

27


  (vi)

transaction documentation for the Additional Series provides that the indenture trustee on behalf of holders of the securitized bonds of the Additional Series will not file or join in filing of any bankruptcy petition against the Issuer;

 

  (vii)

if holders of such Additional Series are deemed to have any interest in any of the Collateral dedicated to the Bonds, holders of such Additional Series must agree that (A) any such interest is subordinate to the claims and rights of the Holders of the Bonds and (B) that their interest in the collateral dedicated to the Additional Series is only a first priority perfected interest in the assets relating to the Additional Series, as the case may be, in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

  (viii)

each Additional Series will have its own bank accounts or trust accounts and funds for each Additional Series shall be remitted in accordance with the related servicing agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

  (ix)

no Additional Series will be issued under this Indenture; and

 

  (x)

each Additional Series will bear its own independent manager fees, indenture trustee fees, servicer fees and administration fees.

SECTION 3.20. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture and to maintain the first priority perfected security interest of the Indenture Trustee in the Collateral.

SECTION 3.21. Inspection. The Issuer agrees that, on reasonable prior notice, it will permit any representative of the Indenture Trustee or the Commission, during the Issuer’s normal business hours, to examine all the books of account, records, reports and other papers of the Issuer, to make copies and extracts therefrom, to cause such books to be audited annually by Independent registered public accountants, and to discuss the Issuer’s affairs, finances and accounts with the Issuer’s officers, employees and Independent registered public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested. The Indenture Trustee and the Commission shall, and shall cause its representatives to, hold in confidence all such information except to the extent disclosure may be required by applicable law (and all reasonable applications for confidential treatment are unavailing) and except to the extent that the Indenture Trustee may reasonably determine that such disclosure is consistent with its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the preceding sentence shall not be construed to prohibit (a) disclosure of any and all information that is or becomes publicly known, or information obtained by the Indenture Trustee from sources other than the Issuer, provided such parties are rightfully in possession of such information, (b) disclosure of any and all information (i) if required to do so by any applicable statute, law, rule or regulation, (ii) pursuant to any subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar demand or request of any court or regulatory authority exercising its proper jurisdiction, (iii) in any preliminary or final prospectus, registration statement or other document a copy of which has been filed with the SEC, (iv) to any Affiliate, independent or internal auditor, agent, employee or attorney of the Indenture Trustee having a need to know the same, provided that such parties agree to be bound by the confidentiality provisions contained in this Section 3.21 or (v) to any Rating Agency or (c) any other disclosure authorized by the Issuer.

 

28


SECTION 3.22. Sale Agreement, Servicing Agreement, Administration Agreement and Intercreditor Agreement Covenants.

(a) The Issuer agrees to take all such lawful actions to enforce its rights under the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement and to compel or secure the performance and observance by the Seller, the Servicer, the Administrator and Kentucky Power of each of their respective obligations to the Issuer under or in connection with the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof. So long as no Event of Default occurs and is continuing, but subject to Section 3.22(f), the Issuer may exercise any and all rights, remedies, powers and privileges lawfully available to the Issuer under or in connection with the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect.

(b) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee may, and at the direction (which direction shall be in writing) of Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds affected thereby or the Commission, shall, exercise all rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims of the Issuer against the Seller, Kentucky Power, the Administrator and the Servicer, as the case may be, under or in connection with the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, including the right or power to take any action to compel or secure performance or observance by the Seller, Kentucky Power, the Administrator or the Servicer of each of their obligations to the Issuer thereunder and to give any consent, request, notice, direction, approval, extension or waiver under the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, and any right of the Issuer to take such action shall be suspended.

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.22(e), the Administration Agreement, the Sale Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Servicing Agreement may be amended in accordance with the provisions thereof (including the satisfaction of any applicable (i) Rating Agency Condition and (ii) KPSC Condition (as described in Section 9.03 or alternatively, if applicable, Section 13(b) of the Administration Agreement, Section 6.01(e) of the Sale Agreement or Section 8.01(g) of the Servicing Agreement), in connection therewith) at any time and from time to time without the consent of the Holders of the Bonds; provided that all conditions precedent for such amendment have been satisfied and such amendment is authorized and permitted by the terms of such agreement, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel to the Issuer, and such amendment shall not materially and adversely affect the interest of any Holder, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate of the Administrator, Seller, Issuer or Servicer, as applicable.

 

29


(d) Except as set forth in Section 3.22(e), if the Issuer, the Seller, Kentucky Power, the Administrator, the Servicer or any other party to the respective agreement proposes to amend, modify, waive, supplement, terminate or surrender, or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver, supplement, termination or surrender of, the terms of the Sale Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Administration Agreement, or the Servicing Agreement, or waive timely performance or observance by the Seller, Kentucky Power, the Administrator or the Servicer under the Sale Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Administration Agreement or the Servicing Agreement, in each case in such a way as would materially and adversely affect the interests of any Holder of Bonds, the Issuer shall satisfy the Rating Agency Condition and shall then promptly notify the Indenture Trustee and the Commission in writing, and the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Holders of the Bonds of the proposed amendment, modification, waiver, supplement, termination or surrender and whether the Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied with respect thereto. The Indenture Trustee shall consent to such proposed amendment, modification, waiver, supplement, termination or surrender only if the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied and only with the (i) prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Amount of Bonds materially and adversely affected thereby (provided that, in order to determine which Holders are materially and adversely affected, the Indenture Trustee may rely upon an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer) and (ii) satisfaction of the KPSC Condition (as described in Section 9.03 hereof, or alternatively, if applicable, Section 13(b) of the Administration Agreement, Section 6.01(e) of the Sale Agreement or Section 8.01(g) of the Servicing Agreement). If any such amendment, modification, waiver, supplement, termination or surrender shall be so consented to by the Indenture Trustee or such Holders, the Issuer agrees to execute and deliver, in its own name and at its own expense, such agreements, instruments, consents and other documents as shall be necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.

(e) If the Issuer or the Servicer proposes to amend, modify, waive, supplement, terminate or surrender in any material respect, or to agree to any material amendment, modification, supplement, termination, waiver or surrender of, the process for True-Up Adjustments, except as otherwise contemplated by the Servicing Agreement, the Issuer shall notify in writing the Indenture Trustee and the Commission of such proposal, and the Indenture Trustee shall notify the Holders of the Bonds of such proposal, and the Indenture Trustee shall consent thereto only with the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Amount of Bonds materially and adversely affected thereby and only if (i) the Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied with respect thereto and (ii) the KPSC Condition (as described in Section 9.03) has been satisfied with respect thereto.

(f) Promptly following a default by the Seller under the Sale Agreement, by the Administrator under the Administration Agreement, by Kentucky Power or any successor to Kentucky Power under the Intercreditor Agreement or the occurrence of a Servicer Default under the Servicing Agreement, and at the Issuer’s expense, the Issuer agrees to take all such lawful actions as the Indenture Trustee may request to compel or secure the performance and observance by each of the Seller, the Administrator or the Servicer, of their obligations under and in accordance with the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms thereof, and to exercise any and all rights, remedies, powers and privileges lawfully available to the Issuer under or in connection with such agreements to the extent and in the manner directed by the Indenture Trustee, including the transmission of notices of any default by the Seller, the Administrator or the Servicer, respectively, thereunder and the institution of legal or administrative actions or Proceedings to compel or secure performance of their obligations under the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable.

 

30


(g) Before consenting to any amendment, modification, supplement, termination, waiver or surrender under Sections 3.22(d) or (e), the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that such action is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and all conditions precedent to such amendment have been satisfied.

SECTION 3.23. Taxes. So long as any of the Bonds are Outstanding, the Issuer shall pay all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or with respect to any of its franchises, business, income or property before any penalty accrues thereon if the failure to pay any such taxes, assessments and governmental charges would, after any applicable grace periods, notices or other similar requirements, result in a Lien on the Collateral; provided that no such tax need be paid if the Issuer is contesting the same in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and if the Issuer has established appropriate reserves as shall be required in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.

(a) This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Bonds, and the Indenture Trustee, on reasonable written demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Bonds, when:

(i) either

(A) all Bonds theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (1) Bonds that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06 and (2) Bonds for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust, as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.03) have been delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) either (1) the Scheduled Final Payment Date has occurred with respect to all Bonds not theretofore delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation or (2) the Bonds will be due and payable on their respective Scheduled Final Payment Dates within one year, and, in any such case, the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited in trust with the Indenture Trustee (x) cash and/or (y) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payments of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms are in an amount sufficient to pay principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Bonds not theretofore delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation and all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer with respect to the Bonds when scheduled to be paid and to discharge the entire indebtedness on the Bonds when due;

 

31


(ii) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer; and

(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Indenture Trustee (with a copy to the Commission) an Officer’s Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer and (if required by the TIA or the Indenture Trustee) an Independent Certificate from a firm of registered public accountants, each meeting the applicable requirements of Section 10.01(a) and each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Bonds have been complied with.

(b) Subject to Sections 4.01(c) and 4.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all its obligations under this Indenture with respect to the Bonds (“Legal Defeasance Option”) or (ii) its obligations under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.08, 3.09, 3.10, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18 and 3.20 and the operation of Section 5.01(c) (“Covenant Defeasance Option”) with respect to Bonds. The Issuer may exercise the Legal Defeasance Option with respect to the Bonds notwithstanding its prior exercise of the Covenant Defeasance Option.

If the Issuer exercises the Legal Defeasance Option, the maturity of the Bonds may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises the Covenant Defeasance Option, the maturity of the Bonds may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(c).

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein to the exercise of the Legal Defeasance Option or the Covenant Defeasance Option with respect to Bonds, the Indenture Trustee, on reasonable written demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the obligations that are terminated pursuant to such exercise.

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 4.01(a) and 4.01(b) above, (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange, (ii) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bonds, (iii) rights of Holders to receive payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, (iv) Sections 4.03 and 4.04, (v) the rights, obligations and immunities of the Indenture Trustee hereunder (including the rights of the Indenture Trustee under Section 6.07 and the obligations of the Indenture Trustee under Section 4.03) and (vi) the rights of Holders as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property deposited with the Indenture Trustee payable to all or any of them, shall survive until the obligations under Section 4.01(a) or 4.01(b), as applicable, have been paid, satisfied and discharged in full. Thereafter the obligations in Sections 6.07 and 4.04 shall survive.

 

32


SECTION 4.02. Conditions to Defeasance. The Issuer may exercise the Legal Defeasance Option or the Covenant Defeasance Option with respect to the Bonds only if:

(a) the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited in trust with the Indenture Trustee (i) cash and/or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payments of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms are in an amount sufficient to pay principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Bonds not therefore delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation and all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer with respect to the Bonds when scheduled to be paid and to discharge the entire indebtedness on the Bonds when due;

(b) the Issuer delivers to the Indenture Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of Independent registered public accountants expressing its opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment of the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited cash without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts (but, in the case of the Legal Defeasance Option only, not more than such amounts) as will be sufficient to pay in respect of the Bonds (i) principal in accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule therefor, (ii) interest when due and (iii) all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer with respect to the Bonds;

(c) in the case of the Legal Defeasance Option, ninety-five (95) days pass after the deposit is made and during the ninety-five (95)-day period no Default specified in Section 5.01(e) or (f) occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the day of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

(e) in the case of an exercise of the Legal Defeasance Option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer stating that (i) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Bonds will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance had not occurred;

(f) in the case of an exercise of the Covenant Defeasance Option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer to the effect that the Holders of the Bonds will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred;

(g) the Issuer delivers to the Indenture Trustee (with a copy to the Commission) an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel to the Issuer, each stating that all conditions precedent to the Legal Defeasance Option or the Covenant Defeasance Option, as applicable, have been complied with as required by this Article IV;

 

33


(h) the Issuer delivers to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer to the effect that: (i) in a case under the Bankruptcy Code in which Kentucky Power (or any of its Affiliates, other than the Issuer) is the debtor, the court would hold that the deposited moneys or U.S. Government Obligations would not be in the bankruptcy estate of Kentucky Power (or any of its Affiliates, other than the Issuer, that deposited the moneys or U.S. Government Obligations); and (ii) in the event Kentucky Power (or any of its Affiliates, other than the Issuer, that deposited the moneys or U.S. Government Obligations) were to be a debtor in a case under the Bankruptcy Code, the court would not disregard the separate legal existence of Kentucky Power (or any of its Affiliates, other than the Issuer, that deposited the moneys or U.S. Government Obligations) and the Issuer so as to order substantive consolidation under the Bankruptcy Code of the Issuer’s assets and liabilities with the assets and liabilities of Kentucky Power or such other Affiliate; and

(i) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with respect to the exercise of any Legal Defeasance Option or Covenant Defeasance Option.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.02, no delivery of moneys or U.S. Government Obligations to the Indenture Trustee shall terminate any obligation of the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture or the Series Supplement or any obligation of the Issuer to apply such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations under Section 4.03 until principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds shall have been paid in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Series Supplement.

SECTION 4.03. Application of Trust Money. All moneys or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 or 4.02 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Bonds and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent, as the Indenture Trustee may determine, to the Holders of the particular Bonds for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Indenture Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, premium, if any, and interest; but such moneys need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required herein or in the Servicing Agreement or required by law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article IV, the Indenture Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon Issuer Request any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations held by it pursuant to Section 4.02 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of Independent registered public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Indenture Trustee (and not at the cost or expense of the Indenture Trustee), are in excess of the amount thereof which would be required to be deposited for the purpose for which such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations were deposited, provided that any such payment shall be subject to the satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition.

SECTION 4.04. Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent. In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the Covenant Defeasance Option or Legal Defeasance Option with respect to the Bonds, all moneys then held by any Paying Agent other than the Indenture Trustee under the provisions of this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement with respect to the Bonds shall, upon demand of the Issuer, be paid to the Indenture Trustee to be held and applied according to Section 3.03 and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

34


ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

SECTION 5.01. Events of Default. “Event of Default” wherever used herein, means any one or more of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Bond when the same becomes due and payable (whether such failure to pay interest is caused by a shortfall in Charges received or otherwise), and such default shall continue for a period of five (5) Business Days;

(b) default in the payment of the then outstanding unpaid principal of any Bond on the Final Maturity Date;

(c) default in the performance of any covenant or agreement of the Issuer made in this Indenture (other than defaults specified in Section 5.01(a) or (b) above), and such default shall continue or not be cured, for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) the date that there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer and the Commission by the Indenture Trustee or to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Commission by the Holders of at least 25 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, a written notice specifying such default and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder or (ii) the date that the Issuer has actual knowledge of the default;

(d) any representation or warranty of the Issuer made in this Indenture or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith proving to have been incorrect in any material respect as of the time when the same shall have been made, and the circumstance or condition in respect of which such misrepresentation or warranty was incorrect shall not have been eliminated or otherwise cured, within thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) the date that there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer and the Commission by the Indenture Trustee or to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Commission by the Holders of at least 25 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, a written notice specifying such incorrect representation or warranty and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder or (ii) the date the Issuer acquires actual knowledge of the default,

(e) the filing of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of the Issuer or any substantial part of the Collateral in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable U.S. federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or for any substantial part of the Collateral, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer’s affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days;

 

35


(f) the commencement by the Issuer of a voluntary case under any applicable U.S. federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Issuer to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case or proceeding under any such law, or the consent by the Issuer to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or for any substantial part of the Collateral, or the making by the Issuer of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure by the Issuer generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of action by the Issuer in furtherance of any of the foregoing; or

(g) any act or failure to act by the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any of its agencies (including the Commission), officers or employees which violates or is not in material accordance with the State Pledge.

The Issuer shall deliver to a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies, and the Commission, within five (5) days after a Responsible Officer of the Issuer has knowledge of the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officer’s Certificate of any event (I) which is an Event of Default under Section 5.01(a), (b), (f) or (g) or (II) which with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default under Section 5.01 (c), (d) or (e), including, in each case, the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under Section 5.01(g)) should occur and be continuing, then and in every such case the Indenture Trustee or the Holders representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds may declare the Bonds to be immediately due and payable, by a notice in writing to the Issuer and the Commission (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration the unpaid principal amount of the Bonds, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of acceleration, shall become immediately due and payable.

At any time after such declaration of acceleration of maturity has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Indenture Trustee as hereinafter provided in this ARTICLE V, the Holders representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, by written notice to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Commission, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(a) the Issuer has paid or deposited with the Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(i) all payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Bonds due and owing at such time as if such Event of Default had not occurred and was not continuing and all other amounts that would then be due hereunder or upon the Bonds if the Event of Default giving rise to such acceleration had not occurred and was not continuing; and

 

36


(ii) all sums paid or advanced by the Indenture Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee and its agents and counsel; provided, that, the Indenture Trustee shall not be obligated to pay or advance any sums hereunder from its own funds if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

(b) all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Bonds that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.12.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

SECTION 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Indenture Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default under Section 5.01(a) or (b) has occurred and is continuing, subject to Section 10.19, the Indenture Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a Proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such Proceeding to judgment or final decree, and, subject to the limitations on recourse set forth herein, may enforce the same against the Issuer or other obligor upon the Bonds and collect in the manner provided by applicable law out of the property of the Issuer or other obligor upon the Bonds, wherever situated the moneys payable, or the Collateral and the proceeds thereof, the whole amount then due and payable on the Bonds for principal, premium, if any, and interest, with interest upon the overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent payment at such rate of interest shall be legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest, at the respective rate borne by the Bonds and in addition thereto such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee and its agents and counsel without regard to any cap.

(b) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under Section 5.01(g)) occurs and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee shall, as more particularly provided in Section 5.04, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders, by such appropriate Proceedings as the Indenture Trustee (subject to Section 5.11) shall deem most effective to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy or legal or equitable right vested in the Indenture Trustee by this Indenture and the Series Supplement or by applicable law, including foreclosing or otherwise enforcing the Lien of the Collateral securing the Bonds or applying to a court of competent jurisdiction for sequestration of revenues arising with respect to the Cost Recovery Property.

(c) If an Event of Default under Section 5.01(e) or (f) has occurred and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of any Bonds shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Indenture Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.03, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in any Proceedings related to such Event of Default or otherwise:

 

37


(i) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Bonds and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Indenture Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Indenture Trustee and each predecessor Indenture Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Indenture Trustee and each predecessor Indenture Trustee, except as a result of negligence or bad faith) and of the Holders allowed in such Proceedings;

(ii) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy, a standby trustee or Person performing similar functions in any such Proceedings;

(iii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of the Holders and of the Indenture Trustee on their behalf;

(iv) to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Indenture Trustee or the Holders allowed in any judicial proceeding relative to the Issuer, its creditors and its property; and

(v) any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official in any such Proceeding is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Indenture Trustee, and, in the event that the Indenture Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Indenture Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Indenture Trustee, each predecessor Indenture Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Indenture Trustee and each predecessor Indenture Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith.

(d) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Indenture Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Bonds or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Indenture Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such Proceeding except, as aforesaid, to vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar Person.

(e) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Bonds, may be enforced by the Indenture Trustee without the possession of any of the Bonds or the production thereof in any trial or other Proceedings relative thereto, and any such Proceedings instituted by the Indenture Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment, subject to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and compensation of the Indenture Trustee, each predecessor Indenture Trustee and their respective agents and attorneys, shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Bonds.

 

38


(f) In any Proceedings brought by the Indenture Trustee (and also any Proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Indenture Trustee shall be a party), the Indenture Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Bonds, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holder a party to any such Proceedings.

SECTION 5.04. Remedies; Priorities.

(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under Section 5.01(g)) shall have occurred and be continuing, the Indenture Trustee may do one or more of the following (subject to Section 5.05):

(i) institute Proceedings in its own name and as trustee of an express trust for the collection of all amounts then payable on the Bonds or under this Indenture with respect thereto, whether by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, and, subject to the limitations on recovery set forth herein, enforce any judgment obtained, and collect from the Issuer or any other obligor moneys adjudged due upon the Bonds;

(ii) institute Proceedings from time to time for the complete or partial foreclosure of this Indenture with respect to the Collateral;

(iii) exercise any remedies of a secured party under the UCC, the Act or any other applicable law and take any other appropriate action to protect and enforce the rights and remedies of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders of the Bonds;

(iv) at the written direction of the Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, sell the Collateral or any portion thereof or rights or interest therein, at one or more public or private sales called and conducted in any manner permitted by applicable law, or elect that the Issuer maintain possession of all or a portion of the Collateral pursuant to Section 5.05 and continue to apply the Charge Collections as if there had been no declaration of acceleration; and

(v) exercise all rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims of the Issuer against the Seller, the Administrator or the Servicer under or in connection with, and pursuant to the terms of, the Sale Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Servicing Agreement;

provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee may not sell or otherwise liquidate any portion of the Collateral following such an Event of Default, other than an Event of Default described in Section 5.01(a) or (b), unless (A) the Holders of 100 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds consent thereto, (B) the proceeds of such sale or liquidation distributable to the Holders are sufficient to discharge in full all amounts then due and unpaid upon the Bonds for principal, premium, if any, and interest after taking into account payment of all amounts due prior thereto pursuant to the priorities set forth in Section 8.02(e) or (C) the Indenture Trustee determines that the Collateral will not continue to provide sufficient funds for all payments on the Bonds as they would have become due if the Bonds had not been declared due and payable, and the Indenture Trustee obtains the written consent of Holders of at least two thirds (2/3) of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds. In determining such sufficiency or insufficiency with respect to clauses (B) and (C), the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, obtain and conclusively rely upon an opinion of an Independent investment banking or accounting firm of national reputation as to the feasibility of such proposed action and as to the sufficiency of the Collateral for such purpose.

 

39


(b) If an Event of Default under Section 5.01(g) shall have occurred and be continuing, the Indenture Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall be entitled and empowered, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to institute or participate in Proceedings necessary to compel performance of or to enforce the State Pledge and to collect any monetary damages incurred by the Holders or the Indenture Trustee as a result of any such Event of Default, and may prosecute any such Proceeding to final judgment or decree. Such remedy shall be the only remedy that the Indenture Trustee may exercise if the only Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing is an Event of Default under Section 5.01(g).

(c) If the Indenture Trustee collects any money pursuant to this ARTICLE V, it shall pay out such money in accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 8.02(e) without regard to any cap.

SECTION 5.05. Optional Preservation of the Collateral. If the Bonds have been declared to be due and payable under Section 5.02 following an Event of Default and such declaration and its consequences have not been rescinded and annulled, the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, elect to maintain possession of all or a portion of the Collateral. It is the desire of the parties hereto and the Holders that there be at all times sufficient funds for the payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, and the Indenture Trustee shall take such desire into account when determining whether or not to maintain possession of the Collateral. In determining whether to maintain possession of the Collateral or sell or liquidate the same, the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, obtain and conclusively rely upon an opinion of an Independent investment banking or accounting firm of national reputation as to the feasibility of such proposed action and as to the sufficiency of the Collateral for such purpose.

SECTION 5.06. Limitation of Suits. No Holder of any Bond shall have any right to institute any Proceeding, judicial or otherwise, to avail itself of any remedies provided in the Act or to avail itself of the right to foreclose on the Collateral or otherwise enforce the Lien and the security interest on the Collateral with respect to this Indenture and the Series Supplement, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(a) such Holder previously has given written notice to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds have made written request to the Indenture Trustee to institute such Proceeding in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Indenture Trustee hereunder;

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Indenture Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in complying with such request;

(d) the Indenture Trustee for sixty (60) days after its receipt of notice of a continuing Event of Default, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute such Proceedings; and

 

40


(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Indenture Trustee during such sixty-day period by the Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds;

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided.

In the event the Indenture Trustee shall receive conflicting or inconsistent requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders, each representing less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, the Indenture Trustee in its sole discretion may file a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve such conflict or determine what action, if any, shall be taken, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 5.07. Unconditional Rights of Holders To Receive Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, the Holder of any Bond shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, (a) to receive payment of (i) the interest, if any, on such Bond on the due dates thereof expressed in such Bond or in this Indenture or (ii) the unpaid principal, if any, of the Bonds on the Final Maturity Date therefor and (b) to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 5.08. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Indenture Trustee or any Holder has instituted any Proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such Proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason or has been determined adversely to the Indenture Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such Proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such Proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 5.09. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Indenture Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 5.10. Delay or Omission Not a Waiver. No delay or omission of the Indenture Trustee or any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this ARTICLE V or by applicable law to the Indenture Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Indenture Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

41


SECTION 5.11. Control by Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any Proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Bonds or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee; provided that:

(i) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of applicable law or with this Indenture and shall not involve the Indenture Trustee in any personal liability or expense;

(ii) subject to other conditions specified in Section 5.04, any direction to the Indenture Trustee to sell or liquidate any Collateral shall be by the Holders representing the applicable percentage of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds as provided in Section 5.04;

(iii) if the conditions set forth in Section 5.05 have been satisfied and the Indenture Trustee elects to retain the Collateral pursuant to Section 5.05, then any direction to the Indenture Trustee by Holders representing less than 100 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds to sell or liquidate the Collateral shall be of no force and effect; and

(iv) the Indenture Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Indenture Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction;

provided, however, that, the Indenture Trustee’s duties shall be subject to Section 6.01, and the Indenture Trustee need not take any action that it determines might involve it in liability or might materially adversely affect the rights of any Holders not consenting to such action. Furthermore and without limiting the foregoing, the Indenture Trustee shall not be required to take any action for which it reasonably believes that it will not be indemnified to its satisfaction against any cost, expense or liabilities.

SECTION 5.12. Waiver of Past Defaults. Prior to the declaration of the acceleration of the maturity of the Bonds as provided in Section 5.02, the Holders representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, by written notice to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission, may waive any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences except a Default (a) in payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Bonds or (b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Bond. In the case of any such waiver, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist and be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

42


SECTION 5.13. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Bond by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Indenture Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Indenture Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.13 shall not apply to (a) any suit instituted by the Indenture Trustee, (b) any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, in each case holding in the aggregate more than ten (10) percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds or (c) any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of (i) interest on any Bond on or after the due dates expressed in such Bond and in this Indenture or (ii) the unpaid principal, if any, of any Bond on or after the Final Maturity Date therefor.

SECTION 5.14. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Issuer covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead or in any manner whatsoever, claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Indenture Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 5.15. Action on Bonds. The Indenture Trustee’s right to seek and recover judgment on the Bonds or under this Indenture shall not be affected by the seeking, obtaining or application of any other relief under or with respect to this Indenture. Neither the Lien of this Indenture nor any rights or remedies of the Indenture Trustee or the Holders shall be impaired by the recovery of any judgment by the Indenture Trustee against the Issuer or by the levy of any execution under such judgment upon any portion of the Collateral or any other assets of the Issuer.

ARTICLE VI

THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE

SECTION 6.01. Duties of Indenture Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Indenture Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Indenture Trustee; and

 

43


(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Indenture Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Indenture Trustee and conforming on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Indenture Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own bad faith, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this Section 6.01(c) does not limit the effect of Section 6.01(b);

(ii) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by the Indenture Trustee unless it is proved that the Indenture Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it hereunder.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Indenture Trustee is subject to Section 6.01(a), (b) and (c).

(e) The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Indenture Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(f) Money held in trust by the Indenture Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by the Indenture Trustee except to the extent required by applicable law or the terms of this Indenture, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, Administration Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement.

(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Indenture Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayments of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Indenture Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.01 and to the provisions of the TIA.

(i) In the event that the Indenture Trustee is also acting as Paying Agent or Bond Registrar hereunder, the protections of this Article VI shall also be afforded to the Indenture Trustee in its capacity as Paying Agent or Bond Registrar.

 

44


(j) Except for the express duties of the Indenture Trustee set forth in the Basic Documents, the Indenture Trustee shall have no obligation to administer, service or collect Cost Recovery Property or to maintain, monitor or otherwise supervise the administration, servicing or collection of the Cost Recovery Property.

(k) Under no circumstance shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for any indebtedness of the Issuer, the Servicer or the Seller evidenced by or arising under the Bonds or the Basic Documents. None of the provisions of this Indenture shall in any event require the Indenture Trustee to perform or be responsible for the performance of any of the Servicer’s obligations under the Basic Documents.

(l) Commencing with March 15, 2026, on or before March 15th of each fiscal year ending December 31, the Indenture Trustee shall (i) deliver to the Issuer a report (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and addressed to the Issuer and signed by an authorized officer of the Indenture Trustee) regarding the Indenture Trustee’s assessment of compliance, during the immediately preceding fiscal year ending December 31, with each of the applicable servicing criteria specified on Exhibit C hereto as required under Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB and (ii) deliver to the Issuer a report of an Independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Issuer that attests to and reports on, in accordance with Rules 1-02(a)(3) and 2-02(g) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the assessment of compliance made by the Indenture Trustee and delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 6.01(l).

(m) The Indenture Trustee shall not be required to take any action it is directed to take under this Indenture if the Indenture Trustee determines in good faith that the action so directed is inconsistent with this Indenture, any other Basic Document or applicable Law, or would involve the Indenture Trustee in personal liability.

(n) The Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible for special, indirect, punitive or consequential damages (including lost profits), except as a result of its own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

(o) In no event shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for failure to perform its duties hereunder or any other Basic Document if such failure is a direct result of another party’s failure to perform its obligations hereunder.

(p) Any discretion, permissive right or privilege of the Indenture Trustee hereunder shall not be deemed to be or otherwise construed as a duty or obligation.

(q) The Indenture Trustee’s receipt of publicly available reports hereunder shall constitute notice of any information contained therein or determinable therefrom, including but not limited to a party’s compliance with covenants under the Indenture.

SECTION 6.02. Rights of Indenture Trustee.

(a) The Indenture Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in relying on any document (including electronic documents and communications delivered in accordance with the terms of this Indenture) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Indenture Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in such document.

 

45


(b) Before the Indenture Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require and shall be entitled to receive an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer (at no cost or expense to the Indenture Trustee) that such action is required or permitted hereunder. The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Indenture Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys or a custodian or nominee, and the Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of, or for the supervision of, any such agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care by it hereunder. The Indenture Trustee shall give prompt written notice to the Rating Agencies and the Commission of the appointment of any such agent, custodian or nominee to whom it delegates any of its express duties under this Indenture; provided, that the Indenture Trustee shall not be obligated to give such notice (i) if the Issuer or the Holders have directed the Indenture Trustee to appoint such agent, custodian or nominee (in which event the Issuer shall give prompt notice to the Rating Agencies and the Commission of any such direction) or (ii) of the appointment of any agents, custodians or nominees made at any time that an Event of Default on account of non-payment of principal or interest on the Bonds or insolvency of the Issuer has occurred and is continuing.

(d) The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

(e) The Indenture Trustee may consult with counsel, accountants and other experts, and the advice or Opinion of Counsel with respect to legal matters and such accountants or other experts with respect to other matters relating to this Indenture and the Bonds shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel, accountants, or other experts.

(f) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Indenture Trustee shall be under no obligation to (i) take any action or exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture or any other Basic Document at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture or (ii) institute, conduct or defend any litigation hereunder or thereunder or in relation hereto or thereto or to investigate any matter, at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture and the Series Supplement or otherwise, unless it is requested to do so by Holders of not less than 25% of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds and it shall have received security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein by the Indenture Trustee.

 

46


(g) In no event shall the Indenture Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, pandemics or epidemics, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer systems and services; it being understood that the Indenture Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

(h) The Indenture Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Servicer Default, Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or the Indenture Trustee has received written notice thereof pursuant to Section 10.04(a)(i).

(i) Any request or direction of the Issuer mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Issuer Request or an Issuer Order.

(j) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Indenture Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Indenture Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate.

(k) The Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible for (i) the validity of the title of the Issuer to the Collateral, (ii) insuring the Collateral or (iii) the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral.

(l) The Indenture Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture or any of the other Basic Documents.

(m) The Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral.

SECTION 6.03. Individual Rights of Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Bonds and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Indenture Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Bond Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent or agent appointed under Section 3.02 may do the same with like rights. However, the Indenture Trustee must comply with Sections 6.11 and 6.12.

SECTION 6.04. Indenture Trustees Disclaimer. The Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation (other than as set forth in Section 6.13) as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Bonds, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Bonds, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Bonds or in the Bonds other than the Indenture Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Indenture Trustee shall not be

 

47


responsible for the form, character, genuineness, sufficiency, value or validity of any of the Collateral, or for or in respect of the Bonds (other than the certificate of authentication for the Bonds) or the Basic Documents, and the Indenture Trustee shall in no event assume or incur any liability, duty or obligation to any Holder, other than as expressly provided in this Indenture. The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for the default or misconduct of the Issuer, the Seller, or the Servicer under the Basic Documents or otherwise, and the Indenture Trustee shall have no obligation or liability to perform the obligations of such Persons.

SECTION 6.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee, the Indenture Trustee shall mail to the Commission, each Rating Agency and each Holders notice of the Default within ten (10) Business Days after such Default was actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee (provided that the Indenture Trustee shall give the Rating Agencies prompt notice of any payment default in respect of the Bonds). Except in the case of a Default in payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any Bond, the Indenture Trustee may withhold the notice if a Responsible Officer in good faith determines that prompt notice of the Default is not likely to be material to Holders and the Default is likely to be cured and therefore that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders. Except for an Event of Default under Section 5.01(a) or (b) in no event shall the Indenture Trustee be deemed to have knowledge of a Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee shall have actual knowledge of a Default or shall have received written notice thereof.

SECTION 6.06. Reports by Indenture Trustee to Holders.

(a) So long as Bonds are Outstanding and the Indenture Trustee is the Bond Registrar and Paying Agent, upon the written request of any Holder or the Issuer, within the prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes after the end of each calendar year, the Indenture Trustee shall deliver to each relevant current or former Holder such information in its possession as may be required to enable such Holder to prepare its U.S. federal income and any applicable local or State tax returns. If the Bond Registrar and Paying Agent is other than the Indenture Trustee, such Bond Registrar and Paying Agent, within the prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes after the end of each calendar year, shall deliver to each relevant current or former Holder such information in its possession as may be required to enable such Holder to prepare its U.S. federal income and any applicable local or State tax returns.

(b) On or prior to each Payment Date or Special Payment Date therefor, the Indenture Trustee will deliver or make available electronically to the Commission and each Holder of the Bonds on such Payment Date or Special Payment Date a statement as provided and prepared by the Servicer, which will include (to the extent applicable) the following information (and any other information so specified in the Series Supplement) as to the Bonds with respect to such Payment Date or Special Payment Date or the period since the previous Payment Date, as applicable:

(i) the amount of the payment to Holders allocable to principal, if any;

(ii) the amount of the payment to Holders allocable to interest;

 

48


(iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, before and after giving effect to any payments allocated to principal reported under Section 6.06(b)(i) above;

(iv) the difference, if any, between the amount specified in Section(b)(iii) above and the Outstanding Amount specified in the related Expected Amortization Schedule;

(v) any other transfers and payments to be made on such Payment Date or Special Payment Date, including amounts paid to the Indenture Trustee and to the Servicer; and

(vi) the amounts on deposit in the Capital Subaccount and the Excess Funds Subaccount, after giving effect to the foregoing payments.

(c) The Issuer shall send a copy of each of the Certificate of Compliance delivered to it pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Servicing Agreement and the Annual Accountant’s Report delivered to it pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Servicing Agreement to the Rating Agencies, the Indenture Trustee and to the Servicer for posting on the 17g-5 Website in accordance with Rule 17g-5 under the Exchange Act. A copy of such certificate and report may be obtained by any Holder by a request in writing to the Indenture Trustee.

SECTION 6.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the Indenture Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Indenture Trustee’s compensation shall not, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Indenture Trustee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Indenture Trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents (each an “Indemnified Person”) against any and all cost, damage, loss, liability, tax or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, the fees of experts and agents and any reasonable extraordinary out-of-pocket expenses) incurred by it in connection with the administration and the enforcement of this Indenture, the Series Supplement and the Basic Documents, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise of the Indenture Trustee’s rights, powers and obligations under this Indenture, the Series Supplement and the other Basic Documents and the performance of its duties hereunder and obligations under or pursuant to this Indenture, the Series Supplement and the Basic Documents and the costs of defending any claim or bringing any claim to enforce the Issuer’s indemnification obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall not be required to indemnify the Indemnified Person for any amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person in the settlement of any action, proceeding or investigation without the prior written consent of the Issuer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice of the commencement of any action, proceeding or investigation, such Indemnified Person shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Issuer under this Section 6.07, notify the Issuer in writing of the commencement thereof. Failure by an Indemnified Person to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer from the obligation to indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Person under this Section 6.07. With respect to any action, proceeding or investigation brought

 

49


by a third party for which indemnification may be sought under this Section 6.07 the Issuer shall be entitled to conduct and control, at its expense and with counsel of its choosing that is reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, the defense of any such action, proceeding or investigation (in which case the Issuer shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by such Indemnified Person except as set forth below); provided that such Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such action, proceeding or investigation through counsel chosen by it and at its own expense. Notwithstanding the Issuer’s election to assume the defense of any action, proceeding or investigation, such Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Issuer shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Issuer and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the Issuer, (ii) the Issuer shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iii) the Issuer shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall not be obligated to pay for the fees, costs and expenses of more than one separate counsel for the Indemnified Person other than one local counsel, if appropriate. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Indenture Trustee through the Indemnified Person’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith. The rights of the Indenture Trustee set forth in this Section 6.07 are subject to and limited by the priority of payments set forth in Section 8.02(e).

The payment obligations to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.07 shall survive the discharge of this Indenture and the Series Supplement or the earlier resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee. When the Indenture Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 5.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable U.S. federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

SECTION 6.08. Replacement of Indenture Trustee and Securities Intermediary.

(a) The Indenture Trustee may resign at any time upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Issuer and the Commission subject to Section 6.08(c) below. The Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds may remove the Indenture Trustee with thirty (30) days’ prior written notice by so notifying the Indenture Trustee and the Commission and may appoint a successor Indenture Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Indenture Trustee if:

(i) the Indenture Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.11;

(ii) the Indenture Trustee is adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Indenture Trustee or its property;

(iv) the Indenture Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting; or

 

50


(v) the Indenture Trustee fails to provide to the Issuer any information reasonably requested by the Issuer pertaining to the Indenture Trustee and necessary for the Issuer or the Depositor to comply with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and Regulation AB and such failure is not resolved to the Issuer’s and the Indenture Trustee’s mutual satisfaction within a reasonable period of time.

Any removal or resignation of the Indenture Trustee shall also constitute a removal or resignation of the Securities Intermediary.

(b) If the Indenture Trustee or Securities Intermediary gives notice of resignation or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Indenture Trustee or Securities Intermediary for any reason (the Indenture Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Securities Intermediary), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Indenture Trustee or a successor Securities Intermediary, as the case may be.

(c) Each of the successor Indenture Trustee and the successor Securities Intermediary, as the case may be, shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment as the Indenture Trustee or as the Securities Intermediary, as applicable, to the retiring Indenture Trustee and the retiring Securities Intermediary, as applicable, and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Indenture Trustee or the retiring Securities Intermediary, as the case may be, shall become effective, and the successor Indenture Trustee or the successor Securities Intermediary, as applicable, shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Indenture Trustee and Securities Intermediary, as applicable, under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and other Basic Documents. No resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.08 shall become effective until acceptance of the appointment by a successor Indenture Trustee having the qualifications set forth in Section 6.11. Notice of any such appointment shall be promptly given to each Rating Agency and the Commission by the successor Indenture Trustee. The successor Indenture Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Indenture Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Indenture Trustee to the successor Indenture Trustee.

(d) If a successor Indenture Trustee or a successor Securities Intermediary does not take office within sixty (60) days after the retiring Indenture Trustee or the retiring Securities Intermediary, as the case may be, resigns or is removed, the retiring Indenture Trustee or the retiring Securities Intermediary, as the case may be the Issuer or the Holders of a majority in Outstanding Amount of the Bonds may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee or a successor Securities Intermediary, as the case may be.

(e) If the Indenture Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.11, any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Indenture Trustee and the appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Indenture Trustee or the Securities Intermediary pursuant to this Section 6.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 6.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Indenture Trustee and the retiring Securities Intermediary.

 

51


SECTION 6.09. Successor Indenture Trustee by Merger. If the Indenture Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Indenture Trustee; provided, however, that, if such successor Indenture Trustee is not eligible under Section 6.11, then the successor Indenture Trustee shall be replaced in accordance with Section 6.08. Notice of any such event shall be promptly given to each Rating Agency and the Commission by the successor Indenture Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion, consolidation or transfer shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Bonds shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Indenture Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver the Bonds so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Bonds shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Indenture Trustee may authenticate the Bonds either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Indenture Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Bonds or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Indenture Trustee shall have.

SECTION 6.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, at any time, for the purpose of meeting any legal requirement of any jurisdiction in which any part of the trust created by this Indenture or the Collateral may at the time be located, the Indenture Trustee shall have the power and may execute and deliver all instruments to appoint one or more Persons to act as a co-trustee or co-trustees, or separate trustee or separate trustees, of all or any part of the trust created by this Indenture or the Collateral, and to vest in such Person or Persons, in such capacity and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, such title to the Collateral, or any part hereof, and, subject to the other provisions of this Section 6.10, such powers, duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the Indenture Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be required to meet the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee under Section 6.11 and no notice to Holders of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee shall be required under Section 6.08. Notice of any such appointment shall be promptly given to each Rating Agency and the Commission by the Indenture Trustee.

(b) Every separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions:

(i) all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Indenture Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Indenture Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Indenture Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any applicable law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed the Indenture Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations (including the holding of title to the Collateral or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Indenture Trustee;

 

52


(ii) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder; and

(iii) the Indenture Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.

(c) Any notice, request or other writing given to the Indenture Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then-separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and the conditions of this Article VI. Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Indenture Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Indenture, specifically including every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Indenture Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with the Indenture Trustee.

(d) Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time constitute the Indenture Trustee, its agent or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of this Indenture on its behalf and in its name. If any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Indenture Trustee, to the extent permitted by applicable law, without the appointment of a new or successor trustee.

SECTION 6.11. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Indenture Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1) and § 310(a)(5) and Section 26(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act. The Indenture Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition and it shall have a long-term debt or long-term issuer rating of “Baa3” or better by Moody’s and “BBB-” or better by Standard & Poor’s. The Indenture Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b), including the optional provision permitted by the second sentence of TIA § 310(b)(9); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities of the Issuer are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met.

SECTION 6.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer. The Indenture Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). An Indenture Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

SECTION 6.13. Representations and Warranties of Indenture Trustee and Securities Intermediary. Each of the Indenture Trustee and Securities Intermediary hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof that:

(a) it is a national banking association duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America;

 

53


(b) it has full power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Indenture and the other Basic Documents to which it is a party and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery, and performance of obligations by it of this Indenture and such other Basic Documents; and

(c) no consent, license, approval or authorization of, or filing or registration with, any governmental authority, bureau or agency is required to be obtained that has not been obtained by it in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by it of this Indenture and the other Basic Documents to which it is a party.

SECTION 6.14. Annual Report by Independent Registered Public Accountants. In the event the firm of Independent registered public accountants requires the Indenture Trustee to agree or consent to the procedures performed by such firm pursuant to Section 3.04(a) of the Servicing Agreement, the Indenture Trustee shall deliver such letter of agreement or consent in conclusive reliance upon the written direction of the Issuer in accordance with Section 3.04(a) of the Servicing Agreement. In the event such firm requires the Indenture Trustee to agree to the procedures performed by such firm, the Issuer shall direct the Indenture Trustee in writing to so agree, it being understood and agreed that the Indenture Trustee will deliver such letter of agreement in conclusive reliance upon the direction of the Issuer, and the Indenture Trustee makes no independent inquiry or investigation to, and shall have no obligation or liability in respect of, the sufficiency, validity or correctness of such procedures.

SECTION 6.15. Custody of Collateral. The Indenture Trustee shall hold such of the Collateral (and any other collateral that may be granted to the Indenture Trustee) as consists of instruments, deposit accounts, negotiable documents, money, goods, tangible chattel paper, and letters of credit in the State of New York. The Indenture Trustee shall hold such of the Collateral as constitute investment property through the Securities Intermediary (which, as of the date hereof, is U.S. Bank National Association) pursuant to Section 8.02. The initial Securities Intermediary, hereby agrees (and each future Securities Intermediary shall agree) with the Indenture Trustee that (a) such investment property shall at all times be credited to the Collection Account, and (b) such Securities Accounts and the property credited thereto shall not be subject to any Lien or right of set-off in favor of the Securities Intermediary or anyone claiming through it (other than the Indenture Trustee). The Indenture Trustee shall hold any Collateral consisting of money in a deposit account pursuant to Section 8.02. Except as permitted by this Section 6.15, or Section 8.02, the Indenture Trustee shall not hold Collateral through an agent or a nominee.

SECTION 6.16 Related Parties. It is expressly acknowledged, agreed and consented to that U.S. Bank National Association will be acting in the capacity of Securities Intermediary and its affiliate, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association will be acting in the capacities of Indenture Trustee, Bond Registrar, Paying Agent hereunder and in such other roles as are assigned to them under the Basic Documents. Each of U.S. Bank National Association and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, may in such multiple capacities, discharge its separate functions fully, without hindrance or regard to conflict of interest principles, duty of loyalty principles or other equitable principles to the extent that any such conflict arises from the

 

54


performance by it of its express duties set forth in this Indenture or any other Basic Document, in any such capacities, all of which defenses, claims or assertions based on the foregoing are hereby expressly waived by the Issuer and Holders and any other Person having rights pursuant to hereto or thereto; provided, in no event shall this Section 6.16 exculpate either U.S. Bank National Association or U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in the case of its own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS

SECTION 7.01. Issuer To Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Indenture Trustee (a) not more than five (5) days after the earlier of (i) each Record Date and (ii) six (6) months after the last Record Date, a list, in such form as the Indenture Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such Record Date, and (b) at such other times as the Indenture Trustee may request in writing, within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than ten (10) days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, so long as the Indenture Trustee is the Bond Registrar, no such list shall be required to be furnished.

SECTION 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Indenture Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of the Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Indenture Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Indenture Trustee in its capacity as Bond Registrar. The Indenture Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Bonds. In addition, upon the written request of any Holder or group of Holders of Outstanding Bonds evidencing not less than 10 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, the Indenture Trustee shall afford the Holder or Holders making such request a copy of a current list of Holders for purposes of communicating with other Holders with respect to their rights hereunder; provided, that the Indenture Trustee gives prior written notice to the Issuer of such request.

(c) The Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Bond Registrar shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

SECTION 7.03. Reports by Issuer.

(a) The Issuer shall:

(i) so long as the Issuer or the Depositor is required to file such documents with the SEC, provide to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission, within fifteen (15) days after the Issuer is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Issuer or the Depositor may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

55


(ii) provide to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission and file with the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Issuer with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(iii) supply to the Indenture Trustee (and the Indenture Trustee shall transmit to all Holders described in TIA § 313(c)) and the Commission, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to Section 7.03(a)(i) and (ii) as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC.

Except as may be provided by Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Issuer may fulfill its obligation to provide the materials described in this Section 7.03(a) by providing such materials in electronic format, and the Issuer shall be deemed to have provided such materials to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission if such materials are available on the SEC’s EDGAR website (or any successor SEC website).

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Indenture Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Indenture Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Indenture Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

(b) Unless the Issuer otherwise determines, the fiscal year of the Issuer shall end on December 31 of each year.

SECTION 7.04. Reports by Indenture Trustee. If required by TIA § 313(a), within sixty (60) days after March 30 of each year, commencing with March 30, 2026, the Indenture Trustee shall send to each Holder as required by TIA § 313(c) a brief report dated as of such date that complies with TIA § 313(a). The Indenture Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b); provided, however, that the initial report if required to be so issued shall be delivered not more than twelve (12) months after the initial issuance of the Bonds.

A copy of each report at the time of its sending to Holders shall be filed by the Servicer with the SEC and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Bonds are listed. The Issuer shall notify the Indenture Trustee in writing if and when the Bonds are listed on any stock exchange.

 

56


ARTICLE VIII

ACCOUNTS, DISBURSEMENTS AND RELEASES

SECTION 8.01. Collection of Money. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Indenture Trustee may demand payment or delivery of, and shall receive and collect, directly and without intervention or assistance of any fiscal agent or other intermediary, all money and other property payable to or receivable by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Indenture and the other Basic Documents. The Indenture Trustee shall apply all such money received by it as provided in this Indenture. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, if any default occurs in the making of any payment or performance under any agreement or instrument that is part of the Collateral, the Indenture Trustee may take such action as may be appropriate to enforce such payment or performance, subject to Article VI, including the institution and prosecution of appropriate Proceedings. Any such action shall be without prejudice to any right to claim a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture and any right to proceed thereafter as provided in Article V.

SECTION 8.02. Collection Account.

(a) Prior to the Closing Date, the Issuer shall open or cause to be opened with the Securities Intermediary, or at another Eligible Institution, one or more segregated trust accounts in the Indenture Trustee’s name for the deposit of Estimated Collections, Charge Collections and all other amounts received with respect to the Collateral (the “Collection Account”). The Securities Intermediary shall hold the Collection Account for the benefit of the Secured Parties and other Persons indemnified hereunder. Initially, the Collection Account shall be divided into three subaccounts, which need not be separate accounts: a general subaccount (the “General Subaccount”), an excess funds subaccount (the “Excess Funds Subaccount”) and a capital subaccount (the “Capital Subaccount” and, together with the General Subaccount and the Excess Funds Subaccount, the “Subaccounts”). Each Subaccount shall have a separate subledger account (each, a “Cash Subaccount”) where cash allocated to the related Subaccount will be held. Only cash shall be allocated to a Cash Subaccount and no other Collateral shall be allocated to a Cash Subaccount. References to any Subaccount shall be deemed to include the related Cash Subaccount. For administrative purposes, the Subaccounts may be established by the Indenture Trustee as separate accounts. Such separate accounts will be recognized individually as a Subaccount and collectively as the “Collection Account.” Prior to or concurrently with the issuance of Bonds, the Member shall deposit into the Capital Subaccount an amount equal to the Required Capital Level. All amounts in the Collection Account not allocated to any other subaccount shall be allocated to the General Subaccount. Any cash transferred to, or arising under, a Subaccount will be held in the related Cash Subaccount. Prior to the Initial Payment Date, all amounts in the Collection Account (other than funds deposited into the Capital Subaccount, up to the Required Capital Level and Return on Invested Capital) shall be allocated to the General Subaccount. All references to the Collection Account shall be deemed to include reference to all Subaccounts contained therein. Withdrawals from and deposits to each of Subaccounts of the Collection Account shall be made as set forth in Section 8.02(d) and (e). The Collection Account shall at all times be maintained in an Eligible Account, under the sole dominion and exclusive control of the Indenture Trustee, at the Securities Intermediary, and only the Indenture Trustee shall have access to the Collection Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Collection Account in accordance with this Indenture. Funds in the Collection Account shall not be commingled with any other moneys. All moneys deposited from time to time in the Collection Account, all deposits therein pursuant to this Indenture, and all investments made in Eligible Investments as directed in writing by the Issuer with such moneys, including all income

 

57


or other gain from such investments other than Return on Invested Capital, shall be held by the Indenture Trustee in the Collection Account as part of the Collateral as herein provided. The Securities Intermediary shall have no liability in respect of losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any Eligible Investment prior to its stated maturity or its date of redemption or the failure of the Issuer or the Servicer to provide timely written investment direction (other than losses on investments on which the Indenture Trustee is an obligor).

(b) The Securities Intermediary hereby confirms and agrees that (i) the Collection Account (other than each Cash Subaccount) is, or at inception will be established as, and will at all times be maintained as, a “securities account” as such term is defined in Section 8-501(a) of the UCC, (ii) it is and will at all times be a “securities intermediary” (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a) (14) of the UCC) and is and will at all times be acting in such capacity with respect to the Collection Account, (iii) the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties is and will at all times be the sole “entitlement holder” (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(7) of the UCC) with respect to the Collection Account and no other Person shall have the right to give “entitlement orders” (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(8)) with respect to such Collection Account and (iv) the Securities Intermediary shall comply with “entitlement orders” originated by the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Collection Account without further consent of the Issuer or any other Person. The Securities Intermediary hereby further confirms and agrees that (i) each item of property (whether investment property, financial asset, security, instrument or cash) received by it will be credited to the Collection Account (and that all cash will be credited to the related Cash Subaccount); and (ii) such property, other than cash, shall be treated by it as a Financial Asset. The Indenture Trustee shall cause the Securities Intermediary to hold any Collateral consisting of money in the applicable Cash Subaccount and the Securities Intermediary hereby confirms and agrees that each Cash Subaccount is and will at all times be maintained as a “deposit account” within the meaning of Section 9-102(a)(29) of the UCC. The Securities Intermediary further confirms and agrees that for purposes of perfecting the security interest in such deposit account, it is and at all times shall be a bank and act as the “bank” within the meaning of Section 9-102(a)(8) of the UCC. The parties hereto agree that the Securities Intermediary shall comply with instructions originated by the Indenture Trustee directing disposition of the funds in each Cash Subaccount without further consent of the Issuer or any other Person. The Securities Intermediary shall not change the name or account number of the Collection Account or any subaccount thereof without the prior written consent of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer. The Securities Intermediary shall not agree with any person or entity other than the Indenture Trustee that it will comply with entitlement orders or instructions originated by any person or entity other than the Indenture Trustee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, for purposes of the UCC, the State of New York shall be deemed to be “securities intermediary jurisdiction” within the meaning of Section 8-110(e) of the UCC of the Securities Intermediary and “bank’s jurisdiction” within the meaning of Section 9-304(a) of the UCC of the Securities Intermediary acting as the “bank” and the Collection Account (as well as the securities entitlements related thereto) shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. The Securities Intermediary represents and agrees that (i) the “account agreement” (within the meaning of the Hague Securities Convention establishing the Collection Account is governed by the law of the State of New York and that the law of the State of New York shall govern all issues specified in Article 2(1) of the Hague Securities Convention) and (ii) at the time of entry of such account agreement, the Securities Intermediary had one or more offices (within the meaning of the Hague Securities Convention) in the United States of America which satisfies the criteria provided in Article 4(1)(a) or (b) of the Hague Securities Convention.

 

58


(c) The Indenture Trustee shall have sole dominion and exclusive control over all moneys in, and all other property credited to, the Collection Account through the Securities Intermediary and shall apply such amounts therein as provided in this Section 8.02. The Indenture Trustee shall also pay from the Collection Account any amounts requested in writing to be paid by or to the Servicer pursuant to Section 6.11(c)(ii) of the Servicing Agreement.

(d) Charge Collections shall be deposited in the General Subaccount as provided in Section 6.11 of the Servicing Agreement. All deposits to and withdrawals from the Collection Account, all allocations to the Subaccounts of the Collection Account and any amounts to be paid to the Servicer under Section 8.02(c) shall be made by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with the written instructions provided by the Servicer in the Monthly Servicer’s Certificate, the Servicer’s Certificate or upon other written notice provided by the Servicer pursuant to Section 6.11(a) of the Servicing Agreement, as applicable.

(e) On each Payment Date, the Indenture Trustee shall apply all amounts on deposit in the Collection Account, including all Investment Earnings thereon, to pay the following amounts, solely in accordance with the Servicer’s Certificate, in the following priority:

(i) all amounts owed by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee (including legal fees and expenses and outstanding indemnity amounts) shall be paid to the Indenture Trustee (subject to Section 6.07) in an amount not to exceed annually the amount set forth in the Series Supplement;

(ii) the Servicing Fee with respect to such Payment Date and all unpaid Servicing Fees for prior Payment Dates shall be paid to the Servicer;

(iii) the Administration Fee for such Payment Date shall be paid to the Administrator and the Independent Manager Fee for such Payment Date shall be paid to the Independent Managers, and in each case with any unpaid Administration Fees or Independent Manager Fees from prior Payment Dates;

(iv) all other ordinary and periodic Operating Expenses for such Payment Date (including Reimbursable Servicing Expenses and Reimbursable Administrative Expenses) not described above shall be paid to the parties, pro rata, to which such Operating Expenses are owed;

(v) Periodic Interest for such Payment Date, including any overdue Periodic Interest (together with, to the extent lawful, interest on such overdue Periodic Interest at the applicable Bond Interest Rate), with respect to the Bonds shall be paid to the Holders of Bonds, on a pro rata basis as described below;

(vi) principal due on the Final Maturity Date of the Bonds or, if the principal of the Bonds has been accelerated following an Event of Default, payment on the principal of the Bonds, in each case shall be paid to the Holders of Bonds, until the outstanding principal of the Bonds has been paid in full, without regard to the Expected Amortization Schedule;

 

59


(vii) Periodic Principal for such Payment Date, including any Periodic Principal that was not paid on prior Payment Dates, with respect to the Bonds shall be paid to the Holders of Bonds, on a pro rata basis as described below;

(viii) any other unpaid fees, expenses and indemnity amounts owed to the Indenture Trustee;

(ix) any other unpaid Operating Expenses and any remaining amounts owed pursuant to the Basic Documents;

(x) the amount, if any, by which the Required Capital Level exceeds the amount in the Capital Subaccount as of such Payment Date shall be allocated to the Capital Subaccount;

(xi) any Return on Invested Capital then due and payable shall be paid to Kentucky Power;

(xii) the balance, if any, shall be allocated to the Excess Funds Subaccount for distribution on subsequent Payment Dates; and

(xiii) after principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Bonds, and all of the other foregoing amounts, have been paid in full, including, without limitation, amounts due and payable to the Indenture Trustee under Section 6.07 or otherwise, the balance (including all amounts then held in the Capital Subaccount and the Excess Funds Subaccount), if any, shall be paid to the Issuer, free from the Lien of this Indenture and the Series Supplement.

All payments to the Holders of the Bonds pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(v), (vi) and (vii) above shall be made to such Holders pro rata based on the respective amounts of interest and/or principal owed, unless the Series Supplement provides otherwise. Payments in respect of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds will be made on a pro rata basis among all the Holders. In the case of an Event of Default, then, in accordance with Section 5.04(c), in respect of any application of moneys pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(v) or (vi), moneys will be applied pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(v) and (vi), as the case may be, in such order, on a pro rata basis, based upon the interest or the principal owed.

(f) If on any Payment Date funds on deposit in the General Subaccount are insufficient to make the payments contemplated by Section 8.02(e)(i)-(ix) above, the Indenture Trustee shall: (i) first, draw from amounts on deposit in the Excess Funds Subaccount and (ii) second, draw from amounts on deposit in the Capital Subaccount, in each case, up to the amount of such shortfall in order to make the payments contemplated by Section 8.02(e)(i)-(ix). In addition, if on any Payment Date funds on deposit in the General Subaccount are insufficient to make the allocations contemplated by clause (x) above, the Indenture Trustee shall draw from amounts on deposit in the Excess Funds Subaccount to make such allocations.

 

60


(g) On any Business Day upon which the Indenture Trustee receives a written request from the Administrator stating that any Operating Expense payable by the Issuer (but only as described in Section 8.02(e)(i)-(iv)) will become due and payable prior to the next Payment Date, and setting forth the amount and nature of such Operating Expense and the date such Operating Expense is due, as well as any supporting documentation that the Indenture Trustee may reasonably request, the Indenture Trustee, upon receipt of such information, will make payment of such Operating Expenses on or before the date such payment is due from amounts on deposit in the General Subaccount, the Excess Funds Subaccount and the Capital Subaccount, in that order and only to the extent required to make such payment.

SECTION 8.03. General Provisions Regarding the Collection Account.

(a) So long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all or a portion of the funds in the Collection Account shall be invested in Eligible Investments and reinvested by the Indenture Trustee upon Issuer Order; provided, however, that such Eligible Investments shall not mature or be redeemed later than the Business Day prior to the next Payment Date or Special Payment Date, if applicable, for the Bonds. All income or other gain from investments of moneys deposited in the Collection Account shall be deposited by the Indenture Trustee in such Collection Account, and any loss resulting from such investments shall be charged to the Collection Account. The Issuer will not direct the Indenture Trustee to make any investment of any funds or to sell any investment held in the Collection Account unless the security interest Granted and perfected in such account will continue to be perfected in such investment or the proceeds of such sale, in either case without any further action by any Person, and, in connection with any direction to the Indenture Trustee to make any such investment or sale, if requested by the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer (at the Issuer’s cost and expense) to such effect. In no event shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for the selection of Eligible Investments or for investment losses incurred thereon. The Indenture Trustee shall have no liability in respect of losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any Eligible Investment prior to its stated maturity or its date of redemption or the failure of the Issuer or the Servicer to provide timely written investment direction. The Indenture Trustee shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any amounts held hereunder in the absence of written investment direction pursuant to an Issuer Order, in which case such amounts shall remain uninvested.

(b) Subject to Section 6.01(c), the Indenture Trustee shall not in any way be held liable by reason of any insufficiency in the Collection Account resulting from any loss on any Eligible Investment included therein except for losses attributable to the Indenture Trustee’s failure to make payments on such Eligible Investments issued by the Indenture Trustee, in its commercial capacity as principal obligor and not as trustee, in accordance with their terms.

(c) If (i) the Issuer shall have failed to give written investment directions for any funds on deposit in the Collection Account to the Indenture Trustee by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (or such other time as may be agreed by the Issuer and Indenture Trustee) on any Business Day; or (ii) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to the Bonds but the Bonds shall not have been declared due and payable pursuant to Section 5.02, then the Indenture Trustee shall, to the fullest extent practicable, invest and reinvest funds in such Collection Account in Eligible Investments specified in the most recent written investment directions delivered by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee; provided, that if the Issuer has never delivered written investment directions to the Indenture Trustee, the Indenture Trustee shall not invest or reinvest such funds in any investments.

 

61


(d) The parties hereto acknowledge that the Servicer may, pursuant to the Servicing Agreement, select Eligible Investments on behalf of the Issuer; provided, however, that such investment direction on behalf of the Issuer must be given in writing to the Indenture Trustee.

(e) Except as otherwise provided hereunder or agreed in writing among the parties hereto, the Issuer shall retain the authority to institute, participate and join in any plan of reorganization, readjustment, merger or consolidation with respect to the issuer of any Eligible Investments held hereunder, and, in general, to exercise each and every other power or right with respect to each such asset or investment as Persons generally have and enjoy with respect to their own assets and investment, including power to vote upon any Eligible Investments.

SECTION 8.04. Release of Collateral.

(a) So long as the Issuer is not in default hereunder and no Default hereunder would occur as a result of such action, the Issuer, through the Servicer, may collect, sell or otherwise dispose of written-off receivables, at any time and from time to time in the ordinary course of business, without any notice to, or release or consent by, the Indenture Trustee, but only as and to the extent permitted by the Basic Documents; provided, however, that any and all proceeds of such dispositions shall become part of the Collateral and be deposited to the General Subaccount immediately upon receipt thereof by the Issuer or any other Person, including the Servicer. Without limiting the foregoing, the Servicer, may, at any time and from time to time without any notice to, or release or consent by, the Indenture Trustee, sell or otherwise dispose of any part of the Collateral previously written-off as a defaulted or uncollectible account in accordance with the terms of the Servicing Agreement and the requirements of the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence.

(b) The Indenture Trustee may, and when required by the provisions of this Indenture shall, execute instruments to release property from the Lien of this Indenture, or convey the Indenture Trustee’s interest in the same, in a manner and under circumstances that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture. No party relying upon an instrument executed by the Indenture Trustee as provided in this Article VIII shall be bound to ascertain the Indenture Trustee’s authority, inquire into the satisfaction of any conditions precedent or see to the application of any moneys. The Indenture Trustee shall release property from the Lien of this Indenture pursuant to this Section 8.04(b) only upon receipt of an Issuer Request accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer (at the Issuer’s cost and expense) and (if required by the TIA) Independent Certificates in accordance with TIA §§ 314(c) and 314(d)(1) meeting the applicable requirements of Section 10.01.

(c) The Indenture Trustee shall, at such time as there are no Bonds Outstanding and all sums payable to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.07 or otherwise have been paid, release any remaining portion of the Collateral that secured the Bonds from the Lien of this Indenture and release to the Issuer or any other Person entitled thereto any funds or investments then on deposit in or credited to the Collection Account in accordance with Section 8.02.

 

62


SECTION 8.05. Opinion of Counsel. The Indenture Trustee shall receive at least seven (7) days’ notice when requested by the Issuer to take any action pursuant to Section 8.04, accompanied by copies of any instruments involved, and the Indenture Trustee shall also require, as a condition to such action, an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, stating the legal effect of any such action, outlining the steps required to complete the same, and concluding that all conditions precedent to the taking of such action have been complied with and such action will not materially and adversely impair the perfection or priority of the remaining security for the Bonds or the rights of the Holders in contravention of the provisions of this Indenture and the Series Supplement; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel shall not be required to express an opinion as to the fair value of the Collateral. Counsel rendering any such opinion may rely, without independent investigation, on the accuracy and validity of any certificate or other instrument delivered to the Indenture Trustee in connection with any such action.

SECTION 8.06. Reports by Independent Registered Public Accountants. As of the Closing Date, the Issuer shall appoint a firm of Independent registered public accountants of recognized national reputation for purposes of preparing and delivering the reports or certificates of such accountants required by this Indenture and the Series Supplement. In the event such firm requires the Indenture Trustee to agree to the procedures performed by such firm, the Issuer shall direct the Indenture Trustee in writing to so agree; it being understood and agreed that the Indenture Trustee will deliver such letter of agreement in conclusive reliance upon the direction of the Issuer, and the Indenture Trustee makes no independent inquiry or investigation to, and shall have no obligation or liability in respect of, the sufficiency, validity or correctness of such procedures. Upon any resignation by, or termination by the Issuer of, such firm, the Issuer shall provide written notice thereof to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission and shall promptly appoint a successor thereto that shall also be a firm of Independent registered public accountants of recognized national reputation. If the Issuer shall fail to appoint a successor to a firm of Independent registered public accountants that has resigned or been terminated within fifteen (15) days after such resignation or termination, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer of such failure in writing. If the Issuer shall not have appointed a successor within ten (10) days thereafter the Indenture Trustee shall promptly appoint a successor firm of Independent registered public accountants of recognized national reputation; provided that the Indenture Trustee shall have no liability with respect to such appointment. The fees of such Independent registered public accountants and its successor shall be payable by the Issuer as an Operating Expense.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

(a) Without the consent of the Holders of any Bonds but with prior notice to the Rating Agencies, the Issuer, and the Indenture Trustee, and after satisfaction of the KPSC Condition (as described in Section 9.03), when authorized by an Issuer Order, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA as in force at the date of the execution thereof), in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

63


(i) to correct or amplify the description of any property, including, without limitation, the Collateral, at any time subject to the Lien of this Indenture, or better to assure, convey and confirm unto the Indenture Trustee any property subject or required to be subjected to the Lien of this Indenture and the Series Supplement, or to subject to the Lien of this Indenture and the Series Supplement additional property;

(ii) to evidence the succession, in compliance with the applicable provisions hereof, of another Person to the Issuer, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Issuer herein and in the Bonds;

(iii) to add to the covenants of the Issuer, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer;

(iv) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Indenture Trustee;

(v) to cure any ambiguity or mistake, to correct or supplement any provision herein or in any supplemental indenture, including the Series Supplement, which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein or in any supplemental indenture, including the Series Supplement, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture; provided, that (A) such action shall not, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of the Bonds and (B) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with respect thereto;

(vi) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Bonds and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Article VI;

(vii) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA or under any similar or successor federal statute hereafter enacted and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required by the TIA;

(viii) to evidence the final terms of the Bonds in the Series Supplement;

(ix) to qualify the Bonds for registration with a Clearing Agency;

(x) to satisfy any Rating Agency requirements;

(xi) to make any amendment to this Indenture or the Bonds relating to the transfer and legending of the Bonds to comply with applicable securities laws;

(xii) to conform the text of this Indenture or the Bonds to any provisions of the Registration Statement filed by the Issuer with the SEC with respect to the issuance of the Bonds to the extent that such provision was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture or the Bonds; or

 

64


(xiii) to authorize the appointment of any Person for the Bonds required or advisable with the listing of the Bonds on any stock exchange and otherwise amend this Indenture to incorporate changes requested or required by a Governmental Authority, stock exchange authority or fiduciary for the Bonds in connection with such listing.

The Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized to join in the execution of any such supplemental indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained.

(b) The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer Order, may, also without the consent of any of the Holders of the Bonds, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under this Indenture; provided, however, that (i) such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel of nationally recognized counsel of the Issuer experienced in structured finance transactions, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders and (ii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with respect thereto.

SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer Order and satisfaction of the KPSC Condition (as described in Section 9.03), may, with prior notice to the Rating Agencies and with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds to be adversely affected, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Bond:

(i) change the date of payment of any installment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Bond, or reduce the principal amount thereof, the interest rate thereon or premium, if any, with respect thereto, change the provisions of this Indenture and the Series Supplement relating to the application of collections on, or the proceeds of the sale of, the Collateral to payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds, or change any place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Bond or the interest thereon is payable;

(ii) reduce the percentage of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, the consent of the Holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of the Holders of which is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture;

(iii) reduce the percentage of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds required to direct the Indenture Trustee to direct the Issuer to sell or liquidate the Collateral pursuant to Section 5.04;

 

65


(iv) modify any provision of this Section 9.02 except to increase any percentage specified herein or to provide that those provisions of this Indenture or the other Basic Documents referenced in this Section 9.02 cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Bond affected thereby;

(v) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture in such manner as to affect the calculation of the amount of any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, due on any Bond on any Payment Date (including the calculation of any of the individual components of such calculation) or change the Expected Amortization Schedule or Final Maturity Date of the Bonds;

(vi) decrease the Required Capital Level;

(vii) permit the creation of any Lien ranking prior to or on a parity with the Lien of this Indenture with respect to any part of the Collateral or, except as otherwise permitted or contemplated herein, terminate the Lien of this Indenture on any property at any time subject hereto or deprive the Holder of any Bond of the security provided by the Lien of this Indenture;

(viii) cause any material adverse U.S. federal income tax consequence to the Seller, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the then-existing Holders; or

(ix) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of the provisions of this Indenture relating to payment or application of funds.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section 9.02, the Issuer shall mail to the Rating Agencies a copy of such supplemental indenture and to the Holders of the Bonds to which such supplemental indenture relates either a copy of such supplemental indenture or a notice setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

SECTION 9.03. KPSC Condition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.01 or 9.02, no amendment, modification or supplemental indenture to this Indenture (other than the Series Supplement which shall not be subject to the KPSC Condition (as described in this Section 9.03)) shall be effective except upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent in this Section 9.03.

(a) At least 15 days prior to the effectiveness of any such amendment, modification or supplemental indenture, the Issuer may submit the proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, to the Commission by delivering to the Commission’s Executive Director a written request for such consent, which request shall contain:

(i) a reference to Case No. 2023-00159;

 

66


(ii) a statement as to the possible effect of the proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, on Ongoing Financing Costs;

(iii) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, has been approved by all parties to this Indenture, and if applicable, the Holders; and

(iv) a statement identifying the Person to whom the Commission or its staff is to address its consent to the proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, or to request additional time.

(b) If the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, within 15 days (subject to extension as provided in clause (c)) of receiving a notification complying with subparagraph (a), shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (a)(iv) a written statement that the Commission might object to the proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture, then, subject to clause (d) below, such proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture shall not be effective unless and until either (A) the Commission subsequently delivers a written statement that it does not object to such proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture or (B) the Commission is conclusively deemed to not have any objection pursuant to clause (d) below.

(c) If the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, within 15 days of receiving a notification complying with subparagraph (a), shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (a)(iv) a written statement requesting an additional amount of time not to exceed 30 days in which to consider such proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture, then such proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture shall not be effective if, within such extended period, the Commission shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (a)(iv) a written statement as described in subparagraph (b), unless and until either (A) the Commission subsequently delivers a written statement that it does not object to such proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture or (B) the Commission is conclusively deemed to not have any objection pursuant to clause (d) below.

(d) If (A) the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, has not delivered written notice that the Commission might object to such proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture within the time periods described in subparagraphs (b) or (c), whichever is applicable, or (B) the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director has delivered such written notice but does not within 45 days of the delivery of the notification in (a) above, provide subsequent written notice confirming that it does in fact object and the reasons therefor or advise that it has initiated a proceeding to determine what action it might take with respect to the matter, then the Commission shall be conclusively deemed not to have any objection to the proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture and amendment, modification or supplemental indenture may subsequently become effective.

 

67


(e) Following the delivery of a notice to the Commission by the Issuer under Section 9.03(a) above, the Issuer shall have the right at any time to withdraw from the Commission further consideration of any notification of a proposed amendment, modification or supplemental indenture. Such withdrawal shall be evidenced by the prompt written notice thereof by the Issuer to the Commission, the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer.

SECTION 9.04. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the Collateral, the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and subject to Sections 6.01 and 6.02, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to such supplemental indenture or modification have been satisfied. The Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Indenture Trustee’s or the Securities Intermediary’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 9.05. Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith, and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties, liabilities and immunities under this Indenture of the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

SECTION 9.06. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment of this Indenture and every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX shall conform to the requirements of the TIA as then in effect so long as this Indenture shall then be qualified under the TIA.

SECTION 9.07. Reference in Bonds to Supplemental Indentures. Bonds authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee shall so determine, new Bonds so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Indenture Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Bonds.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 10.01. Compliance Certificates and Opinions, etc.

(a) Upon any application or request by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee (i) an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel

 

68


stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with and (iii) (if required by the TIA) an Independent Certificate from a firm of registered public accountants meeting the applicable requirements of this Section 10.01, except that, in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

(i) a statement that each signatory of such certificate or opinion has read or has caused to be read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(iii) a statement that, in the opinion of each such signatory, such signatory has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such signatory to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(iv) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such signatory, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

(b) (i) Prior to the deposit of any Collateral or other property or securities with the Indenture Trustee that is to be made the basis for the release of any property or securities subject to the Lien of this Indenture, the Issuer shall, in addition to any obligation imposed in Section 10.01(a) or elsewhere in this Indenture, furnish to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission an Officer’s Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of each Person signing such certificate as to the fair value (within ninety (90) days of such deposit) to the Issuer of the Collateral or other property or securities to be so deposited.

(ii) Whenever the Issuer is required to furnish to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission an Officer’s Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of any signer thereof as to the matters described in Section 10.01(b)(i) above, the Issuer shall also deliver to the Indenture Trustee an Independent Certificate as to the same matters, if the fair value to the Issuer of the securities to be so deposited and of all other such securities made the basis of any such withdrawal or release since the commencement of the then-current fiscal year of the Issuer, as set forth in the certificates delivered pursuant to Section 10.01(b)(i) and this Section 10.01(b)(ii), is ten percent or more of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, but such a certificate need not be furnished with respect to any securities so deposited, if the fair value thereof to the Issuer as set forth in the related Officer’s Certificate is less than the lesser of (A) $25,000 or (B) one percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds.

(iii) Whenever any property or securities are to be released from the Lien of this Indenture other than pursuant to Section 8.02(e), the Issuer shall also furnish to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission an Officer’s Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of each Person signing such certificate as to the fair value (within ninety (90) days of such release) of the property or securities proposed to be released and stating that in the opinion of such Person the proposed release will not impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof.

 

69


(iv) Whenever the Issuer is required to furnish to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission an Officer’s Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of any signatory thereof as to the matters described in Section 10.01(b)(iii) above, the Issuer shall also furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Independent Certificate as to the same matters if the fair value of the property or securities with respect thereto, or securities released from the Lien of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 8.02(e)) since the commencement of the then-current calendar year, as set forth in the certificates required by Section 10.01(b)(iii) and this Section 10.01(b)(iv), equals ten percent or more of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, but such certificate need not be furnished in the case of any release of property or securities if the fair value thereof as set forth in the related Officer’s Certificate is less than the lesser of (A) $25,000 or (B) one percent of the then Outstanding Amount of the Bonds.

(v) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 10.01, the Indenture Trustee may (A) collect, liquidate, sell or otherwise dispose of the Cost Recovery Property and the other Collateral as and to the extent permitted or required by the Basic Documents and (B) make cash payments out of the Collection Account as and to the extent permitted or required by the Basic Documents.

SECTION 10.02. Form of Documents Delivered to Indenture Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of a Responsible Officer of the Issuer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such Responsible Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters (including financial and capital markets), upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Servicer or the Issuer and other documents necessary and advisable in the judgment of counsel delivering such Opinion of Counsel.

Whenever in this Indenture, in connection with any application or certificate or report to the Indenture Trustee, it is provided that the Issuer shall deliver any document as a condition of the granting of such application, or as evidence of the Issuer’s compliance with any term hereof, it is intended that the truth and accuracy, at the time of the granting of such application or at the effective date of such certificate or report (as the case may be), of the facts and opinions stated in such document shall in such case be conditions precedent to the right of the Issuer to have such application granted or to the sufficiency of such certificate or report. The foregoing shall not, however, be construed to affect the Indenture Trustee’s right to rely conclusively upon the truth and accuracy of any statement or opinion contained in any such document as provided in Article VI.

 

70


Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 10.03. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing, and except as herein otherwise expressly provided such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Indenture Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 10.03.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any manner that the Indenture Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Bonds shall be proved by the Bond Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Bonds shall bind the Holder of every Bond issued upon the registration thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Indenture Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Bond.

SECTION 10.04. Notices, etc., to Indenture Trustee, Issuer, Commission, and Rating Agencies.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other documents provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to or filed with:

(i) the Indenture Trustee by any Holder or by the Issuer shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing by facsimile or other electronic transmission, first-class mail or overnight delivery service to or with the Indenture Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office,

(ii) the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid, to the Issuer addressed to: Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC at 1645 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101, Attention: Vice President – Regulatory and Finance, Telephone: (606) 929-1488, Email: Treasury_Operations_AEP@aep.com, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Indenture Trustee by the Issuer. The Issuer shall promptly transmit any notice received by it from the Holders to the Indenture Trustee, or

 

71


(iii) the Commission by the Seller, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid, to the Commission addressed to: to Kentucky Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 615, 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602-0615, Telephone: (502) 564-3940, Email: psced@ky.gov.

(b) Notices required to be given to the Rating Agencies by the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee shall be in writing, facsimile or other electronic transmission, personally delivered or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested to:

(i) in the case of Moody’s, to: Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., ABS/RMBS Monitoring Department, 24th Floor, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich, New York, New York 10007, Email: ServicerReports@moodys.com (all such notices to be delivered to Moody’s in writing by email), and solely for purposes of Rating Agency Condition communications: abscormonitoring@moodys.com;

(ii) in the case of Standard & Poor’s, to: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc., Structured Credit Surveillance, 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041, Telephone: (212) 438-8991, Email: servicer_reports@spglobal.com (all such notices to be delivered to Standard & Poor’s in writing by email); and

(iii) as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be designated by written notice to the other parties.

Any notice, report or other communication given hereunder may be in writing and addressed as follows or to the extent receipt is confirmed telephonically sent by Electronic Means to the address provided above.

SECTION 10.05. Notices to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class, postage prepaid, or otherwise delivered in accordance with DTC’s procedures, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears on the Bond Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall conclusively be presumed to have been duly given.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by any Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Indenture Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such a waiver.

 

72


In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a result of a strike, work stoppage or similar activity, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event of Holders when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to the Rating Agencies, failure to give such notice shall not affect any other rights or obligations created hereunder, and shall not under any circumstance constitute a Default or Event of Default.

SECTION 10.06. Rule 17g-5 Compliance. The Indenture Trustee agrees that any notice, report, request for satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition, document or other information provided by the Indenture Trustee to any Rating Agency under this Indenture or any other Basic Document to which it is a party for the purpose of determining or confirming the credit rating of the Bonds or undertaking credit rating surveillance of the Bonds shall be provided, substantially concurrently, to the Servicer for posting on a password-protected website (the “17g-5 Website”). The Servicer shall be responsible for posting all of the information on the 17g-5 Website.

SECTION 10.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof that is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the TIA, such required provision shall control.

The provisions of TIA §§ 310 through 317 that impose duties on any Person (including the provisions automatically deemed included herein unless expressly excluded by this Indenture) are a part of and govern this Indenture, whether or not physically contained herein.

SECTION 10.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 10.09. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture and the Bonds by the Issuer shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Indenture Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 10.10. Severability. Any provision in this Indenture or in the Bonds that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision (if any) or the remaining provisions hereof (unless such construction shall be unreasonable), and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 10.11. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Bonds, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Holders, and any other party secured hereunder, and any other Person with an ownership interest in any part of the Collateral, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture, provided that the Commission also shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Indenture for the benefit of the Customers. In this capacity, so long as an event constituting

 

73


an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Commission shall be authorized to declare an Event of Default under this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, as provided in the Financing Order, any right, remedy or claim to which any Customer may be entitled pursuant to the Financing Order and to this Indenture may be asserted or exercised by the Commission (or its authorized representative) for the benefit of such Customer.

SECTION 10.12. Legal Holidays. In any case where the date on which any payment is due shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Bonds or this Indenture) payment need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date on which nominally due, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after any such nominal date.

SECTION 10.13. GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW AND SECTIONS 9-301 THROUGH 9-306 OF THE NY UCC), AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS; PROVIDED THAT THE CREATION, ATTACHMENT AND PERFECTION OF ANY LIENS CREATED HEREUNDER IN COST RECOVERY PROPERTY, AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE, THE SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY AND THE HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE COST RECOVERY PROPERTY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

SECTION 10.14. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Indenture may be electronically signed, that any digital or electronic signatures (including pdf, facsimile or electronically imaged signatures provided by DocuSign or any other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Indenture Trustee) appearing on this Indenture are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility, and that delivery of any such electronic signature to, or a signed copy of, this Indenture may be made by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission.

SECTION 10.15. Recording of Indenture. If this Indenture is subject to recording in any appropriate public recording offices, such recording is to be effected by the Issuer and at its expense accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel at the Issuer’s cost and expense (which shall be external counsel of the Issuer) to the effect that such recording is necessary either for the protection of the Holders or any other Person secured hereunder or for the enforcement of any right or remedy granted to the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture.

SECTION 10.16. Issuer Obligation. No recourse may be taken, directly or indirectly, with respect to the obligations of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee on the Bonds or under this Indenture or any certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or therewith, against (a) the Issuer, other than from the Collateral as specified in Section 10.17 below, (b) any owner of a membership interest in the Issuer (including Kentucky Power) or (c) any

 

74


shareholder, partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer, director or employee of the Indenture Trustee, the Managers or any owner of a membership interest in the Issuer (including Kentucky Power) in its respective individual capacity, or of any successor or assign of any of them in their respective individual or corporate capacities, except as any such Person may have expressly agreed in writing. Each Holder by accepting a Bond specifically confirms the nonrecourse nature of these obligations, and waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Bonds.

SECTION 10.17. No Recourse to Issuer. Notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture or the Series Supplement to the contrary, Holders shall look only to the Collateral with respect to any amounts due to the Holders hereunder and under the Bonds and, in the event such Collateral is insufficient to pay in full the amounts owed on the Bonds, shall have no recourse against the Issuer in respect of such insufficiency. Each Holder by accepting a Bond specifically confirms the nonrecourse nature of these obligations, and waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Bonds.

SECTION 10.18. Basic Documents. The Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized to execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreement and the Servicing Agreement and to execute and deliver any other Basic Document which it is requested to acknowledge and, upon receipt of an Issuer Request, to modify the Intercreditor Agreement in order to add as parties thereto any other trustees for holders of “securitized bonds” (as defined in the Act) issued by Affiliates of Kentucky Power so long as such modification, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Indenture Trustee and the Commission, does not materially and adversely affect any Holder’s rights in and to the Bonds, or otherwise hereunder. Such request shall be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel of the Issuer, upon which the Indenture Trustee may rely conclusively with no duty of independent investigation or inquiry, to the effect that all conditions precedent for an amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement have been satisfied. The Intercreditor Agreement shall be binding on the Holders.

SECTION 10.19. No Petition. The Indenture Trustee, by entering into this Indenture, and each Holder, by accepting a Bond (or interest therein) issued hereunder, hereby covenant and agree that they shall not, prior to the date which is one year and one day after the termination of this Indenture, acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Issuer or any Manager to invoke the process of any court or government authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining a case against the Issuer under any insolvency law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer or any substantial part of its respective property, or ordering the dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Issuer. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude, or be deemed to estop, such Holder or the Indenture Trustee (a) from taking or omitting to take any action prior to such date in (i) any case or proceeding voluntarily filed or commenced by or on behalf of the Issuer under or pursuant to any such law or (ii) any involuntary case or proceeding pertaining to the Issuer which is filed or commenced by or on behalf of a Person other than such Holder and is not joined in by such Holder (or any Person to which such Holder shall have assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed any part of the obligations of the Issuer hereunder) under or pursuant to any such law, or (b) from commencing or prosecuting any legal action which is not an involuntary case or proceeding under or pursuant to any such law against the Issuer or any of its properties.

 

75


SECTION 10.20. Securities Intermediary. The Securities Intermediary, in acting under this Indenture, is entitled to all rights, benefits, protections, immunities and indemnities accorded to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as Indenture Trustee under this Indenture; provided that the Securities Intermediary shall comply with its obligations hereunder, including Section 8.02(b).

SECTION 10.21. Submission to Non-Exclusive Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Securities Intermediary and each Holder (by its acceptance of the Bonds) hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court sitting in The Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York or any U.S. federal court sitting in The Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture and the Bonds and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its respective property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE, THE SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY, AND EACH HOLDER (BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE BONDS) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THAT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TRIAL BY JURY.

(SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS)

 

76


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized and duly attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, as Issuer
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Indenture Trustee
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Securities Intermediary

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

 

Signature Page to

Indenture


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF BOND

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

REGISTERED No.        $    

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

CUSIP NO.

THE PRINCIPAL OF THIS SERIES 2025 SENIOR SECURED RECOVERY BOND (THIS “BOND”), WILL BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS AS SET FORTH HEREIN. ACCORDINGLY, THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS BOND AT ANY TIME MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT SHOWN ON THE FACE HEREOF. THE HOLDER OF THIS BOND HAS NO RECOURSE TO THE ISSUER HEREOF AND AGREES TO LOOK ONLY TO THE COLLATERAL, AS DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, FOR PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNTS DUE HEREUNDER. ALL OBLIGATIONS OF THE ISSUER OF THIS BOND UNDER THE TERMS OF THE INDENTURE WILL BE RELEASED AND DISCHARGED UPON PAYMENT IN FULL HEREOF OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SECTION 3.11(b) OR ARTICLE IV OF THE INDENTURE. THE HOLDER OF THIS BOND HEREBY COVENANTS AND AGREES THAT PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS ONE (1) YEAR AND ONE (1) DAY AFTER THE PAYMENT IN FULL OF THE BONDS, IT WILL NOT INSTITUTE AGAINST, OR JOIN ANY OTHER PERSON IN INSTITUTING AGAINST, THE ISSUER ANY BANKRUPTCY, REORGANIZATION, ARRANGEMENT, INSOLVENCY OR LIQUIDATION PROCEEDINGS OR OTHER SIMILAR PROCEEDING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY STATE

 

EXHIBIT A

1


OF THE UNITED STATES. NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL PRECLUDE, OR BE DEEMED TO ESTOP, SUCH HOLDER (A) FROM TAKING OR OMITTING TO TAKE ANY ACTION PRIOR TO SUCH DATE IN (I) ANY CASE OR PROCEEDING VOLUNTARILY FILED OR COMMENCED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE ISSUER UNDER OR PURSUANT TO ANY SUCH LAW OR (II) ANY INVOLUNTARY CASE OR PROCEEDING PERTAINING TO THE ISSUER WHICH IS FILED OR COMMENCED BY OR ON BEHALF OF A PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH HOLDER AND IS NOT JOINED IN BY SUCH HOLDER (OR ANY PERSON TO WHICH SUCH HOLDER SHALL HAVE ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE CONVEYED ANY PART OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE ISSUER HEREUNDER) UNDER OR PURSUANT TO ANY SUCH LAW, OR (B) FROM COMMENCING OR PROSECUTING ANY LEGAL ACTION WHICH IS NOT AN INVOLUNTARY CASE OR PROCEEDING UNDER OR PURSUANT TO ANY SUCH LAW AGAINST THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS PROPERTIES.

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

SERIES 2025 SENIOR SECURED RECOVERY BONDS

 

BOND INTEREST RATE

  

ORIGINAL

PRINCIPAL

AMOUNT

  

SCHEDULED

FINAL PAYMENT

DATE

  

FINAL MATURITY

DATE

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a limited liability company created under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the “Issuer”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [   ], or registered assigns, the Original Principal Amount shown above in semi-annual installments on the Payment Dates and in the amounts specified on the reverse hereof or, if less, the amounts determined pursuant to Section 8.02 of the Indenture, in each year, commencing on the date determined as provided on the reverse hereof and ending on or before the Final Maturity Date shown above and to pay interest, at the Interest Rate shown above, on each      and      or if any such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day, commencing on [] and continuing until the earlier of the payment in full of the principal hereof and the Final Maturity Date (each a “Payment Date”), on the principal amount of this Bond. Interest on this Bond will accrue for each Payment Date from the most recent Payment Date on which interest has been paid to but excluding such Payment Date or, if no interest has yet been paid, from the date of issuance. Interest will be computed on the basis of [specify method of computation]. Such principal of and interest on this Bond shall be paid in the manner specified on the reverse hereof.

 

EXHIBIT A

2


The principal of and interest on this Bond are payable in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. All payments made by the Issuer with respect to this Bond shall be applied first to interest due and payable on this Bond as provided above and then to the unpaid principal of and premium, if any, on this Bond, all in the manner set forth in the Indenture.

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Bond set forth on the reverse hereof, which shall have the same effect as though fully set forth on the face of this Bond.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Indenture Trustee whose name appears below by manual, electronic or facsimile signature, this Bond shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be signed, manually, electronically or in facsimile, by its Responsible Officer.

 

Date:     KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC
    By:    
      Name:
      Title:

 

EXHIBIT A

3


INDENTURE TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated:        ,   

This is one of the Bonds, designated above and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association,

as Indenture Trustee

By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

EXHIBIT A

4


REVERSE OF BOND* 3

This Bond is one of a duly authorized issue of Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds of the Issuer (herein called the “Bonds”), all issued and to be issued under that certain Indenture dated as of [•], 2025, (as supplemented by the Series Supplement (as defined below), the “Indenture”), by and among the Issuer, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”, which term includes any successor indenture trustee under the Indenture), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as securities intermediary and account bank (the “Securities Intermediary”, which term includes any successor securities intermediary under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights and obligations thereunder of the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Holders of the Bonds. For purposes herein, “Series Supplement” means that certain Series Supplement dated as of [    ] [], 2025, among the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary. All terms used in this Bond that are defined in the Indenture, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

All of the Bonds are and will be equally and ratably secured by the Collateral pledged as security therefor as provided in the Indenture.

The principal of this Bond shall be payable on each Payment Date only to the extent that amounts in the Collection Account are available therefor, and only until the outstanding principal balance thereof on the preceding Payment Date (after giving effect to all payments of principal, if any, made on the preceding Payment Date) has been reduced to the principal balance specified in the Expected Amortization Schedule which is attached to the Series Supplement as Schedule A, unless payable earlier because an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Indenture Trustee or the Holders representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds have declared the Bonds to be immediately due and payable in accordance with Section 5.02 of the Indenture (unless such declaration shall have been rescinded and annulled in accordance with Section 5.02 of the Indenture). However, actual principal payments may be made in lesser than expected amounts and at later than expected times as determined pursuant to Section 8.02 of the Indenture. The entire unpaid principal amount of this Bond shall be due and payable on the Final Maturity Date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the entire unpaid principal amount of the Bonds shall be due and payable, if not then previously paid, on the date on which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of the Bonds representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds have declared the Bonds to be immediately due and payable in the manner provided in Section 5.02 of the Indenture (unless such declaration shall have been rescinded and annulled in accordance with Section 5.02 of the Indenture). All principal payments on the Bonds shall be made pro rata to the Holders entitled thereto based on the respective principal amounts of the Bonds held by them.

 
* 

The form of the reverse of a Bond is substantially as follows, unless otherwise specified in the Series Supplement.

 

EXHIBIT A

5


Payments of interest on this Bond due and payable on each Payment Date, together with the installment of principal or premium, if any, shall be made by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person whose name appears as the Registered Holder of this Bond (or one or more Predecessor Bonds) on the Bond Register as of the close of business on the Record Date or in such other manner as may be provided in the Indenture or the Series Supplement, except that if this Bond is held in Book-Entry Form, payments will be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account designated by the Holder of the applicable Global Bond evidencing this Bond unless and until such Global Bond is exchanged for Definitive Bonds (in which event payments shall be made as provided above), and except for the final installment of principal and premium, if any, payable with respect to this Bond on a Payment Date which shall be payable as provided below. Any reduction in the principal amount of this Bond (or any one or more Predecessor Bonds) effected by any payments made on any Payment Date shall be binding upon all future Holders of this Bond and of any Bond issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not noted hereon. If funds are expected to be available, as provided in the Indenture, for payment in full of the then remaining unpaid principal amount of this Bond on a Payment Date, then the Indenture Trustee, in the name of and on behalf of the Issuer, will notify the Person who was the Registered Holder hereof as of the Record Date preceding such Payment Date by notice sent no later than five (5) days prior to such Payment Date and shall specify that such final installment will be payable only upon presentation and surrender of this Bond and shall specify the place where this Bond may be presented and surrendered for payment of such installment.

The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the Bond Interest Rate to the extent lawful.

This Bond is a “securitized bond” as such term is defined in the Act. Principal and interest due and payable on this Bond are payable from and secured primarily by Cost Recovery Property created and established by the Financing Order obtained from the Public Service Commission of the Commonwealth of Kentucky pursuant to the Act. Cost Recovery Property, as more fully defined in the Indenture, consists of the rights and interests of the Seller in the relevant Financing Order, including the right to impose, collect and recover certain charges (defined in the Act as “securitized surcharges”), to be included as a separate line item in regular electric utility bills of existing and future electric service customers within the service territory of Kentucky Power, a Kentucky electric utility, or its successors or assigns, as more fully described in the Financing Order.

The Act provides that: Neither the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is pledged to the payment of the principal of, or interest on, this bond. The Commonwealth and its agencies pledges, however, for the benefit and protection of financing parties and the electric utility, that it will not: (a) alter the provisions of Sections 278.670 to

 

EXHIBIT A

6


278.696 and Section 65.114 of the Act which authorize the commission to create an irrevocable contract right or right to sue by the issuance of a financing order creating securitized property, making the securitized surcharges imposed by a financing order irrevocable, binding, or affecting the nonbypassable charges for all existing and future retail customers of the electric utility, its successors, or assignees; (b) take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property or the security for the securitized bonds or revises the securitized costs for which recovery is authorized; (c) in any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees, and other financing parties; and (d) except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized under Section 278.678 of the Act, reduce, alter, or impair securitized surcharges that are to be imposed, billed, charge, collected, and remitted for the benefit of the bondholders, any assignee, and any other financing parties until any and all principal, interest, premium, financing costs, and other fees, expenses, or charges incurred, and any contracts to be performed, in connection with the related securitized bonds have been paid and performed in full.

The Issuer and Kentucky Power hereby acknowledge that the purchase of this Bond by the Holder hereof or the purchase of any beneficial interest herein by any Person are made in reliance on the foregoing pledge.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth therein, the transfer of this Bond may be registered on the Bond Register upon surrender of this Bond for registration of transfer at the office or agency designated by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by (a) a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, with such signature guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one of the following recognized Signature Guaranty Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) in such other guarantee program acceptable to the Indenture Trustee, and (b) such other documents as the Indenture Trustee may require, and thereupon one or more new Bonds of Minimum Denominations and in the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be charged for any registration of transfer or exchange of this Bond, but the transferor may be required to pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.04 or 2.06 of the Indenture not involving any transfer.

Each Holder, by acceptance of a Bond, covenants and agrees that no recourse may be taken, directly or indirectly, with respect to the obligations of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee on the Bonds or under the Indenture or any certificate or other writing delivered in connection therewith, against (i) any owner of a membership interest in the Issuer (including Kentucky Power) or (ii) any shareholder, partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer or employee of the Indenture Trustee, the Managers or any owner of a membership interest in the Issuer (including Kentucky Power) in its respective individual or corporate capacities, or of any successor or assign of any of them in their individual or corporate capacities, except as any such Person may have expressly agreed in writing. Each Holder by accepting a Bond specifically confirms the nonrecourse nature of these obligations, and waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Bonds.

 

EXHIBIT A

7


Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of this Bond, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Bond is registered (as of the day of determination) as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Bond and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not this Bond be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer with the consent of the Holders representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of all Bonds at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders representing specified percentages of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, on behalf of the Holders of all the Bonds, to waive compliance by the Issuer with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Bond (or any one of more Predecessor Bonds) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Bond and of any Bond issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Bond. The Indenture also permits the Indenture Trustee to amend or waive certain terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture without the consent of Holders of the Bonds issued thereunder.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Issuer on this Bond and (b) certain restrictive covenants and the related Events of Default, upon compliance by the Issuer with certain conditions set forth herein, which provisions apply to this Bond.

The term “Issuer” as used in this Bond includes any successor to the Issuer under the Indenture.

The Issuer is permitted by the Indenture, under certain circumstances, to merge or consolidate, subject to the rights of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders under the Indenture.

The Bonds are issuable only in registered form in denominations as provided in the Indenture and the Series Supplement subject to certain limitations therein set forth.

THIS BOND, THE INDENTURE AND THE SERIES SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW AND SECTIONS 9-301 THROUGH 9-306 OF THE NY UCC), AND

 

EXHIBIT A

8


THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS; PROVIDED THAT THE CREATION, ATTACHMENT AND PERFECTION OF ANY LIENS CREATED UNDER THE INDENTURE IN COST RECOVERY PROPERTY, AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE, THE SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY AND THE HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE COST RECOVERY PROPERTY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Bond or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Bond at the times, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, by entering into the Indenture, and the Holders and any Persons holding a beneficial interest in any Bond, by acquiring any Bond or interest therein, (i) express their intention that, solely for the purpose of U.S. federal income tax law and, to the extent consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, solely for the purpose of state, local and other taxes, the Bonds qualify under applicable tax law as indebtedness of the sole owner of the Issuer secured by the Collateral and (ii) solely for purposes of U.S. federal income tax law and, to the extent consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, solely for purposes of state, local and other taxes, so long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, agree to treat the Bonds as indebtedness of the sole owner of the Issuer secured by the Collateral unless otherwise required by appropriate taxing authorities.

 

EXHIBIT A

9


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Bond, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.

 

TEN COM    as tenants in common
TEN ENT    as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN   

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants

in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT   

         Custodian           

  (Custodian)          (minor)

  

Under Uniform Gifts to Minor Act (       )

                 (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

EXHIBIT A

10


ASSIGNMENT

Social Security or taxpayer I.D. or other identifying number of assignee

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned4 hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

(name and address of assignee)

the within Bond and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints , attorney, to transfer said Bond on the books kept for registration thereof, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:             
      Signature Guaranteed:
       
 
4 

BOND: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name of the registered owner as it appears on the face of the within Bond in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

NOTE: Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one of the following recognized Signature Guaranty Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MSP), (iii) the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) or (iv) such other guarantee program acceptable to the Indenture Trustee.

 

EXHIBIT A

11


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF SERIES SUPPLEMENT

This SERIES SUPPLEMENT dated as of [_____] [_], 2025 (this “Supplement”), by and among Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a limited liability company created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Issuer”), U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association (“BANK”), in its capacity as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as securities intermediary (the “Securities Intermediary”), for the benefit of the Secured Parties under the Indenture dated as of [•], 2025 (the “Indenture”), by and among the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Section 9.01 of the Indenture provides, among other things, that the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee may at any time enter into an indenture supplemental to the Indenture for the purposes of authorizing the issuance by the Issuer of the Bonds and specifying the terms thereof. The Issuer has duly authorized the creation of the Bonds with an initial aggregate principal amount of $[] to be known as Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds (the “Bonds”), and the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee are executing and delivering this Supplement in order to provide for the Bonds.

All terms used in this Supplement that are defined in the Indenture, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, except to the extent such terms are defined or modified in this Supplement or the context clearly requires otherwise. In the event that any term or provision contained herein shall conflict with or be inconsistent with any term or provision contained in the Indenture, the terms and provisions of this Supplement shall govern.

GRANTING CLAUSE

With respect to the Bonds, the Issuer hereby Grants to the Indenture Trustee, as Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties of the Bonds, all of the Issuer’s right, title and interest (whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising) in and to the following (the “Collateral”):

(a) the Cost Recovery Property created under and pursuant to the Act and Financing Order, and transferred by the Seller to the Issuer pursuant to the Sale Agreement (including, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the right to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive, and adjust Charges, the right to obtain periodic adjustments to the Charges, and all revenues, collections, claims, rights to payments, payments, moneys and proceeds arising from the rights and interests specified in the Financing Order);

(b) all Charges related to the Cost Recovery Property;

 

EXHIBIT B

1


(c) the Sale Agreement and the Bill of Sale executed in connection therewith and all property and interests in property transferred under the Sale Agreement and the Bill of Sale with respect to the Cost Recovery Property and the Bonds;

(d) the Servicing Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Administration Agreement and any subservicing, agency, other intercreditor, administration or collection agreements executed in connection therewith, to the extent related to the Cost Recovery Property and the Bonds;

(e) the Collection Account, all subaccounts thereof and all amounts of cash, instruments, investment property or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto from time to time and all Financial Assets;

(f) all rights to compel the Servicer to file for and obtain periodic adjustments to the Charges in accordance with the Act, the Financing Order, the Charge Rider and any Charge Rider Adjustments filed in connection therewith;

(g) all rights to compel performance by the Commission and the Commonwealth of Kentucky of their respective obligations or duties under the Act, the State Pledge and the Financing Order, including with respect to the guarantee of the Commission to implement the periodic adjustments to the Charges;

(h) all present and future claims, demands, causes and choses in action in respect of any or all of the foregoing, whether such claims, demands, causes and choses in action constitute Cost Recovery Property, accounts, general intangibles, instruments, contract rights, chattel paper or proceeds of such items or any other form of property;

(i) all accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts, documents, general intangibles, goods, instruments, investment property, letters of credit, letters-of-credit rights, money, commercial tort claims and supporting obligations related to the foregoing; and

(j) all payments on or under, and all proceeds in respect of, any or all of the foregoing;

provided that none of the following shall constitute any part of the Collateral:

(x) cash that has been released pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(xi) of the Indenture and, following retirement of all Outstanding Bonds, cash that has been released pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(xiii) of the Indenture;

(y) amounts deposited with the Issuer on the Closing Date, for payment of costs of issuance with respect to the Bonds (together with any interest earnings thereon); or

 

EXHIBIT B

2


(z) proceeds from the sale of the Bonds required to pay (A) the purchase price for the Cost Recovery Property and paid pursuant to the Sale Agreement or (B) up-front Financing Costs in accordance with the Financing Order;

it being understood that such amounts described in clauses (x), (y) and (z) above shall not be subject to Section 3.17 of the Indenture. Any “securitized property” (as defined in the Act) created with respect to an Additional Series shall not be part of the Collateral.

The foregoing Grant is made in trust to secure the payment of principal of and premium, if any, interest on, and any other amounts owing in respect of, the Bonds and all fees, expenses, counsel fees and other amounts due and payable to the Indenture Trustee equally and ratably without prejudice, priority or distinction, except as expressly provided in the Indenture, to secure compliance with the provisions of the Indenture with respect to the Bonds, all as provided in the Indenture and to secure the performance by the Issuer of all of its obligations under the Indenture. The Indenture and this Series Supplement constitute a security agreement within the meaning of the Act and under the UCC to the extent that the provisions of the UCC are applicable hereto.

The Indenture Trustee, as indenture trustee on behalf of the Secured Parties of the Bonds, acknowledges such Grant and accepts the trusts under this Supplement and the Indenture in accordance with the provisions of this Supplement and the Indenture.

SECTION 1. Designation. The Bonds shall be designated generally as the Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds.

SECTION 2. Initial Principal Amount; Bond Interest Rate; Scheduled Payment Date; Final Maturity Date. The Bonds shall have the initial principal amount, bear interest at the rates per annum (the “Bond Interest Rate”) and shall have the Scheduled Final Payment Dates and the Final Maturity Dates set forth below:

 

Bonds

   Initial
Principal
Amount
     Bond
Interest
Rate
     Scheduled
Final Payment
Date
     Final
Maturity
Date
 
           
           

The Bond Interest Rate shall be computed by the Issuer on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 3. Authentication Date; Payment Dates; Expected Amortization Schedule for Principal; Periodic Interest; No Premium; Other Terms.

(a) Authentication Date. The Bonds that are authenticated and delivered by the Indenture Trustee to or upon the order of the Issuer on [] (the “Closing Date”) shall have as their date of authentication [].

(b) Payment Dates. The Payment Dates for the Bonds are __________ and __________ of each year commencing on [____________], 202[], or, if any such date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day, commencing on [] (the “Initial Payment Date”) and continuing until the earlier of repayment of the Bonds in full and the Final Maturity Date.

 

EXHIBIT B

3


(c) Expected Amortization Schedule for Principal. Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on each Payment Date, the Indenture Trustee shall distribute to the Holders of record as of the related Record Date amounts payable pursuant to Section 8.02(e) of the Indenture as principal to the holders of the Bonds, until the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds thereof has been reduced to zero; provided, however, that in no event shall a principal payment pursuant to this Section 3(c) on a Payment Date be greater than the amount necessary to reduce the Outstanding Amount of such Bonds to the amount specified in the Expected Amortization Schedule which is attached as Schedule A hereto for such Payment Date.

(d) Periodic Interest. Periodic Interest will be payable on the Bonds on each Payment Date in an amount equal to one-half of the product of (i) the applicable Bond Interest Rate and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds as of the close of business on the preceding Payment Date after giving effect to all payments of principal made to the Holders of the Bonds on such preceding Payment Date; provided, however, that with respect to the Initial Payment Date, or, if no payment has yet been made, interest on the outstanding principal balance will accrue from and including the Closing Date to, but excluding, the following Payment Date.

(e) Book-Entry Bonds. The Bonds shall be Book-Entry Bonds and the applicable provisions of Section 2.11 of the Indenture shall apply to the Bonds.

(f) Waterfall Caps. The amount payable by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(i) shall not exceed $100,000 annually.

SECTION 4. Minimum Denominations. The Bonds shall be issuable in the Minimum Denomination and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 5. Certain Defined Terms. Article I of the Indenture provides that the meanings of certain defined terms used in the Indenture shall be as defined in Appendix A to the Indenture. Additionally, Article II of the Indenture provides certain terms will have the meanings specified in the related Supplement. With respect to the Bonds, the following definitions shall apply:

Bond Interest Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2 of this Supplement.

Initial Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of this Supplement.

 

EXHIBIT B

4


Minimum Denomination” shall mean $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, except for one bond, which may be of a smaller denomination.

Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) of this Supplement.

Periodic Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(d) of this Supplement.

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Supplement.

SECTION 6. Delivery and Payment for the Bonds; Form of the Bonds. The Indenture Trustee shall deliver the Bonds to the Issuer when authenticated in accordance with Section 2.03 of the Indenture. The Bonds shall be in the form of Exhibit A to the Indenture.

SECTION 7. Ratification of Indenture. As supplemented by this Supplement, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and the Indenture, as so supplemented by this Supplement, shall be read, taken, and construed as one and the same instrument. This Supplement amends, modifies and supplements the Indenture only in so far as it relates to the Bonds.

SECTION 8. Counterparts. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Supplement may be electronically signed, that any digital or electronic signatures (including pdf, facsimile or electronically imaged signatures provided by DocuSign or any other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Indenture Trustee) appearing on this Indenture are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility, and that delivery of any such electronic signature to, or a signed copy of, this Indenture may be made by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission.

SECTION 9. GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION.

(A) GOVERNING LAW. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW AND SECTIONS 9-301 THROUGH 9-306 OF THE NY UCC), AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS; PROVIDED THAT THE CREATION, ATTACHMENT AND PERFECTION OF ANY LIENS CREATED UNDER THE INDENTURE IN COST RECOVERY PROPERTY, AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE, THE SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY AND THE HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE COST RECOVERY PROPERTY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

 

EXHIBIT B

5


(B) SUBMISSION TO NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE ISSUER AND THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE, THE SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY AND EACH HOLDER (BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE BONDS) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY U.S. FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE BONDS AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS RESPECTIVE PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE, THE SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY AND EACH HOLDER (BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE BONDS) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THAT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TRIAL BY JURY.

SECTION 10. Issuer Obligation. No recourse may be taken directly or indirectly, by the Holders with respect to the obligations of the Issuer on the Bonds, under the Indenture or under this Supplement or any certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or therewith, against (i) any owner of a beneficial interest in the Issuer (including Kentucky Power) or (ii) any shareholder, partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer, director, employee or agent of the Indenture Trustee, the Managers or any owner of a beneficial interest in the Issuer (including Kentucky Power) in its individual capacity, or of any successor or assign of any of them in their respective individual or corporate capacities, except as any such Person may have expressly agreed. Each Holder by accepting a Bond specifically confirms the nonrecourse nature of these obligations, and waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Bonds.

SECTION 11. Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary shall be entitled to the same rights, protections, privileges and indeminites under this Supplement to which they are entitled under the Indenture.

 

EXHIBIT B

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary have caused this Supplement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC,
as Issuer
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Indenture Trustee
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
U.S. Bank National Association, as Securities Intermediary
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

EXHIBIT B

7


SCHEDULE A

EXPECTED AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE

OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL BALANCE

 

DATE

   AMOUNT  

Closing Date

   $       

________ ___, 20_

   $       

________ ___, 20_

   $       

________ ___, 20_

   $       

________ ___, 20_

   $       

 

EXHIBIT B

8


EXHIBIT C

SERVICING CRITERIA TO BE ADDRESSED

BY INDENTURE TRUSTEE IN ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE

 

Reg AB

Reference

   Servicing Criteria   

Applicable Indenture
Trustee

Responsibility

     General Servicing Considerations     

1122(d)(1)(i)

   Policies and procedures are instituted to monitor any performance or other triggers and events of default in accordance with the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(1)(ii)

   If any material servicing activities are outsourced to third parties, policies and procedures are instituted to monitor the third party’s performance and compliance with such servicing activities.     

1122(d)(1)(iii)

   Any requirements in the transaction agreements to maintain a back-up servicer for pool assets are maintained.     

1122(d)(1)(iv)

   A fidelity bond and errors and omissions policy is in effect on the party participating in the servicing function throughout the reporting period in the amount of coverage required by and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(1)(v)

   Aggregation of information, as applicable, is mathematically accurate and the information conveyed accurately reflects the information.     
     Cash Collection and Administration     

1122(d)(2)(i)

   Payments on pool assets are deposited into the appropriate custodial bank accounts and related bank clearing accounts no more than two business days of receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.    X

1122(d)(2)(ii)

   Disbursements made via wire transfer on behalf of an obligor or to an investor are made only by authorized personnel.    X

1122(d)(2)(iii)

   Advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(2)(iv)

   The related accounts for the transaction, such as cash reserve accounts or accounts established as a form of overcollateralization, are separately maintained (e.g., with respect to commingling of cash) as set forth in the transaction agreements.    X

1122(d)(2)(v)

   Each custodial account is maintained at a federally insured depository institution as set forth in the transaction agreements. For purposes of this criterion, “federally insured depository institution” with respect to a foreign financial institution means a foreign financial institution that meets the requirements of Rule 13k-1(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act.    X

1122(d)(2)(vi)

   Unissued checks are safeguarded so as to prevent unauthorized access.     

1122(d)(2)(vii)

   Reconciliations are prepared on a monthly basis for all asset-backed securities related bank accounts, including custodial accounts and related bank clearing accounts. These reconciliations (A) are mathematically accurate; (B) are prepared within 30 calendar days after the bank statement cutoff date, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements; (C) are reviewed and approved by someone other than the person who prepared the reconciliation; and (D) contain explanations for reconciling items. These reconciling items are resolved within 90 calendar days of their original identification, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.     
     Investor Remittances and Reporting     

1122(d)(3)(i)

   Reports to investors, including those to be filed with the SEC, are maintained in accordance with the transaction agreements and applicable SEC requirements. Specifically, such reports (A) are prepared in accordance with timeframes and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements; (B) provide information calculated in accordance with the terms specified in the transaction agreements; (C) are filed with the SEC as required by its rules and regulations; and (D) agree with investors’ or the trustee’s records as to the total unpaid principal balance and number of pool assets serviced by the servicer.     

1122(d)(3)(ii)

   Amounts due to investors are allocated and remitted in accordance with timeframes, distribution priority and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements.    X

 

EXHIBIT C

1


Reg AB

Reference

   Servicing Criteria   

Applicable Indenture
Trustee

Responsibility

1122(d)(3)(iii)

   Disbursements made to an investor are posted within two business days to the servicer’s investor records, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.    X

1122(d)(3)(iv)

   Amounts remitted to investors per the investor reports agree with cancelled checks, or other form of payment, or custodial bank statements.    X
     Pool Asset Administration     

1122(d)(4)(i)

   Collateral or security on pool assets is maintained as required by the transaction agreements or related documents.     

1122(d)(4)(ii)

   Pool assets and related documents are safeguarded as required by the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(4)(iii)

   Any additions, removals or substitutions to the asset pool are made, reviewed and approved in accordance with any conditions or requirements in the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(4)(iv)

   Payments on pool assets, including any payoffs, made in accordance with the related pool asset documents are posted to the servicer’s obligor records maintained no more than two business days after receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements, and allocated to principal, interest or other items (e.g., escrow) in accordance with the related pool asset documents.     

1122(d)(4)(v)

   The servicer’s records regarding the pool assets agree with the servicer’s records with respect to an obligor’s unpaid principal balance.     

1122(d)(4)(vi)

   Changes with respect to the terms or status of an obligor’s pool assets (e.g., loan modifications or re-agings) are made, reviewed and approved by authorized personnel in accordance with the transaction agreements and related pool asset documents.     

1122(d)(4)(vii)

   Loss mitigation or recovery actions (e.g., forbearance plans, modifications and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosures and repossessions, as applicable) are initiated, conducted and concluded in accordance with the timeframes or other requirements established by the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(4)(viii)

   Records documenting collection efforts are maintained during the period any pool asset is delinquent in accordance with the transaction agreements. Such records are maintained on at least a monthly basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements, and describe the entity’s activities in monitoring delinquent pool assets including, for example, phone calls, letters and payment rescheduling plans in cases where delinquency is deemed temporary (e.g., illness or unemployment).     

1122(d)(4)(ix)

   Adjustments to interest rates or rates of return for pool assets with variable rates are computed based on the related pool asset documents.     

1122(d)(4)(x)

   Regarding any funds held in trust for an obligor (such as escrow accounts): (A) such funds are analyzed, in accordance with the obligor’s pool asset documents, on at least an annual basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements; (B) interest on such funds is paid, or credited, to obligors in accordance with applicable pool asset documents and state laws; and (C) such funds are returned to the obligor within 30 calendar days of full repayment of the related pool assets, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(4)(xi)

   Payments made on behalf of an obligor (such as tax or insurance payments) are made on or before the related penalty or expiration dates, as indicated on the appropriate bills or notices for such payments, provided that such support has been received by the servicer at least 30 calendar days prior to these dates, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(4)(xii)

   Any late payment penalties in connection with any payment to be made on behalf of an obligor are paid from the servicer’s funds and not charged to the obligor, unless the late payment was due to the obligor’s error or omission.     

1122(d)(4)(xiii)

   Disbursements made on behalf of an obligor are posted within two business days to the obligor’s records maintained by the servicer, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(4)(xiv)

   Delinquencies, charge-offs and uncollectible accounts are recognized and recorded in accordance with the transaction agreements.     

1122(d)(4)(xv)

   Any external enhancement or other support, identified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) or Item 1115 of Regulation AB, is maintained as set forth in the transaction agreements.     

 

EXHIBIT C

2


APPENDIX A

DEFINITIONS

This is Appendix A to the Indenture.

A. Defined Terms. As used in the Indenture, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Series Supplement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any other Basic Document as hereinafter defined, as the case may be (unless the context requires a different meaning), the following terms have the following meanings:

17g-5 Website” is defined in Section 10.06 of the Indenture.

Account Records” is defined in Section 1(a)(i) of the Administration Agreement.

Act” means collectively, Chapter 278 of Title XXIV Public Utilities (KRS §§ 278.010, 278.670-.696) and Chapter 65 Counties, Cities, and Other Local Units of the act relating to investor-owned utilities (KRS § 65.114), as amended from time to time.

Actual Collections” means, with respect to Billed Charges in any Collection Period, the amount of such Billed Charges less the amounts held back under the Charge Rider to reflect potential write-offs calculated for such Collection Period.

Additional Series” means any additional series of “securitized bonds” (as defined in the Act) issued by the Issuer after the Closing Date, either pursuant to remaining authority under the Financing Order, under a Subsequent Financing Order or otherwise as authorized or approved by the Commission.

Administration Agreement” means the Administration Agreement, dated as of [•], 2025, by and between Kentucky Power and the Issuer, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Administration Fee” is defined in Section 2 of the Administration Agreement.

Administrator” means Kentucky Power, as Administrator under the Administration Agreement, or any successor Administrator to the extent permitted under the Administration Agreement.

AEP” means American Electric Power Company, Inc.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Appendix A-1


Annual Accountant’s Report” is defined in Section 3.04(a) of the Servicing Agreement.

Annual Compliance Certificate” is defined in Section 3.03(a) of the Servicing Agreement.

Application” means the Electronic Application Of Kentucky Power Company For (1) A General Adjustment Of Its Rates For Electric Service; (2) Approval Of Tariffs And Riders; (3) Approval Of Accounting Practices To Establish Regulatory Assets And Liabilities; (4) A Securitization Financing Order; And (5) All Other Required Approvals And Relief filed by Kentucky Power with the Commission dated June 29, 2023 pursuant to the Act, or any subsequent similar Application of Kentucky Power.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.), as amended from time to time.

Basic Documents” means the Indenture, the Administration Agreement, the Sale Agreement and the Bill of Sale, the Certificate of Formation, the LLC Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Series Supplement, the Letter of Representations, the Underwriting Agreement and all other documents and certificates delivered in connection therewith.

Bill of Sale” means the Bill of Sale, dated as of [•], 2025, by and between the Seller and the Issuer, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Billed Charges” is defined in Annex I to the Servicing Agreement.

Billing Period” means the period created by dividing the calendar year into twelve (12) consecutive periods of approximately twenty-one (21) Servicer Business Days.

Bills” means each of the regular monthly bills, summary bills, opening bills and closing bills issued to Customers by Kentucky Power on its own behalf and in its capacity as Servicer.

Bond Deferral Account” means the deferral account with respect to Bonds authorized by the Financing Order.

Bond Register” means the register maintained pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Indenture, providing for the registration of the Bonds and transfers and exchanges thereof.

Bond Registrar” means the registrar at any time of the Bond Register, appointed pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Indenture.

Bonds” means the “Series 2025 Senior Secured Bonds” authorized by the Financing Order and issued by the Issuer under the Indenture and Series Supplement on the Closing Date.

 

Appendix A-2


Bond Interest Rate” means, with respect to any Tranche of Bonds, the rate at which interest accrues on the Bonds of such Tranche, as specified in the Series Supplement.

Book-Entry Bonds” means any Bonds issued in Book-Entry Form; provided, however, that after the occurrence of a condition whereupon book-entry registration and transfer are no longer permitted and Definitive Bonds are to be issued to the Holder of such Bonds, such Bonds shall no longer be “Book-Entry Bonds”.

Book-Entry Form” means, with respect to any Bond, that such Bond is not certificated and the ownership and transfers thereof shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 2.11 of the Indenture and the Series Supplement pursuant to which such Bond was issued.

Budget Billing Plan” means a levelized payment plan offered by Servicer pursuant to which the related Customer’s invoice amount for each billing cycle is a constant amount (or approximately constant) irrespective of usage for the related billing cycle.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Ashland, Kentucky, New York, New York, or Columbus, Ohio are, or DTC or the Corporate Trust Office is, authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Calculation Period” means, with respect to any True-Up Adjustment, the applicable Calculation Period A and the applicable Calculation Period B.

Calculation Period A” means, with respect to any True-Up Adjustment, the period beginning on the date on which such True-Up Adjustment would go into effect and ending on the next Payment Date following such True-Up Adjustment effective date; provided that for the purpose of calculating the first Periodic Payment Requirement as of the Closing Date, “Calculation Period A” means, initially, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the billing cycle of [Month] 2026.

Calculation Period B” means, with respect to any True-Up Adjustment, the period beginning on the date on which such True-Up Adjustment would go into effect and ending on the second Payment Date following such True-Up Adjustment effective date; provided that in the case of any True-Up Adjustment which will go into effect from and after the date that is 6 months before the last Scheduled Final Payment Date, the Calculation Period shall begin on the date the True-Up Adjustment goes into effect and end on the next Payment Date following such True-Up Adjustment effective date; and provided further that for the purpose of calculating the first Periodic Payment Requirement as of the Closing Date, “Calculation Period B” means, initially, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the billing cycle of [Month] 2026.

Capital Contribution” means the amount of cash contributed to the Issuer by Kentucky Power as specified in the LLC Agreement.

Capital Subaccount” is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.

 

Appendix A-3


Cash Flow Model” means the cash flow model developed by or on behalf of the Seller for use by or on behalf of the owner of Cost Recovery Property in implementing the Charge Rider, and which includes a 20-year forecast of revenues by Revenue Class.

Cash Subaccount” is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.

Certificate of Compliance” means the certificate referred to in Section 3.03(a) of the Servicing Agreement and substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached to the Servicing Agreement.

Certificate of Formation” means the Certificate of Formation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 4, 2024, pursuant to which the Issuer was formed.

Charge” means any “securitized surcharge” (as defined in Section 278.670(20) of the Act), which is authorized by the Financing Order.

Charge Collections” means the Charge Payments actually received by the Servicer to be remitted to the Collection Account.

Charge Payments” means the payments made by Customers based on the Charges.

Charge Rider” means the Securitized Surcharge Rider (S.S.R.), in the form attached to the Financing Order as Appendix B, filed with the Commission pursuant to the Act to evidence the Charges pursuant to the Financing Order.

Charge Rider Adjustment” means a revision to the Charge Rider or any other notice filing filed with the Commission in respect of the Charge Rider pursuant to a True-Up Adjustment.

Claim” means a “claim” as defined in Section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code.

Clearing Agency” means an organization registered as a “clearing agency” pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

Clearing Agency Participant” means a securities broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation or other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency effects book entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency.

Closing Date” means, [•], 2025, the date on which the Bonds are originally issued in accordance with Section 2.10 of the Indenture and the Series Supplement.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral” has the meaning specified in the preamble of the Indenture.

Collection Account” is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.

 

Appendix A-4


Collection Period” means any period commencing on the first Servicer Business Day of any Billing Period and ending on the last Servicer Business Day of such Billing Period.

Commission” means the Public Service Commission of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any successor.

Commission Regulations” means the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.

Commonwealth” means the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Company Minutes” is defined in Section 1(iv) of the Administration Agreement.

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Indenture Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office (for all purposes other than registration of transfer of Bonds) as of the Closing Date is located at 190 South LaSalle Street, 7th Floor, MK-IL-SL7R, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention: Corporate Trust Services / Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, Telephone: (800) 934-6802, Email: (800) 934- 6802, Email: matthew.smith2@usbank.com; melissa.rosal@usbank.com; maryann.turbak@usbank.com, and for registration of transfers of Bonds, the office as of the Closing Date is located at 111 Fillmore Avenue East, St. Paul, Minnesota 55107, Attention: Bondholder Services, or at such other address as the Indenture Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders of Bonds and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor trustee by like notice.

Cost Recovery Property” means all “securitized property” (as defined in Section 278.670(19) of the Act) created pursuant to the Financing Order and sold or otherwise conveyed to the Issuer under the Sale Agreement, including the right to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive, and adjust the Charges authorized under the Financing Order and to obtain periodic adjustments to such charges authorized under the Act as provided in the Financing Order and all revenues, collections, claims, rights to payments, payments, moneys, or proceeds arising from the rights and interests specified in the Financing Order, regardless of whether those revenues, collections, claims, rights to payment, payments, moneys, or proceeds are imposed, billed, received, collected, or maintained together with or commingled with other revenues, collections, rights to payment, payments, moneys, or proceeds.

Cost Recovery Property Records” is defined in Section 5.01 of the Servicing Agreement.

Covenant Defeasance Option” is defined in Section 4.01(b) of the Indenture.

Customer” means all existing and future retail customers receiving electric service from Kentucky Power or its successors or assignees under Commission-approved rate schedules even if a retail customer elects to purchase electricity from an alternative electric supplier following a fundamental change in regulation of public utilities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Daily Remittance” is defined in Section 6.11(a) of the Servicing Agreement.

 

Appendix A-5


Default” means any occurrence that is, or with notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default as defined in Section 5.01 of the Indenture.

Definitive Bonds” means Bonds issued in definitive form in accordance with Section 2.13 of the Indenture.

Depositor” means Kentucky Power, in its capacity as depositor of the Cost Recovery Property.

Disapproval Order” means an order, substantially in the form of Appendix F to the Financing Order, issued by the Commission upon a finding that: (a) the “Statutory Requirements” set forth in the Issuance Advice Letter have not been satisfied, (b) the structuring, marketing and pricing of the Bonds would not result in the lowest Charges consistent with prevailing market conditions at the time in which the Bonds are priced, or (c) all other procedures, criteria and requirements set forth in this Financing Order and the Act have not been satisfied.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.

Electronic Means” means telephone, telecopy, telegraph, telex, internet, electronic mail, facsimile transmission or any other similar means of electronic communication. Any communication by telephone as an Electronic Means shall be promptly confirmed in writing or by one of the other means of electronic communication authorized herein.

Eligible Account” means a segregated non-interest-bearing trust account with an Eligible Institution.

Eligible Institution” means:

(a) the corporate trust department of the Indenture Trustee, so long as the Indenture Trustee or an Affiliate thereof has (i) either a short-term credit or issuer rating from Moody’s of at least “P-1” or a long term unsecured debt or issuer rating from Moody’s of at least “A2” and (ii) a long-term credit or issuer rating from S&P of at least “A”; or

(b) a depository institution organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State (or any domestic branch of a foreign bank), which (i) has either (A) a long-term unsecured debt or issuer rating of “AA-” or higher by S&P and “A2” or higher by Moody’s, (B) a short-term issuer rating of “A-1” or higher by S&P and “P-1” or higher by Moody’s, or (C) any other long-term, short-term or certificate of deposit rating acceptable to the Rating Agencies and (ii) whose deposits are insured by the FDIC;

provided, however, that if an Eligible Institution then being utilized for any purposes under the Indenture or the Series Supplement no longer meets the definition of Eligible Institution, then the Issuer shall replace such Eligible Institution within thirty (30) days of such Eligible Institution no longer meeting the definition of Eligible Institution.

If so qualified under clause (b) above, the Indenture Trustee or its Affiliate may be considered an Eligible Institution for the purposes of clause (a) of this definition.

 

Appendix A-6


Eligible Investments” mean instruments or investment property which evidence:

(a) direct obligations of, or obligations fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to timely payment by, the United States of America;

(b) demand or time deposits of, unsecured certificates of deposit of, money market deposit accounts of, or bankers’ acceptances issued by, any depository institution (including bank deposit products of the Indenture Trustee or any of its Affiliates, acting in its commercial capacity) incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof and subject to supervision and examination by federal or state banking authorities, so long as the commercial paper or other short term debt obligations of such depository institution are, at the time of deposit, rated not less than “A-1” and “P-1” or their equivalents by each of S&P and Moody’s, or such lower rating as will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the ratings of the Bonds;

(c) commercial paper (including commercial paper of the Indenture Trustee or any of its Affiliates, acting in its commercial capacity, and other than commercial paper issued by Kentucky Power or any of its Affiliates), which at the time of investment or contractual commitment to invest is rated not less than “A-1” and “P-1” or their equivalents by each of S&P and Moody’s, or such lower rating as will not result in the downgrading or withdrawal of the ratings of the Bonds;

(d) investments in money market funds having a rating from Moody’s and S&P of “Aaa-mf” and “AAAm”, respectively, including funds for which the Indenture Trustee or any of its Affiliates acts as investment manager or advisor;

(e) repurchase obligations with respect to any security that is a direct obligation of, or fully guaranteed by, the United States of America or certain of its agencies or instrumentalities, entered into with Eligible Institutions;

(f) repurchase obligations with respect to any security or whole loan entered into with an Eligible Institution or with a registered broker dealer, acting as principal and that meets the ratings criteria set forth below:

(i) a broker/dealer (acting as principal) registered as a broker or dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act (any broker/dealer being referred to in this definition as a “broker/dealer”), the unsecured short-term debt obligations of which are rated at least “P-1” by Moody’s and “A-1+” by Standard & Poor’s at the time of entering into this repurchase obligation, or

(ii) an unrated broker/dealer, acting as principal, that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a non-bank or bank holding company the unsecured short-term debt obligations of which are rated at least “P-1” by Moody’s and “A-1+” by Standard & Poor’s at the time of purchase so long as the obligations of such unrated broker/dealer are unconditionally guaranteed by such non-bank or bank holding company;

 

Appendix A-7


provided, however, that if any such Eligible Institution or registered broker/dealer no longer meets the requirements set forth above, then the Issuer shall replace such Eligible Institution or registered broker-dealer within 30 days of such Eligible Institution or registered broker/dealer no longer meeting such requirement; or

(g) any other investment permitted by each of the Rating Agencies;

in each case maturing not later than the Business Day immediately preceding the next Payment Date or Special Payment Date, if applicable (for the avoidance of doubt, investments in money market funds or similar instruments which are redeemable on demand shall be deemed to satisfy the foregoing requirement). Notwithstanding the foregoing: (1) no securities or investments which mature in 30 days or more shall be “Eligible Investments” unless the issuer thereof has either a short-term unsecured debt rating of at least “P-1” from Moody’s or a long-term unsecured debt rating of at least “A1” from Moody’s and also has a long-term unsecured debt rating of at least “A” from S&P; (2) no securities or investments described in clauses (b) through (d) above which have maturities of more than 30 days but less than or equal to 3 months shall be “Eligible Investments” unless the issuer thereof has a long-term unsecured debt rating of at least “A1” from Moody’s and a short-term unsecured debt rating of at least “P-1” from Moody’s; (3) no securities or investments described in clauses (b) through (d) above which have maturities of more than 3 months shall be an “Eligible Investment” unless the issuer thereof has a long-term unsecured debt rating of at least “A1” from Moody’s and a short-term unsecured debt rating of at least “P1” from Moody’s; (4) no securities or investments described in clauses (b) through (d) above which have a maturity of 60 days or less shall be an “Eligible Investment” unless such securities or investments have a rating from S&P of at least “A-1”; and (5) no securities or investments described in bullet points (b) through (d) above which have a maturity of more than 60 days will be Eligible Investments unless such securities have a rating from S&P of at least “AA-”, “A-1+” or “AAAm”.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

ERISA Affiliate” means with respect to any Person at any time, each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that would, at that time, be treated together with such Person as a single employer under Section 401 of ERISA or Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

Estimated Collections” means the sum of the payments in respect of Charges which are deemed to have been received by the Servicer, directly or indirectly, from or on behalf of Customers, calculated in accordance with Annex I of the Servicing Agreement.

Event of Default” is defined in Section 5.01 of the Indenture.

Excess Funds Subaccount” is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.

Excess Remittance” means the amount, if any, calculated for a particular Collection Period, by which all Estimated Collections remitted to the Collection Account during such Collection Period exceed Actual Collections received by the Servicer during such Collection Period.

 

Appendix A-8


Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Expected Amortization Schedule” means, with respect to any Tranche, the expected amortization schedule related thereto set forth in the Series Supplement.

FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any successor thereto.

Federal Book-Entry Regulations” means 31 C.F.R. Part 357 et seq. (Department of Treasury).

Federal Book-Entry Securities” means securities issued in Book-Entry Form by the United States Treasury.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Servicer from three (3) federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor thereto.

Final” means, with respect to the Financing Order, that the Financing Order has become final, is not being appealed and that the time for filing an appeal therefrom has expired.

Final Maturity Date” means, with respect to each Tranche of Bonds, the Final Maturity Date therefor, as specified in the Series Supplement; provided that the Final Maturity Date of any Tranche in a series of Bonds shall not be later than (a) 22 years and 3 months after the date of issuance of such series or, (b) if earlier, two years after the applicable Scheduled Final Payment Date.

Financial Asset” means “financial asset” as set forth in Section 8-102(a)(9) of the NY UCC.

Financing Costs” means all “financing costs” (as defined in Section 278.670(6) of the Act) recoverable under the Financing Order.

Financing Order” means the Financing Order, issued on [•], 2025, by the Commission pursuant to the Act, authorizing the creation of the Cost Recovery Property, which amends, restated and supersedes the Financing Order issued by the Commission on January 10, 2024.

General Subaccount” is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.

 

Appendix A-9


Global Bond” means a Bond to be issued to the Holders thereof in Book-Entry Form, which Global Bond shall be issued to the Clearing Agency, or its nominee, in accordance with Section 2.11 of the Indenture and the Series Supplement.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any federal, state, local or other political subdivision thereof and any court, administrative agency or other instrumentality or entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative function of government.

Grant” means mortgage, pledge, bargain, sell, warrant, alienate, remise, release, convey, grant, transfer, create, and grant a lien upon and a security interest in and right of set-off against, deposit, set over and confirm pursuant to the Indenture and the Series Supplement. A Grant of the Collateral or of any other agreement or instrument included therein shall include all rights, powers and options (but none of the obligations) of the Granting party thereunder, including the immediate and continuing right to claim for, collect, receive and give receipt for payments in respect of the Collateral and all other moneys payable thereunder, to give and receive notices and other communications, to make waivers or other agreements, to exercise all rights and options, to bring Proceedings in the name of the Granting party or otherwise and generally to do and receive anything that the Granting party is or may be entitled to do or receive thereunder or with respect thereto.

Hague Securities Convention” means the Convention on the Law Applicable to Certain Rights in Respect of Securities Held with an Intermediary, ratified September 28, 2016, S. Treaty Doc. No. 112-6 (2012).

Holder” or “Bondholder” means the Person in whose name a Bond is registered on the Bond Register.

Indemnified Losses” is defined in Section 5.03 of the Servicing Agreement.

Indemnified Person” is defined in Section 6.02(b) of the Servicing Agreement and in Section 5.01(f) of the Sale Agreement.

Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of [•], 2025, by and among the Issuer, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as Indenture Trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as Securities Intermediary, as originally executed and, as from time to time supplemented or amended by the Series Supplement or indentures supplemental thereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture, as so supplemented or amended, or both, and shall include the forms and terms of the Bonds established thereunder.

Indenture Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as indenture trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or any successor indenture trustee under the Indenture.

 

Appendix A-10


Independent” means, when used with respect to any specified Person, that the Person (a) is in fact independent of the Issuer, any other obligor on the Bonds, the Seller, the Servicer and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons, (b) does not have any direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the Issuer, any such other obligor, the Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons and (c) is not connected with the Issuer, any such other obligor, the Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons as an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner, director (other than as an independent director or manager) or Person performing similar functions.

Independent Certificate” means a certificate or opinion to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee under the circumstances described in, and otherwise complying with, the applicable requirements of Section 10.01 of the Indenture, made by an Independent appraiser or other expert appointed by an Issuer Order and consented to by the Indenture Trustee, and such opinion or certificate shall state that the signer has read the definition of “Independent” in the Indenture and that the signer is Independent within the meaning thereof.

Independent Manager” is defined in Section 4.01(a) of the LLC Agreement.

Independent Manager Fee” is defined in Section 4.01(a) of the LLC Agreement.

Initial Payment Date” is defined in Section 3(b) of the Series Supplement.

Insolvency Event” means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) the filing of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of such Person or any substantial part of its property in an involuntary case under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of such Person’s affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or (b) the commencement by such Person of a voluntary case under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by such Person to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by such Person to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by such Person of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure by such Person generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of action by such Person in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

Insolvency Law” means any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect.

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of September 7, 2022, as amended and restated as of December 9, 2024, by and among the AEP Credit, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and control agent, and the issuers, servicers and indenture trustees from time to time party thereto; as supplemented by the Joinder to Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of [•], 2025, by and among Kentucky Power, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, AEP Credit, Inc., and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Interim True-Up Adjustment” means any adjustment (other than a Mandatory True-Up Adjustment) to the Charges made pursuant to the terms of the Charge Rider.

 

Appendix A-11


Interim True-Up Adjustment Date” means, with respect to any Interim True-Up Adjustment, the date on which such Interim True-Up Adjustment shall take effect.

Internal Revenue Service” means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Investment Earnings” means investment earnings on funds deposited in the Collection Account net of losses and investment expenses.

Issuance Advice Letter” means the Issuance Advice Letter filed with the Commission pursuant to the Act and the Financing Order with respect to the Bonds.

Issuer” means Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, named as such in the Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor and, for purposes of any provision contained herein and required by the TIA, each other obligor on the Bonds.

Issuer Documents” is defined in Section 1(a)(iv) of the Administration Agreement.

Issuer Order” and “Issuer Request” mean a written order or request signed in the name of the Issuer by any one of its Responsible Officers and delivered to the Indenture Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable.

Kentucky Power” means Kentucky Power Company, a Kentucky corporation.

KPSC Condition” means the satisfaction of any precondition to any amendment or modification to or action under any Basic Documents through the obtaining of Commission consent or acquiescence, as described in the related Basic Document.

KRS” means the Kentucky Revised Statutes, as amended from time to time.

Legal Defeasance Option” is defined in Section 4.01(b) of the Indenture.

Letter of Representations” means any applicable agreement between the Issuer and the applicable Clearing Agency, with respect to such Clearing Agency’s rights and obligations (in its capacity as a Clearing Agency) with respect to any Book-Entry Bonds, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Lien” means a security interest, lien, mortgage, charge, pledge, claim, equity or encumbrance of any kind.

LLC Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101 et seq., as amended from time to time.

 

Appendix A-12


LLC Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, dated as of [•], 2025, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Losses” means (a) any and all amounts of principal and interest on the Bonds not paid when due or when scheduled to be paid in accordance with their terms and the amounts of any deposits by or to the Issuer required to have been made in accordance with the terms of the Basic Documents or the Financing Order which are not made when so required and (b) any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, payments, costs or expenses of any kind whatsoever.

Lowest Cost Objective Certification of Kentucky Power” means a certification in substantially the form of Attachment 5 to Appendix A to the Financing Order, duly executed by Kentucky Power.

Lowest Cost Objective Certification of the Financial Advisor” means a certification in substantially the form of Appendix E to the Financing Order, duly executed by Saber Partners, LLC.

Lowest Cost Objective Certification of Kentucky Power” means a certification in substantially the form of Appendix D to the Financing Order, duly executed by the Underwriters.

Manager” means each manager of the Issuer under the LLC Agreement.

Mandatory True-Up Adjustment” means each adjustment to the Charges made pursuant to the terms of the Charge Rider in accordance with Section 4.01(b)(i) of the Servicing Agreement.

Mandatory True-Up Adjustment Date” means:

(a) first, on [Date];

(b) then, until the date that is 12 months prior to the Schedule Final Payment Date, each [Month] [Day] and [Month] [Day] of each year; and

(c) thereafter, each [Month] [Day], [Month] [Day], [Month] [Day] and [Month] [Day] of each year.

Material Remittance Investment Earnings” means, for any Collection Period, if such aggregate amount is at least $[•], then the aggregate amount of interest and investment earnings that (a) during prior Collection Periods has accrued on Charge Collections between the time such Charge Collections were actually collected by the Servicer and the time they were remitted to the Collection Account and (b) have not been previously reconciled pursuant to Section 6.11(c) of the Servicing Agreement.

Member” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of the LLC Agreement.

Membership Interest” is defined in Section 6.01 of the LLC Agreement.

 

Appendix A-13


Minimum Denomination” means, with respect to any Bond, the minimum denomination therefor specified in the Series Supplement, which minimum denomination shall be not less than $2,000, except for one Bond of each Tranche which may be of smaller denomination, and, except as otherwise provided in the Series Supplement, integral multiples of $1,000.

Monthly Servicer’s Certificate” means a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Servicing Agreement, completed and executed by a Responsible Officer of the Servicer pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(i) of the Servicing Agreement.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto. References to Moody’s are effective so long as Moody’s is a Rating Agency.

Notice of Default” is defined in Section 5.01(c) of the Indenture.

NY UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date hereof in the State of New York.

Officer’s Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of such Person and, with respect to an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer delivered to the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture, under the circumstances described in, and otherwise complying with, the applicable requirements of Section 10.01 of the Indenture, and delivered to the Indenture Trustee. Unless otherwise specified, any reference in a Basic Document to an Officer’s Certificate shall be to an Officer’s Certificate of any Responsible Officer of the party delivering such certificate.

Ongoing Financing Costs” means the Financing Costs described as such in the Financing Order, including costs that Kentucky Power and the Commission will continue to incur after the issuance of the Financing Order, Operating Expenses and any other costs identified in the Basic Documents; provided, however, that Ongoing Financing Costs do not include (a) the Issuer’s costs of issuance of the Bonds and (b) the portion of costs associated with Kentucky Power’s servicing functions as Servicer or administrative functions as Administrator that are already being recovered in rates as part of Kentucky Power’s cost of service or net income.

Operating Expenses” means all unreimbursed fees, costs and expenses of the Issuer, including all amounts owed by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee, any Manager, the Servicing Fee, the Administration Fee, Reimbursable Administrative Expenses, Reimbursable Servicing Expenses, legal and accounting fees, Rating Agency fees and any other costs and expenses of the Issuer and Kentucky Power specified as being Operating Expenses in the Basic Documents, and any franchise or other taxes owed on investment income in the Collection Account.

Opinion of Counsel” means one or more written opinions of counsel who may, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Basic Documents, be employees of or counsel to the party providing such opinion of counsel, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the party receiving such opinion of counsel, and shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such party. Any Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters (including financial and capital markets), upon a certificate or opinion or, or representations by, an officer or officer of the Servicer or the Issuer and other documents necessary and advisable in the judgment of counsel delivering such opinion.

 

Appendix A-14


Outstanding” means, as of the date of determination, all Bonds theretofore authenticated and delivered under the Indenture except:

(a) Bonds theretofore canceled by the Bond Registrar or delivered to the Bond Registrar for cancellation;

(b) Bonds or portions thereof the payment for which money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the Holders of such Bonds; and

(c) Bonds in exchange for or in lieu of other Bonds which have been issued pursuant to the Indenture unless proof satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee is presented that any such Bonds are held by a Protected Purchaser;

provided that, in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Outstanding Amount of the Bonds or any Tranche thereof have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or under any Basic Document, Bonds owned by the Issuer, any other obligor upon the Bonds, the Member, the Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding (unless one or more such Persons owns 100% of such Bonds), except that, in determining whether the Indenture Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Bonds that the Indenture Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Bonds so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Indenture Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Bonds and that the pledgee is not the Issuer, any other obligor upon the Bonds, the Member, the Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons.

Outstanding Amount” means the aggregate principal amount of all Bonds or, if the context requires, all Bonds of a Tranche, Outstanding at the date of determination.

Paying Agent” means, with respect to the Indenture, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and any other Person appointed as a paying agent for the Bonds pursuant to the Indenture.

Payment Date” means, with respect to any Tranche of Bonds, the dates specified in the Series Supplement; provided that if any such date is not a Business Day, the Payment Date shall be the Business Day immediately succeeding such date.

Periodic Billing Requirement” means, for any Calculation Period, the aggregate amount of Charges calculated by the Servicer as necessary to be billed during such period in order to collect the Periodic Payment Requirement on a timely basis, given: (a) forecast usage and revenue data, excluding the Charges, for the Calculation Period; (b) forecast uncollectibles for the Calculation Period; and (c) forecast lags in collection of Billed Charges for the Calculation Period.

 

Appendix A-15


Periodic Interest” means, with respect to any Payment Date, the periodic interest for such Payment Date as specified in the Series Supplement.

Periodic Payment Requirement” for any Calculation Period means the total dollar amount of Charge Collections reasonably calculated by the Servicer in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Servicing Agreement as necessary to be received during such period (after giving effect to the allocation and distribution of amounts on deposit in the Excess Funds Subaccount at the time of calculation and which are projected to be available for payments on the Bonds at the end of such Calculation Period and any over or under recoveries in Periodic Payment Requirements for any prior Calculation Period) in order to ensure that, as of the last Payment Date occurring in such Calculation Period, (a) all accrued and unpaid interest on the Bonds then due shall have been paid in full on a timely basis, (b) the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds is equal to the Projected Unrecovered Balance on each Payment Date during such Calculation Period, (c) the balance on deposit in the Capital Subaccount equals the aggregate Required Capital Level and (d) all other fees and expenses due and owing and required or allowed to be paid under Section 8.02 of the Indenture as of such date shall have been paid in full; provided that, with respect to any Mandatory True-Up Adjustment or Interim True-Up Adjustment occurring after the last Scheduled Final Payment Date for the Bonds, the Periodic Payment Requirements shall be calculated to ensure that sufficient Charges will be collected to retire the Bonds in full as of the next Payment Date.

Periodic Principal” means, with respect to any Payment Date, the excess, if any, of the Outstanding Amount of Bonds over the outstanding Unrecovered Balance specified for such Payment Date on the Expected Amortization Schedule.

Permitted Lien” means the Lien created by the Indenture.

Permitted Successor” is defined in Section 5.02(e) of the Sale Agreement.

Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust (including any beneficiary thereof), unincorporated organization or Governmental Authority.

Predecessor Bond” means, with respect to any particular Bond, every previous Bond evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Bond, and, for the purpose of this definition, any Bond authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 of the Indenture in lieu of a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Bond shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Bond.

Premises” is defined in Section 1(g) of the Administration Agreement.

Proceeding” means any suit in equity, action at law or other judicial or administrative proceeding.

Projected Unrecovered Balance” means, as of any Payment Date, the sum of the projected outstanding principal amount of each Tranche of Bonds for such Payment Date set forth in the Expected Amortization Schedule.

Prospectus” means the prospectus dated [•], 2025, relating to the Bonds.

 

Appendix A-16


Protected Purchaser” has the meaning specified in Section 8-303 of the NY UCC.

Purchase Price” is defined in Section 2.01 of the Sale Agreement.

Rating Agency” means with respect to any Tranche of Bonds, any of Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s which provides a rating with respect to the Bonds. If no such organization or successor is any longer in existence, “Rating Agency” shall be a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or other comparable Person designated by the Issuer, notice of which designation shall be given to the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer.

Rating Agency Condition” means, with respect to any action, (a) not less than ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notification to each Rating Agency of such action, and written confirmation from each Rating Agency to the Servicer, the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer that such action will not result in a suspension, reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating by such Rating Agency of any Tranche of Bonds, and (b) that prior to the taking of the proposed action no other Rating Agency shall have provided written notice to the Issuer that such action has resulted or would result in the suspension, reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating of any Tranche of Bonds; provided, that if within such ten (10) Business Day period, any Rating Agency (other than Standard & Poor’s) has neither replied to such notification nor responded in a manner that indicates that such Rating Agency is reviewing and considering the notification, then (i) the Issuer shall be required to confirm that such Rating Agency has received the Rating Agency Condition request, and if it has, promptly request the related Rating Agency Condition confirmation and (ii) if the Rating Agency neither replies to such notification nor responds in a manner that indicates it is reviewing and considering the notification within five (5) Business Days following such second (2nd) request, the applicable Rating Agency Condition requirement shall not be deemed to apply to such Rating Agency. For the purposes of this definition, any confirmation, request, acknowledgment or approval that is required to be in writing may be in the form of electronic mail or a press release (which may contain a general waiver of a Rating Agency’s right to review or consent).

Record Date” means, with respect to a Payment Date, in the case of Definitive Bonds, the close of business on the last day of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which such Payment Date occurs, and in the case of Book-Entry Bonds, one Business Day prior to the applicable Payment Date.

Recovery Costs” means the “securitization costs” (as defined in the Kentucky Utilities Act) recoverable pursuant to the Financing Order through the issuance of the Bonds, including the Financing Costs.

Registered Holder” means the Person in whose name a Bond is registered on the Bond Register.

Registration Statement” means the registration statement, Form SF-1 Registration Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01, filed with the SEC for registration under the Securities Act relating to the offering and sale of the Bonds, and including all amendments thereto.

 

Appendix A-17


Regulation AB” means the rules of the SEC promulgated under Subpart 229.1100 – Asset Backed Securities (Regulation AB), 17 C.F.R. §§229.1100-229.1125, as such may be amended from time to time.

Reimbursable Administrative Expenses” is defined in Section 2 of the Administration Agreement.

Reimbursable Servicing Expenses” is defined in Section 6.06(a) of the Servicing Agreement.

Released Parties” is defined in Section 6.02(e) of the Servicing Agreement.

Remittance Shortfall” means the amount, if any, calculated for a particular Collection Period, by which Actual Collections received by the Servicer during such Collection Period exceed all Estimated Collections remitted to the Collection Account during such Collection Period.

Required Capital Level” means an amount equal to 0.50% of the initial principal amount of the Bonds, or such other amount as may be permitted or required under the Financing Order and applicable Internal Revenue Service rulings, deposited into the Capital Subaccount by the Member prior to or upon the issuance of the Bonds.

Requirement of Law” means any foreign, federal, state or local laws, statutes, regulations, rules, codes or ordinances enacted, adopted, issued or promulgated by any Governmental Authority or common law.

Responsible Officer” means with respect to (a) the Issuer, any Manager or any duly authorized officer; (b) the Indenture Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of such trustee (including the President, any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Secretary or Assistant Treasurer, Trust Officer or any other officer of the Indenture Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively), and that has direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred to because of such officer’s knowledge and familiarity with the particular subject; (c) any corporation (other than the Indenture Trustee), the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer or any other duly authorized officer of such Person who has been authorized to act in the circumstances; (d) any partnership, any general partner thereof; and (e) any other Person (other than an individual or the Indenture Trustee), any duly authorized officer or member of such Person, as the context may require, who is authorized to act in matters relating to such Person.

Retirement of the Bonds” means any day on which the final distribution is made to the Indenture Trustee in respect of the last Outstanding Bonds.

Return on Invested Capital” means, for any Payment Date with respect to any Collection Period, the sum of (a) the rate of return, payable to Kentucky Power, on its Capital Contribution, equal to Kentucky Power’s then authorized pre-tax weighted average cost of capital established in Kentucky Power’s then most recent base rate case plus (b) any Return on Invested Capital not paid on any prior Payment Date.

 

Appendix A-18


Revenue” means (a) for the “Residential” Revenue Class, all revenues from charges for electric service to residential customers, including base rate revenues and revenue from riders, except for revenue from Kentucky Power’s environmental surcharge mechanism, which is a percent of revenue surcharge authorized pursuant to KRS 278.183; nonrecurring charges as defined by 807 KAR 5:011, Section 1(4), such as a reconnection charge; and pass through charges, which would consist of taxes or fees, if any, not embedded in Kentucky Power’s revenue requirement and cost of service; and (b) for the “Non-Residential” Revenue Class, all revenues from charges to non-residential customers for retail electric service, including base rate revenues and revenue from riders, except for revenue for fuel costs and from Kentucky Power’s environmental surcharge mechanism, nonrecurring charges, and pass through charges.

Revenue Class” means those customer classes identified as a separate revenue class in the Charge Rider.

Revenue Forecast” means is defined in Section 4.01(b)(i) of the Servicing Agreement.

Sale Agreement” means the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of [•], 2025, by and between Kentucky Power and the Issuer, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Scheduled Final Payment Date” means with respect to each Tranche of Bonds, the date when all interest and principal is scheduled to be paid with respect to that Tranche in accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule, as specified in the Series Supplement; provided that the Scheduled Final Payment Date of any Tranche in a series of Bonds shall not be later than 20 years and 3 months after the date of issuance of such series. For the avoidance of doubt, the Scheduled Final Payment Date with respect to any Tranche shall be the last Scheduled Payment Date set forth in the Expected Amortization Schedule relating to such Tranche. The “last Scheduled Final Payment Date” means the Scheduled Final Payment Date of the last maturing Tranche of Bonds.

Scheduled Payment Date” is defined in the Series Supplement with respect to each Tranche of Bonds.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secretary of State” means the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, as the case may be, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to the duties of such offices.

Secured Parties” means the Indenture Trustee, the Bondholders and any credit enhancer described in the Series Supplement.

Securities Account” means the Collection Account (to the extent it constitutes a securities account as defined in the NY UCC and Federal Book-Entry Regulations).

 

Appendix A-19


Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Securities Intermediary” means U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, or any other eligible financial institution, solely in the capacity of a “securities intermediary” (as defined in the NY UCC and Federal Book-Entry Regulations) and an account bank, or any successor securities intermediary or account bank under the Indenture.

Security Entitlement” means “security entitlement” (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(17) of the NY UCC) with respect to Financial Assets now or hereafter credited to the Securities Account and, with respect to Federal Book-Entry Regulations, with respect to Federal Book-Entry Securities now or hereafter credited to the Securities Account, as applicable.

Seller” is defined in the preamble to the Sale Agreement.

Series Supplement” means the Series Supplement, dated as of the [•], 2025, among the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Servicer” means Kentucky Power, as Servicer under the Servicing Agreement, or any successor Servicer to the extent permitted under the Servicing Agreement.

Servicer Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which the Servicer maintains normal office hours and conducts business.

Servicer Default” is defined in Section 7.01 of the Servicing Agreement.

Servicer’s Certificate” means a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Servicing Agreement, completed and executed by a Responsible Officer of the Servicer pursuant to Section 4.01(c)(ii) of the Servicing Agreement.

Servicing Agreement” means the Servicing Agreement, dated as of [•], 2025, by and between the Issuer and Kentucky Power, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Servicing Fee” means the fee payable to the Servicer on each Payment Date for services rendered during the period from, but not including, the preceding Payment Date (or from the Closing Date in the case of the first Payment Date) to and including the current Payment Date, determined pursuant to Section 6.06 of the Servicing Agreement.

Special Member” is defined in Section 1.02(b) of the LLC Agreement.

Special Payment” means with respect to any Tranche of Bonds, any payment of principal of or interest on (including any interest accruing upon default), or any other amount in respect of, the Bonds of such Tranche that is not actually paid within five (5) days of the Payment Date applicable thereto.

Special Payment Date” means the date on which a Special Payment is to be made by the Indenture Trustee to the Holders.

 

Appendix A-20


Special Purpose Provisions” is defined in Section 11.02(a)(i) of the LLC Agreement.

Special Record Date” means with respect to any Special Payment Date, the close of business on the fifteenth (15th) day (whether or not a Business Day) preceding such Special Payment Date.

Sponsor” means Kentucky Power, in its capacity as “sponsor” of the Bonds within the meaning of Regulation AB.

Standard & Poors” or “S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc., or any successor thereto. References to S&P are effective so long as S&P is a Rating Agency.

State” means any one of the fifty states of the United States of America or the District of Columbia.

State Pledge” means the pledge of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as set forth in Section 65.114(2) of the Act.

Subaccounts” is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.

Subsequent Financing Order” means a “financing order” (as defined in the Act) issued by the Commission to Kentucky Power subsequent to the Financing Order.

Successor Servicer” is defined in Section 3.07(e) of the Indenture.

Tax Return” is defined in Section 1(a)(iii) of the Administration Agreement.

Temporary Bonds” means Bonds executed, and upon the receipt of an Issuer Order, authenticated and delivered by the Indenture Trustee pending the preparation of Definitive Bonds pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Indenture.

Termination Notice” is defined in Section 7.01(e) of the Servicing Agreement.

Tranche” means any one of the tranches of Bonds.

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations, including proposed or temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code. References herein to specific provisions of proposed or temporary regulations shall include analogous provisions of final Treasury Regulations or other successor Treasury Regulations.

True-Up Adjustment” means any Mandatory True-Up Adjustment or Interim True-Up Adjustment, as the case may be.

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, as in force on the Closing Date, unless otherwise specifically provided.

 

Appendix A-21


UCC” means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in the relevant jurisdiction, as amended from time to time.

Underwriters” means the underwriters who purchase Bonds of any Tranche from the Issuer and sell such Bonds in a public offering.

Underwriting Agreement” means the Underwriting Agreement, dated [•], 2025, by and among Kentucky Power, the representatives of the several Underwriters named therein and the Issuer, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

Unrecovered Balance” means, as of any Payment Date, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of the Bonds less the amount in the Excess Funds Subaccount available to make principal payments on the Bonds.

U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged and which are not callable at the option of the issuer thereof.

Weighted Average Days Outstanding” means the weighted average number of days Kentucky Power’s Bills to Customers remain outstanding during the calendar year immediately preceding the calculation thereof pursuant Section 4.01(b) the Servicing Agreement. The initial Weighted Average Days Outstanding shall be [•] days until updated pursuant to Section 4.01(b) of the Servicing Agreement.

B. Other Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in any Basic Document are inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory accounting principles, the definitions contained in such Basic Document shall control. As used in the Basic Documents, the term “including” means “including without limitation,” and other forms of the verb “to include” have correlative meanings. All references to any Person shall include such Person’s permitted successors.

C. Computation of Time Periods. Unless otherwise stated in any of the Basic Documents, as the case may be, in the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”.

D. Reference; Captions. The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Basic Document shall refer to such Basic Document as a whole and not to any particular provision of such Basic Document; and references to “Section”, “subsection”, “Schedule” and “Exhibit” in any Basic Document are references to Sections, subsections, Schedules and Exhibits in or to such Basic Document unless otherwise specified in such Basic Document. The various captions (including the tables of contents) in each Basic Document are provided solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any Basic Document.

E. Terms Generally. The definitions contained in this Appendix A are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter forms of such terms.

 

Appendix A-22

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO  

SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP

1000 LOUISIANA STREET

SUITE 5900

HOUSTON, TX 77002

+1 713 495 4500

+1 713 495 7799 FAX

 

AMERICA  •  ASIA PACIFIC  •  EUROPE

  

May 16, 2025

Kentucky Power Company

1 Riverside Plaza

Columbus, Ohio 43215-2373

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

1645 Winchester Avenue

Ashland, Kentucky 41101

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form SF-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Registration Statement on Form SF-1 (Registration Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01) filed on January 2, 2025 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) being filed by Kentucky Power Company, a Kentucky corporation (“Kentucky Power”), and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of $477,749,000 principal amount of the Issuer’s Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds (the “Bonds”). The Bonds are to be issued under an Indenture (the “Indenture”) to be entered into among the Issuer, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as securities intermediary (the “Securities Intermediary”), the form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Indenture and the resolutions adopted by the board of managers of the Issuer relating to the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Bonds by the Issuer. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents, certificates and statements of Kentucky Power and the Issuer and other corporate documents and instruments, and have examined such questions of law, as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for this opinion letter. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for examination. As to facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied without independent investigation or verification upon, and assumed the accuracy and completeness of, certificates, letters and oral and written statements and representations of public officials and officers and/or managers and other representatives of Kentucky Power and the Issuer.


 

LOGO

Kentucky Power Company

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

April 18, 2025

Page 2

 

Based on and subject to the foregoing and the other limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Bonds will be validly issued and binding obligations of the Issuer when:

(i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended, shall have become effective under the Securities Act and the Indenture shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;

(ii) the Indenture shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Intermediary;

(iii) the Issuer’s board of managers or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have duly adopted final resolutions authorizing the issuance and sale of the Bonds as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Indenture; and

(iv) the Bonds shall have been duly executed by authorized managers of the Issuer and authenticated by the Indenture Trustee, all in accordance with the Indenture and such resolutions and shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.

Our opinion is subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including concepts of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief.

This opinion letter is limited to the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of New York (excluding the securities laws of the State of New York). We express no opinion as to the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the federal laws of the United States of America or any state securities or blue sky laws.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to our Firm included in or made a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

  Very truly yours,
  /s/ Sidley Austin LLP

Exhibit 8.1

 

LOGO  

SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP

1000 LOUISIANA STREET

SUITE 5900

HOUSTON, TX 77002

+1 713 495 4500

+1 713 495 7799 FAX

 

AMERICA  •  ASIA PACIFIC  •  EUROPE

  

May 16, 2025

Kentucky Power Company

1 Riverside Plaza

Columbus, Ohio 43215-2373

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

1645 Winchester Avenue

Ashland, Kentucky 41101

 

  Re:

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Kentucky Power Company, a Kentucky corporation (“Kentucky Power”), as co-registrant, and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), as issuing entity and co-registrant, in connection with the issuance and registration of $477,749,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds (the “Bonds”). In connection therewith, reference is made to the Registration Statement on Form SF-1 (Registration Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01) filed by Kentucky Power and the Company on January 2, 2025 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Bonds will be offered in such manner as described in the form of the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) included as part of the Registration Statement. The Bonds are to be issued under an Indenture (the “Indenture”) between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as indenture trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as securities intermediary, to be dated as of the issuance date of the Bonds. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Registration Statement.

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined the Registration Statement, the Indenture, the Financing Order and the Basic Documents. We have also examined such certificates, documents and records and have made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate in order to enable us to render the opinions set forth herein. We have examined and relied upon originals, or copies of originals, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such records of Kentucky Power and the Company and such agreements, certificates and oral or written statements and representations of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of Kentucky Power and the Company and other instruments and examined such questions of law and satisfied ourselves to such matters of fact as we deemed relevant or necessary as a basis for this opinion letter. In rendering the opinions expressed in this opinion letter, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity


of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for examination. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein, we have, without independent verification, relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of Kentucky Power and/or the Company or others. In addition, in rendering this opinion letter we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification.

Based on Rev. Proc. 2005-62, 2005-2 C.B. 507, as modified by Rev. Proc. 2024-15, 2024-12 I.R.B. 717, and the assumptions and representations set forth herein and in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement, and subject to the limitations set forth herein and in the preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement, we are of the opinion that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (1) the Company will not be treated as a taxable entity separate and apart from Kentucky Power (the Company’s sole member) and (2) the Bonds will constitute indebtedness of Kentucky Power. This opinion is based on certain representations made by us and Kentucky Power, on the application of current law to the facts as established by the Indenture and other relevant documents and assumes compliance with the Indenture and such other documents as in effect on the date of issuance of the Bonds.

The opinions set forth herein are limited to the U.S. federal income tax matters specifically covered hereby, and we have not been asked to address, nor have we addressed, U.S. federal taxes other than income tax or any other tax consequences regarding the transaction referred to above or any other transaction. The opinions set forth herein are based upon the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Treasury Regulations issued or proposed thereunder, Revenue Rulings and other releases of the Internal Revenue Service and current case law, any of which can change at any time. Any such changes can apply retroactively and modify the legal conclusions on which the opinions set forth herein are based. The opinions set forth herein are given as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligations to supplement this opinion letter if any applicable law changes after such date or if we become aware of any facts that might change the opinions expressed herein after such date or for any other reason.

This opinion letter is furnished to you and is for your use in connection with the issuance of the Bonds described above. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or furnished to, assigned to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or other entity, for any purpose, without our prior written consent, except that this opinion letter may be relied upon by persons entitled to rely on it pursuant to applicable provisions of federal securities law.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the discussion of our opinions under the section captioned “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” and under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Sidley Austin LLP

Exhibit 8.2

 

LOGO

May 16, 2025

Kentucky Power Company

1 Riverside Plaza

Columbus, Ohio 43215-2373

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

1645 Winchester Avenue

Ashland, Kentucky 41101

 

  Re:

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC: Exhibit 8.2 “Kentucky Tax Matters”

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Kentucky Power Company (“KPC”) and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC (the “Issuer”), KPC being a Kentucky corporation and the Issuer being a Delaware limited liability company, in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement filed January 2, 2025 and as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on April 18, 2025, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) on Form SF-1 (Registration Numbers 333-284112 and 333-284112-01), with the Commission (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the proposed issuance of up to $477,749,000 of 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds (the “Bonds”) of the Issuer to be offered in such manner as described in the form of the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) included therein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 8.2 to the Registration Statement.

We are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Issuer in connection with the proposed authorization, issuance and sale of the Bonds. We have examined and relied upon originals, or copies of originals, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as such records of the Issuer and such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers, managers or other representatives of the Issuer and other instruments as we deemed advisable, and examined such questions of law and satisfied ourselves as to such matters of fact we deemed relevant or necessary as a basis for this letter. In our examination, we have assumed (a) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (b) the genuineness of all documents and signatures presented to us, (c) the due authorization of all such documents and the execution and delivery thereof by, and the enforceability thereof against, all parties thereto, (d) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and (e) the conformity to original documents of all copies of original documents. Furthermore, we have assumed compliance with all covenants and agreements contained in the documents reviewed by us. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which we have not independently established or verified, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Issuer, KPC or others. Finally, we undertake no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the Registration Statement or other offering material relating to the Bonds and express no opinion with respect thereto.

 

1


OPINIONS

Based on the foregoing and the assumptions and representations set forth in the Prospectus and subject to the exceptions and qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that for Kentucky state income tax purposes:

 

  1.

the Issuer (a wholly owned Delaware limited liability company) will not be considered an entity separate and apart from KPC; and

 

  2.

the Bonds will constitute the indebtedness of KPC.

Further, the statements set forth in the Prospectus under the section captioned “Material Kentucky Income Tax Consequences,” to the extent they constitute matters of Kentucky state income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, have been prepared or reviewed by us and provide a fair summary and are correct in all material respects.

EXCEPTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Our opinions expressed herein are limited to the Kentucky state income tax matters specifically covered hereby and we have not been asked to address, nor have we addressed, any other tax consequences regarding the transaction referred to above or any other transaction. We express no opinion regarding tax consequences arising with respect to the Bonds other than as expressly set forth in this opinion. In addition, our opinions may be affected by actions taken or omitted or events occurring after the date hereof. We have not undertaken to determine, or to inform any person, whether any such actions are taken or omitted or events do occur or any other matters come to our attention after the date hereof. This opinion is rendered as of the date hereof based on the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations issued or proposed thereunder, revenue rulings, revenue procedures and other published releases of the Internal Revenue Service, the Kentucky Revised Statutes and Kentucky Department of Revenue Regulations promulgated or proposed pursuant thereto and current case law, any of which can change at any time. Any change in existing law or authority could apply retroactively and modify the legal conclusions upon which our opinions are based.

We express no opinion regarding other tax consequences related to the ownership or disposition of, or the amount, accrual or receipt of interest on, the Bonds. Except as otherwise provided herein, we express no opinion regarding the accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the offering material or documents relating to the Bonds in effect on the date of issuance of the Bonds. Further, our opinions may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by equitable principles, whether considered at law or in equity.

 

2


The opinions contained herein are given only as of the date of this opinion letter. No opinion is expressed herein as to the effect of any future acts of the parties or changes in existing law. We undertake no responsibility and disclaim any obligation to supplement this opinion or otherwise advise you or any other person of any change after the date hereof in the law (whether constitutional, statutory or judicial) or the facts presently in effect, even though such change may alter the scope or substance of the opinions herein expressed or affect the legal or factual statements or assumptions herein. We shall have no obligation to revise or reissue this opinion with respect to any transaction which occurs after the date hereof and we undertake no responsibility or obligation to consider this opinion’s applicability or correctness to any person other than its addressees. This letter expresses our legal opinion as to the foregoing matters based on our professional judgment at this time; it is not, however, to be construed as a guaranty, nor is it a warranty that a court considering such matters would not rule in a manner contrary to the opinions set forth above.

We are furnishing this opinion to you solely in connection with the issuance of the Bonds described above, and this opinion is not to be relied on, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose. However, we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to this Firm in the Prospectus under the section captioned “Material Kentucky Income Tax Consequences.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Stites & Harbison, PLLC
Stites & Harbison, PLLC

 

3

Exhibit 10.1

 

SERVICING AGREEMENT

by and between

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC,

as Issuer

and

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY,

as Servicer

 

Dated as of [•], 2025


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page  

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

     1  

SECTION 1.01.

  Definitions      1  

ARTICLE II

  

APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORIZATION

     2  

SECTION 2.01.

  Appointment of Servicer; Acceptance of Appointment      2  

SECTION 2.02.

  Authorization      2  

SECTION 2.03.

  Dominion and Control Over the Cost Recovery Property      3  

ARTICLE III

  

ROLE OF SERVICER

     3  

SECTION 3.01.

  Duties of Servicer      3  

SECTION 3.02.

  Servicing and Maintenance Standards      5  

SECTION 3.03.

  Annual Reports on Compliance with Regulation AB      6  

SECTION 3.04.

  Annual Report by Independent Registered Public Accountants      7  

ARTICLE IV

  

SERVICES RELATED TO TRUE-UP ADJUSTMENTS

     7  

SECTION 4.01.

  True-Up Adjustments      7  

SECTION 4.02.

  Limitation of Liability      11  

ARTICLE V

  

THE COST RECOVERY PROPERTY

     11  

SECTION 5.01.

  Custody of Cost Recovery Property Records      11  

SECTION 5.02.

  Duties of Servicer as Custodian      12  

SECTION 5.03.

  Custodian’s Indemnification      13  

SECTION 5.04.

  Effective Period and Termination      13  

ARTICLE VI

  

THE SERVICER

     14  

SECTION 6.01.

  Representations and Warranties of Servicer      14  

SECTION 6.02.

  Indemnities of Servicer; Release of Claims      16  

SECTION 6.03.

  Binding Effect of Servicing Obligations      18  

SECTION 6.04.

  Limitation on Liability of Servicer and Others      19  

SECTION 6.05.

  Servicer Resignations      19  

SECTION 6.06.

  Servicing Compensation      20  

SECTION 6.07.

  Compliance with Applicable Law      21  

SECTION 6.08.

  Access to Certain Records and Information Regarding Cost Recovery Property      21  

SECTION 6.09.

  Appointments      21  

 

i


SECTION 6.10.

  No Servicer Advances of Interest or Principal      21  

SECTION 6.11.

  Remittances      21  

SECTION 6.12.

  Maintenance of Operations      22  

ARTICLE VII

  

DEFAULT

     23  

SECTION 7.01.

  Servicer Default      23  

SECTION 7.02.

  Appointment of Successor      24  

SECTION 7.03.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      25  

SECTION 7.04.

  Notice of Servicer Default      25  

SECTION 7.05.

  Cooperation with Successor      25  

ARTICLE VIII

  

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     26  

SECTION 8.01.

  Amendment      26  

SECTION 8.02.

  Maintenance of Accounts and Records      28  

SECTION 8.03.

  Notices      28  

SECTION 8.04.

  Assignment      29  

SECTION 8.05.

  Limitations on Rights of Others      29  

SECTION 8.06.

  Severability      30  

SECTION 8.07.

  Separate Counterparts      30  

SECTION 8.08.

  Headings      30  

SECTION 8.09.

  GOVERNING LAW      30  

SECTION 8.10.

  Assignment to Indenture Trustee      30  

SECTION 8.11.

  Nonpetition Covenants      30  

SECTION 8.12.

  Limitation of Liability      31  

SECTION 8.13.

  Rule 17g-5 Compliance      31  

SECTION 8.14.

  Commission Authority      31  

EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Monthly Servicer’s Certificate

Exhibit B

 

Form of Semi-Annual Servicer’s Certificate

Exhibit C-1

 

Form of Regulation AB Annual Compliance Certificate

Exhibit C-2

 

Form of Certificate of Compliance

Schedule 4.01(a)

 

Expected Amortization Schedule

ANNEXES

 

Annex I

 

Servicing Procedures

 

ii


SERVICING AGREEMENT

This SERVICING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [•], 2025, is between KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as issuer (the “Issuer”), and KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY (“Kentucky Power”), a Kentucky corporation, as servicer (the “Servicer”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act and the Financing Order, Kentucky Power, in its capacity as seller (the “Seller”), and the Issuer are concurrently entering into the Sale Agreement pursuant to which the Seller is selling and the Issuer is purchasing certain Cost Recovery Property created pursuant to the Act and the Financing Order described therein;

WHEREAS, in connection with its ownership of the Cost Recovery Property and in order to collect the associated Charges, the Issuer desires to engage the Servicer to carry out the functions described herein and the Servicer desires to be so engaged;

WHEREAS, the Issuer desires to engage the Servicer to act on its behalf in obtaining True-Up Adjustments from the Commission and the Servicer desires to be so engaged;

WHEREAS, the Charges initially will be commingled with other funds collected by the Servicer;

WHEREAS, certain parties may have an interest in such commingled collections, and such parties have entered into an Intercreditor Agreement that allows Kentucky Power to allocate the collected, commingled funds according to each party’s interest;

WHEREAS, as contemplated by the Financing Order, the Commission, or its attorney, will enforce this Agreement for the benefit of the Customers to the extent permitted by law; and

WHEREAS, the Financing Order calls for the Servicer to execute a servicing agreement with the Issuer pursuant to which the Servicer will be required, among other things, to impose and collect the Charges for the benefit and account of the Issuer, to obtain True-Up Adjustments from the Commission, and to account for and remit the Charges to the Indenture Trustee on behalf and for the account of the Issuer.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in that certain Indenture (including Appendix A thereto), dated as


of the date hereof between the Issuer, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as the indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as a securities intermediary (the “Securities Intermediary”), as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

(b) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.

(c) The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; Section, Schedule, Exhibit, Annex and Attachment references contained in this Agreement are references to Sections, Schedules, Exhibits, Annexes and Attachments in or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term “including” shall mean “including without limitation.”

(d) The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

(e) Non-capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Act shall, as the context requires, have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Act, but without giving effect to amendments to the Act after the date hereof which have a material adverse effect on the Issuer or the Holders.

ARTICLE II

APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORIZATION

SECTION 2.01. Appointment of Servicer; Acceptance of Appointment. The Issuer hereby appoints the Servicer, as an independent contractor, and the Servicer hereby accepts such appointment, to perform the Servicer’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement on behalf of and for the benefit of the Issuer or any assignee thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and applicable law. This appointment and the Servicer’s acceptance thereof may not be revoked except in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.02. Authorization. With respect to all or any portion of the Cost Recovery Property, the Servicer shall be, and hereby is, authorized and empowered by the Issuer to (a) execute and deliver, on behalf of itself and/or the Issuer, as the case may be, any and all instruments, documents or notices, and (b) on behalf of itself and/or the Issuer, as the case may be, make any filing and participate in proceedings of any kind with any Governmental Authority, including with the Commission. The Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Servicer such documents as have been prepared by the Servicer for execution by the Issuer and shall furnish the Servicer with such other documents as may be in the Issuer’s possession, in each case as the Servicer may determine to be necessary or appropriate to enable it to carry out its servicing and other duties hereunder. Upon the Servicer’s written request, the Issuer shall furnish the Servicer with any powers of attorney or other documents necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry out its duties hereunder.

 

2


SECTION 2.03. Dominion and Control Over the Cost Recovery Property. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Issuer shall have dominion and control over the Cost Recovery Property, and the Servicer, in accordance with the terms hereof, is acting solely as the servicing agent and custodian for the Issuer with respect to the Cost Recovery Property and the Cost Recovery Property Records (as defined herein). The Servicer shall not take any action that is not authorized by this Agreement, that would contravene the Act, the Commission Regulations or the Financing Order, that is not consistent with its customary procedures and practices, or that shall impair the rights of the Issuer in the Cost Recovery Property, in each case unless such action is required by applicable law or court or regulatory order.

ARTICLE III

ROLE OF SERVICER

SECTION 3.01. Duties of Servicer. The Servicer, as agent for the Issuer, shall have the following duties:

(a) Duties of Servicer Generally. The Servicer’s duties in general shall include: management, servicing and administration of the Cost Recovery Property; obtaining meter reads, calculating revenue, billing, collections and posting of all payments in respect of Cost Recovery Property; responding to inquiries by Customers, the Commission, or any other Governmental Authority with respect to the Cost Recovery Property; delivering Bills to Customers; investigating and handling delinquencies (and furnishing reports with respect to such delinquencies to the Issuer), processing and depositing collections and making periodic remittances; furnishing periodic reports to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies; making all filings with the Commission and taking such other action as may be necessary to perfect the Issuer’s ownership interests, and the Indenture Trustee’s first priority Lien on and security interest, in the Cost Recovery Property; making all filings and taking such other action as may be necessary to perfect and maintain the perfection and priority of the Indenture Trustee’s Lien on and security interest in all Collateral; selling, as the agent for the Issuer, as its interests may appear, defaulted or written off accounts in accordance with the Servicer’s usual and customary practices; taking all necessary action in connection with the True-Up Adjustments as set forth herein; and performing such other duties as may be specified under the Financing Order to be performed by it. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the duties of the Servicer set forth in this Agreement shall be qualified in their entirety by any Commission Regulations, the Financing Order, and the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including without limitation, Regulation AB and Rule 17g-5, as in effect at the time such duties are to be performed. Without limiting the generality of this Section 3.01(a), in furtherance of the foregoing, the Servicer hereby agrees that it shall also have, and shall comply with, the duties and responsibilities relating to data acquisition, revenue, and bill calculation, billing, customer service functions, collections, payment processing and remittance set forth in Annex I hereto, as it may be amended from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “revenue” when used herein refers to revenues generated from Customers and may, among things, be based on kilowatt hour consumption and kilowatt demand.

 

3


(b) Reporting Functions.

(i) Monthly Servicers Certificate. On or before the twenty-fifth calendar day of each month (or if such day is not a Servicer Business Day, on the immediately succeeding Servicer Business Day), beginning with [Month], 2025, the Servicer shall prepare and deliver to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies a written report substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (a “Monthly Servicers Certificate”) setting forth certain information relating to Charge Payments received by the Servicer during the Collection Period immediately preceding such date; provided, however, that for any month in which the Servicer is required to deliver a Servicer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 4.01(c)(ii), the Servicer shall prepare and deliver the Monthly Servicer’s Certificate no later than the date of delivery of such Servicer’s Certificate.

(ii) Notification of Laws and Regulations. The Servicer shall promptly notify the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies in writing of any Requirement of Law or Commission Regulations hereafter promulgated that have a material adverse effect on the Servicer’s ability to perform its duties under this Agreement.

(iii) Other Information. Upon the reasonable request of the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, any Rating Agency, or the Commission, the Servicer shall provide to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, such Rating Agency, or the Commission, as the case may be, any public financial information in respect of the Servicer, or any material information regarding the Cost Recovery Property to the extent it is reasonably available to the Servicer without undue cost or burden, as may be reasonably necessary and permitted by law to enable the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies, or the Commission to monitor the performance by the Servicer hereunder; provided, however, that any such request by the Indenture Trustee shall not create any obligation for the Indenture Trustee to monitor the performance of the Servicer. In addition, so long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, the Servicer shall provide the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, and the Commission, within a reasonable time after written request therefor, any information available to the Servicer or reasonably obtainable by it without undue cost or burden that is necessary to calculate the Charges applicable to each Revenue Class.

(iv) Preparation of Reports. The Servicer shall prepare and deliver such additional reports as required under this Agreement, including a copy of each Servicer’s Certificate described in Section 4.01(c)(ii), the Annual Compliance Certificate described in Section 3.03, and the Annual Accountant’s Report described in Section 3.04. In addition, the Servicer shall prepare, procure, deliver and/or file, or cause to be prepared, procured, delivered or filed, any reports, attestations, exhibits, certificates or other documents required to be delivered or filed with the SEC (and/or any other Governmental Authority) by the Issuer or the Sponsor under the U.S. federal securities laws or other applicable laws or in accordance with the Basic Documents, including, but without limiting the

 

4


generality of foregoing, filing with the SEC, if applicable and required by applicable law, a copy or copies of (A) the Monthly Servicer’s Certificates described in Section 3.01(b)(i) (under Form 10-D or any other applicable form), (B) the Servicer’s Certificates described in Section 4.01(c)(ii) (under Form 10-D or any other applicable form), (C) the annual statements of compliance, attestation reports and other certificates described in Section 3.03, and (D) the Annual Accountant’s Report (and any attestation required under Regulation AB) described in Section 3.04. In addition, the appropriate officer or officers of the Servicer shall (in its separate capacity as Servicer) sign the Sponsor’s annual report on Form 10-K (and any other applicable SEC or other reports, attestations, certifications and other documents), to the extent that the Servicer’s signature is required by, and consistent with, the U.S. federal securities laws and/or any other applicable law.

(c) Opinions of Counsel. The Servicer shall deliver to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, with a copy to the Commission:

(i) promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and of each amendment hereto, an Opinion of Counsel from external counsel of the Issuer either (A) to the effect that, in the opinion of such counsel, all filings, including filings with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and all filings pursuant to the UCC, that are necessary under the UCC and the Act to perfect or maintain, as applicable, the Liens of the Indenture Trustee in the Cost Recovery Property have been authorized, executed and filed, and reciting the details of such filings or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, or (B) to the effect that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action shall be necessary to preserve, protect and perfect such Liens; and

(ii) within ninety (90) days after the beginning of each calendar year beginning with the first calendar year beginning more than three (3) months after the date hereof, an Opinion of Counsel from external counsel of the Issuer, dated as of a date during such ninety (90)-day period, either: (A) to the effect that, in the opinion of such counsel, all filings, including filings with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and all filings pursuant to the UCC, have been executed (if applicable) and filed that are necessary under the UCC and the Act to maintain the Liens of the Indenture Trustee in the Cost Recovery Property, and reciting the details of such filings or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, or (B) to the effect that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action shall be necessary to preserve, protect and perfect such Liens.

Each Opinion of Counsel referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above shall specify any action necessary (as of the date of such opinion) to be taken in the following year to perfect or maintain, as applicable, such interest or Lien.

SECTION 3.02. Servicing and Maintenance Standards. On behalf of the Issuer, the Servicer shall (a) manage, service, administer and make collections in respect of the

 

5


Cost Recovery Property with reasonable care and in material compliance with applicable Requirements of Law, including all applicable Commission Regulations, using the same degree of care and diligence that the Servicer exercises with respect to similar assets for its own account and, if applicable, for others; (b) follow customary standards, policies and procedures in performing its duties as Servicer that are customary in the electric transmission and distribution industry in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; (c) use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its customary servicing procedures, to enforce, and maintain rights in respect of, the Cost Recovery Property and to impose, bill, charge, collect, receive, and adjust the Charges; (d) comply with all Requirements of Law, including all applicable Commission Regulations and guidelines, applicable to and binding on it relating to the Cost Recovery Property; (e) file and maintain the effectiveness of UCC financing statements with respect to the Cost Recovery Property; (f) take such other action on behalf of the Issuer to ensure that the Lien of the Indenture Trustee on the Collateral remains perfected and of first priority (including, if necessary, making any filings that are required by the UCC if the Servicer or the Issuer changes its name or its jurisdiction of organization); and (g) within thirty (30) days after each five-year anniversary of the Closing Date, provide the Indenture Trustee with confirmation that all filings required under the UCC and the Act to maintain the Liens of the Indenture Trustee in the Cost Recovery Property remain in effect. The Servicer shall follow such customary and usual practices and procedures as it shall deem necessary or advisable in its servicing of all or any portion of the Cost Recovery Property, which, in the Servicer’s judgment, may include the taking of legal action, at the Issuer’s expense but subject to the priority of payments set forth in Section 8.02(e) of the Indenture.

SECTION 3.03. Annual Reports on Compliance with Regulation AB.

(a) The Servicer shall deliver to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies, and the Commission, on or before the earlier of (x) March 31 of each year, beginning March 31, 2026, or (y) with respect to each calendar year during which the Sponsor’s annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the date on which the annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, certificates from a Responsible Officer of the Servicer (i) containing, and certifying as to, the statements of compliance required by Item 1123 (or any successor or similar items or rule) of Regulation AB, as then in effect (the “Annual Compliance Certificate”), which may be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-1, and (ii) containing, and certifying as to, the statements and assessment of compliance required by Item 1122(a) (or any successor or similar items or rule) of Regulation AB, as then in effect (the “Certificate of Compliance”), which may be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-2, in each case, with such changes as may be required to conform to the applicable U.S. federal securities law.

(b) The Servicer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, from each other party participating in the servicing function, any additional certifications as to the statements and assessment required under Item 1122 or Item 1123 (or any successor or similar items or rules) of Regulation AB to the extent required in connection with the filing of the annual report on Form 10-K; provided, however, that a failure to obtain such certifications shall not be a breach of the Servicer’s duties hereunder. The parties acknowledge that the Indenture Trustee’s certifications shall be limited to the Item 1122 certifications described in Exhibit C of the Indenture.

 

6


(c) The initial Servicer, in its capacity as Sponsor, shall post on its website and file with or furnish to the SEC, in periodic reports and other reports as are required from time to time under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the information described in Section 3.07(g) of the Indenture to the extent such information is reasonably available to the Depositor. Except to the extent permitted by applicable law, the initial Servicer, in its capacity as Sponsor, shall not voluntarily suspend or terminate its filing obligations as Depositor with the SEC as described in this Section 3.03(c). The covenants of the initial Servicer, in its capacity as Sponsor, pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) shall survive the resignation, removal or termination of the initial Servicer as Servicer hereunder.

SECTION 3.04. Annual Report by Independent Registered Public Accountants.

(a) The Servicer shall cause a firm of Independent registered public accountants (which may provide other services to the Servicer or the Seller) to prepare annually, and the Servicer shall deliver annually to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee the Rating Agencies, and the Commission, on or before the earlier of (a) March 31 of each year, beginning March 31, 2026, or (b) with respect to each calendar year during which the Depositor’s annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the date on which the annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, a report (the “Annual Accountants Report”) regarding the Servicer’s assessment of compliance with the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB during the immediately preceding twelve (12) months ended December 31 (or, in the case of the first Annual Accountant’s Report to be delivered on or before March 31, 2026, the period of time from the date of this Agreement until December 31, 2025), in accordance with paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-18 and Rule 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB. Such report shall be signed by an authorized officer of the Servicer and shall at a minimum address each of the servicing criteria specified in Exhibit C-1. In the event that the accounting firm providing such report requires the Indenture Trustee to agree or consent to the procedures performed by such firm, the Issuer shall direct the Indenture Trustee in writing to so agree; it being understood and agreed that the Indenture Trustee will deliver such letter of agreement or consent in conclusive reliance upon the written direction of the Issuer, and the Indenture Trustee will not make any independent inquiry or investigation as to, and shall have no obligation or liability in respect of the sufficiency, validity or correctness of such procedures.

(b) The Annual Accountant’s Report shall also indicate that the accounting firm providing such report is independent of the Servicer in accordance with the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and shall include any attestation report required under Item 1122(b) of Regulation AB (or any successor or similar items or rule), as then in effect. The costs of the Annual Accountant’s Report shall be reimbursable as an Operating Expense under the Indenture.

ARTICLE IV

SERVICES RELATED TO TRUE-UP ADJUSTMENTS

SECTION 4.01. True-Up Adjustments. From time to time, until the Retirement of the Bonds, the Servicer shall identify the need for Mandatory True-Up Adjustments and Interim True-Up Adjustments and shall take all reasonable action to obtain and implement such True-Up Adjustments, all in accordance with the following:

(a) Expected Amortization Schedule. The Expected Amortization Schedule for the Bonds is attached hereto as Schedule 4.01(a). If the Expected Amortization Schedule is revised, the Servicer shall send a copy of such revised Expected Amortization Schedule to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies, and the Commission promptly thereafter.

 

7


(b) True-Up Adjustments.

(i) Mandatory True-Up Adjustments and Filings. No later than ten (10) days prior to each Mandatory True-Up Adjustment Date, the Servicer shall:

(A) update the data and assumptions underlying the calculation of the Charges, including projected Revenue for each Revenue Class during each of Calculation Period A and Calculation Period B used for the True-Up Adjustment (the “Revenue Forecast”); the historical Revenue for each Revenue Class, along with historical fuel cost revenue for the “Non-Residential” Revenue Class, to be used for allocation between Revenue Classes; interest and estimated expenses and fees of the Issuer to be paid during such Calculation Period, the Weighted Average Days Outstanding for each Revenue Class, projected lags between billing and collections during such Calculation Period based on the Weighted Average Days Outstanding, unless changes in circumstances support use of different lags for projected period, projected write-offs during such Calculation Period, and outstanding receivables during such Calculation Period;

(B) based on such updated data and assumptions, determine the Periodic Payment Requirements for each of Calculation Period A and Calculation Period B, and for each such Calculation Period, determine the allocation of the Periodic Payment Requirements across the Revenue Classes, giving effect the allocation and distribution of amounts on deposit in the Excess Funds Subaccount at the time of calculation and which are projected to be available for payments on the Bonds at the end of such Calculation Period and any over or under recoveries in Periodic Payment Requirements for any prior Calculation Period, all in accordance with the terms of the Financing Order, the Charge Rider and any other tariffs filed pursuant thereto;

(C) for each of Calculation Period A and Calculation Period B, determine the Periodic Billing Requirements for each Revenue Class based on such updated data and assumptions;

(D) for each of Calculation Period A and Calculation Period B, calculate the rate (expressed as a percent) for each Revenue Class (the “Adjustment Factor”) determined by dividing the Periodic Billing Requirement for such Revenue Class by the projected Revenue for such Revenue Class, all in accordance with the terms of the Financing Order, the Charge Rider and any other tariffs filed pursuant thereto;

 

8


(E) determine the higher of the two Adjustment Factors calculated pursuant to clause (D) for such Revenue Class (each such higher Adjustment Factor, a “Modified Adjustment Factor”), in order to ensure enough Charges collections to satisfy the Periodic Billing Requirement for each of the two Calculation Periods for each Revenue Class;

(F) make all required notice and other filings with the Commission to reflect the revised Charges and the Modified Adjustment Factor for each Revenue Class, including any Charge Rider Adjustment and the applicable Revenue Forecast; and

(G) take all reasonable actions and make all reasonable efforts to effect such Mandatory True-Up Adjustment and to enforce the provisions of the Act and the Financing Order.

Subject to any mathematical correction as permitted by the Financing Order, the revised Charges resulting from such Mandatory True-Up Adjustment shall be effective as of the Mandatory True-Up Adjustment Date, and the Servicer shall begin to bill the Charges to Customers commencing in the first billing cycle following the Mandatory True-Up Adjustment Date in accordance with the Financing Order.

(ii) Interim True-Up Adjustments and Filings. In addition to the True-Up Adjustments described above in Section 4.01(b)(i), the Servicer may implement an Interim True-Up Adjustment (in the same manner as provided for in Section 4.01(b)(i), except with the term Mandatory True-Up Adjustment and Mandatory True-Up Adjustment Date being read as referring to the terms Interim True-Up Adjustment and Interim True-Up Adjustment Date, respectively) at any time (A) if the Servicer forecasts that Charge Collections during the current Calculation Periods will be insufficient to make all scheduled payments of principal, interest, and other amounts in respect of the Bonds on a timely basis during such Calculation Periods; (B) to replenish any draws upon the Capital Subaccount; and/or (C) generally to correct any under-collection or over-collection in order to assure timely payment of Bonds.

(c) Reports.

(i) Notification of Charge Rider Adjustment Filings and True-Up Adjustments. Whenever the Servicer files a Charge Rider Adjustment with the Commission, the Servicer shall send a copy of such filing (together with a copy of all notices and documents which, in the Servicer’s reasonable judgment, are material to the adjustments effected by such Charge Rider Adjustment) to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies concurrently therewith. If, for any reason any revised Charges are not implemented and effective on the applicable date set forth in the Charge Rider Adjustment, the Servicer shall notify the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and each Rating Agency by the end of the second Servicer Business Day after such applicable date.

 

9


(ii) Servicers Certificate. Not later than five (5) Servicer Business Days prior to each Payment Date or Special Payment Date, the Servicer shall deliver a draft of a written report substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (the “Servicers Certificate”) to the Indenture Trustee which shall include all of the following information (to the extent applicable) with respect to such Payment Date or Special Payment Date or the period since the previous Payment Date, as applicable:

(A) the amount of the payment to Holders allocable to principal, if any;

(B) the amount of the payment to Holders allocable to interest;

(C) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Bonds, before and after giving effect to any payments allocated to principal reported under clause (A) above;

(D) the difference, if any, between the amount specified in clause C above and the Outstanding Amount specified in the Expected Amortization Schedule;

(E) any other transfers and payments to be made on such Payment Date or Special Payment Date, including amounts paid to the Indenture Trustee and to the Servicer; and

(F) the amounts on deposit in the Capital Subaccount and the Excess Funds Subaccount, after giving effect to the foregoing payments.

On or prior to each Payment Date or Special Payment Date, the Servicer shall deliver the final Servicer’s Certificate to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies, and the Commission.

(iii) Reports to Customers.

(A) After each revised Charge has gone into effect pursuant to a True-Up Adjustment, the Servicer shall, to the extent and in the manner and time frame required by applicable Commission Regulations, if any, cause to be prepared and delivered to Customers any required notices announcing such revised Charge.

(B) The Servicer shall comply with the requirements of the Financing Order and Charge Rider with respect to the identification of Charges on Bills to ensure that each Customer’s Bill contains: (a) the portion of Charges applicable to the applicable Revenue Class and, (b) a separate line item including both the base rate of the Customer’s electricity and the amount of the Charge, and that both (a) and (b) are present and identifiable on each Customer’s Bill.

(C) The Servicer shall pay all costs of preparation and delivery incurred in connection with clauses (A) and (B) above, including printing and postage costs as the same may increase or decrease from time to time.

 

10


SECTION 4.02. Limitation of Liability. (a) The Issuer and the Servicer expressly agree and acknowledge that:

(i) In connection with any True-Up Adjustment, the Servicer is acting solely in its capacity as the servicing agent hereunder.

(ii) None of the Servicer, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee is responsible in any manner for, and shall have no liability whatsoever as a result of, any action, decision, ruling or other determination made or not made, or any delay (other than any delay resulting from the Servicer’s failure to make any filings required by Section 4.01 in a timely and correct manner or any breach by the Servicer of its duties under this Agreement that adversely affects the Cost Recovery Property or the True-Up Adjustments), by the Commission in any way related to the Cost Recovery Property or in connection with any True-Up Adjustment, the subject of any filings under Section 4.01, any proposed True-Up Adjustment, or the approval of any revised Charges and the scheduled adjustments thereto.

(iii) Except to the extent that the Servicer is liable under Section 6.02, the Servicer shall have no liability whatsoever relating to the calculation of any revised Charges and the scheduled adjustments thereto, including as a result of any inaccuracy of any of the assumptions made in such calculation regarding expected revenue and the Weighted Average Days Outstanding, write-offs and estimated expenses and fees of the Issuer, so long as the Servicer has acted in good faith and has not acted in a negligent manner in connection therewith, nor shall the Servicer have any liability whatsoever as a result of any Person, including the Holders, not receiving any payment, amount or return anticipated or expected or in respect of any Bonds generally.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.02 shall not relieve the Servicer of liability for any misrepresentation by the Servicer under Section 6.01 or for any breach by the Servicer of its other obligations under this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

THE COST RECOVERY PROPERTY

SECTION 5.01. Custody of Cost Recovery Property Records. To assure uniform quality in servicing the Cost Recovery Property and to reduce administrative costs, the Issuer hereby revocably appoints the Servicer, and the Servicer hereby accepts such appointment, to act as the agent of the Issuer as custodian of any and all documents and records that the Servicer shall keep on file, in accordance with its customary procedures, relating to the Cost Recovery Property, including copies of the Financing Order, Issuance Advice Letter, Charge Rider and Charge Rider Adjustments relating thereto and all documents filed with the Commission in connection with any True-Up Adjustment and computational records relating thereto (collectively, the “Cost Recovery Property Records”), which are hereby constructively delivered to the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Issuer with respect to all Cost Recovery Property.

 

11


SECTION 5.02. Duties of Servicer as Custodian.

(a) Safekeeping. The Servicer shall hold the Cost Recovery Property Records on behalf of the Issuer and maintain such accurate and complete accounts, records and computer systems pertaining to the Cost Recovery Property Records as shall enable the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, as applicable, to comply with this Agreement, the Sale Agreement and the Indenture. In performing its duties as custodian, the Servicer shall act with reasonable care, using that degree of care and diligence that the Servicer exercises with respect to comparable assets that the Servicer services for itself or, if applicable, for others. The Servicer shall promptly report to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies and the Commission any failure on its part to hold the Cost Recovery Property Records and maintain its accounts, records and computer systems as herein provided and promptly take appropriate action to remedy any such failure. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require an initial review or any periodic review by the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee of the Cost Recovery Property Records. The Servicer’s duties to hold the Cost Recovery Property Records set forth in this Section 5.02, to the extent the Cost Recovery Property Records have not been previously transferred to a successor Servicer pursuant to Article VII, shall terminate one year and one day after the earlier of the date on which (i) the Servicer is succeeded by a successor Servicer in accordance with Article VII and (ii) no Bonds are Outstanding.

(b) Maintenance of and Access to Records. The Servicer shall maintain the Cost Recovery Property Records at the office of Servicer identified in Section 8.03(a), the office of the Issuer identified in Section 8.03(b) or at such other office as shall be specified to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Commission by written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to any change in location. The Servicer shall make available for inspection, audit and copying to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Commission or their respective duly authorized representatives, attorneys or auditors the Cost Recovery Property Records at such times during normal business hours as the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the Commission shall reasonably request and which do not unreasonably interfere with the Servicer’s normal operations. Nothing in this Section 5.02(b) shall affect the obligation of the Servicer to observe any applicable law (including any Commission Regulation) prohibiting disclosure of information regarding the Customers, and the failure of the Servicer to provide access to such information as a result of such obligation shall not constitute a breach of this Section 5.02(b).

(c) Release of Documents. Upon instruction from the Indenture Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, the Servicer shall release any Cost Recovery Property Records to the Indenture Trustee, the Indenture Trustee’s agent or the Indenture Trustee’s designee, as the case may be, at such place or places as the Indenture Trustee may designate, as soon as practicable. Nothing in this Section 5.02(c) shall affect the obligation of the Servicer to observe any applicable law (including any Commission Regulation) prohibiting disclosure of information regarding the Customers, and the failure of the Servicer to provide access to such information as a result of such obligation shall not constitute a breach of this Section 5.02(c).

 

12


(d) Defending Cost Recovery Property Against Claims. The Servicer shall institute any action or proceeding necessary to compel performance by each party to the Intercreditor Agreement of any of their respective obligations or duties under the Act, the Financing Order or the Intercreditor Agreement with respect to the Cost Recovery Property, and the Servicer agrees to take such legal or administrative actions, including without limitation defending against or instituting and pursuing legal actions and appearing or testifying at hearings or similar proceedings, as may be reasonably necessary to block or overturn any attempts to cause a repeal of, modification of or supplement to the Act or the Financing Order. The costs of any action described in this Section 5.02(d) shall be payable from Charge Collections as an Operating Expense (and shall not be deemed to constitute a portion of the Servicing Fee) in accordance with the Indenture. The Servicer’s obligations pursuant to this Section 5.02(d) shall survive and continue notwithstanding that payment of such Operating Expense pursuant to the terms of the Indenture may be delayed (it being understood that the Servicer may be required initially to advance its own funds to satisfy its obligations hereunder).

(e) Additional Litigation to Defend Cost Recovery Property. In addition to the above, the Servicer shall, at its own expense, institute any action or proceeding necessary to compel performance by the Commission or the Commonwealth of Kentucky of any of their respective obligations or duties under the Act or the Financing Order with respect to the Cost Recovery Property and Charges. In any proceedings related to the exercise of the power of eminent domain by any municipality to acquire a portion of Kentucky Power’s electric distribution facilities, the Servicer shall assert that the court ordering such condemnation must treat such municipality as a successor to Kentucky Power under the Act and Financing Order and that Customers in such municipalities remain responsible for payment of Charges.

SECTION 5.03. Custodians Indemnification. The Servicer as custodian shall indemnify the Issuer, any Independent Manager and the Indenture Trustee (for itself and for the benefit of the Holders) and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents for, and defend and hold harmless each such Person from and against, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, payments and claims, and reasonable costs or expenses, of any kind whatsoever (collectively, “Indemnified Losses”) that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against each such Person as the result of any negligent act or omission in any way relating to the maintenance and custody by the Servicer, as custodian, of the Cost Recovery Property Records; provided, however, that the Servicer shall not be liable for any portion of any such amount resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of the Issuer, any Independent Manager or the Indenture Trustee, as the case may be.

Indemnification under this Section 5.03 shall survive resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee or any Independent Manager and shall include reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses of investigation and litigation (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses and reasonable fees, out-of-pocket expenses and costs incurred in connection with any action, claim or suit brought to enforce the Indenture Trustee’s right to indemnification).

SECTION 5.04. Effective Period and Termination. The Servicer’s appointment as custodian shall become effective as of the Closing Date and shall continue in full force and effect until terminated pursuant to this Section 5.04. If the Servicer shall resign as Servicer in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or if all of the rights and obligations

 

13


of the Servicer shall have been terminated under Section 7.01, the appointment of the Servicer as custodian shall be terminated effective as of the date on which the termination or resignation of the Servicer is effective. Additionally, if not sooner terminated as provided above, the Servicer’s obligations as custodian shall terminate one year and one day after the date on which no Bonds are Outstanding.

ARTICLE VI

THE SERVICER

SECTION 6.01. Representations and Warranties of Servicer. The Servicer makes the following representations and warranties, as of the Closing Date, and as of such other dates as expressly provided in this Section 6.01, on which the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee are deemed to have relied in entering into this Agreement relating to the servicing of the Cost Recovery Property. The representations and warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the sale of any Cost Recovery Property and the pledge thereof to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture.

(a) Organization and Good Standing. The Servicer is duly organized and validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with the requisite corporate or other power and authority to own its properties as such properties are owned on the Closing Date and to conduct its business as such business is conducted by it on the Closing Date, and to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, and had at all relevant times, and has, the requisite power, authority and legal right to service the Cost Recovery Property and to hold the Cost Recovery Property Records as custodian.

(b) Due Qualification. The Servicer is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing, and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals, in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business (including the servicing of the Cost Recovery Property as required by this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement) requires such qualifications, licenses or approvals (except where the failure to so qualify would not be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Servicer’s business, operations, assets, revenues or properties or to its servicing of the Cost Recovery Property).

(c) Power and Authority. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Servicer under its organizational or governing documents and laws.

(d) Binding Obligation. Each of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Servicer enforceable against the Servicer in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

14


(e) No Violation. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement (to the extent applicable to the Servicer’s responsibilities thereunder) and the fulfillment of the terms of each will not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, nor constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a default under, the organizational documents of the Servicer, or any indenture or other agreement or instrument to which the Servicer is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound; nor result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument (other than any Lien that may be granted under the Basic Documents or any Lien created pursuant to Section 278.686 of the Act); nor violate any existing law or any existing order, rule or regulation applicable to the Servicer of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Servicer or its properties.

(f) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings pending and, to the Servicer’s knowledge, there are no proceedings threatened, and no investigations pending or threatened, before any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Servicer or its properties involving or relating to the Servicer or the Issuer or, to the Servicer’s knowledge, any other Person: (i) asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents, (ii) seeking to prevent the issuance of the Bonds or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents, (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the performance by the Servicer of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement, any of the other Basic Documents or the Bonds or (iv) seeking to adversely affect the treatment of the Bonds for U.S. federal income tax or state income or franchise tax purposes.

(g) Approvals. Except for the filings to be made under the Act, no governmental approval, authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution and delivery by the Servicer of this Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, the performance by the Servicer of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the fulfillment by the Servicer of the terms of each, except those that have been obtained or made, those that the Servicer is required to make in the future pursuant to Article IV and those that the Servicer may need to file in the future to continue the effectiveness of any financing statement filed under the Act and the UCC.

(h) Reports and Certificates. Each report and certificate delivered in connection with any filing made to the Commission by the Servicer on behalf of the Issuer with respect to the Charges or True-Up Adjustments will constitute a representation and warranty by the Servicer that each such report or certificate, as the case may be, is true and correct in all material respects as of its delivery date; provided, however, that, to the extent any such report or certificate is based in part upon or contains assumptions, forecasts or other predictions of future events, the representation and warranty of the Servicer with respect thereto will be limited to the representation and warranty that such assumptions, forecasts or other predictions of future events are reasonable based upon historical performance (and facts known to the Servicer on the date such report or certificate is delivered).

 

15


SECTION 6.02. Indemnities of Servicer; Release of Claims.

(a) The Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically undertaken by the Servicer under this Agreement.

(b) The Servicer shall indemnify the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee (for itself and for the benefit of the Holders) and any Independent Manager, and each of their respective trustees, officers, directors, employees and agents (each, an “Indemnified Person”) for, and defend and hold harmless each such Person from and against, any and all Indemnified Losses imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Person as a result of (i) the Servicer’s willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or observance of its covenants under this Agreement or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) the Servicer’s breach in any material respects of any of its representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement that results in a Servicer Default, or (iii) any litigation or related expenses relating to the Servicer’s status or obligations as Servicer (other than any proceeding the Servicer is required to institute under this Agreement), in each case, except to the extent of Indemnified Losses either resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence of such Person seeking indemnification hereunder or resulting from a breach of a representation or warranty made by such Person seeking indemnification hereunder in any of the Basic Documents that gives rise to the Servicer’s breach.

(c) For purposes of Section 6.02(b), in the event of the termination of the rights and obligations of Kentucky Power (or any successor thereto pursuant to Section 6.03) as Servicer pursuant to Section 7.01, or a resignation by such Servicer pursuant to this Agreement, such Servicer shall be deemed to be the Servicer pending appointment of a successor Servicer pursuant to Section 7.02.

(d) Indemnification under this Section 6.02 shall survive any repeal of, modification of, or supplement to, or judicial invalidation of, the Act or the Financing Order and shall survive the resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee or any Independent Manager or the termination of this Agreement and shall include reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses of investigation and litigation (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses and the reasonable fees, out-of-pocket expenses and costs incurred in connection with any action, claim or suit brought to enforce the Indenture Trustee’s right to indemnification).

(e) Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement or the other Basic Documents (including the Servicer’s claims with respect to the Servicing Fee, reimbursement for any Excess Remittance, reimbursement for costs incurred pursuant to Section 5.02(d) and the payment of the purchase price of Cost Recovery Property), the Servicer hereby releases and discharges the Issuer, any Independent Manager and the Indenture Trustee, and each of their respective officers, directors and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all actions, claims and demands whatsoever, whenever arising, which the Servicer, in its capacity as Servicer or otherwise, shall or may have against any such Person relating to the Cost Recovery Property or the Servicer’s activities with respect thereto other than any actions, claims and demands arising out of the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of the Released Parties.

 

16


(f) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice (or, in the case of the Indenture Trustee, receipt of notice by a Responsible Officer only) of the commencement of any action, proceeding or investigation, for which indemnification by the Servicer under this Agreement shall apply, such Indemnified Person shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Servicer under this Section 6.02, notify the Servicer in writing of the commencement thereof. Failure by an Indemnified Person to so notify the Servicer shall relieve the Servicer from the obligation to indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Person under this Section 6.02 only to the extent that the Servicer suffers actual prejudice as a result of such failure. With respect to any action, proceeding or investigation brought by a third party for which indemnification may be sought under this Section 6.02, the Servicer shall be entitled to conduct and control, at its expense and with counsel of its choosing that is reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, the defense of any such action, proceeding or investigation (in which case the Servicer shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person except as set forth below); provided that the Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such action, proceeding or investigation through counsel chosen by it and at its own expense. Notwithstanding the Servicer’s election to assume the defense of any action, proceeding or investigation, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Servicer shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Servicer and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the Servicer, (ii) the Servicer shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iii) the Servicer shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Servicer or (iv) in the case of the Indenture Trustee, such action exposes the Indenture Trustee to a material risk of criminal liability or forfeiture or a Servicer Default has occurred and is continuing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Servicer shall not be obligated to pay for the fees, costs and expenses of more than one separate counsel for the Indemnified Persons other than one local counsel, if appropriate.

(g) Without duplication of amounts indemnified pursuant to Section 6.02(h), the Servicer will credit Customers to the extent there are higher Charges, including any increase in the Servicing Fee that becomes payable to a successor Servicer pursuant to Section 6.06, as a result of a Servicer Default resulting from the Servicer’s willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in performance of its duties or observance of its covenants under this Agreement, provided, however, that any credit to Customers shall not impact the Charges or the Cost Recovery Property. The Servicer’s obligation to credit Customers under this Section 6.02(g) will survive the termination of this Agreement.

(h) The Servicer shall indemnify the Commission (for the benefit of Customers) for, and defend and hold harmless against, any and all Indemnified Losses that may be imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against the Customers or the Commission as a result of a Servicer Default resulting from the Servicer’s willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in performance of its duties or observance of its covenants under this Agreement. The indemnification obligation set forth in this paragraph may be enforced by the Commission but is not enforceable by any Customer. Any indemnity payments required to made to the Commission under this paragraph for the benefit of Customers shall be satisfied by Servicer via a credit to Customers on their Bills;

 

17


provided, however, that any credit to Customers shall not impact the Charges or the Cost Recovery Property. The Servicer’s obligation to credit Customers under this Section 6.02(h) will survive the termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 6.03. Binding Effect of Servicing Obligations. The obligations to continue to provide service and to collect and account for Charges will be binding upon the Servicer and any other entity that provides transmission and distribution services or direct wire services to a Person that is a Customer of Kentucky Power or any successor Servicer so long as the Charges have not been fully collected and remitted. Any Person (a) into which the Servicer may be merged, converted or consolidated, (b) that may result from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Servicer shall be a party, (c) that may succeed to the properties and assets of the Servicer substantially as a whole, or (d) which results from the division of the Servicer into two or more Persons, which Person in any of the foregoing cases executes an agreement of assumption to perform all of the obligations of the Servicer hereunder, shall be the successor to the Servicer under this Agreement without further act on the part of any of the parties to this Agreement,; provided, however, that (i) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no representation or warranty made pursuant to Section 6.01 shall have been breached and no Servicer Default and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Servicer Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Servicer shall have delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee (with a copy to the Commission) an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from external counsel stating that such consolidation, conversion, merger, division or succession and such agreement of assumption complies with this Section 6.03 and that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Agreement relating to such transaction have been complied with, (iii) the Servicer shall have delivered to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies (with a copy to the Commission) an Opinion of Counsel from external counsel of the Servicer either (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all filings to be made by the Servicer, including filings with the Commission pursuant to the Act and the UCC, have been executed (if applicable) and filed and are in full force and effect that are necessary to fully preserve, perfect and maintain the priority of the interests of the Issuer and the Liens of the Indenture Trustee in the Cost Recovery Property and reciting the details of such filings or (B) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action shall be necessary to maintain such interests, (iv) the Servicer shall have delivered to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies (with a copy to the Commission) an Opinion of Counsel from independent tax counsel stating that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such consolidation, conversion, merger, division or succession and such agreement of assumption will not result in a material U.S. federal income tax consequence to the Issuer or the Holders of Bonds and (v) the Servicer shall have given the Rating Agencies prior written notice of such transaction. When any Person (or more than one Person) acquires the properties and assets of the Servicer substantially as a whole or otherwise becomes the successor, by merger, conversion, consolidation, sale, transfer, lease or otherwise, to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Servicer (or, if transmission and distribution are not provided by a single entity, provides wire service directly to Customers) in accordance with the terms of this Section 6.03, then upon satisfaction of all of the other conditions of this Section 6.03, the preceding Servicer shall automatically and without further notice be released from all its obligations hereunder.

 

18


SECTION 6.04. Limitation on Liability of Servicer and Others.

(a) Except as otherwise provided under this Agreement, neither the Servicer nor any of the directors, officers, employees or agents of the Servicer shall be liable to the Issuer or any other Person for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action pursuant to this Agreement or for good faith errors in judgment; provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the Servicer or any such person against any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement. The Servicer and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Servicer may rely in good faith on the advice of counsel or on any document of any kind, prima facie properly executed and submitted by any Person, respecting any matters arising under this Agreement.

(b) Except as provided in this Agreement, including but not limited to Sections 5.02(d) and (e), the Servicer shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action relating to the Cost Recovery Property that is not directly related to one of the Servicer’s enumerated duties in this Agreement or related to its obligation to pay indemnification, and that in its reasonable opinion may cause it to incur any expense or liability; provided, however, that the Servicer may, in respect of any Proceeding, undertake any action that it is not specifically identified in this Agreement as a duty of the Servicer but that the Servicer reasonably determines is necessary or desirable in order to protect the rights and duties of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee under this Agreement and the interests of the Holders and Customers under this Agreement. The Servicer’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding shall be payable from Charge Collections as an Operating Expense (and shall not be deemed to constitute a portion of the Servicing Fee) in accordance with the Indenture. The Servicer’s obligations pursuant to this Section 6.04 shall survive and continue notwithstanding that payment of such Operating Expense may be delayed pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (it being understood that the Servicer may be required initially to advance its own funds to satisfy its obligations hereunder).

SECTION 6.05. Servicer Resignations. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.03, neither Kentucky Power nor any successor servicer shall resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it as Servicer under this Agreement unless Kentucky Power or such successor servicer, as applicable, delivers to the Indenture Trustee an external Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Kentucky Power’s or such successor servicer’s performance of its duties under this Agreement shall no longer be permissible under applicable law. Further, in no event shall the Servicer, whether Kentucky Power or a successor Servicer, resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it as Servicer under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Commission (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). No resignation of a Servicer shall become effective until a successor Servicer has been appointed in accordance with Section 7.02 and has assumed the responsibilities and obligations of the resigning Servicer in accordance with Section 7.02.

 

19


SECTION 6.06. Servicing Compensation.

(a) In consideration for its services hereunder, until the Retirement of the Bonds, the Servicer shall receive an annual fee (the “Servicing Fee”) in an amount equal to (i) for so long as Kentucky Power or an Affiliate of Kentucky Power is the Servicer, 0.05% of the aggregate initial principal amount of all Outstanding Bonds or (ii) if neither Kentucky Power nor any of its Affiliates is the Servicer, an amount agreed upon by the successor Servicer and the Indenture Trustee not to exceed 0.60% of the aggregate initial principal amount of all Outstanding Bonds. The Servicing Fee owing shall be calculated based on the initial principal amount of the Bonds. In addition, the Servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Issuer for filing fees and fees and expenses for printing, attorneys, accountants or other professional services retained by, and other incremental out-of-pocket third-party costs of, the Issuer and paid for by the Servicer (or procured by the Servicer on behalf of the Issuer and paid for by the Servicer) to meet the Issuer’s obligations under the Basic Documents (“Reimbursable Servicing Expenses”). It is expressly acknowledged that the payment of fees to the Rating Agencies shall be at the expense of the Issuer and that, if the Servicer advances such payments to the Rating Agencies, such advancements shall constitute Reimbursable Servicing Expenses and the Issuer shall reimburse the Servicer for any such advances.

(b) The Servicing Fee set forth in Section 6.06(a) and any Reimbursable Servicing Expenses shall be paid to the Servicer by the Indenture Trustee, semi-annually with half of the Servicing Fee being paid on each Payment Date (which amount will be pro-rated for the first and final Payment Dates) in accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 8.02(e) of the Indenture, by wire transfer of immediately available funds from the Collection Account to an account designated by the Servicer. Any portion of the Servicing Fee or Reimbursable Servicing Expenses not paid on any such date shall be added to the Servicing Fee or Reimbursable Servicing Expenses, as applicable, payable on the subsequent Payment Date. In no event shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for the payment of any Servicing Fee, Reimbursable Servicing Expenses or other amounts specified in this Section 6.06; provided that this Section 6.06 does not relieve the Indenture Trustee of any duties it has to allocate funds for payment for such fees under Section 8.02 of the Indenture.

(c) Other than Reimbursable Servicing Expenses and except as otherwise expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, the Servicer shall be required to pay from its own account expenses incurred by the Servicer in connection with its activities hereunder (including any fees to and disbursements by accountants, counsel, or any other Person, any taxes imposed on the Servicer and any expenses incurred in connection with reports to Holders, but excluding any costs and expenses incurred by Kentucky Power in its capacity as Administrator) out of the compensation retained by or paid to it pursuant to this Section 6.06, and shall not be entitled to any extra payment or reimbursement therefor.

(d) The foregoing Servicing Fee constitutes a fair and reasonable compensation for the obligations to be performed by the Servicer. Such Servicing Fee shall be determined without regard to the income of the Issuer, shall not be deemed to constitute distributions to the recipient of any profit, loss or capital of the Issuer and shall be considered a fixed Operating Expense of the Issuer subject to the limitations on such expenses set forth in the Financing Order.

 

20


SECTION 6.07. Compliance with Applicable Law. The Servicer covenants and agrees, in servicing the Cost Recovery Property, to comply in all material respects with all laws applicable to, and binding upon, the Servicer and relating to the Cost Recovery Property the noncompliance with which would have a material adverse effect on the value of the Cost Recovery Property; provided, however, that the foregoing is not intended to, and shall not, impose any liability on the Servicer for noncompliance with any Requirement of Law that the Servicer is contesting in good faith in accordance with its customary standards and procedures.

SECTION 6.08. Access to Certain Records and Information Regarding Cost Recovery Property. The Servicer shall provide to the Indenture Trustee access to the Cost Recovery Property Records as is reasonably required for the Indenture Trustee to perform its duties and obligations under the Indenture and the other Basic Documents, and shall provide access to such records to the Holders as required by applicable law. Access shall be afforded without charge, but only upon reasonable request and during normal business hours at the respective offices of the Servicer. Nothing in this Section 6.08 shall affect the obligation of the Servicer to observe any applicable law (including any Commission Regulation) prohibiting disclosure of information regarding the Customers, and the failure of the Servicer to provide access to such information as a result of such obligation shall not constitute a breach of this Section 6.08.

SECTION 6.09. Appointments. The Servicer may at any time appoint any Person to perform all or any portion of its obligations as Servicer hereunder; provided, however, that, unless such Person is an Affiliate of Kentucky Power, the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied in connection therewith; provided further that the Servicer shall remain obligated and be liable under this Agreement for the servicing and administering of the Cost Recovery Property in accordance with the provisions hereof without diminution of such obligation and liability by virtue of the appointment of such Person and to the same extent and under the same terms and conditions as if the Servicer alone were servicing and administering the Cost Recovery Property. The fees and expenses of any such Person shall be as agreed between the Servicer and such Person from time to time and none of the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Holders or any other Person shall have any responsibility therefor or right or claim thereto. Any such appointment shall not constitute a Servicer resignation under Section 6.05.

SECTION 6.10. No Servicer Advances of Interest or Principal. The Servicer shall not make any advances of interest on or principal of the Bonds.

SECTION 6.11. Remittances.

(a) On each Servicer Business Day, commencing [insert initial Weighted Average Days Outstanding] days after the Closing Date, the Servicer shall remit to the General Subaccount of the Collection Account the total Charge Payments estimated to have been received by the Servicer from or on behalf of Customers on such Servicer Business Day in respect of all previously billed Charges (the “Daily Remittance”), which Daily Remittance shall be calculated according to the procedures set forth in Annex I and shall be remitted as soon as reasonably practicable but in no event later than the second Servicer Business Day after such payments are

 

21


estimated to have been received. Prior to each remittance to the General Subaccount of the Collection Account pursuant to this Section 6.11, the Servicer shall provide written notice to the Indenture Trustee of each such remittance (including the exact dollar amount to be remitted). The Servicer shall also, promptly upon receipt, remit to the Collection Account any other proceeds of the Collateral which it may receive from time to time.

(b) The Servicer agrees and acknowledges that it holds all Charge Payments collected by it and any other proceeds for the Collateral received by it for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders and that all such amounts will be remitted by the Servicer in accordance with this Section 6.11 without any surcharge, fee, offset, charge, withholding or other deduction except (i) as set forth in clause (c) below and (ii) as permitted by Section 6.06. The Servicer further agrees not to make any claim to reduce its obligation to remit all Charge Payments collected by it in accordance with this Agreement except as set forth in clause (c) below.

(c) On or before the twenty-fifth (25th) calendar day of each calendar month (or, if such day is not a Servicer Business Day, on the immediately succeeding Servicer Business Day) commencing with [Month], 2025, the Servicer shall, in the Monthly Servicer’s Certificate, calculate the amount of any Remittance Shortfall or Excess Remittance, as well as any Material Remittance Investment Earnings, for the Collection Period corresponding to the immediately preceding calendar month, and (A) if a Remittance Shortfall exists or if there are any Material Remittance Investment Earnings, the Servicer shall make a supplemental remittance, in the amount of the Remittance Shortfall plus the Material Remittance Investment Earnings, to the General Subaccount of the Collection Account within five (5) Servicer Business Days after the delivery of the applicable Monthly Servicer’s Certificate, or (B) if an Excess Remittance exists, the Servicer shall be entitled either (i) to reduce the amount of each Daily Remittance which the Servicer subsequently remits to the General Subaccount of the Collection Account for application to the amount of such Excess Remittance until the balance of such Excess Remittance has been reduced to zero, with the amount of such reduction becoming the property of the Servicer or (ii) so long as such withdrawal would not cause the amounts on deposit in the General Subaccount or the Excess Funds Subaccount to be insufficient for the payment of the next installment of interest on the Bonds or principal due at maturity on the next Payment Date or upon acceleration on or before the next Payment Date, to be withdrawn immediately from the General Subaccount or Excess Funds Subaccount the amount of such Excess Remittance, with such payment becoming the property of the Servicer. If there is a Remittance Shortfall, the amount which the Servicer remits to the General Subaccount of the Collection Account on the relevant date set forth above shall be increased by the amount of such Remittance Shortfall, such increase coming from the Servicer’s own funds.

(d) Unless otherwise directed to do so by the Issuer, the Servicer shall be responsible for selecting Eligible Investments in which the funds in each Collection Account shall be invested pursuant to Section 8.03 of the Indenture.

SECTION 6.12. Maintenance of Operations. Subject to Section 6.03, Servicer agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to continue, unless prevented by circumstances beyond its control, to operate its electric transmission and distribution system to provide service (or, if transmission and distribution are split, to provide wire service directly to Customers) so long as it is acting as the Servicer under this Agreement.

 

22


ARTICLE VII

DEFAULT

SECTION 7.01. Servicer Default. If any one or more of the following events (a “Servicer Default”) shall occur and be continuing:

(a) any failure by the Servicer to remit to the Collection Account on behalf of the Issuer any required remittance that shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days after the earlier of the date on which (i) written notice of such failure from the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee is received by the Servicer and (ii) such failure is actually known by a Responsible Officer of the Servicer; or

(b) any failure on the part of the Servicer duly to observe or to perform in any material respect any covenants or agreements of the Servicer as set forth in this Agreement (other than as provided in clause (a) of this Section 7.01) or any other Basic Document to which it is a party, which failure shall (i) materially and adversely affect the rights of the Holders and (ii) continue unremedied for a period of sixty (60) days after the earlier of the date on which (A) written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Servicer by the Issuer or the Commission (in each case, with a copy to the Indenture Trustee) or to the Servicer by the Indenture Trustee and (B) such failure is actually known by a Responsible Officer of the Servicer; or

(c) any failure in any material respect by the Servicer duly to perform its obligations under Section 4.01(b) of this Agreement in the time and manner set forth therein, which failure continues unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days; or

(d) any representation or warranty made by the Servicer in this Agreement or any other Basic Document shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made, which has a material adverse effect on the Holders and which material adverse effect continues unremedied for a period of sixty (60) days after the earlier of the date on which (A) written notice thereof, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been delivered to the Servicer (with a copy to the Indenture Trustee) by the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, or the Commission (with a copy to the Indenture Trustee), or (B) such failure is actually known by a Responsible Officer of the Servicer; or

(e) an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the Servicer;

then, and in each and every case, so long as the Servicer Default shall not have been remedied, the Indenture Trustee, acting under the Indenture may, or, upon the written instruction of the Holders evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds and the written instruction of the Commission (acting on behalf of Customers), shall, in each case by notice then given in writing to the Servicer (a “Termination Notice”), terminate all the rights and obligations of the Servicer under this Agreement (other than the obligations set forth in Section 6.02 and the obligation under Section 7.02 to continue performing its functions as Servicer until a successor Servicer is appointed). The appointment of any successor Servicer shall be subject to the terms

 

23


and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In addition, upon a Servicer Default described in Section 7.01(a), the Holders and the Indenture Trustee as financing parties under the Act (or any of their representatives) shall be entitled to (i) apply to the Commission or the court of Franklin County, Kentucky, for sequestration and payment of revenues arising with respect to the Cost Recovery Property, (ii) foreclose on or otherwise enforce the lien and security interests in any Cost Recovery Property and (iii) exercise any other rights and remedies available to the Holders and the Indenture Trustee under the Act or under any other applicable law. On or after the receipt by the Servicer of a Termination Notice, all authority and power of the Servicer under this Agreement, whether with respect to the Bonds, the Cost Recovery Property, the Charges or otherwise, shall, without further action, pass to and be vested in such successor Servicer as may be appointed under Section 7.02; and, without limitation, the Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the predecessor Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, any and all documents and other instruments, and to do or accomplish all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of such Termination Notice, whether to complete the transfer of the Cost Recovery Property Records and related documents, or otherwise. The predecessor Servicer shall cooperate with the successor Servicer, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the predecessor Servicer under this Agreement, including the transfer to the successor Servicer for administration by it of all Cost Recovery Property Records and all cash amounts that shall at the time be held by the predecessor Servicer for remittance, or shall thereafter be received by it with respect to the Cost Recovery Property or the Charges. As soon as practicable after receipt by the Servicer of such Termination Notice, the Servicer shall deliver the Cost Recovery Property Records to the successor Servicer. In case a successor Servicer is appointed as a result of a Servicer Default, all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred in connection with transferring the Cost Recovery Property Records to the successor Servicer and amending this Agreement to reflect such succession as Servicer pursuant to this Section 7.01 shall be paid by the predecessor Servicer upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses. Termination of Kentucky Power as Servicer shall not terminate Kentucky Power’s rights or obligations under the Sale Agreement (except rights thereunder deriving from its rights as the Servicer hereunder).

SECTION 7.02. Appointment of Successor.

(a) Upon the Servicer’s receipt of a Termination Notice pursuant to Section 7.01 or the Servicer’s resignation or removal in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the predecessor Servicer shall continue to perform its functions as Servicer under this Agreement, and shall be entitled to receive the requisite portion of the Servicing Fee, until a successor Servicer shall have assumed in writing the obligations of the Servicer hereunder as described below. In the event of the Servicer’s removal or resignation hereunder, the Indenture Trustee may, or, at the written direction and with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds or at the written direction of the Commission, shall, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, appoint a successor Servicer with the Issuer’s prior written consent thereto (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), and the successor Servicer shall accept its appointment by a written assumption in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee and provide prompt written notice of such assumption to the Issuer and the Rating Agencies. If within thirty (30) days after the delivery of the Termination Notice, a new Servicer shall not have been appointed, the Indenture Trustee may, or, upon the written direction

 

24


of the Holders of not less than a majority of Bonds, shall, in each case petition the Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Servicer under this Agreement. Except as permitted by Section 6.03, a Person shall qualify as a successor Servicer only if (i) such Person is permitted under Commission Regulations to perform the duties of the Servicer, (ii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied, (iii) the KPSC Condition described in Section 8.01(g) shall have been satisfied, (iv) such Person is approved as a successor Servicer under the Intercreditor Agreement and (v) such Person enters into a servicing agreement with the Issuer having substantially the same provisions as this Agreement (as the Servicer). In no event shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for its appointment of a successor Servicer. The Indenture Trustee’s expenses incurred under this Section 7.02(a) shall be (x) at the sole expense of the Issuer and payable from the Collection Account as provided in Section 8.02 of the Indenture or, (y) if the removal and appointment of a successor occurred due to a Servicer Default, at the sole expense of the Servicer.

(b) Upon appointment, the successor Servicer shall be the successor in all respects to the predecessor Servicer and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities arising thereafter relating thereto placed on the predecessor Servicer and shall be entitled to the Servicing Fee and all the rights granted to the predecessor Servicer by the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.03. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Indenture Trustee, with both the written consent of the Holders evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds and the written consent of the Commission, may waive in writing any default by the Servicer in the performance of its obligations hereunder and its consequences, except a default in making any required deposits to the Collection Account in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any such waiver of a past default, such default shall cease to exist, and any Servicer Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been remedied for every purpose of this Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereto. Promptly after the execution of any such waiver, the Servicer shall furnish copies of such waiver to each of the Rating Agencies.

SECTION 7.04. Notice of Servicer Default. The Servicer shall deliver to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Commission and the Rating Agencies, promptly after having obtained knowledge thereof, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, written notice of any event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Servicer Default under Section 7.01.

SECTION 7.05. Cooperation with Successor. The Servicer covenants and agrees with the Issuer that it will, on an ongoing basis, cooperate with the successor Servicer and provide whatever information is, and take whatever actions are, reasonably necessary to assist the successor Servicer in performing its obligations hereunder. All reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred by the Servicer in connection with this Section 7.05 shall be paid by the Issuer or the successor Servicer from Charge Collections available under the Indenture, following presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses.

 

25


ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 8.01. Amendment.

(a) This Agreement may be amended in writing by the Servicer and the Issuer with (i) the prior written consent of the Indenture Trustee, (ii) the satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition and (iii) after the issuance of the Bonds, the satisfaction of the KPSC Condition described in Section 8.01(g); provided that any such amendment may not, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate of the Servicer delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, adversely affect in any material respect the interest of any Holder in any material respect without the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Bonds; provided further that any amendment affecting the rights, protections, privileges or indemnities of the Indenture Trustee shall require the prior written consent of the Indenture Trustee. Promptly after obtaining such consents and executing any such amendment, the Issuer shall furnish copies of such amendment to each of the Rating Agencies.

(b) In addition, this Agreement may be amended in writing by the Servicer and the Issuer with ten Business Days’ prior written notice given to the Rating Agencies and the Indenture Trustee, without the consent of any of the Holders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provisions in this Agreement or for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions in this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders; provided, however, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate of the Servicer delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holder; or (ii) to conform the provisions hereof to the description of this Agreement in the Prospectus. Promptly after executing any such amendment, the Issuer shall furnish copies of such amendment to each of the Rating Agencies.

(c) Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive and conclusively rely upon an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement and that all conditions precedent have been satisfied and upon the Opinion of Counsel from external counsel referred to in Section 3.01(c)(i). The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects their own rights, duties, indemnities or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.

(d) Notwithstanding Sections 8.01(a) through (c), or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Servicer and the Issuer may amend Annex I to this Agreement in writing with prior written notice given to the Commission, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies but without the consent of the Commission, the Indenture Trustee, any Rating Agency or any Holder, solely to address changes to the Servicer’s method of calculating Charge Payments as a result of changes to the Servicer’s current computerized customer information system, including changes which would replace the remittances contemplated by the estimation procedures set forth in Annex I with remittances of Charge Collections determined to have been actually received, or to

 

26


address the manner of presenting Charges on the Bills of Customers; provided that any such amendment shall not, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate of the Seller delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, have a material adverse effect on the Holders of then Outstanding Bonds.

(e) It shall not be necessary for the consent of Holders pursuant to this Article to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

(f) Any Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters (including financial and capital markets), upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Servicer or the Issuer and other documents necessary and advisable in the judgment of counsel delivering such opinion.

(g) KPSC Condition.

(i) With respect to the Commission’s consent to any amendment or modification to this Agreement, at least 15 days prior to the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Servicer may submit the amendment to the Commission by delivering to the Commission’s Executive Director a written request for such consent, which request shall contain:

(A) a reference to Case No. 2023-00159;

(B) a statement as to the possible effect of the amendment on Ongoing Financing Costs;

(C) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the proposed amendment has been approved by all relevant parties to this Agreement; and

(D) a statement identifying the person to whom the Commission or its staff is to address its consent to the proposed amendment or modification or request additional time.

(ii) If the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, within 15 days (subject to extension as provided in clause (g)(iii)) of receiving a notification complying with subparagraph (g)(i), shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (g)(i)(D) a written statement that the Commission might object to the proposed amendment or modification, then, subject to clause (g)(iv) below, such proposed amendment or modification shall not be effective unless and until either (A) the Commission subsequently delivers a written statement that it does not object to such proposed amendment or modification or (B) the Commission is conclusively deemed to not have any objection pursuant to clause (g)(iv) below; or

(iii) If the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, within 15 days of receiving a notification complying with subparagraph (g)(i), shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (g)(i)(D) a written statement

 

27


requesting an additional amount of time not to exceed 30 days in which to consider such proposed amendment or modification, then such proposed amendment or modification shall not be effective if, within such extended period, the Commission shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in clause (g)(i)(D) a written statement as described in subparagraph (g)(ii), unless and until either (A) the Commission subsequently delivers a written statement that it does not object to such proposed amendment or modification or (B) the Commission is conclusively deemed to not have any objection pursuant to clause (g)(iv) below.

(iv) If (A) the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director, has not delivered written notice that the Commission might object to such proposed amendment or modification within the time periods described in subparagraphs (g)(ii) or (g)(iii) above, whichever is applicable, or (B) the Commission or the Commission’s Executive Director has delivered such written notice but does not within 45 days of the delivery of the notification in (g)(i) above, provide subsequent written notice confirming that it does in fact object and the reasons therefore or advise that it has initiated a proceeding to determine what action it might take with respect to the matter, then the Commission shall be conclusively deemed not to have any objection to the proposed amendment or modification and such amendment or modification may subsequently become effective.

(v) Following delivery of a notice to the Commission by the Servicer under Section 8.01(g)(i) above, the Servicer and Issuer may at any time withdraw from the Commission further consideration of any notification of a proposed amendment or modification.

SECTION 8.02. Maintenance of Accounts and Records.

(a) The Servicer shall maintain accounts and records as to the Cost Recovery Property accurately and in accordance with its standard accounting procedures and in sufficient detail to permit reconciliation between Charge Payments received by the Servicer and Charge Collections from time to time deposited in the Collection Account.

(b) The Servicer shall permit the Indenture Trustee and its agents at any time during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice to the Servicer and to the extent it does not unreasonably interfere with the Servicer’s normal operations, to inspect, audit and make copies of and abstracts from the Servicer’s records regarding the Cost Recovery Property and the Charges. Nothing in this Section 8.02(b) shall affect the obligation of the Servicer to observe any applicable law (including any Commission Regulation) prohibiting disclosure of information regarding the Customers, and the failure of the Servicer to provide access to such information as a result of such obligation shall not constitute a breach of this Section 8.02(b).

SECTION 8.03. Notices. Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all demands, notices and communications upon or to the Servicer, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the Rating Agencies under this Agreement shall be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if in writing and delivered personally, sent by documented delivery service or, to the extent receipt is confirmed telephonically, sent by telecopy or other form of electronic transmission:

(a) in the case of the Servicer, to Kentucky Power Company, at 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Attention: Treasurer, Telephone: (614) 716-1000, Email: Treasury_Operations_AEP@aep.com;

 

28


(b) in the case of the Issuer, to Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, at 1645 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101, Attention: Vice President – Regulatory and Finance, Telephone: (606) 929-1488, Email: Treasury_Operations_AEP@aep.com;

(c) in the case of the Indenture Trustee to the Corporate Trust Office;

(d) in the case of the Commission, to Kentucky Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 615, 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602-0615, Telephone: (502) 564-3940, Email: psced@ky.gov;

(e) in the case of Moody’s, to Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., ABS/RMBS Monitoring Department, 24th Floor, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007, Email: ServicerReports@moodys.com (all such notices to be delivered to Moody’s in writing by email), and solely for purposes of Rating Agency Condition communications: abscormonitoring@moodys.com;

(f) in the case of Standard & Poor’s, to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc., Structured Credit Surveillance, 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041, Telephone: (212) 438-8991, Email: servicer_reports@spglobal.com (all such notices to be delivered to Standard & Poor’s in writing by email); or

(g) as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be designated by written notice to the other parties.

SECTION 8.04. Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except as provided in Section 6.03 and as provided in the provisions of this Agreement concerning the resignation of the Servicer, this Agreement may not be assigned by the Servicer.

SECTION 8.05. Limitations on Rights of Others. The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Servicer and the Issuer and, to the extent provided herein or in the Basic Documents, the Commission (for the benefit of the Customers), the Indenture Trustee and the Holders, and the other Persons expressly referred to herein, and such Persons shall have the right to enforce the relevant provisions of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall be construed to give to any other Person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim in the Cost Recovery Property or Collateral or under or in respect of this Agreement or any covenants, conditions or provisions contained herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for the avoidance of doubt, any right, remedy or claim to which any Customer may be entitled pursuant to the Financing Order or pursuant to this Agreement may be asserted or exercised only by the Commission (or by an authorized designee in the name of the Commission) for the benefit of such Customer.

 

29


SECTION 8.06. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision (if any) or the remaining provisions hereof (unless such a construction shall be unreasonable), and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 8.07. Separate Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Each party hereto agrees that this Agreement may be electronically signed, that any digital or electronic signatures appearing on this Agreement are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility, and that delivery of any such electronic signature to, or a signed copy of, this Agreement may be made by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission.

SECTION 8.08. Headings. The headings of the various Articles and Sections herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 8.09. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.

SECTION 8.10. Assignment to Indenture Trustee. (a) The Servicer hereby acknowledges and consents to any mortgage, pledge, assignment and grant of a security interest by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Indenture of any or all of the Issuer’s rights hereunder and (b) in no event shall the Indenture Trustee have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of the Issuer hereunder or in any of the certificates delivered by Issuer pursuant hereto, as to all of which any recourse shall be had solely to the assets of the Issuer subject to the availability of funds therefor under Section 8.02 of the Indenture.

SECTION 8.11. Nonpetition Covenants. Notwithstanding any prior termination of this Agreement or the Indenture, the Servicer shall not, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Issuer to invoke or join with any Person in provoking the process of any Governmental Authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining an involuntary case against the Issuer under any U.S. federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer for any substantial part of the property of the Issuer or ordering the dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Issuer.

 

30


SECTION 8.12. Limitation of Liability. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the Indenture Trustee, not individually or personally but solely as Indenture Trustee in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, and that the Indenture Trustee, in acting hereunder, is entitled to all rights, benefits, protections, immunities and indemnities accorded to it under the Indenture.

SECTION 8.13. Rule 17g-5 Compliance. The Servicer agrees that any notice, report, request for satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition, document or other information provided by the Servicer to any Rating Agency under this Agreement or any other Basic Document to which it is a party for the purpose of determining the initial credit rating of the Bonds or undertaking credit rating surveillance of the Bonds with any Rating Agency, or satisfy the Rating Agency Condition, shall be substantially concurrently posted by the Servicer on the 17g-5 Website.

SECTION 8.14. Commission Authority. The Commission also shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Servicing Agreement for the benefit of Kentucky Power’s Customers. In this capacity, so long as an event constituting a Servicer Default has occurred and is continuing, the Commission shall be authorized to declare a Servicer Default under this Servicing Agreement.

(SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS)

 

31


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

     

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC,

as Issuer

      By:  

 

        Name:
        Title:
     

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY,

as Servicer

      By:  

 

        Name:
        Title:

ACKNOWLEDGED AND

ACCEPTED:

     

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity but solely

as Indenture Trustee

     

By:

 

 

     
 

Name:

     
 

Title:

     

 

Signature Page to

Servicing Agreement


EXHIBIT A

MONTHLY SERVICER’S CERTIFICATE

See Attached.

 

EXHIBIT A


Remittance Dates

Monthly Servicer’s Certificate

(to be delivered each month pursuant to Section 3.01(b)(i) of the Servicing Agreement)

 

 

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

 

 

Kentucky Power Company, as Servicer

Pursuant to the Servicing Agreement dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Servicing Agreement”) between Kentucky Power Company, as Servicer, and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, as Issuer, the Servicer does hereby certify as follows:

Collection Period:

Remittance Dates:

 

Revenue

Class

 

 

 

Total

   a. Charges in Effect    b. Billed Charges    c. Estimated Collections of Charge Payments

Collection Period:

 

Revenue

Class

 

 

 

 

Total

  

d. Estimated Collections of Charge Payments

Total

   e. Actual Collections of Charge Payments    f. Remittance Shortfall for this Collection Period    g. Excess Remittance for this Collection Period   

h. Shortfall

/ (Excess) Interest

   i. Total Shortfall / (Excess) Interest

j. Daily remittances previously made by the Servicer to the Collection Account in respect of this Collection Period (c):

k. The amount to be remitted by the Servicer to the Collection Account for this Collection Period is (c + i):

l. If (k>j), (k-j) equals net amount due from the Servicer to the Collection Amount:

m. If (j>k), (j-k) equals net amount due to the Servicer from the Collection Amount:

Capitalized terms used herein have their respective meanings set forth in the Servicing Agreement.

 

EXHIBIT A


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Monthly Servicer’s Certificate the day of

 

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY,

as Servicer

 

Name:
Title:

 

EXHIBIT A


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF SEMI-ANNUAL SERVICER’S CERTIFICATE

Pursuant to Section 4.01(c)(ii) of the Servicing Agreement, dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Servicing Agreement”), between, KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY, as Servicer, and KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, as Issuer, the Servicer does hereby certify, for the     , 20 Payment Date (the “Current Payment Date”), as follows:

Capitalized terms used herein have their respective meanings as set forth in the Indenture (as defined in the Servicing Agreement). References herein to certain sections and subsections are references to the respective sections of the Servicing Agreement or the Indenture, as the context indicates.

Collection Periods:         to    

Payment Date:           

Collections Allocable and Aggregate Amounts Available for the Current Payment Date:

 

i.

   Remittances for the    Collection Period    $         

ii.

   Remittances for the    Collection Period    $         

iii.

   Remittances for the    Collection Period    $         

iv.

   Remittances for the    Collection Period    $         

v.

   Remittances for the    Collection Period    $         

vi.

   Remittances for the    Collection Period    $         

vii.

   Investment Earnings on Collection Account    $         
   viii.    Investment Earnings on Capital Subaccount    $         
   ix.    Investment Earnings on Excess Funds Subaccount    $         
   x.    Investment Earnings on General Subaccount    $         

xi.

   General Subaccount Balance (sum of i through x above)    $         

xii.

   Excess Funds Subaccount Balance as of Prior Payment Date    $         

xiii.

   Capital Subaccount Balance as of Prior Payment Date    $         

xiv.

   Collection Account Balance (sum of xii through xiii above)    $         

Outstanding Amounts of as of Prior Payment Date:

 

 

Aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Bonds:

     $       

 

EXHIBIT B


Required Funding/Payments as of Current Payment Date:

 

Principal    Principal Due  

For all Bonds:

        $     

 

Interest

   Interest Rate      Days in Interest
Period1
     Principal Balance      Interest Due  

For all Bonds:

              $     
                   Required Level      Funding Required  

ix. Capital Subaccount

 

     

 

Allocation of Remittances as of Current Payment Date Pursuant to 8.02(e) of Indenture

 

i. Trustee Fees and Expenses; Indemnity Amounts2

   $       

ii. Servicing Fee

   $       

iii. Administration Fee; Independent Manager Fee

   $       

iv. Operating Expenses

   $       

v. Periodic Interest (including any past-due for prior periods)

   $       

 

     Aggregate      Per $1,000 of Original
Principal Amount
        
   $             $        

vi. Principal Due and Payable as a Result of an Event of Default or on Final Maturity Date

         $       
     Aggregate      Per $1,000 of Original
Principal Amount
        
   $             $        
 
1 

On 30/360 day basis for initial payment date; otherwise use one-half of annual rate.

2 

Subject to $100,000 cap per annum.

 

EXHIBIT B


vii. Periodic Principal

         $         
     Aggregate     

Per $1,000 of Original

Principal Amount

        
     $             $          

 

viii. Other unpaid fees, expenses and indemnity amounts owed to the Indenture Trustee

   $         

viii. Other unpaid Operating Expenses

   $         

viii. Funding of Capital Subaccount (to required level)

   $         

ix. Return on Invested Capital released to Kentucky Power

   $         

x. Deposit to Excess Funds Subaccount

   $         

xi. Released to Issuer upon Retirement of all Bonds

   $         

xii. Aggregate Remittances as of Current Payment Date

   $         

Subaccount Withdrawals as of Current Payment (if applicable, pursuant to Section 8.02(f) of Indenture):

 

i.

  

Excess Funds Subaccount

     $       

ii.

  

Capital Subaccount

     $       
iii.   

Total Withdrawals

     $       

Outstanding Amount and Collection Account Balance as of Current Payment Date (after giving effect to payments to be made on such Payment Date):

 

  

Aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Bonds:

   $         
  

Excess Funds Subaccount Balance

   $         
  

Capital Subaccount Balance

   $         
  

Aggregate Collection Account Balance

   $         

 

EXHIBIT B


Shortfalls in Interest and Principal Payments as of Current Payment Date

 

i.

  

Semi-annual Interest Payment

   $         

ii.

  

Semi-annual Principal Payment

   $         

Shortfalls in Required Subaccount Levels as of Current Payment Date

 

ii.

  

Capital Subaccount

   $         

 

EXHIBIT B


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Servicer’s Certificate this day of      .

 

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY,

as Servicer

By:  

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

EXHIBIT B


EXHIBIT C-1

REGULATION AB ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

The undersigned hereby certifies that he/she is the duly elected and acting       of KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY, as servicer (the “Servicer”) under the Servicing Agreement dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Servicing Agreement”) between the Servicer and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC (the “Issuer”) and further that:

1. The undersigned is responsible for assessing the Servicer’s compliance with the servicing criteria set forth in Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB (the “Servicing Criteria”).

2. With respect to each of the Servicing Criteria, the undersigned has made the following assessment of the Servicing Criteria in accordance with Item 1122(d) of Regulation AB, with such discussion regarding the performance of such Servicing Criteria during the fiscal year covered by the Sponsor’s annual report on Form 10-K Report (such fiscal year, the “Assessment Period”):

 

  Servicing Criteria  

Applicable

Servicing Criteria

Reference   Criteria  
  General Servicing Considerations  
1122(d)(1)(i)   Policies and procedures are instituted to monitor any performance or other triggers and events of default in accordance with the transaction agreements.   Applicable; assessment below.
1122(d)(1)(ii)   If any material servicing activities are outsourced to third parties, policies and procedures are instituted to monitor the third party’s performance and compliance with such servicing activities.   Not applicable; no servicing activities were outsourced.
1122(d)(1)(iii)   Any requirements in the transaction agreements to maintain a back-up servicer for the pool assets are maintained.   Not applicable; documents do not provide for a back-up servicer.
1122(d)(1)(iv)   A fidelity bond and errors and omissions policy is in effect on the party participating in the servicing function throughout the reporting period in the amount of coverage required by and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the transaction agreements.   Not applicable; documents do not require a fidelity bond or errors and omissions policy.

 

EXHIBIT C-1


  Servicing Criteria  

Applicable

Servicing Criteria

Reference   Criteria  
1122(d)(1)(v)   Aggregation of information, as applicable, is mathematically accurate and the information conveyed accurately reflects the information.   Applicable
  Cash Collection and Administration  
1122(d)(2)(i)   Payments on pool assets are deposited into the appropriate custodial bank accounts and related bank clearing accounts no more than two business days after receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   Applicable
1122(d)(2)(ii)   Disbursements made via wire transfer on behalf of an obligor or to an investor are made only by authorized personnel.   Applicable
1122(d)(2)(iii)   Advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements.   Applicable, but no current assessment required; no advances by the Servicer are permitted under the transaction agreements.
1122(d)(2)(iv)   The related accounts for the transaction, such as cash reserve accounts or accounts established as a form of overcollateralization, are separately maintained (e.g., with respect to commingling of cash) as set forth in the transaction agreements.   Applicable, but no current assessment is required since transaction accounts are maintained by the Securities Intermediary and in the name of the Indenture Trustee
1122(d)(2)(v)   Each custodial account is maintained at a federally insured depository institution as set forth in the transaction agreements. For purposes of this criterion, “federally insured depository institution” with respect to a foreign financial institution means a foreign financial institution that meets the requirements of Rule 13k-1(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act.   Applicable, but no current assessment required; all “custodial accounts” are maintained by the Securities Intermediary.
1122(d)(2)(vi)   Unissued checks are safeguarded so as to prevent unauthorized access.   Not applicable; all transfers made by wire transfer.

 

EXHIBIT C-1


  Servicing Criteria  

Applicable

Servicing Criteria

Reference   Criteria  
1122(d)(2)(vii)   Reconciliations are prepared on a monthly basis for all asset-backed securities related bank accounts, including custodial accounts and related bank clearing accounts. These reconciliations (A) are mathematically accurate; (B) are prepared within 30 calendar days after the bank statement cutoff date, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements; (C) are reviewed and approved by someone other than the person who prepared the reconciliation; and (D) contain explanations for reconciling items. These reconciling items are resolved within 90 calendar days of their original identification, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   Applicable; assessment below.
  Investor Remittances and Reporting  
1122(d)(3)(i)   Reports to investors, including those to be filed with the SEC, are maintained in accordance with the transaction agreements and applicable SEC requirements. Specifically, such reports (A) are prepared in accordance with timeframes and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements; (B) provide information calculated in accordance with the terms specified in the transaction agreements; (C) are filed with the SEC as required by its rules and regulations; and (D) agree with investors’ or the trustee’s records as to the total unpaid principal balance and number of pool assets serviced by the Servicer.   Applicable; assessment below.
   
1122(d)(3)(ii)   Amounts due to investors are allocated and remitted in accordance with timeframes, distribution priority and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements.   Not applicable; investor records maintained by Indenture Trustee.
1122(d)(3)(iii)   Disbursements made to an investor are posted within two business days to the Servicer’s investor records, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   Applicable
1122(d)(3)(iv)   Amounts remitted to investors per the investor reports agree with cancelled checks, or other form of payment, or custodial bank statements.   Applicable; assessment below.
  Pool Asset Administration  
1122(d)(4)(i)   Collateral or security on pool assets is maintained as required by the transaction agreements or related pool asset documents.   Applicable; assessment below.
1122(d)(4)(ii)   Pool assets and related documents are safeguarded as required by the transaction agreements.   Applicable; assessment below.

 

EXHIBIT C-1


  Servicing Criteria   Applicable
Servicing Criteria
Reference   Criteria  
1122(d)(4)(iii)   Any additions, removals or substitutions to the asset pool are made, reviewed and approved in accordance with any conditions or requirements in the transaction agreements.   Not applicable; no removals or substitutions of Cost Recovery Property are contemplated or allowed under the transaction documents.
1122(d)(4)(iv)   Payments on pool assets, including any payoffs, made in accordance with the related pool asset documents are posted to the Servicer’s obligor records maintained no more than two business days after receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements, and allocated to principal, interest or other items (e.g., escrow) in accordance with the related pool asset documents.   Applicable; assessment below.
1122(d)(4)(v)   The Servicer’s records regarding the pool assets agree with the Servicer’s records with respect to an obligor’s unpaid principal balance.   Not applicable; because underlying obligation (securitized surcharge) is not an interest bearing instrument.
1122(d)(4)(vi)   Changes with respect to the terms or status of an obligor’s pool asset (e.g., loan modifications or re-agings) are made, reviewed and approved by authorized personnel in accordance with the transaction agreements and related pool asset documents.   Applicable; assessment below
1122(d)(4)(vii)   Loss mitigation or recovery actions (e.g., forbearance plans, modifications and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosures and repossessions, as applicable) are initiated, conducted and concluded in accordance with the timeframes or other requirements established by the transaction agreements.   Applicable; limited assessment below. Servicer actions governed by the Financing Order and Commission regulations.

 

EXHIBIT C-1


  Servicing Criteria   Applicable
Servicing Criteria
Reference   Criteria  
1122(d)(4)(viii)   Records documenting collection efforts are maintained during the period a pool asset is delinquent in accordance with the transaction agreements. Such records are maintained on at least a monthly basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements, and describe the entity’s activities in monitoring delinquent pool assets including, for example, phone calls, letters and payment rescheduling plans in cases where delinquency is deemed temporary (e.g., illness or unemployment).   Applicable, but does not require assessment since no explicit documentation requirement with respect to delinquent accounts are imposed under the transactional documents due to availability of “true-up” mechanism.
1122(d)(4)(ix)   Adjustments to interest rates or rates of return for pool assets with variable rates are computed based on the related pool asset documents.   Not applicable; securitized surcharges are not interest bearing instruments.
1122(d)(4)(x)   Regarding any funds held in trust for an obligor (such as escrow accounts): (A) such funds are analyzed, in accordance with the obligor’s pool asset documents, on at least an annual basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements; (B) interest on such funds is paid, or credited, to obligors in accordance with applicable pool asset documents and state laws; and (C) such funds are returned to the obligor within 30 calendar days of full repayment of the related pool asset, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   Not applicable.
1122(d)(4)(xi)   Payments made on behalf of an obligor (such as tax or insurance payments) are made on or before the related penalty or expiration dates, as indicated on the appropriate bills or notices for such payments, provided that such support has been received by the servicer at least 30 calendar days prior to these dates, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   Not applicable; Servicer does not make payments on behalf of obligors.
1122(d)(4)(xii)   Any late payment penalties in connection with any payment to be made on behalf of an obligor are paid from the servicer’s funds and not charged to the obligor, unless the late payment was due to the obligor’s error or omission.   Not applicable; Servicer cannot make advances of its own funds on behalf of customers under the transaction documents.
1122(d)(4)(xiii)   Disbursements made on behalf of an obligor are posted within two business days to the obligor’s records maintained by the servicer, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements.   Not applicable; Servicer cannot make advances of its own funds on behalf of customers to pay principal or interest on the bonds.
1122(d)(4)(xiv)   Delinquencies, charge-offs and uncollectable accounts are recognized and recorded in accordance with the transaction agreements.   Applicable; assessment below.

 

EXHIBIT C-1


  Servicing Criteria   Applicable
Servicing Criteria
Reference   Criteria  
1122(d)(4)(xv)   Any external enhancement or other support, identified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) or Item 1115 of Regulation AB, is maintained as set forth in the transaction agreements.   Not applicable; no external enhancement is required under the transaction documents.

3. To the best of the undersigned’s knowledge, based on such review, the Servicer is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable servicing criteria set forth above as of and for the period ending the end of the fiscal year covered by the Sponsor’s annual report on Form 10-K. [If not true, include description of any material instance of noncompliance.

4. A registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on the undersigned’s assessment of compliance with the applicable servicing criteria set forth above as of and for the period ending the end of the fiscal year covered by the Sponsor’s annual report on Form 10-K.

Executed as of this       day of      ,    .

 

KENTUCKY POWER COMPANY
By:  

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

EXHIBIT C-1


EXHIBIT C-2

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

The undersigned hereby certifies that he/she is the duly elected and acting [     ] of [NAME OF SERVICER], as servicer (the “Servicer”) under the Servicing Agreement dated as of [•], 2025 (the “Servicing Agreement”) between the Servicer and Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, as issuer (the “Issuer”), and further that:

1. A review of the activities of the Servicer and of its performance under the Servicing Agreement during the twelve months ended [    ], [  ] has been made under the supervision of the undersigned pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Servicing Agreement; and

2. To the best of the undersigned’s knowledge, based on such review, the Servicer has fulfilled all of its obligations in all material respects under the Servicing Agreement throughout the twelve months ended [    ],[  ], except as set forth on Annex A hereto.

Executed as of this        day of          ,   .

 

[NAME OF SERVICER]

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

EXHIBIT C-2


ANNEX A

TO CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

LIST OF SERVICER DEFAULTS

The following Servicer Defaults, or events which with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would become Servicer Defaults known to the undersigned occurred during the year ended [     ]:

 

Nature of Default    Status

 

Annex A to Exhibit C-2


SCHEDULE 4.01(a)

EXPECTED AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE

OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL BALANCE

 

DATE    AMOUNT

 

  

 

Closing Date

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

[●]

  

$ [●]

 

Schedule 4.01(a)

1


ANNEX I

SERVICING PROCEDURES

The Servicer agrees to comply with the following servicing procedures:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Servicing Agreement (the “Agreement”).

(b) Whenever used in this Annex I, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

Applicable MDMA” means with respect to each Customer, the meter data management agent providing meter reading services for that Customer’s account.

Billed Charges” means the amounts of Charges billed by the Servicer.

Servicer Policies and Practices” means, with respect to the Servicer’s duties under this Annex I, the policies and practices of the Servicer applicable to such duties that the Servicer follows with respect to comparable assets that it services for itself and, if applicable, others.

SECTION 2. DATA ACQUISITION.

(a) Installation and Maintenance of Meters. The Servicer shall cause to be installed, replaced and maintained meters in such places and in such condition as will enable the Servicer to obtain usage measurements for each Customer at least once every Billing Period.

(b) Meter Reading. At least once each Billing Period, the Servicer shall obtain usage measurements from the Applicable MDMA for each Customer; provided, however, that the Servicer may estimate any Customer’s usage determined in accordance with applicable Commission Regulations.

(c) Cost of Metering. The Issuer shall not be obligated to pay any costs associated with the routine metering duties set forth in this Section 2, including the costs of installing, replacing and maintaining meters, nor shall the Issuer be entitled to any credit against the Servicing Fee for any cost savings realized by the Servicer as a result of new metering and/or billing technologies.

SECTION 3. REVENUE AND BILL CALCULATION.

The Servicer (a) for determining revenue from each Customer, shall obtain a calculation of each Customer’s usage (which may be based on data obtained from such Customer’s meter read or on usage estimates determined in accordance with applicable Commission Regulations) at least once each Billing Period; and (b) shall determine therefrom each Customer’s individual Charges to be included on Bills issued by it to such Customer for billing such Customer.

 

ANNEX I

1


SECTION 4. BILLING.

The Servicer shall implement the Charges as of the Closing Date and shall thereafter bill each Customer for the respective Customer’s outstanding current and past due Charges accruing through the date on which the Charges may no longer be billed under the Charge Rider, all in accordance with the following:

(a) Frequency of Bills; Billing Practices. In accordance with the Servicer’s then-existing Servicer Policies and Practices for its own charges, as such Servicer Policies and Practices may be modified from time to time, the Servicer shall generate and issue a Bill to each Customer for such Customers’ Charges once every applicable Billing Period, at the same time, with the same frequency and on the same Bill as that containing the Servicer’s own charges to such Customers. In the event that the Servicer makes any material modification to these practices, it shall notify the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, and the Rating Agencies prior to the effectiveness of any such modification; provided, however, that the Servicer may not make any modification that will materially adversely affect the Holders.

(b) Format.

(i) Each Bill issued by the Servicer shall contain the charge corresponding to the respective Charges owed by such Customer for the applicable Billing Period. The Servicer shall comply with the requirements of the Financing Order and Charge Rider with respect to the identification of Charges on Bills to ensure that each Customer’s bill contains: (a) the portion of Charges applicable to the applicable Revenue Class and, (b) a separate line item including both the base rate of the customer’s electricity and the amount of the Charge, and that both (a) and (b) are present and identifiable on the Customer’s Bill, as required by Section 4.01(c)(iii)(B) of the Servicing Agreement.

(ii) The Servicer shall conform to such requirements in respect of the format, structure and text of Bills delivered to Customers in accordance with, if applicable, the Financing Order, Charge Rider, other tariffs and any other Commission Regulations. To the extent that Bill format, structure and text are not prescribed by the Act, or by applicable Commission Regulations, the Servicer shall, subject to clause (i) above, determine the format, structure and text of all Bills in accordance with its reasonable business judgment, its Servicer Policies and Practices with respect to its own charges and prevailing industry standards.

(c) Delivery. The Servicer shall deliver all Bills issued by it (i) by United States mail in such class or classes as are consistent with the Servicer Policies and Practices followed by the Servicer with respect to its own charges to its customers or (ii) by any other means, whether electronic or otherwise, that the Servicer may from time to time use to present its own charges to its customers. The Servicer shall pay from its own funds all costs of issuance and delivery of all Bills, including but not limited to printing and postage costs as the same may increase or decrease from time to time.

SECTION 5. CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTIONS.

The Servicer shall handle all Customer inquiries and other Customer service matters according to the same procedures it uses to service Customers with respect to its own charges.

 

ANNEX I

2


SECTION 6. COLLECTIONS; PAYMENT PROCESSING; REMITTANCE.

(a) Collection Efforts, Policies, Procedures.

(i) The Servicer shall use reasonable efforts to collect all Billed Charges from Customers as and when the same become due and shall follow such collection procedures as it follows with respect to comparable assets that it services for itself or others, including with respect to the following:

(A) The Servicer shall prepare and deliver overdue notices to Customers in accordance with applicable Commission Regulations and Servicer Policies and Practices.

(B) The Servicer shall apply late payment charges to outstanding Customer balances in accordance with applicable Commission Regulations and as required by the Financing Order.

(C) In circumstances where the Servicer is allowed to bill Customers directly, the Servicer shall deliver verbal and written final notices of delinquency and possible disconnection in accordance with applicable Commission Regulations and Servicer Policies and Practices.

(D) The Servicer shall adhere to and carry out disconnection policies in accordance with the Act, the Financing Order, applicable Commission Regulations and the Servicer Policies and Practices.

(E) The Servicer may employ the assistance of collection agents to collect any past-due Charges in accordance with applicable Commission Regulations and Servicer Policies and Practices and the Charge Rider.

(F) The Servicer shall apply Customer deposits to the payment of delinquent accounts in accordance with applicable Commission Regulations and Servicer Policies and Practices and according to the priorities set forth in Section 6(b)(ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) of this Annex I.

(ii) The Servicer shall not waive any late payment charge or any other fee or charge relating to delinquent payments, if any, or waive, vary or modify any terms of payment of any amounts payable by a Customer, in each case unless such waiver or action: (A) would be in accordance with the Servicer’s customary practices or those of any successor Servicer with respect to comparable assets that it services for itself and for others; (B) would not materially adversely affect the rights of the Holders; and (C) would comply with applicable law; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Servicer is authorized to write off any Billed Charges, in accordance with its Servicer Policies and Practices, that have remained outstanding for one hundred eighty (180) days or more.

(iii) The Servicer shall accept payment from Customers in respect of Billed Charges in such forms and methods and at such times and places as it accepts for payment of its own charges.

(b) Payment Processing; Allocation; Priority of Payments.

(i) The Servicer shall post all payments received in respect of the Billed Charges to the applicable Customer accounts as promptly as practicable, and, in any event, substantially all such payments shall be posted in no event later than the third (3rd) Business Day after such payments are received by Servicer.

 

ANNEX I

3


(ii) Subject to clause (iii) below, the Servicer shall apply payments received to each Customer’s account in proportion to the charges contained on the outstanding Bill to such Customer.

(iii) So long as the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, the Servicer shall allocate, or cause to the allocated, amounts owed to the Issuer and to the other recipients of remittances described therein in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement. Any amounts collected by the Servicer that represent partial payments of, (A) if the Intercreditor Agreement remains in effect, the portion of the Bill allocable to Charges pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, or (B) otherwise, the total Bill to a Customer, in each case shall be allocated as follows: (1) first to amounts owed to the Issuer, the Servicer and any other affiliate of the Servicer which is owed “securitized surcharges” as defined in Section 278.670(20) of the Act and other fees and charges (excluding any late fees), regardless of age, pro rata in proportion to their respective percentages of the total amount of their combined outstanding charges on such Bill or applicable portion thereof, as applicable; then (2) all late charges shall be allocated to the Servicer; provided that penalty payments owed on late payments of Charges shall be allocated to the Issuer in accordance with the terms of the Charge Rider.

(iv) The Servicer shall hold all over-payments for the benefit of the Issuer and Kentucky Power and shall apply such funds to future Bill charges in accordance with clauses (ii) and (iii) as such charges become due.

(v) For Customers on a Budget Billing Plan, the Servicer shall treat Charge Payments received from such Customers as if such Customers had been billed for their respective Charges in the absence of the Budget Billing Plan; partial payment of a Budget Billing Plan payment shall be allocated according to clause (iii) and overpayment of a Budget Billing Plan payment shall be allocated according to clause (iv).

(c) Accounts; Records.

The Servicer shall maintain accounts and records as to the Cost Recovery Property accurately and in accordance with its standard accounting procedures and in sufficient detail (i) to permit reconciliation between payments or recoveries with respect to the Cost Recovery Property and the amounts from time to time remitted to the Collection Account in respect of the Cost Recovery Property and (ii) to permit the Charge Collections held by the Servicer to be accounted for separately from the funds with which they may be commingled, so that the dollar amounts of Charge Collections commingled with the Servicer’s funds may be properly identified and traced.

(d) Investment of Charge Payments Received.

(i) Prior to each Daily Remittance, the Servicer may invest Charge Payments received as permitted by applicable Commission Regulations. So long as the Servicer complies with its obligations under Section 6(c) of this Annex I, neither such investments nor such funds shall be required to be segregated from the other investment and funds of the Servicer.

 

ANNEX I

4


(ii) The economic benefit of any Servicer interest earnings on such Charge Payments prior to remittance of those collections to the Indenture Trustee, and the Collection Account shall automatically be credited to the benefit of Customers, without the need for any further Commission action, through the Material Remittance Investment Earnings reconciliation process. In furtherance of the foregoing, any Material Remittance Investment Earnings shall be added to the applicable monthly reconciliation amounts remitted to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11(c) for the benefit of the Issuer to reduce amounts collected from the Charges.

(e) Calculation of Daily Remittance.

(i) For purposes of calculating the Daily Remittance, (i) all Billed Charges shall be deemed to be collected the same number of days after billing as is equal to the Weighted Average Days Outstanding then in effect and (ii) the Servicer will, on each Servicer Business Day, remit to the Indenture Trustee for deposit in the Collection Account an amount equal to the product of the applicable Billed Charges multiplied by one hundred percent less the system wide charge-off percentage used by the Servicer to calculate the most recent Periodic Billing Requirement. Such product shall constitute the amount of Estimated Collections for such Servicer Business Day. Pursuant to Section 6.11(c) of this Agreement, commencing no later than [Date], 2025, the Servicer shall calculate in each Monthly Servicer’s Certificate the amount of Actual Collections for the immediately preceding calendar month as compared to the Estimated Collections forwarded to the Collection Account in respect of such calendar month. No Excess Remittance shall be withdrawn from the Collection Account if such withdrawal would cause the amounts on deposit in the General Subaccount or the Excess Funds Subaccount to be insufficient for the payment of the next installment of interest or principal due at maturity on the next Payment Date or upon acceleration on or before the next Payment Date on the Bonds.

(ii) In accordance with Section 4.01(b) of this Agreement, the Servicer shall, in a timely manner so as to perform all required calculations under such Section 4.01(b), update the Weighted Average Days Outstanding and the system-wide charge-off percentage in order to be able to calculate the Periodic Billing Requirement for the next True-Up Adjustment and to calculate any change in the Daily Remittances for the next Calculation Period.

(iii) The Servicer and the Issuer acknowledge that, as contemplated in Section 8.01(d) of this Agreement, the Servicer may make certain changes to its current computerized customer information system, which changes, when functional, would affect the Servicer’s method of calculating the Charge Payments estimated to have been received by the Servicer during each Collection Period as set forth in this Annex I. Should these changes to the computerized customer information system become functional during the term of this Agreement, the Servicer shall notify Issuer of any proposed change at least 30 days prior to the effective date of such change and the Servicer and the Issuer agree that they shall review the procedures used to calculate the Charge Payments estimated to have been received in light of the capabilities of such new system and shall amend this Annex I in writing to make such modifications and/or substitutions to such procedures as may be appropriate in the interests of efficiency, accuracy, cost and/or system capabilities; provided, however, that the Servicer may not make any modification or substitution that will materially adversely affect the Holders. As soon as practicable, and in no event later than sixty (60) Servicer Business Days after the date on which all Customer accounts are being billed under such new system, the Servicer shall notify in writing the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Rating Agencies and the Commission of the same.

 

ANNEX I

5


(iv) All calculations of collections, each update of the Weighted Average Days Outstanding or system-wide charge off percentage and any changes in procedures used to calculate the Estimated Collections pursuant to this Section 6(e) shall be made in good faith, and in the case of any update pursuant to clause (iii) above or any change in procedures pursuant to clause (iii) above, in a manner reasonably intended to provide estimates and calculations that are at least as accurate as those that would be provided on the Closing Date utilizing the initial procedures.

(f) Remittances.

(i) The Issuer has caused to be established the Collection Account in the name of the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture.

(ii) The Servicer shall make remittances to the Collection Account in accordance with Section 6.11 of the Agreement.

(iii) In the event of any change of account or change of institution affecting any Collection Account, the Issuer shall provide written notice thereof to the Servicer and the Rating Agencies not later than five (5) Business Days from the effective date of such change.

 

ANNEX I

6

Exhibit 24.2

KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned managers or officers of KENTUCKY POWER COST RECOVERY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which is to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), one or more Registration Statements for the registration thereunder of up to $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior secured system restoration bonds to be issued by the Company, or one or more post-effective Registration Statements, does hereby appoint. WILLIAM J. FEHRMAN, TREVOR I. MIHALIK, MATTHEW D. FRANSEN and FRANZ D. MESSNER, his true and lawful attorneys, and each of them his true and lawful attorney, with power to act without the others, and with full power of substitution or resubstitution, to execute for him and in his name said Registration Statement(s) and any and all amendments thereto, whether said amendments add to, delete from or otherwise alter the Registration Statement(s) or the related Prospectus(es) included therein, or add or withdraw any exhibits or schedules to be filed therewith and any and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, hereby granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned, and in any and all capacities, every act and thing whatsoever required or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as each of the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys and each of them.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have hereunto set their hands as of the 1st day of May, 2025.

 

/s/ William Bleier

William Bleier

/s/ Sean Emerick

Sean Emerick

/s/ Matthew D. Fransen

Matthew D. Fransen

/s/ Franz D. Messner

Franz D. Messner

/s/ Trevor I. Mihalik

Trevor I. Mihalik

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO   

SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP

787 SEVENTH AVENUE

NEW YORK, NY 10019

+1 212 839 5300

+1 212 839 5599 FAX

 

AMERICA • ASIA PACIFIC • EUROPE

  

[•], 2025

To Each of the Persons Listed

on Schedule A Attached Hereto

 

Re:

Federal Constitutional Issues Related to Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as special counsel to Kentucky Power Company, a Kentucky corporation (“Kentucky Power”), in connection with the issuance and sale on the date hereof by Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), of $477,749,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds (the “Bonds”), which are more fully described in the Prospectus dated [•], 20[•]. The Bonds are being sold pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement dated [•], 2025 among Kentucky Power, the Issuer and Jefferies LLC, as representative of the underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”). The Bonds are being issued pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture dated as of the date hereof, as supplemented by the Series Supplement dated as of the date hereof (together with the Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as securities intermediary. Under the Indenture, the Indenture Trustee holds, among other things, Cost Recovery Property as described below as collateral security for the payment of the Bonds. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning specified in Appendix A to the Indenture unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Cost Recovery Property” means the “securitized property” as defined in Chapter 278 of Kentucky’s Title XXIV Public Utilities law (collectively, with Chapter 65 of Kentucky’s Title IX Counties, Cities, and Other Local Units, the “Securitization Act”), at Section 278.670(19), that was created in favor of Kentucky Power, pursuant to a financing order (the “Financing Order”) issued by the Public Service Commission of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (the “Commission”) on April 11, 2025, in Case No. 2023-00159. The Cost Recovery Property was assigned to the Issuer pursuant to the provisions of the Sale Agreement dated as of the date hereof between Kentucky Power and the Issuer in consideration for the payment by the Issuer to Kentucky Power of the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds, net of certain issuance costs. The Cost Recovery Property includes the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive certain “nonbypassable” “securitized surcharges” (each as defined in the Securitization Act) described in the Financing Order (the “Charges”), in an amount sufficient to repay, finance or refinance the Bonds.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 2

 

The Charges may be periodically adjusted, in the manner authorized in the Financing Order, in order to enhance the probability that the revenues received by the Issuer from the Charges are sufficient to (i) amortize the Bonds pursuant to the amortization schedule to be followed in accordance with the provisions of the Bonds and the Indenture, (ii) pay interest thereon and related fees and expenses, and (iii) maintain the required reserves for the payment of the Bonds.

The Financing Order was issued in response to an application for its issuance that was filed by Kentucky Power with the Commission pursuant to the provisions of the Securitization Act. The Financing Order became final and not subject to further appeal on [•], 2025.

Questions Presented and Opinions

You have requested our opinion as to:

(a) whether the State Pledge (as defined below) creates a contractual relationship between the Commonwealth of Kentucky (the “State”) and the holders of the Bonds (the “Holders”) that falls within the scope of the “contract clause” of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 10 (the “Federal Contract Clause”));

(b) whether the Holders could challenge successfully under the Federal Contract Clause the constitutionality of either any legislation passed by the Kentucky legislature (the “Legislature”) which becomes law, or any action of the Commission related to its exercise of powers granted by the Legislature, including rescission or amendment of the Financing Order (all referred to herein as “Legislative Action”) that in each case impairs the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the Charges (other than as contemplated under the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized by the Securitization Act and the Financing Order) so as to impair (i) the terms of the Indenture or the Bonds or (ii) the rights and remedies of the Holders (or the Indenture Trustee acting on their behalf) (any impairment described in clause (i) or (ii) being referred to herein as an “Impairment”) prior to the time that the Bonds are fully paid and discharged;

(c) whether preliminary injunctive relief would be available under federal law to delay implementation of Legislative Action that impairs the value of the Cost Recovery Property or otherwise cause an Impairment pending final adjudication of a claim challenging such Legislative Action in U.S. federal court and, assuming a favorable final adjudication of such claim, whether relief would be available to enjoin permanently the implementation of the challenged Legislative Action; and


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 3

 

(d) whether, under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution (made applicable to the Commonwealth by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution), which provides in part “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation” (the “Federal Takings Clause”), the Commonwealth could repeal or amend the Securitization Act or take any other action in contravention of the State Pledge without paying just compensation to the Holders, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, if doing so (a) constituted a permanent appropriation of a substantial property interest of the Holders in the Cost Recovery Property or denied all economically productive use of the Cost Recovery Property; (b) destroyed the Cost Recovery Property other than in response to emergency conditions; or (c) substantially impaired the value of the Cost Recovery Property or the Charges (other than as contemplated under the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized by the Securitization Act and the Financing Order) so as to unduly interfere with the reasonable expectations of the Holders arising from their investments in the Bonds (a “Substantial Taking”).

As discussed in more detail in the opinion letter of Stites & Harbison PLLC (“Stites”) of even date herewith, the Securitization Act authorizes the Commission “to create an irrevocable contract right,” KRS 65.114(2)(a), and the Commission has acknowledged in the Financing Order that the Commission is bound by the State Pledge and that “the Commission’s obligations under [the] Financing Order relating to the [Bonds] … are legally enforceable against the Commission.”1 The State Pledge further contemplates that features of the State Pledge may be incorporated into the Bonds. KRS 65.114(3).

Based on the foregoing, and supported by the conclusion in the opinion letter of Stites of even date herewith, that the Commission is contractually bound by the State Pledge as a matter of Kentucky law, based upon our review of relevant judicial authority, as set forth in this letter, but subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions (including the assumption that any Impairment would be “substantial”) set forth herein and in the Stites opinion, it is our opinion that a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction, applying the decisions and analysis used in federal courts, in a properly prepared and presented case:

(i) would conclude that the State Pledge creates a contractual relationship between the Holders and the Commonwealth that falls within the scope of the Federal Contract Clause;

(ii) would conclude that, absent a demonstration by the Commonwealth that an Impairment is necessary to further a significant and legitimate public purpose, the Holders (or the Indenture Trustee acting on their behalf) could successfully challenge under the Federal Contract Clause the constitutionality of any Legislative Action determined by such court to limit, alter, impair or reduce the value of the Cost Recovery Property or otherwise cause an Impairment prior to the time that the Bonds are fully paid and discharged;

 
1 

See Conclusion of Law No. 42 in the Financing Order.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 4

 

(iii) with respect to the questions presented above in (b), although sound and substantial arguments support the granting of preliminary injunctive relief, the decision to do so will be in the discretion of the court requested to take such action, which will be exercised on the basis of the considerations discussed in Part II below; and a federal court should conclude that permanent injunctive relief is available under federal law to prevent implementation of Legislative Action hereafter taken and determined by such court to limit, alter, impair or reduce the value of the Cost Recovery Property or otherwise cause an Impairment in violation of the Federal Contract Clause; and

(iv) would conclude under the Federal Takings Clause that the Commonwealth would be required to pay just compensation to Holders if the Commonwealth’s repeal or amendment of the Securitization Act or taking of any other action in contravention of the State Pledge constituted a Substantial Taking.

We also note, with respect to the opinion in (ii), that existing case law indicates that the Commonwealth would have to establish that any Impairment is necessary and reasonably tailored to address a significant public purpose, such as remedying or providing relief for a broad, widespread economic or social problem. The cases also indicate that the Commonwealth’s justification would be subjected to a higher degree of scrutiny, and that the Commonwealth would bear a more substantial burden, if the Legislative Action impairs a contract to which the Commonwealth is a party (which we believe to be the case here), as contrasted to a contract solely between private parties.

We are not aware of any reported controlling judicial precedents that are directly on point with respect to the questions raised above. Accordingly, our analysis is necessarily a reasoned application of judicial decisions involving similar or analogous circumstances. Moreover, the application of equitable principles (including the availability of injunctive relief or the issuance of a stay pending appeal) is subject to the discretion of the court that is asked to apply them. We cannot predict the facts and circumstances that will be present in the future and may be relevant to the exercise of such discretion. Consequently, there can be no assurance that a court will follow our reasoning or reach the conclusions that we believe current judicial precedent supports.

This letter is limited to the federal laws of the United States of America. Our opinions are based upon our evaluation of existing judicial decisions and arguments related to the factual circumstances likely to exist at the time of a Federal Contract Clause or Federal Takings Clause challenge to Legislative Action or other State action; such precedents and such circumstances could change materially from those discussed below in this letter. Accordingly, such opinions are intended to express our belief as to the result that should be obtainable through the proper


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 5

 

application of existing judicial decisions in a properly prepared and presented case. It is our and your understanding that none of the foregoing opinions is intended to be a guaranty as to what a particular court would actually hold; rather each such opinion is only an expression as to the decision a court ought to reach if the issue were properly prepared and presented to it and the court followed what we believe to be the applicable legal principles under existing judicial precedent. The recipients of this letter should take these considerations into account in analyzing the risks associated with the subject transaction.

We are not aware of any reported judicial decision which we believe would provide a basis on which a court would declare the provisions of the Securitization Act to be invalid under the United States Constitution and it is our opinion that under existing case law, a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would hold that the Securitization Act is constitutional in all material respects under the United States Constitution.

Discussion

 

  I.

Protection of State Pledge Under the Federal Contract Clause

KRS 65.114(2)–(3) provides:

“(2) Any determination of the commission made in connection with any financing order and any financing order of the commission issued pursuant to this subsection shall be a binding, irrevocable, and final order of the commission, and binding on the commission and the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth and its agencies, including the commission, pledge and agree with bondholders, the owners of the securitized property, and other financing parties that the Commonwealth and its agencies shall not undertake any of the prohibited actions listed in this subsection. This subsection shall not preclude limitation or alteration, if full compensation is made by law for the full protection of the securitized surcharges collected pursuant to a financing order and of the bondholders, any assignee, or financing party entering into a contract with the electric utility. The Commonwealth and its agencies, including the commission, shall not:

(a) Alter the provisions of KRS 278.670 to 278.696 and 65.114 which authorize the commission to create an irrevocable contract right or right to sue by the issuance of a financing order creating securitized property, making the securitized surcharges imposed by a financing order irrevocable, binding, or affecting the nonbypassable charges for all existing and future retail customers of the electric utility;


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 6

 

(b) Take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property or the security for the securitized bonds or revises the securitized costs for which recovery is authorized;

(c) In any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees, and other financing parties; and

(d) Except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized under KRS 278.678, reduce, alter, or impair securitized surcharges that are to be imposed, billed, charge, collected, and remitted for the benefit of the bondholders, any assignee, and any other financing parties until any and all principal, interest, premium, financing costs, and other fees, expenses, or charges incurred, and any contracts to be performed, in connection with the related securitized bonds have been paid and performed in full.

(3) Any person or entity that issues securitized bonds may include the language specified in this subsection in the securitized bonds and related documentation.”

KRS 65.114. This language, including paragraph (2) in the block quote above, is referred to in this letter as the “State Pledge.” As authorized by the foregoing statutory provision and the Financing Order, the language of the State Pledge has been included in the Indenture and in the Bonds. Based on our analysis of relevant judicial authority, it is our opinion, subject to all of the qualifications, limitations and assumptions (including the assumption that any Impairment would be “substantial”) set forth in this letter, that, absent a demonstration by the Commonwealth that an Impairment is necessary to further a significant and legitimate public purpose, a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would conclude that the State Pledge provides a basis upon which the Holders (or the Indenture Trustee acting on their behalf) could challenge successfully, under the Federal Contract Clause, the constitutionality of any Legislative Action determined by such court to impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or otherwise to cause an Impairment prior to the time that the Bonds are fully paid and discharged.

 


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 7

 

Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution, known as the Federal Contract Clause, prohibits any state from impairing the “[o]bligation of [c]ontracts,” whether among private parties or among such state and private parties. The general purpose of the Federal Contract Clause is “to encourage trade and credit by promoting confidence in the stability of contractual obligations.”2 The law is well-settled that “the [Federal] Contract Clause limits the power of the States to modify their own contracts as well as to regulate those between private parties.”3 Although the text of the Federal Contract Clause appears to proscribe any impairment, the United States Supreme Court has made it clear that the proscription is not absolute: “Although the appears literally to proscribe ‘any’ impairment, […] ‘the prohibition is not an absolute one and is not to be read with literal exactness like a mathematical formula.’”4

The United States Supreme Court has applied a three-part analysis to determine whether a particular legislative action violates the Federal Contract Clause:5

 

  (1)

whether the legislative action operates as a substantial impairment of a contractual relationship;

 

  (2)

assuming such an impairment, whether the legislative action is justified by a significant and legitimate public purpose; and

 

  (3)

whether the adjustment of the rights and responsibilities of the contracting parties is reasonable and appropriate given the public purpose behind the legislative action.

The first inquiry contains three components: “whether there is a contractual relationship, whether a change in law impairs that contractual relationship, and whether the impairment is substantial.”6 In addition, to succeed with a Federal Contract Clause claim involving a contract with the state itself, a party must show that the contractual relationship is not an invalid attempt by the state under the “reserved powers” doctrine to “surrender an essential attribute of its sovereignty.”7

 

 
2 

See U.S. Tr. Co. of N.Y. v. New Jersey, 431 U.S. 1, 15 (1977).

3 

Id. at 17.

4 

Id. at 21 (citation omitted); see also Energy Reserves Grp., Inc. v. Kan. Power & Light Co., 459 U.S. 400, 410 (1983) (“Although the language of the Contract Clause is facially absolute, its prohibition must be accommodated to the inherent police power of the State ‘to safeguard the vital interests of its people.’”) (citing Home Bldg. & Loan Assn v. Blaisdell, 290 U.S. 398, 434 (1934)).

5 

Energy Reserves, 459 U.S. at 411-13. See also, e.g., Kaminski v. Coulter, 865 F.3d 339, 344-45 (6th Cir. 2017).

6 

Gen. Motors Corp. v. Romein, 503 U.S. 181, 186 (1992).

7 

See U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 23.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 8

 

As described above, the opinion of Stites concludes that the State Pledge unambiguously indicates the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s intent to be bound with the Holders and, subject to all of the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, supports the conclusion that the State Pledge constitutes a binding contractual relationship between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Holders for purposes of Kentucky state law.8

On that premise, the following three subparts address: (i) whether such a contract that falls within the scope of the Federal Contract Clause exists between the Commonwealth and the Holders as a result of State Pledge; (ii) if so, whether such contract violates the “reserved powers” doctrine, which would render such contract unenforceable; and (iii) the Commonwealth’s burden in justifying an impairment. The determination of whether particular Legislative Action constitutes a substantial impairment of a particular contract is a fact-specific analysis, and nothing in this letter expresses any opinion as to how a court would resolve the issue of “substantial impairment” with respect to the Financing Order, the Cost Recovery Property or the Bonds vis-à-vis a particular Legislative Action. Therefore, we have assumed for purposes of this letter that any Impairment resulting from the Legislative Action being challenged under the Federal Contract Clause would be substantial.

 

  A.

Existence of a Contractual Relationship

The courts have recognized the general presumption that, “absent some clear indication that a legislature intends to bind itself contractually, …‘a law is not intended to create private contractual or vested rights but merely declares a policy to be pursued until the legislature shall ordain otherwise.’”9 This presumption is based on the fact that the legislature’s principal function “is not to make contracts, but to make laws that establish the policy of the state.”10 Thus, a person asserting the creation of a contract with the Commonwealth must overcome this presumption.

This general presumption can be overcome where the language of the statute indicates an intention to create contractual rights. In determining whether a contract has been created by statute, “it is of first importance to examine the language of the statute.”11 The United States Supreme Court has ruled that a statute creates a contractual relationship between a state and private parties if the statutory language contains sufficient words of contractual undertaking.12 The United States Supreme Court has further stated that a contract is created “when the language and circumstances evince a legislative intent to create private rights of a contractual nature enforceable against the State.”13

 

 
8 

Note to Draft: Subject to alignment with language from Kentucky constitutional law opinion.

9 

Natl R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry., 470 U.S. 451, 465-66 (1985) (quoting Dodge v. Bd. of Educ., 302 U.S. 74, 79 (1937)).

10 

See id. at 466 (citing Ind. ex rel. Anderson v. Brand, 303 U.S. 95, 104-05 (1938)).

11 

Dodge, 302 U.S. at 78.

12 

See Ind. ex rel. Anderson, 303 U.S. at 104-05 (1938) (noting “the cardinal inquiry is as to the terms of the statute supposed to create such a contract”); U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 17-18 & n.14.

13 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 17 n.14.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 9

 

In U.S. Trust v. New Jersey, the United States Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s finding, which was not contested on appeal, that a statutory covenant of two states for the benefit of the holders of certain bonds gave rise to a contractual obligation between such states and the bondholders.14 The covenant at issue limited the ability of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to subsidize rail passenger transportation from revenues and reserves pledged as security for such bonds. In finding the existence of a contract between such states and bondholders, the Court stated “[t]he intent to make a contract is clear from the statutory language: ‘The 2 States covenant and agree with each other and with the holders of any affected bonds. . . .’”15 In that case, the statute used the words “covenant and agree with each other and with the holders of any affected bonds.”16 Later, in National Railroad Passenger Corp. v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co., the Court discussed the U.S. Trust covenant and noted: “[r]esort need not be had to a dictionary or case law to recognize the language of contract” in such covenant.17

Similarly, in Indiana ex rel. Anderson v. Brand, the United States Supreme Court determined that the Indiana Teachers’ Tenure Act created a contract between the state and specified teachers because the statutory language demonstrated a clear legislative intent to contract. The Court based its decision, in part, on the legislature’s use of the word “contract” throughout the statute to describe the legal relationship between the state and such teachers.18

 

 
14 

Id. at 17-18.

15 

Id. at 18. Although the issue of whether a contract existed between such states and the bondholders was never disputed on appeal, the Court reviewed the language of the covenant and the circumstances surrounding the covenant, and stated, “[w]e therefore have no doubt that the 1962 covenant has been properly characterized as a contractual obligation of the two States.” Id.

16 

Id. at 18 (quoting 1962 N.J. Laws, c.8, § 6, 1962 N.Y.Laws, c. 209, § 6).

17 

See Natl R.R., 470 U.S. at 470.

18 

Brand, 303 U.S. at 105. However, the mere use of the word “contract” in a statute will not necessarily evince the requisite legislative intent. As the Court cautioned in National Railroad, the use of the word “contract” alone would not signify the existence of a contract with the government. Natl R.R., 470 U.S. at 470. In National Railroad, the Court found that use of the word “contract” in the Rail Passenger Service Act defined only the relationship between the newly-created nongovernmental corporation (Amtrak) and the railroads, not the relationship between the United States and the railroads. The Court determined that “[l]egislation outlining the terms on which private parties may execute contracts does not on its own constitute a statutory contract.” Id. at 467.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 10

 

Like the language of the covenant considered in U.S. Trust, the language of the State Pledge unambiguously indicates the Legislature’s intent to bind the Commonwealth by providing in pertinent part that the Commonwealth does “pledge and agree with bondholders, the owners of the securitized property, and other financing parties that the Commonwealth and its agencies shall not undertake any of the prohibited actions listed in this subsection.” KRS 65.114(2). Indeed, the most evident difference between such language and the U.S. Trust statute is the use of the verb “pledge,” rather than “covenant,” but that difference is not, in our view, material.19 Indeed, much like the terms “covenant” and “agree” quoted in U.S. Trust, the phrase “pledge and agree” evinces a legislative intent to create private rights of a contractual nature enforceable against the Commonwealth. The provisions, also consistent with contract language and like the statute quoted in U.S. Trust names the beneficiaries of the Commonwealth’s pledge and agreement. Further, the definition of the Legislature’s term — “pledge” — is “to bind by a promise.”20 Unlike the statute construed in National Railroad, the Securitization Act expressly includes language indicating the Commonwealth’s obligation with respect to securitized bond transactions. See KRS 65.114(2) (“The Commonwealth and its agencies, including the commission, pledge and agree . . . that the Commonwealth and its agencies shall not undertake any of the prohibited actions listed in this subsection … [t]he Commonwealth and its agencies, including the commission shall not: Take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property or the security for the securitized bonds or revises the securitized costs for which recovery is authorized” (emphasis added). Finally, it is important to note that the Commonwealth also authorizes an issuer of securitized bonds to include the State Pledge in contracts with the holders of securitized bonds (such as the Bonds). Id. § 65.114(3). While the Kentucky Securitization Act also states that neither the Commonwealth of Kentucky nor its agencies shall be liable on the Bonds and that the Bonds shall not be considered a debt or general obligation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky or its agencies, that does not mean that no promise has been made for the purpose of impairment of contracts.

 

 
19 

It could be contended that the factual situation in the U.S. Trust case is distinguishable from the factual situation surrounding the issuance of the Bonds. In U.S. Trust, the bonds were issued by the Port Authority — a governmental agency — while the Bonds are being issued by a private entity, and the Securitization Act states that the Bonds "shall not be a: debt or a general obligation of the Commonwealth." KRS 278.694(2)(a). However, the Securitization Act dictates that a utility must obtain a financing order before any "securitized bonds" such as the Bonds are issued. KRS 278.676. The authority to issue such an order rests with the State, acting through the Commission, and therefore the issuance of the Bonds is state-sanctioned in a manner closely analogous to the situation in U.S. Trust. In addition, and most significantly, the Securitization Act pledges that the State shall not "take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property" and it expressly states that "[t]he Commonwealth and its agencies, including the commission, pledge and agree with bondholders, the owners of the securitized property, and other financing parties that the Commonwealth and its agencies shall not undertake any prohibited actions listed in this subsection." KRS 65.114(2). This pledge not to permit or take action that would impair the value of securitized property is thus like the covenant in U.S. Trust because it is directed to the bond holders and is intended "as security against repeal" in order to enhance the marketability of the securitized bonds. See U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 18.

20 

WEBSTERS NEW WORLD DICTIONARY 573 (2d ed. 1982).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 11

 

In summary, supported by the conclusion, subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions therein, in the opinion of Stites that the State Pledge constitutes a binding contractual relationship between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Holders for purposes of Kentucky state law21, the language of the State Pledge supports the conclusion that the Commonwealth of Kentucky meant, through the State Pledge, to create a contractual relationship between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Holders that falls within the scope of the Federal Contract Clause.22

 

  B.

Reserved Powers Doctrine

The “reserved powers” doctrine limits the Commonwealth’s ability to bind itself contractually in a manner which surrenders an essential attribute of its sovereignty.23 Under this doctrine, if a contract purports to surrender a state’s “reserved powers” – powers that cannot be contracted away – such contract is void.24 Although the scope of the “reserved powers” doctrine has not been precisely defined by the courts, case law has established that a state cannot enter into contracts that forbid future exercises of its police powers or its power of eminent domain.25 In contrast, the United States Supreme Court has stated that a state’s “power to enter into effective financial contracts cannot be questioned.”26

 

 
21 

Note to Draft: Subject to alignment with language from Kentucky constitutional law opinion.

22 

In addition to the State Pledge, the Commission’s Financing Order contains the following language in Conclusions of Law (36): “Pursuant to KRS 65.114, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has pledged for the benefit and protection of all financing parties and Kentucky Power, that the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its agencies, including the Commission shall not: (1) alter the provisions of KRS 278.670 through KRS 278.696 and KRS 65.114 which authorize the Commission to create an irrevocable contract right or right to sue by the issuance of a financing order creating securitized property, making the securitized surcharges imposed by a financing order irrevocable, binding, or affecting the nonbypassable charges for all existing and future retail customers of the electric utility; (2) take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property or the security for the securitized bonds or revises the securitized costs for which recovery is authorized; (3) in any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees, and other financing parties; and (4) except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized under KRS 278.678, reduce, alter, or impair securitized surcharges that are to be imposed, billed, charge, collected, and remitted for the benefit of the bondholders, any assignee, and any other financing parties until any and all principal, interest, premium, financing costs, and other fees, expenses, or charges incurred, and any contracts to be performed, in connection with the related securitized bonds have been paid and performed in full.”

23 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 23.

24 

Id. See generally United States v. Winstar Corp., 518 U.S. 839, 888-90 (1996) (plurality opinion).

25 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 23-24 & nn.20-21 (citing Stone v. Mississippi, 101 U.S. 814, 817 (1880), and W. River Bridge Co. v. Dix, 47 U.S. (6 How.) 507, 525-26 (1848)).

26 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 24. See also Contl Ill. Natl Bank & Tr. Co. v. Washington, 696 F.2d 692, 699 (9th Cir. 1983) (“Thus, insofar as the purely financial aspects of the agreement are concerned, reservations are not to be lightly inferred.”).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 12

 

Under existing case law, the State Pledge does not, in our view, purport to surrender any “reserved powers” of the Commonwealth. Although the Commonwealth’s commitment not to “[t]ake or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property” is broader than the commitment in U.S. Trust that revenues and reserves securing bonds would not be depleted beyond a certain level,27 we do not believe courts, in applying the applicable federal case law, would construe the State Pledge as purporting to contract away, or forbid future exercises of, the Commonwealth’s power of eminent domain or its police power to protect the public health and safety. Through “financing orders” (such as the Financing Order), to be adopted by the Commission in order to create securitization property, as defined in the Securitization Act. Through the Securitization Act, the Commonwealth has authorized the Commission to issue “securitized bonds” (such as the Bonds) and pledge not to impair the value of the “securitized property” (such as the Cost Recovery Property) securing such instruments. As discussed above, in the absence of any contrary indication under Kentucky law, federal courts would find that the Securitization Act and the State Pledge constitute a contractual obligation undertaken by the Commonwealth akin to the type of “financial contract” involved in U.S. Trust, and would not be viewed as an impermissible surrender of an essential attribute of State sovereignty.

 

  C.

Commonwealth’s Burden to Justify an Impairment

To survive scrutiny under the Federal Contract Clause, a substantial impairment by a state of a valid state contract must be justified by “a significant and legitimate public purpose . . . such as the remedying of a broad and general social or economic problem,”28 and the state action causing that impairment must be both “reasonable and necessary to serve” such a public purpose.29

The contours of this test are illustrated by several decisions of the United States Supreme Court. In Home Building & Loan Assn v. Blaisdell,30 which the Court has described as “the leading case in the modern era of [Federal] Contract Clause interpretation,”31 the Court addressed a Contract Clause challenge to a Minnesota law that, in response to economic conditions caused by the Great Depression, (i) authorized county courts to extend the period of redemption from foreclosure sales on mortgages previously made “for such additional time as the court may deem just and equitable,” subject to certain limitations, and (ii) limited actions for deficiency

 
27 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 25.

28 

Energy Reserves, 459 U.S. at 411-12.

29 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 25. See also Puckett v. Lexington-Fayette Urb. Cnty. Govt, 833 F.3d 590, 599 (6th Cir. 2016) (articulating two-part test).

30 

Blaisdell, 290 U.S. 398.

31 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 15.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 13

 

judgments.32 The Court stated that the “reserved powers” doctrine could not be construed to “permit the State to adopt as its policy the repudiation of debts or the destruction of contracts or the denial of means to enforce them.” On the other hand, the Court also indicated that the Federal Contract Clause could not be construed to prevent limited and temporary interpositions with respect to the enforcement of contracts if made necessary by a great public calamity such as fire, flood, or earthquake. The reservation of state power appropriate to such extraordinary conditions may be deemed to be as much a part of all contracts, as is the reservation of state power to protect the public interest in the other situations to which we have referred. And if state power exists to give temporary relief from the enforcement of contracts in the presence of disasters due to physical causes such as fire, flood or earthquake, that power cannot be said to be nonexistent when the urgent public need demanding such relief is produced by other and economic causes.33

In upholding the Minnesota law, the Court relied on the following: (1) an economic emergency existed that threatened the loss of homes and lands which furnish those persons in possession with necessary shelter and means of subsistence; (2) the law was not enacted for the benefit of particular individuals but for the protection of a basic interest of society; (3) the relief provided by the law was appropriate to the emergency, and could only be granted upon reasonable conditions; (4) the conditions on which the period of redemption was extended by the law did not appear to be unreasonable; and (5) the law was temporary in operation and limited to the emergency on which it was based.34 In several contemporaneous cases, the United States Supreme Court struck down other laws passed in response to the economic emergency created by the Great Depression,35 thus reinforcing the notion that, to be justified, the impairment must be the result of a reasonable, necessary and tailored response to a broad and significant public concern.

 

 
32 

The mortgagor was required to continue to pay the reasonable income or rental value of the property, as determined by the court, toward payment of taxes, insurance, interest and principal. The law stated that it was to remain in effect only during the current emergency and no later than May 1, 1935; no redemption period could be extended beyond the expiration of the law. Blaisdell, 290 U.S. at 415-18.

33 

Id. at 439-40 (citation omitted).

34 

Id. at 444-47.

35 

See Treigle v. Acme Homestead Ass’n, 297 U.S. 189 (1936); W.B. Worthen Co. v. Kavanaugh, 295 U.S. 56 (1935); W.B. Worthen Co. v. Thomas, 292 U.S. 426 (1934).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 14

 

The deference to be given by a court to a legislature’s determination of the need for a particular impairment depends on whether the contract is purely private or the state is a contracting party. Although courts ordinarily defer to legislative judgment as to the necessity and reasonableness of a particular action,36 the Supreme Court has noted that such deference “is not appropriate” when a state is a contracting party.37 In that circumstance, a “stricter standard” of justification should apply.38 Indeed, in Energy Reserves Group v. Kansas Power & Light Co. the Court noted that “[i]n almost every case, the Court has held a governmental unit to its contractual obligations when it enters financial or other markets.”39

The leading case addressing impairment of contracts to which the state is a party is U.S. Trust. As noted above, there the state had covenanted that revenues and reserves securing certain bonds would not be depleted below a certain level.40 The state thereafter repealed that promise in order to finance new mass transit projects, claiming that the repeal was justified by the need to promote, and encourage additional use of, mass transportation in response to energy shortages and environmental concerns.41 The Court ruled that the state’s action was nevertheless invalid under the Contract Clause because repeal of the covenant was “neither necessary to achievement of the plan nor reasonable in light of the circumstances.”42 The Court stated that a modification less drastic than total repeal would have permitted the states to achieve their plan to improve commuter rail service, and, in fact, the states could have achieved that goal without modifying the covenant at all.43 For example, the states “could discourage automobile use through taxes on gasoline or parking . . . and use the revenues to subsidize mass transit projects.”44

The Court in U.S. Trust contrasted the legislation under consideration with the statute challenged in City of El Paso v. Simmons,45 which limited to five years the reinstatement rights of defaulting purchasers of land from the state. For many years prior to the enactment of this statute, defaulting purchasers had been allowed to reinstate their claims upon written request and payment of delinquent interest, unless the rights of third parties had intervened. In U.S. Trust, the Court stated that this older (19th century) statute “had effects that were unforeseen and unintended by the legislature when originally adopted,” i.e., “speculators were placed in a position to obtain windfall benefits,” and therefore adoption of a statute of limitations was reasonable to restrict parties to gains reasonably expected from the contract when the original statute was

 
36 

Keystone Bituminous Coal Assn v. DeBenedictis, 480 U.S. 470 (1987) (upholding against Federal Contract Clause challenge a law authorizing revocation of a coal mine operator’s mining permit as a reasonable and necessary response to the “devastating effects” of subsidence caused by underground mining).

37 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 25-26.

38 

Energy Reserves, 459 U.S. at 400, 412-13 n.14. See also Allied Structural Steel Co. v. Spannaus, 438 U.S. 234, 244 n.15 (1978) (“impairments of a State’s own contracts would face more stringent examination under the Contract Clause”).

39 

459 U.S. at 412 n.14.

40 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 25.

41 

Id. at 28-29. The Court noted that when the bills to repeal the covenant were pending “a national energy crisis was developing.” Id. at 13-14.

42 

Id. at 29.

43 

Id. at 30.

44 

Id. at 30 n.29.

45 

City of El Paso v. Simmons, 379 U.S. 497 (1965).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 15

 

adopted.46 In contrast, the need for mass transportation was not a new development and the likelihood that publicly owned commuter railroads would produce substantial deficits was well known when the covenant was adopted.47 Although, the Court noted, public perception of the importance of mass transit undoubtedly grew between 1962, when the covenant was adopted, and 1974, when it was repealed, “these concerns were not unknown in 1962, and the subsequent changes were of degree and not of kind . . . and [did not] cause the covenant to have a substantially different impact in 1974 than when it was adopted in 1962.”48

The Court in U.S. Trust also distinguished its earlier decision in Faitoute Iron & Steel Co. v. City of Asbury Park,49 which, according to the Court, was the “only time in this century that alteration of a municipal bond contract has been sustained.”50 Faitoute involved a state municipal reorganization act under which bankrupt local governments could be placed in receivership by a state agency. Pursuant to that act, the holders of certain municipal revenue bonds received new securities bearing lower interest rates and later maturities. According to the Court in U.S. Trust, the earlier decision rejected the dissenting bondholders’ Federal Contract Clause claims on the theory that the “old bonds represented only theoretical rights; as a practical matter the city could not raise its taxes enough to pay off its creditors under the old contract terms,” and thus the plan “enabled the city to meet its financial obligations more effectively.”51 The U.S. Trust Court further quoted Faitoute to the effect that the obligation in that case was “discharged, not impaired” by the plan.52

 

 
46 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 31.

47 

Id. at 31-32.

48 

Id. at 32.

49 

Faitoute Iron & Steel Co. v. City of Asbury Park, 316 U.S. 502 (1942).

50 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 27.

51 

Id. at 28.

52 

Id.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 16

 

Thus, the relevant case law demonstrates that a state bears a substantial burden when attempting to justify an impairment of a contract to which it is a party. As noted by the Supreme Court, “[i]n almost every case, the Court has held a governmental unit to its contractual obligations when it enters financial or other markets.”53 A mere recitation that the impairment is in the public interest is thus insufficient. Instead, a state action that impairs contracts to which it is a party must further a significant, legitimate and broad public purpose, not the interests of a narrow group; that public purpose must be served by a reasonable, necessary and carefully tailored measure, as “a State is not free to impose a drastic impairment when an evident and more moderate course would serve its purposes equally well.”54

Subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth in this letter, and supported by the conclusion, subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions therein, in the opinion of Stites that the State Pledge unambiguously indicates the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s intent to be bound with the Holders and that the State Pledge constitutes a binding contractual relationship between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Holders for purposes of Kentucky state law55, it is our opinion that a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction, in a properly prepared and presented case applying federal precedent, would conclude that the State Pledge constitutes a contractual relationship between the Holders and the Commonwealth that falls within the scope of the Federal Contract Clause, and that, absent a demonstration by the Commonwealth that an Impairment is necessary to further a significant and legitimate public purpose, the Holders could successfully challenge under the Federal Contract Clause the constitutionality of any Legislative Action determined by such court to impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property or otherwise cause an Impairment prior to the time that the Bonds are fully paid and discharged.

 

 
53 

Energy Reserves, 459 U.S. at 412 n.14 (citing U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 25-28; Kavanaugh, 295 U.S. 56 (1935); and Murray v. Charleston, 96 U.S. 432 (1878)). In Kavanaugh, the United States Supreme Court reversed a decision of the Arkansas Supreme Court upholding the validity of legislative enactments which, in the words of the former, take “from the mortgage [securing bonds issued by municipal improvement districts pursuant to state law] the quality of an acceptable investment for a rational investor” by making it much more difficult and time consuming to foreclose upon the collateral posted as security for the mortgage. 295 U.S. at 60. Such enactments were accompanied by a legislative “declaration of an emergency, which was stated to endanger the peace, health and safety of a multitude of citizens.” 295 U.S. at 59. In Murray, the United States Supreme Court reversed a judgment of the Supreme Court of South Carolina upholding an ordinance of the City of Charleston which permitted the City to withhold, as a tax, a portion of the interest that was otherwise payable with respect to bonds issued by the City. This “tax” was held to violate the Federal Contract Clause: “no municipality of a State can, by its own ordinances, under the guise of taxation, relieve itself from performing to the letter all that it has expressly promised to its creditors.” 96 U.S. at 448.

54 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 31. In United Auto., Aerospace, Agr. Implement Workers of Am. Intl Union v. Fortuño, 633 F.3d 37, 43-44 (1st Cir. 2011), the First Circuit held that the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the state actions causing a substantial impairment are not reasonable or necessary. The First Circuit acknowledged that its position is in “some tension with the Supreme Court’s instruction” in U.S. Trust, and that “many courts have concluded that this burden rests with the state.” Id. at 43. See also Sullivan v. Nassau County Interim Finance Authority, 959 F.3d 54, 66 (2d Cir. 2020) (noting issue but declining to address it).

55 

Note to Draft: Subject to alignment with language from Kentucky constitutional law opinion.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 17

 

  II.

Availability of Injunctive Relief in a Federal Court

In a challenge to Legislative Action alleged to cause an Impairment, the remedies the plaintiff would be expected to seek would include an order enjoining State officials from enforcing the provisions of such Legislative Action.56

 

  A.

Preliminary Injunctive Relief

Under federal law, a federal court would assess the following matters in determining whether (in its discretion) to grant preliminary injunctive relief: (a) whether the party seeking an injunction is likely to succeed on the merits; (b) whether the party is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief; (c) whether the balance of equities tips in favor of the party seeking the injunction; and (d) whether an injunction is in the public interest.57

Success on the Merits. For purposes of our opinion regarding the availability of injunctive relief, we have assumed that a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction will find a strong likelihood of success on the merits, i.e. that the Legislative Action is likely an Impairment. As explained above, applying applicable federal precedent, in the absence of any contrary precedent under Kentucky law, the Securitization Act and State Pledge would be viewed as constituting a contractual relationship between the Holders and the Commonwealth that falls within the scope of the Federal Contract Clause. Thus, we examine only the three remaining portions of the test.

Irreparable Harm. In considering irreparable harm, courts evaluate whether (1) there is a sufficient causal connection between the alleged injury and the conduct sought to be enjoined;58 (2) irreparable injury is likely in the absence of an injunction;59 (3) the threat of harm to plaintiff is immediate;60 and (4) litigation can offer monetary compensation instead.61

 

 
56 

If plaintiffs also seek money damages in federal court, the State defendants could claim immunity. The Eleventh Amendment bars federal courts from granting money damages against the State unless the State waives that immunity. WCI, Inc. v. Ohio Dep’t of Pub. Safety, 18 F.4th 509, 513 (6th Cir. 2021) (“State governments are immune from suits for money damages absent consent. . . . Therefore, to the extent WCI seeks monetary relief based on alleged violations of its constitutional rights, sovereign immunity bars the claims.”); see also id. (“The Eleventh Amendment removes from federal jurisdiction ‘any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State[.]’”).

57 

Winter v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008). Online Merchants Guild v. Cameron, 995 F.3d 540, 546-47 (6th Cir. 2021); RECO Equip., Inc. v. Jeffrey S. Wilson, No. 20-4312, 2021 WL 5013816, at *2 (6th Cir. Oct. 28, 2021) (“Although we balance these factors, the movant must show at least some likelihood of success on the merits and that it likely will suffer irreparable harm absent the injunction.”) (citing D.T. v. Sumner Cnty. Schs., 942 F.3d 324, 326–27 (6th Cir. 2019)); S. Glazer’s Distribs. of Ohio, L.L.C. v. Great Lakes Brewing Co., 860 F.3d 844, 849 (6th Cir. 2017)).

58 

Perfect 10, Inc. v. Google, Inc., 653 F.3d 976, 982 (9th Cir. 2011); see Garcia v. Google, Inc., 786 F.3d 733, 745 (9th Cir. 2015).

59 

Winter, 555 U.S. at 22.

60 

D.T. v. Sumner Cnty. Schs., 942 F.3d 324, 327 (6th Cir. 2019); Caribbean Marine Servs. Co. v. Baldrige, 844 F.2d 668, 674 (9th Cir. 1988).

61 

Sampson v. Murray, 415 U.S. 61, 90 (1974); see also, e.g., Babler v. Fuhey, 618 F.3d 514, 523–24 (6th Cir. 2010) (“Mere injuries, however substantial in terms of money, time and energy necessarily expended in the absence of a [preliminary injunction], are not enough. The possibility that adequate compensatory or other corrective relief will be available at a later date, in the ordinary course of litigation, weighs heavily against a claim of irreparable harm.”).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 18

 

Causation. Holders would have to prove that enforcement of the Legislative Action would cause detriment to them, such as loss of expected payments or loss of bond value. Given that a fundamental premise of an Impairment is Legislative Action to the detriment of Holders, Holders should be able to show causation.

Likelihood. Holders would have to prove that harm is likely absent an injunction. Likely harm is a premise that makes the Legislative Action an Impairment in the first place. Thus, we assume Holders could prove likely harm absent an injunction.

Immediacy. If scheduled payments are disrupted by Legislative Action before a trial on the merits, immediate harm could be proven. If, however, a trial on the merits is possible before such harm will occur, the harm is not immediate enough to support a preliminary injunction.62 In addition, depressed bond values may be experienced before trial. The fact that diminished credit quality due to the Legislative Action leads to diminished Bond value also should be provable.

Alternative remedies. Unless the Commonwealth waives immunity, the Eleventh Amendment bars federal courts from granting money damages against the Commonwealth.63 Absent a Commonwealth waiver of immunity, money damages would be unavailable to redress the harm to Holders from the Legislative Action, supporting the inadequacy of relief available in a federal court.64

 

 
62 

Roland Mach. Co. v. Dresser Indus., Inc., 749 F.2d 380, 386 (7th Cir. 1984) (only if plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm in period before final judgment following trial can preliminary injunction issue).

63 

Frew ex rel. Frew v. Hawkins, 540 U.S. 431, 437 (2004) (federal courts may not award retrospective relief, for instance, money damages or its equivalent, if state invokes its immunity).

64 

See Commonwealth v. Biden, 57 F.4th 545, 556 (6th Cir. 2023) (explaining that governmental sovereign immunity “typically makes monetary losses … irreparable”); Chamber of Com. of U.S. v. Edmondson, 594 F.3d 742, 756, 770–71 (10th Cir. 2010) (associations’ members were likely to suffer irreparable harm from compliance costs related to state law that might total more than $1,000 per business per year because such costs were unrecoverable as damages due to sovereign immunity); Entergy Nuclear Vt. Yankee, LLC v. Shumlin, 733 F.3d 393, 423 (2d Cir. 2013) (injunction supported in part because money damages unavailable to movant because of state immunity under Eleventh Amendment); KPMG LLP v. United States, 139 Fed.Cl. 533, 537 (Fed. Cl. 2018) (“[a]s a general principle, where plaintiff has no ability to recoup lost profits against the United States, the harm to the plaintiff is irreparable”); E. Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Biden, 993 F.3d 640, 677 (9th Cir. 2021) (where parties cannot typically recover monetary damages flowing from their injury economic harm can be considered irreparable); Odebrecht Const., Inc. v. Secretary, Florida Dept. of Transp. 715 F3d 1268, 1289 (11th Cir. 2013); Entergy, Arkansas, Inc. v. Nebraska, 210 F3d 887, 899–900 (8th Cir. 2000) (chances for a preliminary injunction may be “heightened” where relief in the form of money damages is barred by the government’s sovereign immunity); but see Black United Fund of N.J., Inc. v. Kean, 763 F.2d 156, 161 (3d Cir. 1985) (“[t]hat the Eleventh Amendment may pose an obstacle to recovery of damages in the federal court does not transform money loss into irreparable injury for equitable purposes”).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 19

 

Balance of Equities. Before issuing a preliminary injunction, a court identifies the harm that a preliminary injunction might cause the defendant and weighs it against plaintiff’s threatened injury,65 and can also consider the equities of nonparties.66 Here, a court will likely consider the balance of harm in the next stage of the analysis instead because assessing the harm to the opposing party and weighing the public interest merge when the government is the opposing party.67

Public Interest. In exercising their discretion, courts of equity “pay particular regard for the public consequences in employing the extraordinary remedy of injunction.”68 And, “[a]ny time a State is enjoined by a court from effectuating statutes enacted by representatives of its people, it suffers a form of irreparable injury.”69 However, there is no “blanket presumption in favor of the government in all preliminary injunction cases.”70 The government does not have an interest in enforcing unconstitutional laws.71 And financial concerns are not a paramount public interest.72

 

 
65 

Scotts Co. v. United Indus. Corp., 315 F.3d 264, 284 (4th Cir. 2002); see Winter, 555 U.S. at 24; Earth Island Inst. v. Carlton, 626 F.3d 462, 475 (9th Cir. 2010) (assignment of weight to particular harms is matter for district courts to decide).

66 

Horwitz v. Southwest Forest Indus., Inc., 604 F. Supp. 1130, 1136 (D Nev. 1985); see Publications Int’l, Ltd. v. Meredith Corp., 88 F.3d 473, 478 (7th Cir. 1996).

67 

Assessing the harm to the opposing party and weighing the public interest “merge when the Government is the opposing party.” Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 435 (2009); Daunt v. Benson, 956 F.3d 396, 422 (6th Cir. 2020); Drakes Bay Oyster Co. v. Jewell, 747 F.3d 1073, 1092 (9th Cir. 2014); Minard Run Oil Co. v. United States Forest Serv., 670 F.3d 236, 256 (3rd Cir. 2011).

68 

Winter, 555 U.S. at 24; Salazar v. Buono, 559 U.S. 700, 714 (2010); see also Charter Twp. of Huron, Mich. v. Richards, 997 F.2d 1168, 1175 (6th Cir. 1993) (“Before resorting to this extraordinary remedy, a court must balance the interests of the parties giving particular attention to the public consequences of a decree.”).

69 

Maryland v. King, 567 U.S. 1301, 1303 (2012) (Roberts, Circuit Justice) (internal quotes omitted); Planned Parenthood of Greater Tex. Surgical Health Servs. v. Abbott, 734 F.3d 406, 419 (5th Cir. 2013).

70 

Rodriguez v. Robbins, 715 F.3d 1127, 1145–46 (9th Cir. 2013).

71 

See, e.g., Washington v. Reno, 35 F.3d 1093, 1103 (6th Cir. 1994) (“[E]ntry of a limited injunction to prevent the use of [public] monies to finance the security functions of the federal penal institutions will not in any way harm the public interest. Although forcing the Bureau of Prisons to fund security monitoring of telephone calls through proper appropriations channels may result in a greater drain on the government’s finances, the responsibility for such security features does in fact rest with the government. Moreover, the relatively minor increase in Congressional appropriations necessary to replace the monies improperly diverted from the Commissary Fund does not outweigh the greater public interest in having governmental agencies abide by the federal laws that govern their existence and operations.”); Chamber of Com. of U.S. v. Edmondson, 594 F.3d 742, 771 (10th Cir. 2010); N. Y. Progress & Prot. PAC v. Walsh, 733 F.3d 483, 488 (2nd Cir. 2013).

72 

See Pashby v. Delia, 709 F.3d 307, 331 (4th Cir. 2013) (rejecting state’s proffered financial concerns as relevant public interest).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 20

 

The function of preliminary injunctive relief is to preserve the latest uncontested status quo prior to the action which is the subject of the legal challenge.73 The latest uncontested status quo with respect to the Bonds prior to the challenged Legislative Action would appear to be the continued effectiveness of the Financing Order and the validity of the Cost Recovery Property and Charges.

As discussed above, the likely primary harm to Holders would come from delinquent Bond payments or diminished Bond value. If the legislation merely targets the State Pledge, without pursuing some larger public policy goal, a court would more likely view the Commonwealth as merely seeking to advance its own pecuniary interests (coinciding, likely, with actions prohibited by constitutional restrictions against impairment of contracts) and would likely see little public interest advanced. But if the Legislative Action is part of a larger public policy aim, and the modification or elimination of the State Pledge is an important and integrated part of the statutory scheme, the court may weigh the public interest advanced by that Legislative Action to disfavor issuing the injunction.

We cannot offer more than the framework above for assessing this element of the test of issuance of an injunction because much will depend on the particulars of the Legislative Action. But we strain to conceive of legislation that seeks broad public policy aims that cannot be achieved without modifying or eliminating the State Pledge favoring Holders. Thus, we assume here that the public interest will not prevent a court from issuing an injunction.

Based on the foregoing, the Holders likely could satisfy these standards for temporary injunctive relief, and a temporary injunction to prevent an unconstitutional Impairment should be an available remedy.74

 

  B.

Availability of Permanent Injunctive Relief in Federal Court

The requirements for a permanent injunction are essentially the same as for a preliminary injunction, except that the moving party must demonstrate actual success on the merits (prevailing at trial).75 On that basis, we hold the same views regarding a permanent injunction as those we expressed above for a preliminary injunction.

 

 
73 

Univ. of Tex. v. Camenisch, 451 U.S. 390, 395 (1981) (“The purpose of a preliminary injunction is merely to preserve the relative positions of the parties until a trial on the merits can be held.”)

74 

See Dahl v. Bd. of Trustees of W. Michigan Univ., 15 F.4th 728, 736 (6th Cir. 2021) (“Proper application of the Constitution, moreover, serves the public interest, …. as ‘it is always in the public interest to prevent the violation of a party’s constitutional rights[.]”) (internal citations omitted).

75 

Jolivette v. Husted, 694 F.3d 760, 765 (6th Cir. 2012) (“In general, the standard for a preliminary injunction is essentially the same as for a permanent injunction with the exception that for a preliminary injunction, the plaintiff must show a likelihood of success on the merits rather than actual success.”) (cleaned up); New York Civil Liberties Union v. New York City Transit Auth., 684 F.3d 286, 294 (2nd Cir. 2012); Perfect 10, 653 F.3d at 979–80.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 21

 

  III.

Protections Afforded by Takings Clauses

 

  A.

Federal Takings Clause Protections

The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution—“nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation”—is made applicable to state action via the Fourteenth Amendment.76 The Federal Takings Clause covers both tangible and intangible property.77 Rights under contracts can be property for purposes of the Federal Takings Clause,78 but legislation that “disregards or destroys” contract rights does not always constitute a taking.79 Where intangible property is at issue, state law will determine whether a property right exists. If a court determines that an intangible asset is property, a court will next look to whether the owner of the property interest had a “reasonable investment-backed expectation” that the property right would be protected.80

 

 
76 

Webb’s Fabulous Pharmacies, Inc. v. Beckwith, 449 U.S. 155, 160 (1980).

77 

Ruckelshaus v. Monsanto Co., 467 U.S. 986, 1003-04 (1984).

78 

Lynch v. United States, 292 U.S. 571, 577 (1934).

79 

Connolly v. Pension Benefit Guar. Corp., 475 U.S. 211, 224 (1986).

80 

2 Ronald D. Rotunda & John E. Nowak, TREATISE ON CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: SUBSTANCE AND PROCEDURE § 15.12(a)(iii), at 971 (5th ed. 2012).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 22

 

The United States Supreme Court has suggested that the Federal Takings Clause may be implicated by a diverse range of government actions, including when the government (a) permanently appropriates or denies all economically productive use of property;81 (b) destroys property other than in response to emergency conditions;82 or (c) reduces, alters or impairs the value of property so as to unduly interfere with reasonable investment-backed expectations.83 In determining what is an undue interference, a court would consider the nature of the governmental action and weigh the public purpose served thereby against the degree to which it interferes with legitimate property interests and distinct investment-backed expectations of bondholders.

The Supreme Court has identified two categories where regulatory action constitutes a per se taking—when the government by regulation “has physically taken property for itself or someone else,”84 or deprived the owner of all economically beneficial use of the property.85 Outside of these two narrow categories, challenges to regulations that interfere with protected property interests are governed by the three-part test set forth in Penn Central Transportation Co. v. City of New York.86 Under that test, a regulation constitutes a taking if it denies a property owner “economically viable use” of that property, which is determined by three factors: (i) the character of the governmental action; (ii) the economic impact of the regulation on the claimant; and (iii) the extent to which the regulation has interfered with distinct investment-backed expectations.87

 

 
81 

Connolly, 475 U.S. at 225 (noting that in that case the government did not “permanently appropriate” any of the employer’s assets for its own use); Palazzolo v. Rhode Island, 533 U.S. 606, 617 (2001) (“regulation which ‘denies all economically beneficial or productive use of ‘land’ will require compensation under the Takings Clause”) (citing Lucas v. S.C. Coastal Council, 505 U.S. 1003, 1015 (1992), which notes that for personal property, however, some regulations that limit use of personal property may not be compensable takings given the state’s “traditionally high degree of [economic] control over commercial dealings,” id. at 1027-28); United States v. Sec. Indus. Bank, 459 U.S. 70, 77 (1982) (“The total destruction by the government of all compensable value of these liens, which constitute compensable property, has every possible element of a Fifth Amendment ‘taking’ and is not a mere ‘consequential incidence’ of a valid regulatory measure.”) (quoting Armstrong v. United States, 364 U.S. 40, 48 (1960)).

82 

The emergency exception to the just compensation requirement of the Federal Takings Clause appears in several Supreme Court decisions. See generally 2 Rotunda & Nowak, supra, § 15.12(C), at 1013-1015. Several of these decisions involve the government’s activities during military hostilities. See, e.g., United States v. Caltex (Phil.), Inc., 344 U.S. 149 (1952) (no compensable taking when Army destroys property to prevent enemy forces from obtaining it); United States v. Cent. Eureka Mining Co., 357 U.S. 155 (1958) (no compensable taking when government forces gold mines to cease operations to conserve resources for war effort); Natl Bd. of Young Mens Christian Assns v. United States, 395 U.S. 85 (1969) (no compensable taking where private property destroyed when U.S. troops take shelter there). Compare United States v. Pewee Coal Co., 341 U.S. 114 (1951) (plurality opinion) (compensable taking when occupation is physical rather than regulatory, emergency notwithstanding). The emergency exception is not limited to wartime activities, however. See, e.g., Miller v. Schoene, 276 U.S. 272 (1928) (no compensable taking where trees destroyed to prevent disease from spreading to other trees); Dames & Moore v. Regan, 453 U.S. 654 (1981) (no compensable taking resulting from executive order nullifying attachments on Iranian assets and permitting those assets to be transferred out of the country). The emergency exception is not limited to the physical destruction of property by the government, see Cent. Eureka Mining, 357 U.S. at 168, but the Supreme Court has suggested it does not apply to physical occupation of property, see Pewee, 341 U.S. at 116-17 (plurality opinion), or permanent appropriation, see Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 544 U.S. 528, 538 (2005), both of which constitute a per se taking. Moreover, we believe that a permanent appropriation of property by the government would be generally inconsistent with the concept of an “emergency.” See Cent. Eureka Mining, 357 U.S. at 168 (describing wartime restrictions as “temporary in character”).

83 

Connolly, 475 U.S. at 224-25 (noting that one point of Federal Takings Clause analysis is “the extent to which the regulation has interfered with distinct investment-backed expectations”) (quoting Penn Cent. Transp. Co. v. New York, 438 U.S. 104, 124 (1978)); Cent. Eureka Mining, 357 U.S. 155 (no compensable taking when government forces gold mines to cease operations to conserve resources for war effort).

84 

Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, 141 S. Ct. 2063, 2072 (2021).

85 

Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 544 U.S. 528, 538 (2005); Lucas, 505 U.S. at 1019.

86 

Penn Central, 438 U.S. 104, 124 (1978).

87 

Id.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 23

 

The first factor requires the court to examine “the purpose and importance of the public interest underlying a regulatory imposition.”88

The second factor incorporates the principle enunciated by Justice Holmes: “Government hardly could go on if to some extent values incident to property could not be diminished without paying for every such change in the general law.”89 “Not every destruction or injury to property by governmental action has been held to be a ‘taking’ in the constitutional sense.”90 Diminution in property value alone, thus, does not constitute a taking; there must be serious economic harm.

Under the third factor, the burden of showing interference with reasonable investment-backed expectations is a heavy one.91 Thus, a reasonable investment-backed expectation “must be more than a ‘unilateral expectation or an abstract need.’”92 Further, “legislation readjusting rights and burdens is not unlawful solely because it upsets otherwise settled expectations.”93 “[T]he fact that legislation disregards or destroys existing contractual rights does not always transform the regulation into an illegal taking. . . . This is not to say that contractual rights are never property rights or that the Government may always take them for its own benefit without compensation.”94 In order to sustain a claim under the Federal Takings Clause, the private party must show that it had a “reasonable expectation” at the time the contract was entered that it “would proceed without possible hindrance” arising from changes in government policy.95

We are not aware of any case law that addresses the applicability of the Federal Takings Clause in the context of exercise by a state of its police power to abrogate or impair contracts otherwise binding on the Commonwealth. The outcome of any claim that interference by the Commonwealth with the value of the Cost Recovery Property without compensation is

 
88 

Maritrans Inc. v. United States, 342 F.3d 1344, 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2003); see also Keystone Bituminous Coal Ass’n v. DeBenedictis, 480 U.S. 470 (1987).

89 

Penn. Coal Co. v. Mahon, 260 U.S. 393, 413 (1922).

90 

Armstrong v. United States, 364 U.S. 40, 48 (1960).

91 

DeBenedictis, 480 U.S. at 493.

92 

Monsanto, 467 U.S. at 1005-06 (quoting Webb’s Fabulous Pharmacies, 449 U.S. at 161).

93 

Usery v. Turner Elkhorn Mining Co., 428 U.S. 1, 16 (1976).

94 

Connolly, 475 U.S. at 224.

95 

Chang v. United States, 859 F.2d 893, 897 (Fed. Cir. 1988).


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 24

 

unconstitutional, would likely depend on factors such as the Commonwealth interest furthered by that interference, per the first factor, and the extent of financial loss to Holders caused by that interference, per the second factor, as well as the extent to which courts would consider that Holders had a reasonable expectation that changes in government policy and regulation would not interfere with their investment, per the third factor.

With respect to the third factor, we note that the Securitization Act expressly provides for the creation of securitized property in connection with the issuance of the Bonds, and further provides that any related financing order shall remain in effect and the securitization property shall continue to exist until the maturity of securitization bonds approved in such financing order. Moreover, through the State Pledge, the Commonwealth promised to “not take” a series of actions that would impair the value of the Cost Recovery Property, make certain reductions in the Charges, or impair the rights and remedies of the Holders. See supra (quoting KRS 65.114(2)). Given the foregoing, and, as discussed above, in the absence of any contrary precedent under Kentucky law that courts applying Federal Contracts Clause analysis would conclude that the State Pledge constitutes a contractual relationship between the Holders and the Commonwealth, we believe it would be hard to dispute that Holders have reasonable investment expectations with respect to their investments in the Bonds.

Based on our analysis of judicial authority discussed above, it is our opinion that, as set forth above, subject to all of the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth in this letter, including that the Securitization Act and the State Pledge created a contractual obligation of the Commonwealth under state law, under the Federal Takings Clause, a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would hold that the Commonwealth is required to pay just compensation to Holders if the Commonwealth’s repeal or amendment of the Securitization Act or taking of any other action by the Commonwealth in contravention of the State Pledge constituted a Substantial Taking. As noted earlier, in determining what is an undue interference, a court would consider the nature of the governmental action and weigh the public purpose served thereby against the degree to which it interferes with the legitimate property interests and distinct investment-backed expectations of the Holders. There can be no assurance, however, that any such award of just compensation would be sufficient to pay the full amount of principal of and interest on the Bonds.96

 

 
96 

A takings claim is generally not ripe until the government has made a final decision as to how a regulation will be applied to the property at issue. Pakdel v. City and County of San Francisco, 141 S. Ct. 2226, 2228, 2230 (2021). Although federal courts used to find a taking claim not ripe unless the owner had also sought and been denied compensation through whatever mechanisms state law provides, Williamson Cty. Reg’l Planning Comm’n v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City, 473 U.S. 172, 186 (1985), the Supreme Court overruled that precedent in Knick v. Twp. of Scott, 139 S. Ct. 2162 (2019). There, the Court held that if a state or local government takes property without compensation, a property owner “can bring a federal suit” under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (emphasis added), “without first bringing any sort of state lawsuit[.]” 139 S. Ct. at 2172–73 (quoting David A. Dana & Thomas W. Merrill, PROPERTY: TAKINGS 262 (2002)). The Court added, however, that if the state has an adequate procedure for obtaining compensation for the taking, there typically will be “no basis to enjoin the government’s action effecting a taking,” so equitable relief will be “generally unavailable” in federal court in takings cases. 139 S. Ct. at 2172–73. We express no opinion as to whether Kentucky provides any administrative or judicial procedures for seeking just compensation for a taking of the type of contract rights the Holders possess, or whether such procedures are “adequate.” To the extent that there is a taking and state procedures for seeking just compensation are inadequate, Holders (or the Indenture Trustee on their behalf) or the Commission could seek to enjoin enforcement of the State action by suing individual officers under Ex Parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 155–56 (1908) and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 25

 

*  *  *  *  *

This opinion letter may not be relied on in any manner or for any purpose by any person other than the addressees listed on Schedule A hereto nor may this opinion letter be relied on by you for any purpose other than for the transactions described herein without our prior written consent. This opinion letter may not be quoted, published, communicated or otherwise made available in whole or in part to any person (including, without limitation, any person who acquires a Bond or any interest therein from an Underwriter) other than the addressees listed on Schedule A hereto without our specific prior written consent, except that (x) each of the Underwriters may furnish copies of this letter (i) to any of its accountants or attorneys, (ii) in order to comply with any subpoena, order, regulation, ruling or request of any judicial, administrative, governmental, supervisory or legislative body or committee or any self-regulatory body (including any securities or commodities exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.), (iii) to any other person for the purpose of substantiating an Underwriter’s due diligence defense and (iv) as otherwise required by law; provided, that none of the foregoing persons is entitled to rely hereon unless an addressee hereof, (y) a copy of this opinion letter may be posted by or at the direction of Kentucky Power or the Issuer to an internet website required under Rule 17g-5 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and maintained in connection with the ratings on the Bonds solely for the purpose of compliance with such rule or undertakings pursuant thereto made by Kentucky Power or the Issuer. Such permission to post a copy of this letter to such website shall not be construed to entitle any person, including any credit rating agency, who is not an addressee hereof to rely on this opinion letter.

We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the registration statement filed on Form SF-1 (Registration Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01) filed by Kentucky Power and the Issuer on January 2, 2025 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), and to all references to our firm included in or made a part of the Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the related rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.


LOGO

Each of the Persons Listed

On Schedule A Attached Hereto

[•], 2025

Page 26

 

This opinion letter is being given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update or supplement this opinion letter to reflect any facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention with respect to the matters discussed herein, including any changes in applicable law which may hereafter occur.

 

Very truly yours,


SCHEDULE A

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

as Indenture Trustee

190 S. LaSalle Street, 7th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60603

U.S. Bank National Association

as Securities Intermediary

190 S. LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

7 World Trade Center at

250 Greenwich Street, 24th Floor

New York, New York 10007

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc.

Structured Credit Surveillance

55 Water Street, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10041

Kentucky Power Company

1 Riverside Plaza

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

1645 Winchester Avenue

Ashland, Kentucky 41101

Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Exhibit 99.3

 

LOGO      

 

400 West Market Street

Suite 1800

Louisville, KY 40202-3352

(502) 587-3400

(502) 587-6391 FAX

_______________, 2025

To Each of the Persons Listed

on Schedule A Attached Hereto

 

  RE:

Kentucky State Constitutional Issues Related to Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as special counsel to Kentucky Power Company, a Kentucky corporation (“Kentucky Power”), in connection with the issuance and sale on the date hereof by Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Issuer”), of $477,749,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s Series 2025 Senior Secured Recovery Bonds (the “Bonds”), which are more fully described in the Prospectus dated [•], 20[•]. The Bonds are being sold pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement dated [•], 2025 among Kentucky Power, the Issuer, and Jefferies LLC, as representative of the underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”). The Bonds are being issued pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture (the “Original Indenture”) dated as of the date hereof, as supplemented by the Series Supplement dated as of the date hereof (together with the Original Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as securities intermediary. Under the Indenture, the Indenture Trustee holds, among other things, Cost Recovery Property as described below as collateral security for the payment of the Bonds. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning specified in Appendix A to the Indenture unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Cost Recovery Property” means the “securitized property” as defined in Chapter 278 of Kentucky’s Title XXIV Public Utilities law at KRS 278.670(19), that was created in favor of Kentucky Power, pursuant to a financing order dated January 10, 2024 (the “Initial Financing Order”) and a restated financing order dated April 11, 2025 (the “Financing Order”) issued by the Public Service Commission of Kentucky (the “Commission”) in Case No. 2023-00159. The Cost Recovery Property was assigned to the Issuer pursuant to the provisions of the Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Sale Agreement”) dated as of the date hereof between Kentucky Power and the Issuer in consideration for the payment by the Issuer to Kentucky Power of the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds, net of certain issuance costs. The Cost Recovery Property includes the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive certain “nonbypassable” “securitized surcharges” (each as defined in the Securitization Act) described in the Financing Order (the “Charges”), in an amount sufficient to repay, finance, or refinance the Bonds.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 2

 

The Charges may be periodically adjusted, in the manner authorized in the Financing Order, in order to enhance the probability that the revenues received by the Issuer from the Charges are sufficient to (i) amortize the Bonds pursuant to the amortization schedule to be followed in accordance with the provisions of the Bonds and the Indenture, (ii) pay interest thereon and related fees and expenses, and (iii) maintain the required reserves for the payment of the Bonds.

Kentucky Power, on March 28, 2025, filed a motion in Case No. 2023-00159 to “address changes in guidance from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the nature of the advisors assisting the Commission with the securitization process.”1 On April 11, 2025, the Commission issued the Financing Order in response to Kentucky Power’s motion in Case No. 2023-00159.2

The period for seeking rehearing of the Financing Order expired on May 5, 2025. In the absence of a timely motion for rehearing, the Financing Order [will become][became]3 final and nonappealable on May 15, 2025.

Securitization Act” is defined for purposes of this Opinion as the provisions of KRS 278.670 to KRS 278.696 and KRS 65.114.

In connection with the Securitization Act, KRS 65.114(2)–(3) provides:

“(2) Any determination of the commission made in connection with any financing order and any financing order of the commission issued pursuant to this subsection shall be a binding, irrevocable, and final order of the commission, and binding on the commission and the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth and its agencies, including the commission, pledge and agree with bondholders, the owners of the securitized property, and other financing parties that the Commonwealth and its agencies shall not undertake any of the

 

 

 
1 

The Initial Financing Order provided that “[p]ursuant to 278.678(8), the Commission is prohibited from taking any action that would amend, modify, or terminate this Financing Order by any subsequent action ….” The limitations imposed by KRS 278.678(8) on the Commission’s authority to “amend, modify, or terminate” the Initial Financing Order arise upon the earlier of “the time of any transfer of securitized property to an assignee or the issuance of securitized bonds authorized thereby….” We have assumed for purposes of this Opinion that there has been no transfer of securitized property or issuance of securitized bonds.

2 

KRS 278.672(3) prohibits the Commission from accepting an application for a financing order under the Securitization Act after December 31, 2024. Kentucky Power filed its motion for the Financing Order on March 28, 2025, in the proceeding giving rise to the Initial Financing Order. The motion was not styled an application pursuant to KRS 278.672 nor was it deemed an application by the Commission. We are unaware of any published Kentucky precedent indicating whether the motion should have been treated as an application by the Commission and, therefore, have assumed for purposes of this Opinion that the date of the Initial Financing Order is controlling and that the Financing Order is not as a result barred by KRS 278.672(3).

3 

Confirm based on date of closing.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 3

 

prohibited actions listed in this subsection. This subsection shall not preclude limitation or alteration, if full compensation is made by law for the full protection of the securitized surcharges collected pursuant to a financing order and of the bondholders, any assignee, or financing party entering into a contract with the electric utility. The Commonwealth and its agencies, including the commission, shall not:

(a) Alter the provisions of KRS 278.670 to 278.696 and 65.114 which authorize the commission to create an irrevocable contract right or right to sue by the issuance of a financing order creating securitized property, making the securitized surcharges imposed by a financing order irrevocable, binding, or affecting the nonbypassable charges for all existing and future retail customers of the electric utility;

(b) Take or permit any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property or the security for the securitized bonds or revises the securitized costs for which recovery is authorized;

(c) In any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees, and other financing parties; and

(d) Except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized under KRS 278.678, reduce, alter, or impair securitized surcharges that are to be imposed, billed, charge[d], collected, and remitted for the benefit of the bondholders, any assignee, and any other financing parties until any and all principal, interest, premium, financing costs, and other fees, expenses, or charges incurred, and any contracts to be performed, in connection with the related securitized bonds have been paid and performed in full.

(3) Any person or entity that issues securitized bonds may include the language specified in this subsection in the securitized bonds and related documentation.”

The language immediately above, including paragraph (2) in the block quote above, is referred to in this Opinion as the “State Pledge.” As authorized by the foregoing statutory provision and the Financing Order, the language of the State Pledge has been included in the Indenture and in the Bonds. The term “Prohibited Actions” is used to refer to the actions listed in KRS 65.114(2)(a)-(d).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 4

 

Excepted from the pledge and agreement of the Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Commission, are an alteration or limitation arising in connection with any Prohibited Action “if full compensation is made by law for the full protection of the securitized surcharges collected pursuant to a financing order” issued pursuant to the Securitization Act and full protection of “the bondholders, any assignee, or financing party entering into a contract with the electric utility.”4

In connection with rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined and relied upon originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of: (i) the Sale Agreement; (ii) the Indenture; (iii) the Registration Statement on Amendment 1 to Form SF-1 of the Issuer; (iv) the Securitization Act and related public records referenced herein; (v) the Financing Order, (vi) the Servicing Agreement by and between the Issuer and Kentucky Power dated as of the date hereof; and (vii) such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated thereby as we have deemed necessary or advisable as the basis for such opinions. For purposes of this opinion letter (this “Opinion”), “Transaction Documents” means the above referenced documents and “Transaction” means the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

Assumptions

For purposes of rendering this Opinion, we assumed the following:

1. The legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making our examination of documents, for purposes of this Opinion we have assumed (a) that the parties to such documents have the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder, and (b) the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents, including the Transaction Documents, and the validity and binding effect thereof.

2. [In accordance with our separate legal opinion of even date herewith as to the Financing Order, the Financing Order was duly authorized and issued by the Commission in accordance with applicable Kentucky statutes, rules and regulations; the Financing Order and the process by which it was issued comply with applicable Kentucky statutes, rules, and regulations; and that the Financing Order is in full force and effect and is final and nonappealable.]5

3. The parties to the Transaction Documents and their successors and assigns will (i) act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner in the exercise of any rights or enforcement of any remedies under the Transaction Documents; (ii) not engage in any conduct in the exercise of such rights or enforcement of such remedies that would constitute other than fair dealing; and (iii) comply with the requirements of applicable procedural and substantive law in exercising any rights or enforcing any remedies under the Transaction Documents.

 
4 

KRS 65.114(2).

5 

To be confirmed.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 5

 

4. The exercise of any rights or enforcement of any remedies under the Transaction Documents would not be unconscionable, result in a breach of the peace or otherwise be contrary to public policy.

5. The Issuer and all parties to the Transaction Documents are operating, and will continue to operate, in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.

6. The Transaction Documents accurately reflect the complete understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated thereby and the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder and the Transaction Documents have not been amended, modified, or supplemented, directly or indirectly, by any other agreement or understanding of the parties or waiver of any of the material provisions of the Transaction Documents.

7. That any legislation enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (the “General Assembly”), or supplemental order adopted by the Commission, impairing the value of the Bonds would constitute a “substantial” modification of the provisions of the Securitization Act or the Financing Order that provide support for the Bonds (and is done without providing full compensation for the Bondholders). The determination of whether particular governmental action of a legislative character constitutes a substantial impairment of a particular contract is a fact-specific analysis, and nothing in this Opinion expresses any opinion as to how a court would resolve the issue of “substantial impairment” with respect to the Bonds in relation to any particular action of a legislative character by the General Assembly or the Commission being challenged.

In addition, we have made no independent investigation of the facts referred to herein, and with respect to such facts we have relied, for purposes of rendering this Opinion, and except as otherwise expressly stated herein, exclusively on the statements contained and matters provided for in the Transaction Documents and such other documents relating to the Transaction as we have deemed advisable, including the factual representations, warranties and covenants contained therein as made by the respective parties thereto.

Opinions Requested

You have requested our opinion as to:

1. Whether the Securitization Act was duly enacted by the General Assembly in accordance with applicable Kentucky laws and is in full force and effect; whether we are aware of any constitutional infirmities with respect to the Securitization Act; and whether, to our knowledge, the validity of the Securitization Act (insofar as it relates to the Transaction) is the subject of any pending appeal or litigation.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 6

 

2. Whether the State Pledge unambiguously indicates the intent of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (the “Commonwealth”) to be bound with the Holders and supports the conclusion that, for purposes of the Contracts Clause of the Kentucky Constitution6 (the “Kentucky Contracts Clause”), the State Pledge constitutes a binding contractual relationship between the Commonwealth and the Holders. Further, whether (subject to the assumption that any impairment be “substantial”), a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would hold that the Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Kentucky Public Service Commission, could not constitutionally repeal or amend the Securitization Act or take any other action contravening the State Pledge and creating an impairment (without, as the Securitization Act requires, providing full compensation by law for the full protection of the Charges to be collected pursuant to the Financing Order and full protection of the Holders).

3. Whether a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction would hold that the Cost Recovery Property is protected by the Takings Clause of the Kentucky Constitution7 (the “Kentucky Takings Clause”), and that therefore the Commonwealth would be required to pay just compensation to Holders, as determined by such court, if the General Assembly repealed or amended the Securitization Act or took any other action contravening the State Pledge, if doing so constituted a permanent appropriation of a substantial property interest of the Holders in the Cost Recovery Property and deprived the Holders of their reasonable expectations arising from their investments in the Bonds (a “Substantial Taking”).

Confirmation

We confirm that, to our knowledge, based solely on our discussion below and our review of the public records and inquiries described below, and subject to the other qualifications, limitations, and assumptions set forth in this Opinion:

 

  1.

The Securitization Act was enacted by the General Assembly in accordance with the Kentucky Constitution. Further, we are not aware of any Kentucky constitutional infirmities with respect to the Securitization Act. Finally, the validity of the Securitization Act (insofar as it relates to the Transaction), is not the subject of any pending appeal or litigation.

Opinions

Based on our discussion below and our review of the relevant judicial authority cited below, and subject to the qualifications, limitations, and assumptions set forth in this Opinion (including the assumption that any impairment would be “substantial”), it is our opinion that a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction in Kentucky, in a properly prepared and presented case applying Kentucky law:

 

 
6 

KY. CONST. § 19.

7 

KY. CONST. § 13.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 7

 

1. Would conclude the State Pledge unambiguously indicates the Commonwealth’s intent to be bound to the Bondholders, and further, for purposes of the Kentucky Contracts Clause, the State Pledge constitutes a binding contractual relationship between the Commonwealth and the Holders. Further, a reviewing court of competent jurisdiction in Kentucky would hold that the Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Commission, could not constitutionally repeal or amend the Securitization Act or take any other action contravening the State Pledge and creating a substantial impairment (without, as the Securitization Act requires, providing full compensation by law for the full protection of the Charges to be collected pursuant to the Financing Order and full protection of the Holders), unless, notwithstanding the barriers to such a finding described below, such court determines that such impairment clearly is a reasonable and necessary exercise of the Commonwealth’s sovereign powers based upon reasonable conditions and of a character reasonable and appropriate to the significant and legitimate public purpose justifying such action.

2. The Cost Recovery Property is protected by the Kentucky Takings Clause, and that the Commonwealth would be required to pay just compensation to Holders, as determined by such court, if the General Assembly repealed or amended the Securitization Act or took any other action contravening the State Pledge, if such action constituted a Substantial Taking. Takings of financial interests can be particularly difficult to establish in a manner that distinguishes them from constitutionally permissible economic regulation. In examining whether action of the General Assembly or the Commission amounts to a regulatory taking, Kentucky courts will consider the character of the governmental action, the economic impact of the governmental action on the Holders, and the extent to which the governmental action interferes with distinct investment-backed expectations. There is no assurance, however, that any such award of compensation would be sufficient to pay the full amount of principal of and interest on the Bonds.

We note, with respect to the opinion in (1) above, that existing case law indicates that any impairment must necessarily and reasonably be tailored to address a significant public purpose, such as remedying or providing relief for a broad, widespread economic or social problem. The cases also indicate that the justification for any impairment would be subjected to a higher degree of scrutiny if the action by the General Assembly impairs a contract to which the Commonwealth is a party and involves the financial or other self-interest of the Commonwealth, as contrasted to a contract solely between private parties.

We are not aware of any reported controlling judicial precedents that are directly on point with respect to the questions raised above. Accordingly, our analysis is necessarily a reasoned application of judicial decisions involving similar or analogous circumstances. We cannot predict the facts and circumstances that will be present in the future and may be relevant to the resolution of the issues embodied in the opinions above. Consequently, there can be no assurance that a court will follow our reasoning or reach the conclusions that we believe current judicial precedent supports.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 8

 

This Opinion is limited to the state laws of the Commonwealth and does not address issues of federal law. Our opinions are based upon our evaluation of existing judicial decisions and arguments related to the factual circumstances in the Transaction Documents and as described in our discussion below; such precedents and such circumstances could change materially from those discussed below in this Opinion. Accordingly, such opinions are intended to express our belief as to the result that should be obtainable through the proper application of existing judicial decisions in a properly prepared and presented case. It is our and your understanding that none of the foregoing opinions within this Opinion is intended to be a guaranty as to what a particular court would actually hold; rather each such opinion is only an expression as to the decision a court ought to reach if the issue were properly prepared and presented to it and the court followed what we believe to be the applicable legal principles under existing judicial precedent. The recipients of this Opinion should take these considerations into account in analyzing the risks associated with the Transaction.

Discussion

A. Background – The Securitization Act and Financing Order

The Securitization Act expressly characterizes the cost recovery property specified in a financing order as “an existing, present, intangible property right or interest therein....”8 It further provides that the cost recovery property specified in a financing order “exists until the securitized bonds issued pursuant to the financing order are paid in full and all financing costs and other costs have been recovered in full.”9

KRS 278.694(2) provides that securitized bonds are not a debt, general obligation, or special obligation of the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities. Securitized bonds also do not obligate the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities to levy a tax or make an appropriation for payment of securitized bonds other than in their capacity as consumers of electric energy.10 All securitized bonds are required to carry a legend on their face to the effect that “[n]either the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of the Commonwealth is pledged to the payment of the principal of, or interest on, this bond.”11

KRS 278.678(8) provides that upon the occurrence of the earlier of the transfer of cost recovery property to an assignee, or the issuance of securitized bonds pursuant to the Securitization Act, a financing order issued pursuant to the Securitization Act “shall be irrevocable and, except for changes made pursuant to a formula-based true-up mechanism” in accordance with the Securitization Act, the Commission shall not:

 

 
8 

KRS 278.684(1).

9 

KRS 278.684(2).

10 

KRS 278.694(3).

11 

Id.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 9

 

(a) Amend, modify, or terminate the financing order by any subsequent action; or

(b) Reduce, impair, postpone, terminate, or otherwise adjust securitized surcharges approved in the financing order.

The Financing Order found that:

(i) The Commission’s obligations under this Financing Order relating to the securitized bonds, including the specific actions the Commission guarantees to take, are direct, explicit, irrevocable, and unconditional upon issuance of the securitized bonds, and are legally enforceable against the Commission, a United States public sector entity.12

(ii) The approval of this Financing Order, including the true-up provisions, by the Commission constitutes a guarantee of state regulatory action to ensure repayment of the securitized bonds and associated costs.13

B. Enactment and Facial Constitutionality of the Securitization Act; Confirmation of Absence of Litigation as to Validity

This section of this Opinion addresses three matters: (i) whether the Securitization Act, as contained in Senate Bill (“SB”) 192, was enacted in conformity with the Kentucky Constitution; (ii) whether we are aware of any infirmities under the Kentucky Constitution with respect to the Securitization Act; and (iii) whether we are aware of any pending appeal or litigation as to the validity of the Securitization Act (insofar as it relates to the Transaction).

 

  1.

Enactment of the Securitization Act under Kentucky’s Constitution

The proceedings of the 2023 General Assembly and actions of Governor Andy Beshear detailed below are based upon our review of the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission’s online “2023 Regular Session Record” for SB 192.14 We did not independently review any other extrinsic evidence of the proceedings of the 2023 General Assembly or Governor Beshear’s actions.

We are informed by the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, the administrative arm of the General Assembly, that the journals of the Kentucky Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives, as provided for by Section 40 of the Kentucky Constitution, have yet to be published.15 The House and Senate Journals comprise the official daily records of the proceedings in each chamber during a session of the General Assembly, including roll call votes on all bills, motions, and referral.

 
12 

Financing Order, Conclusions of Law, at ¶ 42.

13 

Financing Order, Conclusions of Law, at ¶43.

14 

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/sb192.html.

15 

The most recent publicly available Senate and House Journals relate to the 2017 Session of the General Assembly. https://legislature.ky.gov/LRC/Publications/Pages/default.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8BHouse%20Journal%20and%20Senate,bills%2C%20motions
%2C%20and%20referrals.&text=%E2%80%8BKentucky%20Administrative%20Regulations%20Service,into%20action%20by%20administrative
%20agencies.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 10

 

SB 192 was filed in the Senate during the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly on February 21, 2023. It was entitled “An Act relating to investor-owned electric utilities.” Sections 1-13 and Section 15 of SB 192 created those new sections of Chapter 278 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes comprising the Securitization Act. Section 14 of SB 192 embodied the State Pledge.

SB 192 was assigned to the Senate Committee on Committees on February 21, 2023. On February 23, 2023, SB 192 was assigned to the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. It was reported favorably out of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee on March 1, 2023, in accordance with Section 46 of the Kentucky Constitution and received its first reading before the Senate that day. SB 192 received its Second Reading before the Senate on March 2, 2023. The following day it was posted for passage by the Senate for March 7, 2023.

Floor Amendment 1 to SB 192 was filed on March 7, 2023 prior to SB 192 receiving its Third Reading or being considered by the Kentucky Senate for passage. Floor Amendment 1 to SB 192 amended Sections 1-6, Sections 9-11, and Section 14 of SB 192.

SB 192, as amended by Floor Amendment 1 received its Third Reading on March 8, 2023, in accordance with Section 46 of the Kentucky Constitution. It was presented on March 8, 2023, for vote by the Senate with a quorum present as calculated in accordance with Section 37 of the Kentucky Constitution. SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1 received 35 “yea” votes and zero “no” votes. The vote satisfied Section 46 of the Kentucky Constitution which mandates that any bill must receive two-fifths of the 38 members16 elected to the Senate and a majority of the members voting.

SB 192, as amended by Floor Amendment 1, was received by the Kentucky House of Representatives on March 8, 2023, in the House Committee on Committees. SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1 was assigned to the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee on March 10, 2023. It was taken from the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee and received its First Reading before the House on March 13, 2023. It received its Second Reading before the House on March 14, 2023. SB 192, as amended by Floor Amendment 1 was placed on the House Orders of the Day on March 15, 2023. SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1 on March 16, 2023, received 97 “yea” votes and zero “no” votes. The House vote satisfied Section 46 of the Kentucky Constitution which mandates that any bill must receive two-fifths of the 100 members17 elected to the House and a majority of the members voting.

 

 
16 

KY. CONST. § 35.

17 

Id.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 11

 

SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1 was received by Kentucky Senate on March 16, 2023 and enrolled there in accordance with the procedure specified in Section 56 of the Kentucky Constitution. The President of the Senate thereafter affixed his signature to the bill as amended that day. That same day, SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1 was delivered to the Kentucky House of Representatives, where it was enrolled in accordance with the procedure specified in Section 56 of the Kentucky Constitution. It was signed by the Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives on March 16, 2023.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives presented SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1 to the Governor on that same day in accordance with Section 56 of the Kentucky Constitution. The Governor signed SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1 on March 23, 2023, in accordance with Section 88 of the Kentucky Constitution, and within the ten days provided for by Section 88 of the Constitution.

The 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 30, 2023.18 SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1 became effective on June 29, 2023, in accordance with Section 55 of the Kentucky Constitution.19

 

  2.

Absence of Kentucky Constitutional Infirmities of the Securitization Act

The constitutionality of acts of the General Assembly have been challenged for a variety of reasons under Kentucky law, including, but not limited to, issues relating to due process, equal protection, open courts, and separation of powers. Although two Kentucky constitutional challenges—the first relating to the legislation’s subject and title and the second relating to whether it constitutes “special legislation”—could apply to the Securitization Act, it is our opinion that it is unlikely a Kentucky court would find the Securitization Act unconstitutional on either of those bases.

The Kentucky Constitution provides that “[n]o law enacted by the General Assembly shall relate to more than one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.”20 The purpose of Section 51 “was to prevent the evil that had grown up of legislating in one act upon as many distinct and wholly disconnected subjects as the legislative body saw fit, without any indication in the title of the act as to what its contents might be.”21 Before the adoption of Section 51, the General Assembly “legislate[d] upon a multiplicity of unrelated subjects which were neither remotely germane to, or in any wise connected with, the one or ones named in the title.”22 “As long as the title of the act is not false or misleading, then it is constitutional.”23 “The title need only furnish

 
18 

Op. Att’y Gen. 23-3 (April 4, 2023).

19 

Id.

20 

KY. CONST. § 51.

21 

Talbott v. Laffoon, 79 S.W.2d 244, 246 (Ky. 1934).

22 

Id.

23 

Yeoman v. Com., Health Pol’y Bd., 983 S.W.2d 459, 476 (Ky. 1998).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 12

 

general notification of the general subject in the act. If the title furnishes a ‘clue’ to the act’s contents, it passes constitutional muster.”24 Here, the only subject of the legislation creating the Securitization Act was the financing of extraordinary or deferred costs by investor-owned electric utilities, including the State Pledge required to implement that financing, while the title of the legislation was “AN ACT relating to investor-owned utilities.”25

Sections 5926 and 6027 of the Kentucky Constitution prohibit “local” or “special” legislation. “A ‘local law’ is one whose operation is confined within territorial limits other than those of the whole state, or any properly constituted class or locality therein.”28 Here, because the Securitization Act’s application is statewide, it is not a local act. “Special legislation is defined as arbitrary and irrational legislation that favors the economic self-interest of the one or the few over that of the many.”29 “The distinction between a general and a special law” is that a “statute which relates to persons or things as a class is a general law, while a statute which relates to particular persons or things of a class is special.”30

“The primary purpose of Kentucky Constitution Section 59 [and 60] is to prevent special privileges, favoritism and discrimination, and assure equality under the law.”31 “A special law is legislation which arbitrarily or beyond reasonable justification discriminates against some persons or objects and favors others”32 or which favors a special interest to the detriment of the rest of society.”33 In order for a law in its constitutional sense to be general rather than “special”: “(1) it must apply equally to all in a class, and (2) there must be distinctive and natural reasons inducing and supporting the classification.”34 Here, the Securitization Act applies equally to the entire class—all investor-owned utilities—and there are distinctive and natural reasons supporting the classification. These include eliminating the need for rates to cover the associated return on equity and income tax expenses not paid by electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. A Kentucky court is unlikely to sustain a challenge to the Securitization Act under Kentucky Constitution Sections 59 or 60.

 
24 

Com. ex rel. Armstrong v. Collins, 709 S.W.2d 437, 443 (Ky. 1986).

25 

2023 Kentucky Laws Ch. 72 (SB 192).

26 

KY. CONST. § 59 provides, in pertinent part: “The General Assembly shall not pass local or special acts concerning any of” various enumerated “subjects” or “purposes.” Subsection 29 provides: “In all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, no special law shall be enacted.”

27 

KY. CONST. § 60 provides, in pertinent part: “The General Assembly shall not indirectly enact any special or local act by the repeal in part of a general act . . . . No law shall be enacted granting powers or privileges in any case where the granting of such powers or privileges shall have been provided for by a general law, nor where the courts have jurisdiction to grant the same or to give the relief asked for. . . .”

28 

Ravitz v. Steurele, 77 S.W.2d 360, 364 (Ky. 1934).

29 

Zuckerman v. Bevin, 565 S.W.3d 580, 599 (Ky. 2018).

30 

Johnson v. Commonwealth ex rel. Meredith, 165 S.W.2d 820, 825 (Ky. 1942).

31 

Kentucky Harlan Coal Co. v. Holmes, 872 S.W.2d 446, 452 (Ky. 1994) (overruled on other grounds).

32 

Bd. of Educ. of Jefferson Cnty. v. Bd. of Educ. of Louisville, 472 S.W.2d 496, 498 (Ky. 1971).

33 

Yeoman v. Com., Health Policy Bd., 983 S.W.2d 459, 468 (Ky. 1998).

34 

Id. at 466.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 13

 

It is our opinion that the Securitization Act, as embodied in SB 192 as amended by Floor Amendment 1, were enacted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Constitution of Kentucky.

 

  3.

No Knowledge of Legal Challenges to the Validity of the Securitization Act

Based upon our limited inquiry described below, we are unaware of any pending appeal or litigation challenging the validity of the Securitization Act. The subject matter of pending or concluded Kentucky trial court actions, and whether they involve legal challenges to the Securitization Act in the 57 Kentucky judicial circuits, cannot be discerned from the Kentucky Court of Justice and Administrative Office of the Courts’ CourtNet database. We further reviewed, on April 30, 2025, the Thomson Reuters Westlaw Edge data base for decisions of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, the Kentucky Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Based upon these limited inquiries, we did not identify any opinions or orders of those courts challenging the validity of the Securitization Act.

We also contacted an Executive Advisor Attorney for the Commission on April 30, 2025. The Commission’s Executive Advisor Attorney was unaware of any past or pending challenges to the Securitization Act.

C. The Kentucky Contract Clause

Section 19(1) of the Kentucky Constitution provides in pertinent part that “[n]o . . . law impairing the obligation of contracts, shall be enacted.” “The strength of every contract lies in the right of the promisee to rely upon the constitutional security against impairment of its obligations by legislation and in the right to resort to courts of public justice for the redress of its violation.”35

Although the language of Kentucky Contract Clause contains no exceptions, the Kentucky Supreme Court, like federal law, has recognized that the Kentucky Contract clause “does not prevent a state from enacting regulations or statutes which are reasonably necessary to safeguard the vital interests of its people.”36 The Kentucky Contract Clause limits the power of the Commonwealth to modify its own contracts, as well as those between private parties.37

 
35 

Bd. of Education of Louisville v. City of Louisville, 157 S.W.2d 337, 343 (Ky. 1941) (“[Pensioners] had a contract with an agency of the Commonwealth of Kentucky entitling them to the benefits for which they had paid.”).

36 

Maze v. Bd. of Dir. for the Common. Postsecondary Educ. Prepaid Tr. Fund, 559 S.W.3d 354, 369 (Ky. 2018) (internal quotation marks omitted) (“Maze”).

37 

See id. at 373 (holding that legislation limiting benefits available under existing Kentucky prepaid tuition plan contracts violated state and federal Contract Clauses.).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 14

 

The Kentucky Supreme Court held in Maze v. Bd. of Dir. for the Common. Postsecondary Educ. Prepaid Tr. Fund, 559 S.W.3d 354, 372 (Ky. 2018) “that Kentucky jurisprudence takes a more restrictive view of the General Assembly’s power to impose changes to existing contractual benefits than the pronouncements of the federal courts [regarding the federal Contract Clause.]”38

The Kentucky Supreme Court generally follows federal precedent, most recently a three-part test fashioned from the United States Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. Trust Co. v. New Jersey,39 in assessing whether legislation violates the Kentucky Contracts Clause:40

“(1) whether the legislation operates as a substantial impairment of a contractual relationship; (2) if so, then the inquiry turns to whether there is a significant and legitimate public purpose behind the regulation, such as the remedying of a broad and general social or economic problem; and (3) if as in this case, the government is a party to the contract, we examine “whether that impairment is nonetheless permissible as a legitimate exercise of the state’s sovereign powers,” and we determine whether if the impairment is “upon reasonable conditions and of a character appropriate to the public purpose justifying its adoption.”41

In resolving the third part of the analysis, the Maze Court explained “the reasonableness of the impairment is judged on whether the existing contractual obligation of the state ‘had effects that were unseen and unintended by the legislature’ at the time the contract creating those obligations were created.”42 The appropriateness of the legislation creating the impairment in turn is weighed by “whether a less drastic modification could be implemented,” and “whether the state could have achieved its goals without modification.”43

The following Kentucky Contract Clause analysis comprises four subparts: (i) whether the State Pledge indicates the Commonwealth’s intent to be bound to the Holders and supports the conclusion that the State Pledge constitutes a binding contractual relationship between the Commonwealth and the Holders for purposes of the Kentucky Contract Clause; (ii) whether any such binding contract violates the reserved powers doctrine and thus is void; (iii) whether there is a significant and legitimate public purpose for the impairment of the State Pledge; and (iv) the reasonableness of the impairment and whether it is appropriate to the public purpose justifying its adoption.

 

 
38 

Id.

39 

431 U.S. 1 (1977) (“U.S. Trust”).

40 

See Maze, 559 S.W.3d at 369.

41 

Id.

42 

Id. at 373 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Md. State Teachers Ass’n v. Hughes, 594 F.Supp. 1353, 1362 (D. Md. 1984)).

43 

Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 15

 

Under Maze, a party asserting a claim under the Kentucky Contract Clause also is required to demonstrate that any impairment44 constitutes a substantial impairment. As indicated above, that is a fact-specific inquiry and not addressed in this Opinion. Therefore, we assume for purposes of this Opinion that any impairment resulting from a challenged action of the General Assembly would be substantial under the Kentucky Contract Clause.

 

  1.

The Existence Under the Kentucky Contract Clause of a Binding Contract Between the Commonwealth and the Holders

Kentucky law recognizes that the Commonwealth through legislation45 and executive branch action, if authorized by legislation,46 may bind itself by contract. Whether a contract exists is a matter of state law.47 A contract between the Commonwealth and a counterparty will be found to exist under Kentucky law only where the General Assembly’s intent to create a contractual right is clear and unmistakable.48

The party claiming the existence of a contract bears the burden of “overcom[ing] the presumption that a law is not intended to create private contractual or vested rights.”49 In determining the General Assembly’s intent to create a contractual relationship, Kentucky courts first look to the legislative language while giving the words employed their “plain and ordinary meaning.”50 A court may also consider “the circumstances surrounding its enactment or amendment – such as its apparent purpose, context, legislative history, or any other evidence of actual intent.”51

 

 
44 

“Any law which changes the intention and legal effect of the original parties, giving one greater or the other a less interest or benefit in the contract impairs its obligation. The extent of the change is immaterial….” Ky. Utilities Co. v. Carlisle Ice Co., 131 S.W.2d 499, 504 (Ky. 1939).

45 

Kentucky Emp. Ret. Sys. v. Seven Cntys. Serv., Inc., 580 S.W.3d 530 (Ky. 2019) (“Seven Cntys.”).

46 

See id. at 539.

47 

Id. at 542.

48 

Id. at 543. The Kentucky Supreme Court in Seven Cntys. followed the United States Supreme Court’s “unmistakability doctrine” See U.S. v. Winstar Corp., 518 U.S. 839, 871 (1996). The unmistakability doctrine serves “to avoid unnecessarily infringing on a state legislature’s ability to legislate regarding state sovereign rights unless it is clear beyond any doubt that the legislature meant to give up that right.” Seven Cntys., 580 S.W.3d at 543 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Puckett v. Lexington-Fayette Urb. Cnty. Gov’t, 833 F.3d 590, 600-01(6th Cir. 2016)).

49 

Id.

50 

Seven Cntys. 580 S.W.3d at 539.

51 

Id.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 16

 

KRS 65.114(2) on its face provides clear evidence that, in enacting the statutes, the General Assembly intended to create a contractual relationship, binding the “Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Commission,” on the one hand, and the “bondholders, the owners of the securitized property, and other financing parties” on the other.52 Specifically, KRS 65.114(2) employs language couched in the terms of a contract such as “pledge and agree with the bondholders …,” and describes the provisions of the Securitization Act as authorizing the Commission to “create an irrevocable contract right or right to sue…” through issuance of a financing order.53

The language employed by the General Assembly in KRS 65.114(2) appears consistent with an intent to create a contractual relationship between the Bondholders and the Commonwealth with respect to the State Pledge.54 Indeed, the presence of similar language in KRS 164A.705(1) was relied upon by the Kentucky Supreme Court in Maze to support its conclusion that the General Assembly intended to bind itself in contract through the prepaid tuition agreements at issue in that case.55 Conversely, in Seven Cntys. the Kentucky Supreme Court pointed to the absence of any such contract-like language in concluding that the relationship between the retirement system and Seven Counties was not contractual.56

A second aspect of KRS 65.114 underscores the contractual nature of the State Pledge. The statute excepts from the promise on behalf of the Commonwealth not to undertake any of the Prohibited Actions “if full compensation is made by law for the full protection of the securitized surcharges collected pursuant to a financing order and of the bondholders….”57 An agreement to protect both the securitized surcharges and Bondholders in full upon the taking of any of the Prohibited Actions arguably appears more consistent with a contractual as opposed to regulatory framework.

 

 
52 

KRS 65.114(2).

53 

KRS 65.114(2)(a). The term “irrevocable contract” referenced in KRS 65.114(2)(a) is specifically used to describe the relationship created by the Commission through its issuance of a financing order, and not the broader agreement between the Commonwealth and Bondholders created by the State Pledge. The United States Supreme Court in National R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co, 470 U.S. 451, 467 (1985) noted that the statutory use of the term “contract,” particularly when employed to describe the relationship between an agency and a regulated entity, is not always indicative of an intent to bind the sovereign. In so holding, the Court pointed to the absence of any language in the challenged legislation where the United States covenanted or agreed with railroads. Id. at 470. Here, the State Pledge, by contrast, expressly provides that the Commonwealth “pledge[s] and agree[s] with the bondholders, the owners of the securitized property, and other financing parties …” not to undertake the Prohibited Actions (as listed in KRS 65.114(2)(a)-(d)), which include the repeal of the State Pledge.

54 

KRS 65.114(2) (“any financing order of the commission … shall be … binding on the commission and the Commonwealth.”).

55 

Maze, 559 S.W.3d at 361, 366.

56 

Seven Cntys., 580 S.W.3d 539.

57 

KRS 65.114(2).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 17

 

The Maze Court also indicated that “the circumstances surrounding … [the] enactment … [of the State Pledge] – such as its apparent purpose, context, legislative history, or any other evidence of actual intent”58 also are indicative of the General Assembly’s intent to create a contractual relationship through enactment of KRS 65.114. The State Pledge was enacted as part of the same bill establishing the Securitization Act.59 The Securitization Act provides an alternative financing mechanism whereby investor-owned electric utilities may recover in full large “extraordinary or other deferred costs.”60 Utility customers receive two corresponding benefits under the Securitization Act. First, the statute requires that the recovery of the large extraordinary or other deferred costs must be “fair, just, and reasonable, in the public interest, and expected to provide quantifiable net present value benefits to customers as compared with the recovery of the components of securitized costs that would have been incurred absent the issuance of securitized bonds.”61 Second, securitized bonds must be structured and priced so as to produce “the lowest securitized surcharges consistent with market conditions at the time the securitized bonds are priced ….”62 Fundamental to utility customers receiving these benefits is the ability of the issuer to market securitized bonds, which in turn requires that the bondholders reasonable investment-based expectations must be fixed and not subject to later legislative or regulatory action.63

The Securitization Act contains multiple contract-like protections providing these guarantees. These protections include the provision that upon the earlier of the transfer of cost recovery property or the issuance of securitized bonds, the statute provides that a financing order “shall be irrevocable.”64 The Securitization Act further protects the Bondholders by prohibiting the Commission, except through the formula-based true-up mechanism, from altering, modifying, or terminating the Financing Order65 or reducing, impairing, postponing, terminating, or adjusting the securitized surcharges established in the Financing Order66 thereby protecting Bondholders’ reasonable investment-based expectations.

 
58 

Id.

59 

2023 KY. ACTS, ch. 72.

60 

KRS 278.672(1).

61 

KRS 278.676(1)(c).

62 

KRS 278.676(1)(d).

63 

See U.S. Trust Co., 431 U.S. at 18 (“the purpose of the covenant was to invoke the constitutional protection of the Contract Clause as security against repeal. In return for their promise, the States received the benefit they bargained for: public marketability of … [the bonds].”).

64 

KRS 278.678(8).

65 

KRS 278.678(8)(a).

66 

KRS 278.678(8)(b).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 18

 

In sum, there is sufficient evidence to overcome the presumption against statutory contracts and to conclude that the State Pledge creates a binding contractual relationship between the Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Commission, on the one hand, and the Bondholders on the other, for purposes of this Kentucky Contract Clause analysis. We are unaware of any circumstances surrounding the enactment of the Securitization Act suggesting that the General Assembly did not intend to bind contractually the Commonwealth and its agencies through the State Pledge.

 

  2.

Not an Impermissible Attempt by the General Assembly to Contract Away Its Police Powers

Under federal law, the reserved powers doctrine provides that a state may not contract away “the essential attributes of sovereign power necessarily reserved by the States to safeguard the welfare of their citizens.”67 Although no relevant Kentucky authority is identified that expressly employs the term “reserved powers doctrine” or like terms in connection with the Kentucky Contract Clause, Kentucky Contract Clause decisions recognize that notwithstanding the Kentucky Contract Clause, the Commonwealth “cannot contract away its police power or its right to abrogate or annul contracts it has made in contravention of this power.”68 Thus, we believe that Kentucky courts would apply a reserved powers doctrine akin to that under federal law. The reserved powers doctrine would go to the General Assembly’s ability to enact the State Pledge.69

Not every exercise of the police power trumps under the reserved power doctrine the limitations of the Kentucky Contract Clause on the Commonwealth’s subsequent legislative efforts to amend or abrogate the contract, particularly where the Commonwealth is a party to the contract.70 Thus, the former Kentucky Court of Appeals, now the Kentucky Supreme Court, explained that although “some values are enjoyed under an implied limitation, and must yield to the police power, … the implied limitation must have its limits or the contract and due processes clauses are emasculated…. The limits are that the police power may be used so as to invade private property rights only if the legislation bears a real and substantial relation to the public health, safety, morality or some other phase of the general welfare.”71

 

 
67 

U.S. Trust¸ 431 U.S. at 20.

68 

Commonwealth v. Clark Cnty. Nat’l Bank, 219 S.W. 175, 182 (Ky. 1919) (“although the state may have entered into a contract that would ordinarily be binding upon it, and beyond its power to impair, it may yet avoid a contract so entered into if by the contract the state undertook to part with its police power.”); German Ins. Co. v. Commonwealth, 133 S.W. 793, 795 (Ky. 1911). But see Great-West Life Assurance Co. v. Courier-Journal Printing Co., 288 S.W.2d 639, 642 (Ky. 1956) (characterizing the discussion in German American of the Commonwealth’s inability to contract its police power as “obiter dicta and … not to be regarded as decisive”).

69 

See U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 23-24.

70 

Maze v. Bd. of Dir. for the Common. Postsecondary Educ. Prepaid Tr. Fund, 559 S.W.3d 354, 372 (Ky. 2018) (“When the State is a party to the contract, ‘complete deference to a legislative assessment of reasonableness and necessity is not appropriate because the State’s self-interest is at stake.’” (quoting U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 26)).

71 

Dep’t for Natural Res. & Envtl. Prot. v. No. 8 Ltd., 528 S.W2d 684, 686 (Ky. 1975).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 19

 

Little further express guidance exists in Kentucky case law as to the limitations imposed by the reserved powers doctrine on the General Assembly’s ability to enter into contracts such as the State Pledge. In Maze, the Kentucky Supreme Court examined the limitations imposed by the reserved powers doctrine on the Kentucky Contract Clause as part of its analysis under the third prong of its formulation of the U.S. Trust test, as discussed below.72 That analysis, similar to that identified in No. 8 Ltd., looks at whether the Commonwealth in creating the impairment acted pursuant to its police powers to advance a significant and legitimate public purpose and whether it is appropriate to that public purpose.73

Based on limited existing Kentucky case law, and as addressed below, and as further subject to the limitations described in that discussion, it is our opinion that a Kentucky court would find that the State Pledge does not improperly surrender any reserved powers of the Commonwealth.

 

  3.

Justification for Substantial Impairment

If the impairment of the State Pledge is deemed substantial, a Kentucky court should next examine whether the impairment can be justified by “a significant and legitimate public purpose.”74 Efforts to remedy “broad and general social or economic problem[s],”75 including the elimination of unanticipated windfall profits, can qualify as a significant and legitimate public purpose.76 Moreover, courts typically defer to legislative judgment regarding the necessity and reasonableness for economic and social legislation.77 Conversely, less deference is accorded legislative judgement regarding the necessity and reasonableness of the challenged legislation where the Commonwealth is a party to the contract.78 This is particularly the case where the legislation is designed to protect the public finances,79 or otherwise intended to guard the sovereign’s self-interest.80 Finally, the breadth of the class affected by the impairment may be relevant; legislation impairing the rights and obligations of a narrow class may not qualify as implementing a significant public purpose.81

 

 
72 

559 S.W.3d at 371.

73 

Id. at 372.

74 

Id. at 371.

75 

Id.

76 

Id.

77 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 22-23.

78 

Maze, 559 S.W.3d at 372.

79 

Id.

80 

U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 26.

81 

Allied Structural Steel, 438 U.S. at 248 (“[W]hether or not the legislation was aimed largely at a single employer, it clearly has a narrow focus…. Thus, this law can hardly be characterized, like the law at issue in the Blaisedell case, as one enacted to protect a broad societal interest rather than a narrow class.”).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 20

 

The Commonwealth through the State Pledge is expressly a party to the contract created by the State Pledge: “[t]he Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Commission, pledge and agree with the bondholders, the owners of the securitized property, and other financing parties” not to undertake the Prohibited Actions.82 Given the nature of the State Pledge, a Kentucky court reviewing under Maze the justification for action by the General Assembly impairing the State Pledge is unlikely to conclude it was intended to protect the Commonwealth’s financial self-interest as was the case in Maze and U.S. Trust. But, in Allied Structural Steel Co.,83 the absence of such a direct financial self-interest did not serve to validate the Minnesota legislature’s judgment as to the necessity of legislation affecting private employers’ funding obligations under employer-sponsored pension plans.84 Moreover, it is our understanding that Kentucky Power is the only utility to receive a financing order under the Securitization Act and that statutory time period for filing an application with the Commission for a financing order expired December 31, 2024.85 Thus, any action by the General Assembly modifying or repealing the State Pledge would by necessity be directed at a single utility – Kentucky Power – and consistent with Allied Structural Steel – “can hardly be characterized … as one enacted to protect a broad societal interest….”86

 

  4.

Reasonableness and Appropriateness of an Exercise by the Commonwealth of its Sovereign Powers to Substantially Impair the State Pledge

Where, as here, the Commonwealth is a party to the contract, a Kentucky court examining the State Pledge under the Kentucky Contract Clause will finally look to whether the subsequent legislation impairing State Pledge constitutes a legitimate exercise of the Commonwealth’s authority as a sovereign.87 That determination depends on whether “the adjustment of ‘the rights and responsibilities of contracting parties [is based] upon reasonable conditions and [is] of a character appropriate to the public purpose justifying [the legislation’s adoption].’”88

The determination of the reasonableness of the conditions imposed by the subsequent legislation looks to whether “the existing contractual obligations of the state ‘had effects that were unforeseen and unintended by the legislature’ at the time the contract creating those obligations were [sic] created.”89 The appropriateness of the subsequent impairment is judged based on “‘whether a less drastic modification could have been implemented’ and second, ‘whether the state could have achieved its goals with [the less drastic] modification.’”90

 

 
82 

KRS 65.114(2) (emphasis supplied).

83 

438 U.S. 234 (1978) (“Allied Structural Steel”).

84 

438 U.S. at 248.

85 

278.672(3) (“The commission shall not accept for filing an application tendered pursuant to this section after December 31, 2024.”).

86 

Allied Structural Steel, 438 U.S. at 248.

87 

Maze, 559 S.W.3d at 372.

88 

Id. (quoting U.S. Trust, 431 U.S. at 22).

89 

Id. at 373 (quoting Md. State Teachers Ass’n v. Hughes, 594 F. Supp. 1353, 1362 (D. Md. 1984)).

90 

Id.


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 21

 

Lesser deference again is provided the General Assembly’s judgment of the reasonableness and appropriateness of the subsequent adjustment of contractual rights and obligations where the Commonwealth is a party to the contract, at least where the adjustment lessens the Commonwealth’s financial obligation under the original agreement.91 Finally, the Maze Court indicated that an alternative to the subsequent legislative impairment need not fully remedy the unforeseen or unintended consequences of the original terms of its agreement for a Kentucky court to conclude that the impairment was unreasonable or inappropriate.92

Although there is no Kentucky authority addressing what constitutes an unintended or unforeseen effect in a context analogous to the Securitization Act, the Court in Maze indicated that where the Commonwealth’s contract was intended to provide certain financial benefits to the non-Commonwealth contract counterparty, in this instance analogous to the Bondholders’ recovery in full of the Securitized Costs in accordance with the original and unmodified formula-based true-up mechanism, it would be “self-contradictory”93 for the Commonwealth to claim that the provision of those promised financial benefits was unforeseen.

Further, while the character and extent of any legislative or regulatory impairment of the State Pledge cannot be known at this time, we can reasonably assume that there would exist at the time of any such impairment, less drastic remedies other than some future modification or repeal of the Securitization Act or the Financing Order that constitutes a “substantial” modification of the provisions of the Securitization Act or the Financing Order that provide support for the Bonds.

Accordingly, we conclude a reviewing court in of competent jurisdiction in Kentucky would hold that the Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Commission, could not constitutionally repeal or amend the Securitization Act or take any other action contravening the State Pledge and creating a substantial impairment (without, as the Securitization Act requires, providing full compensation by law for the full protection of the Charges to be collected pursuant to the Financing Order and full protection of the Holders), unless, overcoming the foregoing barriers to such a finding, the court found that the impairment clearly is a reasonable and necessary exercise of the Commonwealth’s sovereign powers based upon reasonable conditions and of a character reasonable and appropriate to the significant and legitimate public purpose justifying such action.

 

 
91 

Id.

92 

Id. (“While it is likely true that the Commonwealth could not have achieved the same level of savings, $20.1 million dollars, without modification of the KAPT agreements, there are, in fact, other last drastic modifications which could have been made….”).

93 

Maze, 559 S.W.3d at 373 (“[T]he fundamental purpose of the KAPT program was to protect against tuition inflation at state universities, and so, it is self-contradictory to claim that tuition inflation was unforeseen at the time of the creation of the program.”).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 22

 

D. Kentucky Takings Clause

The Kentucky Takings Clause provides that no man’s property shall “be taken or applied to public use without the consent of his representatives, and without just compensation being previously made to him.”94 The Kentucky Constitution further provides that any person or corporation who has “the privilege of taking private property for public use, shall make just compensation for property taken, injured or destroyed by them; which compensation shall be paid before such taking.”95 Kentucky courts utilize federal takings jurisprudence in analyzing whether an interference with someone’s property interests amounts to a constitutional taking.96

Parties claiming a taking must show they have a property interest compensable under the Kentucky Takings Clause.97 That interest may be tangible or intangible, including, for example contract rights under a franchise.98 The existence of property interests is often determined by reference to sources such as state law,99 and in Kentucky, a “protected property interest” is “defined by existing rules or understandings that stem from an independent source such as state law—rules or understandings that secure certain benefits and that support claims of entitlement to those benefits.”100 KRS 278.684(1) explicitly provides: “All securitized property that is specified in a financing order constitutes an existing, present, intangible property right or interest therein . . . .”

Kentucky courts have recognized that “the concept of ‘taking’ has evolved over the years to include regulatory interference with one’s use or enjoyment of his property,” such as when a property owner “has been called upon to sacrifice all economically beneficial uses in the name of the common good, that is, to leave his property economically idle, he has suffered a taking.”101 Regulatory takings challenges are generally governed by the test set forth in Penn Central Transportation Co. v. City of New York, 438 U.S. 104 (1978).102 “[A]mong the factors of particular significance in the inquiry are the economic impact of the challenged action and the extent to which it interferes with reasonable investment-backed expectations.”103

 

 
94 

KY. CONST., Bill of Rights, § 13.

95 

KY. CONST. § 242.

96 

Doe v. Dean, 699 S.W.3d 185 (Ky. 2024); Com., Nat. Res. & Env’t Prot. Cabinet v. Stearns Coal & Lumber Co., 678 S.W.2d 378 (Ky. 1984).

97 

Bobbie Preece Facility v. Com., Dep’t of Charitable Gaming, 71 S.W.3d 99 (Ky. App. 2001).

98 

Bloxton v. State Highway Comm’n, 8 S.W.2d 392, 394 (Ky. 1928); Ruckelshaus v. Monsanto Co., 467 U.S. 986, 1003 (1984).

99 

Bd. of Regents of Kentucky Cmty. & Tech. Coll. Sys. v. Farrell, 443 S.W.3d 12, 22 (Ky. App. 2014).

100 

Kentucky Cent. Life Ins. Co. v. Stephens, 897 S.W.2d 583, 590 (Ky. 1995) (quoting Bd. of Regents of State Colls. v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564 (1972)).

101 

Bobbie Preece, 71 S.W.3d at 103 (quoting Lucas, 505 U.S. at 1019); see also Stearns Coal, 678 S.W.2d at 381.

102 

Stearns Coal, 678 S.W.2d at 381; Doe v. Dean, 699 S.W.3d at 196.

103 

Com. v. DLX, Inc., 42 S.W.3d 624, 626 (Ky. 2001) (quoting Williamson Cnty. Reg’l Planning Comm’n v. Hamilton Bank, 473 U.S. 172, 190–91 (1985) (overruled by Knick v. Twp. of Scott, 588 U.S. 180 (2019)).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 23

 

The first Penn Central factor examines the economic impact of the regulation on the claimant. The proposition that “a diminution in property value, standing alone, can establish a taking” has been “uniformly rejected.”104

The purpose of the second Penn Central factor—consideration of investment-backed expectations—is to limit recoveries to property owners who can demonstrate that they invested in their property in reliance on a state of affairs that did not include the challenged regulation.105 The burden under this factor of showing interference with reasonable, investment-backed expectations is a heavy one.106 “[U]nilateral expectations and abstract needs are not sufficient to raise takings concerns,”107 and “legislation readjusting rights and burdens is not unlawful solely because it upsets otherwise settled expectations.”108 “[I]n other words, to sustain a takings claim, the claimant must show that it had a “reasonable expectation” at the time the contract was entered into that the contract “would proceed without possible hindrance” arising from changes in government policy.109 The property “owner must be deprived of a portion of the ‘bundle of rights’ in the property that existed when he obtained title to the property.”110

The third Penn Central factor requires the court to “analyze the character of the government action, specifically, whether “the action is a physical invasion versus a public program adjusting the benefits and burdens of economic life to promote the common good.”111 For example, if a government action is functionally equivalent to an eminent domain action, in which government directly appropriates private property or ousts the owner from all or part of his domain, a taking may more readily be found.112 Where, however, the regulation promotes a “common good” through regulations “reasonably related ‘to the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare,’” then a taking is less likely to be found.113

 

 
104 

Nettles v. Energy & Env’t Cabinet, 2018-CA-1382, 2020 WL 1816000, at *3 (Ky. App. Apr. 10, 2020) (quoting Penn Central, 438 U.S. at 131).

105 

Doe, 699 S.W.3d at 196.

106 

Keystone Bituminous Coal Ass’n v. DeBenedictis, 480 U.S. 470, 493 (1987); Bobbie Preece Facility, 71 S.W.3d at 102 (“A party challenging a governmental action as amounting to an unconstitutional taking bears a rather hefty burden.”).

107 

Tenn. Scrap Recyclers Ass’n v. Bredesen, 556 F.3d 442, 456–57 (6th Cir. 2009) (citing Ruckelshaus v. Monsanto Co., 467 U.S. 986, 1005–06 (1984)).

108 

Usery v. Turner Elkhorn Mining Co., 428 U.S. 1, 16 (1976).

109 

Chang v. United States, 859 F.2d 893, 897 (Fed. Cir. 1988).

110 

Bobbie Preece Facility, 71 S.W.3d at 104 (citing Lucas, 505 U.S. at 1027) (emphasis omitted).

111 

Stearns Coal, 678 S.W.2d at 381 (citing Penn Central, 438 U.S. 104).

112 

See, e.g., Com., Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Highways v. Knieriem, 707 S.W.2d 340, 341 (Ky. 1986); Com. v. Tate, 181 S.W.2d 418, 419 (Ky. 1944).

113 

Doe v. Dean, 699 S.W.3d at 197 (quoting Sebastian-Voor Properties, LLC v. Lexington-Fayette Urb. Cnty. Gov’t, 265 S.W.3d 190, 193 (Ky. 2008) (citing Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co., 272 U.S. 365, 395 (1926))).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 24

 

We are not aware of any case law that addresses the applicability of the Kentucky Takings Clause in the context of a purported exercise by Kentucky of its police power to abrogate or impair contracts otherwise binding on the Commonwealth. The Kentucky Supreme Court has, however, recognized a distinction between the Commonwealth’s exercise of eminent domain and its exercise of the police power. “The state may in the valid exercise of its police power incidentally restrict the property rights of individuals for the common good without payment. Yet the state is limited in the proper use of its power. The crux of that limitation is the notion that the action taken must bear a real and substantial relationship to the public health, safety, morality or some other phase of the general welfare,” which means the “purpose of the legislation and the policy behind it must be examined.”114 “Regulation via the police power “is authorized only if it does not go too far, then it will be recognized as a taking.”115 While the “valid exercise of police power is not unconstitutional merely because it deprives a property owner of the most beneficial use of the property,” a “strong public desire to improve society is not enough to avoid the payment to property owners who are deprived of their property.”116 “The legislative authority may not, under the guise of promoting public interest, arbitrarily interfere, and police power is not without limitations”; the government may not operate “unreasonably or arbitrarily beyond the occasion and necessity of the situation.”117

These concepts under Kentucky law generally follow the concepts in Penn Central. The outcome, thus, of any claim that interference by the Commonwealth with the value of the Bonds without compensation is unconstitutional would likely depend on factors such as the Commonwealth’s interest furthered by that interference, per the first Penn Central factor, and the extent of financial loss to the Bondholders caused by that interference, per the second Penn Central factor. Also relevant to a court’s inquiry would be the extent to which the Bondholders had a reasonable expectation that changes in government policy and regulation would not interfere with their investment, per the third Penn Central factor.

 

 
114 

Dep’t for Nat. Res. & Env’t Prot. v. Stearns Coal & Lumber Co., 563 S.W.2d 471, 473 (Ky. 1978) (citing Pennsylvania Coal Co. v. Mahon, 260 U.S. 393 (1922)).

115 

Stearns Coal, 678 S.W.2d at 382; see also Com. v. R.J. Corman R.R. Co./Memphis Line, 116 S.W.3d 488, 493 (Ky. 2003).

116 

Stearns Coal, 678 S.W.2d at 382.

117 

Kentucky Cent. Life Ins. Co. v. Stephens, 897 S.W.2d 583, 590–91 (Ky. 1995).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 25

 

With respect to the third factor, we note that the Securitization Act expressly provides that, upon issuance of securitized bonds pursuant to the Securitization Act, a financing order issued pursuant to the Securitization Act is “irrevocable.”118 Moreover, through the State Pledge, the Commonwealth has “pledge[d] and agree[d] with [the] bondholders” not to take various Prohibited Actions, including taking or permitting “any action that impairs or would impair the value of securitized property (e.g., the Cost Recovery Property) or the security for the securitized bonds or revises the securitized costs for which recovery is authorized” or “[i]n any way impair[ing] the rights and remedies of the bondholders, assignees, and other financing parties.119 Given the foregoing, we believe that a Kentucky court very likely would find that Bondholders have reasonable investment-backed expectations in their investments in the Bonds.

In sum, based on our analysis of relevant judicial authority, it is our opinion, as set forth above and subject to the qualifications, limitations, and assumptions in this Opinion, that under the Kentucky Takings Clause, a reviewing Kentucky court of competent jurisdiction would hold that the Commonwealth is required to pay just compensation to the Bondholders if the Commonwealth’s repeal or amendment of the Securitization Act or any other action by the Commonwealth in contravention of the State Pledge constituted a Substantial Taking. As noted earlier, in determining whether there is an undue interference, a Kentucky court would consider the nature of the governmental action and weigh the public purpose served by that action against the degree to which the action interferes with the legitimate property interests and distinct investment-backed expectations of the Bondholders. There can be no assurance, however, that any such award of just compensation would be sufficient to pay the full amount of principal and interest on the Bonds.

Conclusions and Limitations on Opinions

As there is no Kentucky case law directly on point with respect the Securitization Act, this Opinion is not a guaranty that a court considering the issues will not hold contrary to this Opinion. We undertake no responsibility to advise you of any new developments in the application or interpretation of Kentucky law as the same may impact this Opinion. Furthermore, in the event any one of the factual statements, representations, warranties or assumptions upon which we have relied to issue this Opinion is incorrect, this Opinion might be adversely affected and if so adversely affected may not be relied upon.

In basing this Opinion and other matters set forth herein on “our knowledge,” the words “our knowledge” signify that, in the course of our representation of Kentucky Power in connection with the Transaction, no information has come to our attention that would give us actual knowledge or actual notice that this Opinion or other matters are not accurate or that any of the Transaction Documents and information on which we have relied are not accurate and complete or that would, under the circumstance, warrant additional investigation or verification. Except as otherwise stated herein, we have not undertaken any independent investigation or verification of such matters. The words “our knowledge” and similar language used herein are intended to be limited to the knowledge of the lawyers currently within our firm, primarily Katie Glass and Mark Overstreet, who have worked on this Transaction.

 

 
118 

KRS 278.678(8) provides: “At the time of any transfer of securitized property to an assignee or the issuance of securitized bonds authorized thereby, whichever is earlier, a financing order shall be irrevocable and, except for changes made pursuant to the formula-based true-up mechanism authorized in this section, the commission shall not: (a) Amend, modify, or terminate the financing order by any subsequent action; or (b) Reduce, impair, postpone, terminate, or otherwise adjust securitized surcharges approved in the financing order.”

119 

KRS 65.114(2).


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 26

 

We are counsel licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal law. This Opinion addresses only the specific three issues listed in the “Opinions” section of this Opinion under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This Opinion does not address any federal law or any other state law issues or the consequences under the laws of any state, city or other local jurisdiction or of any foreign country. We express no opinion as to the effect of local law, including charters, ordinances, administrative opinions, and rules and regulations of cities, counties, towns, municipalities and special political subdivisions, on the Transaction.

This Opinion may not be relied upon in any manner or for any purpose by any person other than the addressees listed on Schedule A hereto nor may this Opinion be relied on by you for any purpose other than for the Transactions without our prior written consent. This Opinion may not be quoted, published, communicated or otherwise made available in whole or in part to any person (including, without limitation, any person who acquires a Bond or any interest therein from an Underwriter) other than the addressees listed on Schedule A hereto without our specific prior written consent, except that (x) each of the Underwriters may furnish copies of this Opinion (i) to any of its accountants or attorneys, (ii) in order to comply with any subpoena, order, regulation, ruling or request of any judicial, administrative, governmental, supervisory or legislative body or committee or any self-regulatory body (including any securities or commodities exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.), (iii) to any other person for the purpose of substantiating an Underwriter’s due diligence defense and (iv) as otherwise required by law; provided, that none of the foregoing persons is entitled to rely hereon unless an addressee hereof, (y) a copy of this Opinion may be posted by or at the direction of Kentucky Power or the Issuer to an internet website required under Rule 17g-5 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and maintained in connection with the ratings on the Bonds solely for the purpose of compliance with such rule or undertakings pursuant thereto made by Kentucky Power or the Issuer. Such permission to post a copy of this letter to such website shall not be construed to entitle any person, including any credit rating agency, who is not an addressee hereof to rely on this Opinion.

We hereby consent to the filing of this Opinion as an exhibit to the registration statement filed on Form SF-1 (Registration Nos. 333-284112 and 333-284112-01) filed by Kentucky Power and the Issuer on January 2, 2025 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), and to all references to our firm included in or made a part of the Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the related rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Very truly yours,

STITES & HARBISON PLLC

 


LOGO

_______________, 2025

Page 27

 

Schedule A

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Indenture Trustee

190 South LaSalle Street, 7th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60603

U.S. Bank National Association, as Securities Intermediary

190 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

7 World Trade Center at

250 Greenwich Street, 24th Floor

New York, New York 10007

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc.

55 Water Street, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10041

The following, for itself and as Representative of the

Underwriters of the Bonds:

Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Kentucky Power Company

1 Riverside Plaza

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Kentucky Power Cost Recovery LLC

1645 Winchester Avenue

Ashland, Kentucky 41101