UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): | March 23, 2005 |
CMS Energy Corporation
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Michigan | 001-09513 | 38-2726431 |
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction |
_____________
(Commission |
______________
(I.R.S. Employer |
of incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan | 49201 | |
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices) |
___________
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: | 517-788-0550 |
Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
Consumers Energy Company
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Michigan
001-05611
38-0442310
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)
File Number)
Identification No.)
One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan
49201
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
___________
(Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: | 517-788-0550 |
Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
2005 ANNUAL EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN
As reported on a Form 8-K filed February 28, 2005, the Compensation and Human Resources Committees (the "C&HR Committees") of the Boards of Directors of CMS Energy Corporation ("CMS Energy") and Consumers Energy Company ("Consumers") (collectively the "Boards"), on February 22, 2005 approved the material terms of the 2005 Annual Employee Incentive Plan (the "2005 Plan"), including the performance goals thereunder. On March 23, 2005 the C&HR Committees recommended, and the Boards approved, the final terms of the 2005 Plan including, among other terms, a revision to the minimum payout requirement. Specifically, there will be no payout under the 2005 Plan unless a composite plan performance factor of at least 75% is achieved. Previous employee incentive plans required a 50% minimum achievement of the composite plan performance factor. The C&HR Committees confirmed the 2005 Plan goal of $0.90 ongoing net income per outstanding CMS Energy common share.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
In connection with the March 23, 2005 meetings of the Boards and the Governance and Public Responsibility Committees (the "G&PR Committees") thereof, and the review of proxy materials for the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders, the 2005 compensation of the outside members of the Boards and Board committees was confirmed. Directors who are not CMS Energy or Consumers employees receive an annual retainer fee of $30,000, $1,500 for attendance at each Board meeting, $750 per meeting for special telephonic meetings of the Boards and $1,250 for attendance at each committee meeting. The Chair of the Audit Committees receives an annual retainer fee of $7,500 and each other Audit Committee member receives an annual retainer fee of $2,000. The Chairs of the C&HR Committees, Finance and Pension Committees, and the G&PR Committees each receive an annual retainer fee of $5,000. The non-executive Chairman of the Boards (the "Chairman") receives the various elements of the regular non-employee director compensation program as well as an additional annual cash retainer fee of $120,000. The Chairman does not, however, serve on any of the standing committees of the Boards, other than the Executive Committees, and thus does not receive the committee meeting fees or retainers described above.
In 2005, the annual restricted stock award for the non-employee directors will have a fair market value of $40,000 at the time of the May grant. These restricted shares must be held for at least three years from the date of the grant. The Boards have adopted stock ownership guidelines that will align further the interests of the directors with the shareholders. Board members are required to hold CMS Energy common stock equivalent in value to five times their annual cash retainer within five years of becoming a director.
Directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending Board or committee meetings and other company business. Directors who are CMS Energy or Consumers employees do not receive retainers or meeting fees for service on the Boards or as a member of any Board committee. Non-employee directors receive a single retainer fee and restricted share award for service on the Boards and each of their committees, as well as a single meeting attendance fee for concurrent meetings of the Boards or committees.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
On March 24, 2005, CMS Energy announced that William A. Parfet, a board member since 1991, has decided not to seek re-election because of increasing demands from his business, MPI Research, of Mattawan, Michigan. Mr. Parfet is chairman and chief executive officer of MPI Research, which is a research laboratory conducting risk assessment toxicology studies. A copy of the CMS Energy News Release dated March 24, 2005 is attached as hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
ISSUANCE AND SALE OF FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS
On March 24, 2005, Consumers issued and sold $300 million principal amount of its 5.65 percent First Mortgage Bonds due 2020 (the "Bonds"), pursuant to an effective shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No 333-120611) (the "Consumers Registration Statement") and a Prospectus Supplement dated March 21, 2005 to a Prospectus dated December 1, 2004. Consumers will use the proceeds to redeem a portion of the aggregate outstanding balance of approximately $332 million of its 6.25 percent Senior Notes due 2006.
This Form 8-K, Item 8.01, is being filed to file certain documents in connection with that offering as exhibits to the Consumers Registration Statement.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
4.1 Indenture dated as of September 1, 1945 between Consumers and City Bank Farmers Trust Company, as trustee (predecessor to ultimate successor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) including therein indentures supplemental thereto through the Forty-third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 1979 (Incorporated by reference herein, previously filed as an exhibit to Consumers' Registration Statement No. 2-65973)
4.2 One hundredth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 24, 2005 between Consumers and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association
5.1 Opinion of Robert C. Shrosbree, Esq., Assistant General Counsel of CMS Energy, dated March 24, 2005, regarding the legality of the Bonds issued by Consumers
99.1 CMS Energy's News Release dated March 24, 2005
This Form 8-K contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Rule 3b-6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 175 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and relevant legal decisions. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. They should be read in conjunction with "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS" found in the MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS sections of CMS Energy's and Consumers' Forms 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 (both incorporated herein by reference), that discuss important factors that could cause CMS Energy's and Consumers' results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CMS Energy Corporation | ||||
March 30, 2005 | By: |
Thomas J. Webb
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Name: Thomas J. Webb | ||||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Consumers Energy Company | ||||
March 30, 2005 | By: |
Thomas J. Webb
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Name: Thomas J. Webb | ||||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Description
One hundredth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 24, 2005 between Consumers and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association
Opinion of Robert C. Shrosbree, Esq., Assistant General Counsel of CMS Energy, dated March 24, 2005, regarding the legality of the Bonds issued by Consumers
CMS Energy's News Release dated March 24, 2005
ONE HUNDREDTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Providing among other things for
FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS,
$300,000,000 5.65% Series due 2020
Dated as of March 24, 2005
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
TO
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
TRUSTEE
Counterpart _____ of 80
1
THIS ONE HUNDREDTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 24, 2005 (herein sometimes referred to as this Supplemental Indenture), made and entered into by and between CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan, with its principal executive office and place of business at One Energy Plaza, in Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan 49201, formerly known as Consumers Power Company (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Company), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, with its corporate trust offices at 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Trustee), as Trustee under the Indenture dated as of September 1, 1945 between Consumers Power Company, a Maine corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Maine corporation), and City Bank Farmers Trust Company (Citibank, N.A., successor, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Predecessor Trustee), securing bonds issued and to be issued as provided therein (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Indenture),
WHEREAS at the close of business on January 30, 1959, City Bank Farmers Trust Company was converted into a national banking association under the title First National City Trust Company; and
WHEREAS at the close of business on January 15, 1963, First National City Trust Company was merged into First National City Bank; and
WHEREAS at the close of business on October 31, 1968, First National City Bank was merged into The City Bank of New York, National Association, the name of which was thereupon changed to First National City Bank; and
WHEREAS effective March 1, 1976, the name of First National City Bank was changed to Citibank, N.A.; and
WHEREAS effective July 16, 1984, Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company succeeded Citibank, N.A. as Trustee under the Indenture; and
WHEREAS effective June 19, 1992, Chemical Bank succeeded by merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company as Trustee under the Indenture; and
WHEREAS effective July 15, 1996, The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association) merged with and into Chemical Bank which thereafter was renamed The Chase Manhattan Bank; and
WHEREAS effective November 11, 2001, The Chase Manhattan Bank merged with Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York and the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank; and
WHEREAS effective November 13, 2004, the name of JPMorgan Chase Bank was changed to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; and
WHEREAS the Indenture was executed and delivered for the purpose of securing such bonds as may from time to time be issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the aggregate principal amount of bonds to be secured thereby being limited to $5,000,000,000 at any one time outstanding (except as provided in Section 2.01 of the Indenture), and the Indenture describes and sets forth the property conveyed thereby and is filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan and is of record in the Office of the Register of Deeds of each county in the State of Michigan in which this Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded; and
WHEREAS the Indenture has been supplemented and amended by various indentures supplemental thereto, each of which is filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan and is of record in the Office of the Register of Deeds of each county in the State of Michigan in which this Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded; and
WHEREAS the Company and the Maine corporation entered into an Agreement of Merger and Consolidation, dated as of February 14, 1968, which provided for the Maine corporation to merge into the Company; and
WHEREAS the effective date of such Agreement of Merger and Consolidation was June 6, 1968, upon which date the Maine corporation was merged into the Company and the name of the Company was changed from Consumers Power Company of Michigan to Consumers Power Company; and
WHEREAS the Company and the Predecessor Trustee entered into a Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 4, 1968, which provided, among other things, for the assumption of the Indenture by the Company; and
WHEREAS said Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture became effective on the effective date of such Agreement of Merger and Consolidation; and
WHEREAS the Company has succeeded to and has been substituted for the Maine corporation under the Indenture with the same effect as if it had been named therein as the mortgagor corporation; and
WHEREAS effective March 11, 1997, the name of Consumers Power Company was changed to Consumers Energy Company; and
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides for the issuance of bonds thereunder in one or more series, and the Company, by appropriate corporate action in conformity with the terms of the Indenture, has duly determined to create, and does hereby create, a new series of bonds under the Indenture designated 5.65% Series due 2020, each of which bonds shall also bear the descriptive title First Mortgage Bonds (hereinafter provided for and hereinafter sometimes referred to as the 2020 Bonds), the bonds of which series are to be issued as registered bonds without coupons and are to bear interest at the rate per annum specified in the title thereof and are to mature April 15, 2020; and
WHEREAS the Company and Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe Limited and Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. (the Underwriters) have entered into an Underwriting Agreement dated March 21, 2005 (the Underwriting Agreement), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and the Underwriters agreed to buy $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 2020 Bonds (such 2020 Bonds, the Bonds); and
WHEREAS, each of the registered bonds without coupons of 2020 Bonds and the Trustees Authentication Certificate thereon are to be substantially in the following form, respectively, to wit:
[FORM OF REGISTERED BOND OF THE 2020 BONDS]
[FACE]
THIS BOND IS A GLOBAL BOND REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY (REFERRED TO HEREIN) OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND, UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL BONDS REPRESENTED HEREBY, THIS GLOBAL BOND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A 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 GLOBAL BOND IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK), A NEW YORK CORPORATION (THE DEPOSITARY), TO THE TRUSTEE FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
FIRST MORTGAGE BOND
5.65% SERIES DUE 2020
CUSIP: $300,000,000
ISIN:
No.:
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY, a Michigan corporation (hereinafter called the Company), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000) on April 15, 2020, and to pay to the registered holder hereof interest on said sum from the latest semi-annual interest payment date to which interest has been paid on the bonds of this series preceding the date hereof, unless the date hereof be an interest payment date to which interest is being paid, in which case from the date hereof, or unless the date hereof is prior to October 15, 2005 in which case from March 24, 2005 (or if this bond is dated between the record date for any interest payment date and such interest payment date, then from such interest payment date, provided, however, that if the Company shall default in payment of the interest due on such interest payment date, then from the next preceding semi-annual interest payment date to which interest has been paid on the bonds of this series, or if such interest payment date is October 15, 2005, from March 24, 2005), at the rate per annum, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, specified in the title of this bond, payable on April 15 and October 15 in each year. The provisions of this bond are continued on the reverse hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This bond shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose unless and until it shall have been authenticated by the execution by the Trustee or its successor in trust under the Indenture of the certificate hereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Consumers Energy Company has caused this bond to be executed in its name by its Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents by his or her signature or a facsimile thereof, and its corporate seal or a facsimile thereof to be affixed hereto or imprinted hereon and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries by his or her signature or a facsimile thereof.
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
Dated:
By:
Printed:
Title:
Attest:
TRUSTEES AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE
This is one of the bonds, of the series designated therein, described in the within-mentioned Indenture.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., Trustee
By:
Authorized Officer
[REVERSE]
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
FIRST MORTGAGE BOND
5.65% SERIES DUE 2020
The interest payable on any April 15 or October 15 will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture hereinafter mentioned, be paid to the person in whose name this bond is registered at the close of business on the record date, which shall be the first calendar day of the month in which such interest payment date occurs, or, if such April 15 or October 15 shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized to close, the next preceding day which shall not be a legal holiday or a day on which such institutions are so authorized to close. The principal of and the premium, if any, and interest on this bond shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, designated for that purpose, in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts.
This bond is one of the bonds of a series designated as First Mortgage Bonds, 5.65% Series due 2020 (sometimes herein referred to as the 2020 Bonds or the Bonds) issued and to be issued from time to time under and in accordance with and secured by an indenture dated as of September 1, 1945, given by the Company (or its predecessor, Consumers Power Company, a Maine corporation) to City Bank Farmers Trust Company (JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., successor) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Trustee), together with indentures supplemental thereto, heretofore or hereafter executed, to which indenture and indentures supplemental thereto (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Indenture) reference is hereby made for a description of the property mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security and the rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee and the rights of the holders of said bonds and of the Trustee and of the Company in respect of such security, and the limitations on such rights. By the terms of the Indenture, the bonds to be secured thereby are issuable in series which may vary as to date, amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as provided in the Indenture.
The 2020 Bonds are redeemable upon notice given by mailing the same, postage prepaid, not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days prior to the date fixed for redemption to each registered holder of a bond to be redeemed (in whole or in part) at the last address of such holder appearing on the registry books. Any or all of the bonds of this series may be redeemed by the Company, at any time and from time to time prior to maturity, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Bonds and (2) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined below) of principal and interest on the Bonds discounted to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus 20 basis points, plus in either case accrued interest on the Bonds to the date of redemption.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (as defined below), assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price (as defined below) for such redemption date.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker (as defined below) as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Bonds to be redeemed that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Bonds.
Independent Investment Banker means either Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. or Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or, if such firms are unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issues, an independent banking institution of national standing selected by the Company.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated H.15(519) or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (a) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations (as defined below) for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Company obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer (as defined below) and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.
Reference Treasury Dealer means (1) each of Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City (a Primary Treasury Dealer), the Company shall replace that former dealer with another Primary Treasury Dealer and (2) up to four other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company.
Remaining Scheduled Payments means, with respect to each Bond to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however, that, if that redemption date is prior to an interest payment date with respect to such Bond, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to that redemption date.
In case of certain defaults as specified in the Indenture, the principal of this bond may be declared or may become due and payable on the conditions, at the time, in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. The holders of certain specified percentages of the bonds at the time outstanding, including in certain cases specified percentages of bonds of particular series, may in certain cases, to the extent and as provided in the Indenture, waive certain defaults thereunder and the consequences of such defaults.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than seventy-five per centum in principal amount of the bonds (exclusive of bonds disqualified by reason of the Companys interest therein) at the time outstanding, including, if more than one series of bonds shall be at the time outstanding, not less than sixty per centum in principal amount of each series affected, to effect, by an indenture supplemental to the Indenture, modifications or alterations of the Indenture and of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the holders of the bonds and coupons; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration shall be made without the written approval or consent of the holder hereof which will (a) extend the maturity of this bond or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest hereon or reduce the amount of the principal hereof or reduce any premium payable on the redemption hereof, (b) permit the creation of any lien, not otherwise permitted, prior to or on a parity with the lien of the Indenture, or (c) reduce the percentage of the principal amount of the bonds upon the approval or consent of the holders of which modifications or alterations may be made as aforesaid.
The Company reserves the right, without any consent, vote or other action by holders of the 2020 Bonds or any other series created after the Sixty-eighth Supplemental Indenture to amend the Indenture to reduce the percentage of the principal amount of bonds the holders of which are required to approve any supplemental indenture (other than any supplemental indenture which is subject to the proviso contained in the immediately preceding sentence) (a) from not less than seventy-five per centum (including sixty per centum of each series affected) to not less than a majority in principal amount of the bonds at the time outstanding or (b) in case fewer than all series are affected, not less than a majority in principal amount of the bonds of all affected series, voting together.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on this bond, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof or of the Indenture, to or against any incorporator, stockholder, director or officer, past, present or future, as such, of the Company, or of any predecessor or successor company, either directly or through the Company, or such predecessor or successor company, or otherwise, under any constitution or statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty, or otherwise, all such liability of incorporators, stockholders, directors and officers, as such, being waived and released by the holder and owner hereof by the acceptance of this bond and being likewise waived and released by the terms of the Indenture.
[END OF FORM OF REGISTERED BOND OF THE 2020 BONDS]
- - - - - - - -
AND WHEREAS all acts and things necessary to make the 2020 Bonds ( referred to herein as the Bonds), when duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or its agent and issued as prescribed in the Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended, this Supplemental Indenture, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to constitute the Indenture, as supplemented and amended as aforesaid, as well as by this Supplemental Indenture, a valid, binding and legal instrument for the security thereof, have been done and performed, and the creation, execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture and the creation, execution and issuance of bonds subject to the terms hereof and of the Indenture, as so supplemented and amended, have in all respects been duly authorized;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, of the acceptance and purchase by the holders thereof of the bonds issued and to be issued under the Indenture, as supplemented and amended as above set forth, duly paid by the Trustee to the Company, and of other good and valuable considerations, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and for the purpose of securing the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all bonds now outstanding under the Indenture and the $300,000,000 principal amount of the 2020 Bonds, and all other bonds which shall be issued under the Indenture, as supplemented and amended from time to time, and for the purpose of securing the faithful performance and observance of all covenants and conditions therein, and in any indenture supplemental thereto, set forth, the Company has given, granted, bargained, sold, released, transferred, assigned, hypothecated, pledged, mortgaged, confirmed, set over, warranted, alienated and conveyed and by these presents does give, grant, bargain, sell, release, transfer, assign, hypothecate, pledge, mortgage, confirm, set over, warrant, alienate and convey unto JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Trustee, as provided in the Indenture, and its successor or successors in the trust thereby and hereby created and to its or their assigns forever, all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to all the property, described in Section 11 hereof, together (subject to the provisions of Article X of the Indenture) with the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, products and profits thereof, excepting, however, the property, interests and rights specifically excepted from the lien of the Indenture as set forth in the Indenture;
TOGETHER WITH all and singular the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging or in any wise appertaining to the premises, property, franchises and rights, or any thereof, referred to in the foregoing granting clause, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders and (subject to the provisions of Article X of the Indenture) the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, products and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title and interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid premises, property, franchises and rights and every part and parcel thereof;
SUBJECT, HOWEVER, with respect to such premises, property, franchises and rights, to excepted encumbrances as said term is defined in Section 1.02 of the Indenture, and subject also to all defects and limitations of title and to all encumbrances existing at the time of acquisition.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all said premises, property, franchises and rights hereby conveyed, assigned, pledged or mortgaged, or intended so to be, unto the Trustee, its successor or successors in trust and their assigns forever;
BUT IN TRUST, NEVERTHELESS, with power of sale for the equal and proportionate benefit and security of the holders of all bonds now or hereafter authenticated and delivered under and secured by the Indenture and interest coupons appurtenant thereto, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture and of any supplemental indenture, and for the enforcement of the payment of said bonds and coupons when payable and the performance of and compliance with the covenants and conditions of the Indenture and of any supplemental indenture, without any preference, distinction or priority as to lien or otherwise of any bond or bonds over others by reason of the difference in time of the actual authentication, delivery, issue, sale or negotiation thereof or for any other reason whatsoever, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Indenture; and so that each and every bond now or hereafter authenticated and delivered thereunder shall have the same lien, and so that the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on every such bond shall, subject to the terms thereof, be equally and proportionately secured, as if it had been made, executed, authenticated, delivered, sold and negotiated simultaneously with the execution and delivery thereof;
AND IT IS EXPRESSLY DECLARED by the Company that all bonds authenticated and delivered under and secured by the Indenture, as supplemented and amended as above set forth, are to be issued, authenticated and delivered, and all said premises, property, franchises and rights hereby and by the Indenture and indentures supplemental thereto conveyed, assigned, pledged or mortgaged, or intended so to be, are to be dealt with and disposed of under, upon and subject to the terms, conditions, stipulations, covenants, agreements, trusts, uses and purposes expressed in the Indenture, as supplemented and amended as above set forth, and the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
SECTION 1. There is hereby created one series of bonds (the 2020 Bonds) designated as hereinabove provided, which shall also bear the descriptive title First Mortgage Bond, and the form thereof shall be substantially as hereinbefore set forth. The 2020 Bonds shall be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000, shall mature on April 15, 2020 and shall be issued only as registered bonds without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof. The serial numbers of the 2020 Bonds shall be such as may be approved by any officer of the Company, the execution thereof by any such officer either manually or by facsimile signature to be conclusive evidence of such approval. The 2020 Bonds shall bear interest at the rate per annum, until the principal thereof shall have become due and payable, specified in the title thereto, payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 in each year. The principal of and the premium, if any, and the interest on said bonds shall be payable in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts, at the office or agency of the Company in the City of New York, designated for that purpose.
SECTION 2.
2.01 |
Form of Bonds. |
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The 2020 Bonds shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Bonds in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global securities legend (each, a Global Bond), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Bonds represented thereby with the Trustee, at its corporate trust office, as securities custodian (or with such other securities custodian as the Depository (as defined below) may direct), and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Bonds may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided. The Depositary for the Global Bonds shall be The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, or its duly appointed successor (the Depository). This Section 2.01 shall apply only to a Global Bond deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.
The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in the case of each of the 2020 Bonds in accordance with this Section 2.01, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Bonds that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depository or pursuant to the Depositorys instructions or held by the Trustee as securities custodian.
Members of, or participants in, the Depository (Agent Members) shall have no rights under this Supplemental Indenture with respect to any Global Bond held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the securities custodian or under such Global Bond, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depository as the absolute owner of such Global Bond for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Bond.
Except as provided in this Section 2.01, Section 2.02 or Section 2.03, owners of beneficial interests in Global Bonds shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Bonds.
2.02 Transfer and Exchange .
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Bonds .
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Bonds or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.03), a Global Bond may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.
(b) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Bond . At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Bond have either been exchanged for certificated Bonds, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Bond shall be canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Bond is exchanged for certificated Bonds, redeemed, purchased or canceled, the principal amount of Bonds represented by such Global Bond shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the securities custodian with respect to such Global Bond.
(c) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Bonds .
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Bonds and Global Bonds at the security registrars request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made for registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Bond, the Company, the Trustee, the paying agent or the security registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Bond is registered as the absolute owner of such Bond for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Bond and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Bond is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the paying agent or the security registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(iv) All Bonds issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture as the Bonds surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(d) No Obligation of Trustee .
(i) The Trustee (whether in its capacity as Trustee or otherwise) shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Bond, Agent Member or other person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any Agent Member, with respect to any ownership interest in the Bonds or with respect to the delivery to any Agent Member, beneficial owner or other person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Bonds. All notices and communications to be given to the holders and all payments to be made to holders under the Bonds shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Bond). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Bond shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its Agent Members and any beneficial owners.
(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Supplemental Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Bond (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners in any Global Bond) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of the Indenture.
2.03 Certificated Bonds .
(a) A Global Bond deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as securities custodian pursuant to Section 2.01 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Bonds in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Bond, in exchange for such Global Bond, only if such transfer complies with this Section 2.03 and the conditions set forth in Article II of the Indenture.
(b) Any Global Bond that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee at its corporate trust office to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Bond, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Bonds of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Bond transferred pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(b), the registered holder of a Global Bond shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Bonds.
SECTION 3. The 2020 Bonds are redeemable upon notice given by mailing the same, postage prepaid, not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days prior to the date fixed for redemption to each registered holder of a bond to be redeemed (in whole or in part) at the last address of such holder appearing on the registry books. Any or all of the bonds of this series may be redeemed by the Company, at any time and from time to time prior to maturity, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Bonds and (2) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined below) of principal and interest on the Bonds discounted to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus 20 basis points, plus accrued interest on the Bonds to the date of redemption.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (as defined below), assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price (as defined below) for such redemption date.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker (as defined below) as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Bonds to be redeemed that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Bonds.
Independent Investment Banker means either Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. or Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or, if such firms are unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issues, an independent banking institution of national standing selected by the Company.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated H.15(519) or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (a) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations (as defined below) for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Company obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer (as defined below) and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.
Reference Treasury Dealer means (1) each of Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City (a Primary Treasury Dealer), the Company shall replace that former dealer with another Primary Treasury Dealer and (2) up to four other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company.
Remaining Scheduled Payments means, with respect to each Bond to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however, that, if that redemption date is prior to an interest payment date with respect to such Bond, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to that redemption date.
SECTION 4. The 2020 Bonds are not redeemable by the operation of the maintenance and replacement provisions of the Indenture or with the proceeds of released property or in any other manner except as set forth in Section 3 hereof.
SECTION 5. The Company reserves the right, without any consent, vote or other action by the holders of the 2020 Bonds or of any subsequent series of bonds issued under the Indenture, to make such amendments to the Indenture, as supplemented, as shall be necessary in order to amend Section 17.02 to read as follows:
SECTION 17.02. With the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the bonds at the time outstanding or their attorneys-in-fact duly authorized, or, if fewer than all series are affected, not less than a majority in principal amount of the bonds at the time outstanding of each series the rights of the holders of which are affected, voting together, the Company, when authorized by a resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time 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 any supplemental indenture or modifying the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the holders of any of the bonds and coupons; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (1) extend the maturity of any of the bonds or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce the amount of the principal thereof, or reduce any premium payable on the redemption thereof, without the consent of the holder of each bond so affected, or (2) permit the creation of any lien, not otherwise permitted, prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture, without the consent of the holders of all the bonds then outstanding, or (3) reduce the aforesaid percentage of the principal amount of bonds the holders of which are required to approve any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of all the bonds then outstanding. For the purposes of this Section, bonds shall be deemed to be affected by a supplemental indenture if such supplemental indenture adversely affects or diminishes the rights of holders thereof against the Company or against its property. The Trustee may in its discretion determine whether or not, in accordance with the foregoing, bonds of any particular series would be affected by any supplemental indenture and any such determination shall be conclusive upon the holders of bonds of such series and all other series. Subject to the provisions of Sections 16.02 and 16.03 hereof, the Trustee shall not be liable for any determination made in good faith in connection herewith.
Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by a resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of bondholders as aforesaid (the instrument or instruments evidencing such consent to be dated within one year of such request), the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the bondholders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
The Company and the Trustee, if they so elect, and either before or after such consent has been obtained, may require the holder of any bond consenting to the execution of any such supplemental indenture to submit his bond to the Trustee or to ask such bank, banker or trust company as may be designated by the Trustee for the purpose, for the notation thereon of the fact that the holder of such bond has consented to the execution of such supplemental indenture, and in such case such notation, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, shall be made upon all bonds so submitted, and such bonds bearing such notation shall forthwith be returned to the persons entitled thereto.
Prior to the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company shall publish a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, at least once in one daily newspaper of general circulation in each city in which the principal of any of the bonds shall be payable, or, if all bonds outstanding shall be registered bonds without coupons or coupon bonds registered as to principal, such notice shall be sufficiently given if mailed, first class, postage prepaid, and registered if the Company so elects, to each registered holder of bonds at the last address of such holder appearing on the registry books, such publication or mailing, as the case may be, to be made not less than thirty days prior to such execution. Any failure of the Company to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
SECTION 6. As supplemented and amended as above set forth, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.
SECTION 7. The Trustee assumes no responsibility for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or of the Indenture as hereby supplemented or the due execution hereof by the Company or for or in respect of the recitals and statements contained herein (other than those contained in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth recitals hereof), all of which recitals and statements are made solely by the Company.
SECTION 8. This Supplemental Indenture may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts and all such counterparts executed and delivered, each as an original, shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 9. In the event the date of any notice required or permitted hereunder shall not be a Business Day (as defined below), then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture thereto) such notice 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 fixed for such notice. Business Day means, with respect to this Section 9, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks generally are open in New York, New York for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending activities and on which interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system.
SECTION 10. This Supplemental Indenture and the 2020 Bonds shall be governed by and deemed to be a contract under, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.
SECTION 11. Detailed Description of Property Mortgaged:
I.
ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS AND DAMS
All the electric generating plants and stations of the Company, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, including all powerhouses, buildings, reservoirs, dams, pipelines, flumes, structures and works and the land on which the same are situated and all water rights and all other lands and easements, rights of way, permits, privileges, towers, poles, wires, machinery, equipment, appliances, appurtenances and supplies and all other property, real or personal, forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with such plants and stations or any of them, or adjacent thereto.
II.
ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES
All the electric transmission lines of the Company, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, including towers, poles, pole lines, wires, switches, switch racks, switchboards, insulators and other appliances and equipment, and all other property, real or personal, forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with such transmission lines or any of them or adjacent thereto; together with all real property, rights of way, easements, permits, privileges, franchises and rights for or relating to the construction, maintenance or operation thereof, through, over, under or upon any private property or any public streets or highways, within as well as without the corporate limits of any municipal corporation. Also all the real property, rights of way, easements, permits, privileges and rights for or relating to the construction, maintenance or operation of certain transmission lines, the land and rights for which are owned by the Company, which are either not built or now being constructed.
III.
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
All the electric distribution systems of the Company, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, including substations, transformers, switchboards, towers, poles, wires, insulators, subways, trenches, conduits, manholes, cables, meters and other appliances and equipment, and all other property, real or personal, forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with such distribution systems or any of them or adjacent thereto; together with all real property, rights of way, easements, permits, privileges, franchises, grants and rights, for or relating to the construction, maintenance or operation thereof, through, over, under or upon any private property or any public streets or highways within as well as without the corporate limits of any municipal corporation.
IV.
ELECTRIC SUBSTATIONS, SWITCHING STATIONS AND SITES
All the substations, switching stations and sites of the Company, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, for transforming, regulating, converting or distributing or otherwise controlling electric current at any of its plants and elsewhere, together with all buildings, transformers, wires, insulators and other appliances and equipment, and all other property, real or personal, forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with any of such substations and switching stations, or adjacent thereto, with sites to be used for such purposes.
V.
GAS COMPRESSOR STATIONS, GAS PROCESSING PLANTS,
DESULPHURIZATION STATIONS, METERING STATIONS, ODORIZING STATIONS, REGULATORS AND SITES
All the compressor stations, processing plants, desulphurization stations, metering stations, odorizing stations, regulators and sites of the Company, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, for compressing, processing, desulphurizing, metering, odorizing and regulating manufactured or natural gas at any of its plants and elsewhere, together with all buildings, meters and other appliances and equipment, and all other property, real or personal, forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with any of such purposes, with sites to be used for such purposes.
VI.
GAS STORAGE FIELDS
The natural gas rights and interests of the Company, including wells and well lines (but not including natural gas, oil and minerals), the gas gathering system, the underground gas storage rights, the underground gas storage wells and injection and withdrawal system used in connection therewith, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture: In the Overisel Gas Storage Field, located in the Township of Overisel, Allegan County, and in the Township of Zeeland, Ottawa County, Michigan; in the Northville Gas Storage Field located in the Township of Salem, Washtenaw County, Township of Lyon, Oakland County, and the Townships of Northville and Plymouth and City of Plymouth, Wayne County, Michigan; in the Salem Gas Storage Field, located in the Township of Salem, Allegan County, and in the Township of Jamestown, Ottawa County, Michigan; in the Ray Gas Storage Field, located in the Townships of Ray and Armada, Macomb County, Michigan; in the Lenox Gas Storage Field, located in the Townships of Lenox and Chesterfield, Macomb County, Michigan; in the Ira Gas Storage Field, located in the Township of Ira, St. Clair County, Michigan; in the Puttygut Gas Storage Field, located in the Township of Casco, St. Clair County, Michigan; in the Four Corners Gas Storage Field, located in the Townships of Casco, China, Cottrellville and Ira, St. Clair County, Michigan; in the Swan Creek Gas Storage Field, located in the Township of Casco and Ira, St. Clair County, Michigan; and in the Hessen Gas Storage Field, located in the Townships of Casco and Columbus, St. Clair, Michigan.
VII.
GAS TRANSMISSION LINES
All the gas transmission lines of the Company, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, including gas mains, pipes, pipelines, gates, valves, meters and other appliances and equipment, and all other property, real or personal, forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with such transmission lines or any of them or adjacent thereto; together with all real property, right of way, easements, permits, privileges, franchises and rights for or relating to the construction, maintenance or operation thereof, through, over, under or upon any private property or any public streets or highways, within as well as without the corporate limits of any municipal corporation.
VIII.
GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
All the gas distribution systems of the Company, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, including tunnels, conduits, gas mains and pipes, service pipes, fittings, gates, valves, connections, meters and other appliances and equipment, and all other property, real or personal, forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with such distribution systems or any of them or adjacent thereto; together with all real property, rights of way, easements, permits, privileges, franchises, grants and rights, for or relating to the construction, maintenance or operation thereof, through, over, under or upon any private property or any public streets or highways within as well as without the corporate limits of any municipal corporation.
IX.
OFFICE BUILDINGS, SERVICE BUILDINGS, GARAGES, ETC.
All office, garage, service and other buildings of the Company, wherever located, in the State of Michigan, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, together with the land on which the same are situated and all easements, rights of way and appurtenances to said lands, together with all furniture and fixtures located in said buildings.
X.
TELEPHONE PROPERTIES AND
RADIO COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
All telephone lines, switchboards, systems and equipment of the Company, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, used or available for use in the operation of its properties, and all other property, real or personal, forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with such telephone properties or any of them or adjacent thereto; together with all real estate, rights of way, easements, permits, privileges, franchises, property, devices or rights related to the dispatch, transmission, reception or reproduction of messages, communications, intelligence, signals, light, vision or sound by electricity, wire or otherwise, including all telephone equipment installed in buildings used as general and regional offices, substations and generating stations and all telephone lines erected on towers and poles; and all radio communication equipment of the Company, together with all property, real or personal (except any in the Indenture expressly excepted), fixed stations, towers, auxiliary radio buildings and equipment, and all appurtenances used in connection therewith, wherever located, in the State of Michigan.
XI.
OTHER REAL PROPERTY
All other real property of the Company and all interests therein, of every nature and description (except any in the Indenture expressly excepted) wherever located, in the State of Michigan, acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture. Such real property includes but is not limited to the following described property, such property is subject to any interests that were excepted or reserved in the conveyance to the Company:
ALCONA COUNTY
Certain land in Caledonia Township, Alcona County, Michigan described as:
The East 330 feet of the South 660 feet of the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 8, T28N, R8E, except the West 264 feet of the South 330 feet thereof; said land being more particularly described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description, commence at the Southwest corner of said section, run thence East along the South line of said section 1243 feet to the place of beginning of this description, thence continuing East along said South line of said section 66 feet to the West 1/8 line of said section, thence N 02 degrees 09 30 E along the said West 1/8 line of said section 660 feet, thence West 330 feet, thence S 02 degrees 09 30 W, 330 feet, thence East 264 feet, thence S 02 degrees 09 30 W, 330 feet to the place of beginning.
ALLEGAN COUNTY
Certain land in Lee Township, Allegan County, Michigan described as:
The NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 16, T1N, R15W.
ALPENA COUNTY
Certain land in Wilson and Green Townships, Alpena County, Michigan described as:
All that part of the Sly 1/2 of the former Boyne City-Gaylord and Alpena Railroad right of way, being the Southerly 50 feet of a 100 foot strip of land formerly occupied by said Railroad, running from the East line of Section 31, T31N, R7E, Southwesterly across said Section 31 and Sections 5 and 6 of T30N, R7E and Sections 10, 11 and the E 1/2 of Section 9, except the West 1646 feet thereof, all in T30N, R6E.
ANTRIM COUNTY
Certain land in Mancelona Township, Antrim County, Michigan described as:
The S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 33, T29N, R6W, excepting therefrom all mineral, coal, oil and gas and such other rights as were reserved unto the State of Michigan in that certain deed running from the State of Michigan to August W. Schack and Emma H. Schack, his wife, dated April 15, 1946 and recorded May 20, 1946 in Liber 97 of Deeds on page 682 of Antrim County Records.
ARENAC COUNTY
Certain land in Standish Township, Arenac County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 12, T18N, R4E, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of said parcel of land, commence at the Northwest corner of Section 12, T18N, R4E; run thence South along the West line of said section, said West line of said section being also the center line of East City Limits Road 2642.15 feet to the W 1/4 post of said section and the place of beginning of said parcel of land; running thence N 88 degrees 26 00 E along the East and West 1/4 line of said section, 660.0 feet; thence North parallel with the West line of said section, 310.0 feet; thence S 88 degrees 26 00 W, 330.0 feet; thence South parallel with the West line of said section, 260.0 feet; thence S 88 degrees 26 00 W, 330.0 feet to the West line of said section and the center line of East City Limits Road; thence South along the said West line of said section, 50.0 feet to the place of beginning.
BARRY COUNTY
Certain land in Johnstown Township, Barry County, Michigan described as:
A strip of land 311 feet in width across the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 31, T1N, R8W, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description, commence at the E 1/4 post of said section; run thence N 00 degrees 55 00 E along the East line of said section, 555.84 feet; thence N 59 degrees 36 20 W, 1375.64 feet; thence N 88 degrees 30 00 W, 130 feet to a point on the East 1/8 line of said section and the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing N 88 degrees 30 00 W, 1327.46 feet to the North and South 1/4 line of said section; thence S 00 degrees 3935 W along said North and South 1/4 line of said section, 311.03 feet to a point, which said point is 952.72 feet distant Nly from the East and West 1/4 line of said section as measured along said North and South 1/4 line of said section; thence S 88 degrees 30 00 E, 1326.76 feet to the East 1/8 line of said section; thence N 00 degrees 47 20 E along said East 1/8 line of said section, 311.02 feet to the place of beginning.
BAY COUNTY
Certain land in Frankenlust Township, Bay County, Michigan described as:
The South 250 feet of the N 1/2 of the W 1/2 of the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 9, T13N, R4E.
BENZIE COUNTY
Certain land in Benzonia Township, Benzie County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the Northeast 1/4 of Section 7, Township 26 North, Range 14 West, described as beginning at a point on the East line of said Section 7, said point being 320 feet North measured along the East line of said section from the East 1/4 post; running thence West 165 feet; thence North parallel with the East line of said section 165 feet; thence East 165 feet to the East line of said section; thence South 165 feet to the place of beginning.
BRANCH COUNTY
Certain land in Girard Township, Branch County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the NE 1/4 of Section 23 T5S, R6W, described as beginning at a point on the North and South quarter line of said section at a point 1278.27 feet distant South of the North quarter post of said section, said distance being measured along the North and South quarter line of said section, running thence S89 degrees21E 250 feet, thence North along a line parallel with the said North and South quarter line of said section 200 feet, thence N89 degrees 21W 250 feet to the North and South quarter line of said section, thence South along said North and South quarter line of said section 200 feet to the place of beginning.
CALHOUN COUNTY
Certain land in Convis Township, Calhoun County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 32, T1S, R6W, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description, commence at the Southeast corner of said section; run thence North along the East line of said section 1034.32 feet to the place of beginning of this description; running thence N 89 degrees 39 52 W, 333.0 feet; thence North 290.0 feet to the South 1/8 line of said section; thence S 89 degrees 39 52 E along said South 1/8 line of said section 333.0 feet to the East line of said section; thence South along said East line of said section 290.0 feet to the place of beginning. (Bearings are based on the East line of Section 32, T1S, R6W, from the Southeast corner of said section to the Northeast corner of said section assumed as North.)
CASS COUNTY
Certain easement rights located across land in Marcellus Township, Cass County, Michigan described as:
The East 6 rods of the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 4, T5S, R13W.
CHARLEVOIX COUNTY
Certain land in South Arm Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SW 1/4 of Section 29, T32N, R7W, described as follows: Beginning at the Southwest corner of said section and running thence North along the West line of said section 788.25 feet to a point which is 528 feet distant South of the South 1/8 line of said section as measured along the said West line of said section; thence N 89 degrees 30 19 E, parallel with said South 1/8 line of said section 442.1 feet; thence South 788.15 feet to the South line of said section; thence S 89 degrees 29 30 W, along said South line of said section 442.1 feet to the place of beginning.
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY
Certain land in Inverness Township, Cheboygan County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SW frl 1/4 of Section 31, T37N, R2W, described as beginning at the Northwest corner of the SW frl 1/4, running thence East on the East and West quarter line of said Section, 40 rods, thence South parallel to the West line of said Section 40 rods, thence West 40 rods to the West line of said Section, thence North 40 rods to the place of beginning.
CLARE COUNTY
Certain land in Frost Township, Clare County, Michigan described as:
The East 150 feet of the North 225 feet of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 15, T20N, R4W.
CLINTON COUNTY
Certain land in Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan described as:
The NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 22, and the North 165 feet of the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 22, T5N, R3W.
CRAWFORD COUNTY
Certain land in Lovells Township, Crawford County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in Section 1, T28N, R1W, described as: Commencing at NW corner said section; thence South 89 degrees5330 East along North section line 105.78 feet to point of beginning; thence South 89 degrees5330 East along North section line 649.64 feet; thence South 55 degrees 4230 East 340.24 feet; thence South 55 degrees 44 37 East 5,061.81 feet to the East section line; thence South 00 degrees 00 08 West along East section line 441.59 feet; thence North 55 degrees 44 37 West 5,310.48 feet; thence North 55 degrees 4230 West 877.76 feet to point of beginning.
EATON COUNTY
Certain land in Eaton Township, Eaton County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SW 1/4 of Section 6, T2N, R4W, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the Southwest corner of said section; run thence N 89 degrees 51 30 E along the South line of said section 400 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing N 89 degrees 51 30 E, 500 feet; thence N 00 degrees 50 00 W, 600 feet; thence S 89 degrees 51 30 W parallel with the South line of said section 500 feet; thence S 00 degrees 50 00 E, 600 feet to the place of beginning.
EMMET COUNTY
Certain land in Wawatam Township, Emmet County, Michigan described as:
The West 1/2 of the Northeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 23, T39N, R4W.
GENESEE COUNTY
Certain land in Argentine Township, Genesee County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land of part of the SW 1/4 of Section 8, T5N, R5E, being more particularly described as follows:
Beginning at a point of the West line of Duffield Road, 100 feet wide, (as now established) distant 829.46 feet measured N01 degrees4256W and 50 feet measured S88 degrees1404W` from the South quarter corner, Section 8, T5N, R5E; thence S88 degrees1404W a distance of 550 feet; thence N01 degrees4256W a distance of 500 feet to a point on the North line of the South half of the Southwest quarter of said Section 8; thence N88 degrees1404E along the North line of South half of the Southwest quarter of said Section 8 a distance 550 feet to a point on the West line of Duffield Road, 100 feet wide (as now established); thence S01 degrees4256E along the West line of said Duffield Road a distance of 500 feet to the point of beginning.
GLADWIN COUNTY
Certain land in Secord Township, Gladwin County, Michigan described as:
The East 400 feet of the South 450 feet of Section 2, T19N, R1E.
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY
Certain land in Mayfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 3, T25N, R11W, described as follows: Commencing at the Northwest corner of said section, running thence S 89 degrees1915 E along the North line of said section and the center line of Clouss Road 225 feet, thence South 400 feet, thence N 89 degrees1915 W 225 feet to the West line of said section and the center line of Hannah Road, thence North along the West line of said section and the center line of Hannah Road 400 feet to the place of beginning for this description.
GRATIOT COUNTY
Certain land in Fulton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the NE 1/4 of Section 7, Township 9 North, Range 3 West, described as beginning at a point on the North line of George Street in the Village of Middleton, which is 542 feet East of the North and South one-quarter (1/4) line of said Section 7; thence North 100 feet; thence East 100 feet; thence South 100 feet to the North line of George Street; thence West along the North line of George Street 100 feet to place of beginning.
HILLSDALE COUNTY
Certain land in Litchfield Village, Hillsdale County, Michigan described as:
Lot 238 of Assessors Plat of the Village of Litchfield.
HURON COUNTY
Certain easement rights located across land in Sebewaing Township, Huron County, Michigan described as:
The North 1/2 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 15, T15N, R9E.
INGHAM COUNTY
Certain land in Vevay Township, Ingham County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land 660 feet wide in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 7 lying South of the centerline of Sitts Road as extended to the North-South 1/4 line of said Section 7, T2N, R1W, more particularly described as follows: Commence at the Southwest corner of said Section 7, thence North along the West line of said Section 2502.71 feet to the centerline of Sitts Road; thence South 89 degrees5445 East along said centerline 2282.38 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing South 89 degrees5445 East along said centerline and said centerline extended 660.00 feet to the North-South 1/4 line of said section; thence South 00 degrees0720 West 1461.71 feet; thence North 89 degrees3458 West 660.00 feet; thence North 00 degrees0720 East 1457.91 feet to the centerline of Sitts Road and the place of beginning.
IONIA COUNTY
Certain land in Sebewa Township, Ionia County, Michigan described as:
A strip of land 280 feet wide across that part of the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 15, T5N, R6W, described as follows:
To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the E 1/4 corner of said section; run thence N 00 degrees 05 38 W along the East line of said section, 1218.43 feet; thence S 67 degrees 18 24 W, 1424.45 feet to the East 1/8 line of said section and the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing S 67 degrees 18 24 W, 1426.28 feet to the North and South 1/4 line of said section at a point which said point is 105.82 feet distant Nly of the center of said section as measured along said North and South 1/4 line of said section; thence N 00 degrees 04 47 E along said North and South 1/4 line of said section, 303.67 feet; thence N 67 degrees 18 24 E, 1425.78 feet to the East 1/8 line of said section; thence S 00 degrees 00 26 E along said East 1/8 line of said section, 303.48 feet to the place of beginning. (Bearings are based on the East line of Section 15, T5N, R6W, from the E 1/4 corner of said section to the Northeast corner of said section assumed as N 00 degrees 05 38 W.)
IOSCO COUNTY
Certain land in Alabaster Township, Iosco County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the NW 1/4 of Section 34, T21N, R7E, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the N 1/4 post of said section; run thence South along the North and South 1/4 line of said section, 1354.40 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing South along the said North and South 1/4 line of said section, 165.00 feet to a point on the said North and South 1/4 line of said section which said point is 1089.00 feet distant North of the center of said section; thence West 440.00 feet; thence North 165.00 feet; thence East 440.00 feet to the said North and South 1/4 line of said section and the place of beginning.
ISABELLA COUNTY
Certain land in Chippewa Township, Isabella County, Michigan described as:
The North 8 rods of the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 29, T14N, R3W.
JACKSON COUNTY
Certain land in Waterloo Township, Jackson County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the North fractional part of the N fractional 1/2 of Section 2, T1S, R2E, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the E 1/4 post of said section; run thence N 01 degrees 03 40 E along the East line of said section 1335.45 feet to the North 1/8 line of said section and the place of beginning of this description; thence N 89 degrees 32 00 W, 2677.7 feet to the North and South 1/4 line of said section; thence S 00 degrees 59 25 W along the North and South 1/4 line of said section 22.38 feet to the North 1/8 line of said section; thence S 89 degrees 59 10 W along the North 1/8 line of said section 2339.4 feet to the center line of State Trunkline Highway M-52; thence N 53 degrees 46 00 W along the center line of said State Trunkline Highway 414.22 feet to the West line of said section; thence N 00 degrees 55 10 E along the West line of said section 74.35 feet; thence S 89 degrees 32 00 E, 5356.02 feet to the East line of said section; thence S 01 degrees 03 40 W along the East line of said section 250 feet to the place of beginning.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY
Certain land in Alamo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan described as:
The South 350 feet of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 16, T1S, R12W, being more particularly described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description, commence at the Northwest corner of said section; run thence S 00 degrees 36 55 W along the West line of said section 971.02 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing S 00 degrees 36 55 W along said West line of said section 350.18 feet to the North 1/8 line of said section; thence S 87 degrees 33 40 E along the said North 1/8 line of said section 1325.1 feet to the West 1/8 line of said section; thence N 00 degrees 38 25 E along the said West 1/8 line of said section 350.17 feet; thence N 87 degrees 33 40 W, 1325.25 feet to the place of beginning.
KALKASKA COUNTY
Certain land in Kalkaska Township, Kalkaska County, Michigan described as:
The NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 4, T27N, R7W, excepting therefrom all mineral, coal, oil and gas and such other rights as were reserved unto the State of Michigan in that certain deed running from the Department of Conservation for the State of Michigan to George Welker and Mary Welker, his wife, dated October 9, 1934 and recorded December 28, 1934 in Liber 39 on page 291 of Kalkaska County Records, and subject to easement for pipeline purposes as granted to Michigan Consolidated Gas Company by first party herein on April 4, 1963 and recorded June 21, 1963 in Liber 91 on page 631 of Kalkaska County Records.
KENT COUNTY
Certain land in Caledonia Township, Kent County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the Northwest fractional 1/4 of Section 15, T5N, R10W, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the North 1/4 corner of said section, run thence S 0 degrees 59 26 E along the North and South 1/4 line of said section 2046.25 feet to the place of beginning of this description, thence continuing S 0 degrees 59 26 E along said North and South 1/4 line of said section 332.88 feet, thence S 88 degrees 58 30 W 2510.90 feet to a point herein designated Point A on the East bank of the Thornapple River, thence continuing S 88 degrees 53 30 W to the center thread of the Thornapple River, thence NWly along the center thread of said Thornapple River to a point which said point is S 88 degrees 58 30 W of a point on the East bank of the Thornapple River herein designated Point B, said Point B being N 23 degrees 41 35 W 360.75 feet from said above-described Point A, thence N 88 degrees 58 30 E to said Point B, thence continuing N 88 degrees 58 30 E 2650.13 feet to the place of beginning. (Bearings are based on the East line of Section 15, T5N, R10W between the East 1/4 corner of said section and the Northeast corner of said section assumed as N 0 degrees 59 55 W.)
LAKE COUNTY
Certain land in Pinora and Cherry Valley Townships, Lake County, Michigan described as:
A strip of land 50 feet wide East and West along and adjoining the West line of highway on the East side of the North 1/2 of Section 13 T18N, R12W. Also a strip of land 100 feet wide East and West along and adjoining the East line of the highway on the West side of following described land: The South 1/2 of NW 1/4, and the South 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4, all in Section 6, T18N, R11W.
LAPEER COUNTY
Certain land in Hadley Township, Lapeer County, Michigan described as:
The South 825 feet of the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 24, T6N, R9E, except the West 1064 feet thereof.
LEELANAU COUNTY
Certain land in Cleveland Township, Leelanau County, Michigan described as:
The North 200 feet of the West 180 feet of the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 35, T29N, R13W.
LENAWEE COUNTY
Certain land in Madison Township, Lenawee County, Michigan described as:
A strip of land 165 feet wide off the West side of the following described premises: The E 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 12. The E 1/2 of the NE 1/4 and the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 13, being all in T7S, R3E, excepting therefrom a parcel of land in the E 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 12, T7S, R3E, beginning at the Northwest corner of said E 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 12, running thence East 4 rods, thence South 6 rods, thence West 4 rods, thence North 6 rods to the place of beginning.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Certain land in Cohoctah Township, Livingston County, Michigan described as:
Parcel 1
The East 390 feet of the East 50 rods of the SW 1/4 of Section 30, T4N, R4E.
Parcel 2
A parcel of land in the NW 1/4 of Section 31, T4N, R4E, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the N 1/4 post of said section; run thence N 89 degrees 13 06 W along the North line of said section, 330 feet to the place of beginning of this description; running thence S 00 degrees 52 49 W, 2167.87 feet; thence N 88 degrees 59 49 W, 60 feet; thence N 00 degrees 52 49 E, 2167.66 feet to the North line of said section; thence S 89 degrees 13 06 E along said North line of said section, 60 feet to the place of beginning.
MACOMB COUNTY
Certain land in Macomb Township, Macomb County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land commencing on the West line of the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of fractional Section 6, 20 chains South of the NW corner of said E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 6; thence South on said West line and the East line of A. Henry Kotners Hayes Road Subdivision #15, according to the recorded plat thereof, as recorded in Liber 24 of Plats, on page 7, 24.36 chains to the East and West 1/4 line of said Section 6; thence East on said East and West 1/4 line 8.93 chains; thence North parallel with the said West line of the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 6, 24.36 chains; thence West 8.93 chains to the place of beginning, all in T3N, R13E.
MANISTEE COUNTY
Certain land in Manistee Township, Manistee County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SW 1/4 of Section 20, T22N, R16W, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description, commence at the Southwest corner of said section; run thence East along the South line of said section 832.2 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing East along said South line of said section 132 feet; thence North 198 feet; thence West 132 feet; thence South 198 feet to the place of beginning, excepting therefrom the South 2 rods thereof which was conveyed to Manistee Township for highway purposes by a Quitclaim Deed dated June 13, 1919 and recorded July 11, 1919 in Liber 88 of Deeds on page 638 of Manistee County Records.
MASON COUNTY
Certain land in Riverton Township, Mason County, Michigan described as:
Parcel 1
The South 10 acres of the West 20 acres of the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 22, T17N, R17W.
Parcel 2
A parcel of land containing 4 acres of the West side of highway, said parcel of land being described as commencing 16 rods South of the Northwest corner of the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 22, T17N, R17W, running thence South 64 rods, thence NEly and Nly and NWly along the Wly line of said highway to the place of beginning, together with any and all right, title, and interest of Howard C. Wicklund and Katherine E. Wicklund in and to that portion of the hereinbefore mentioned highway lying adjacent to the Ely line of said above described land.
MECOSTA COUNTY
Certain land in Wheatland Township, Mecosta County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 16, T14N, R7W, described as beginning at the Southwest corner of said section; thence East along the South line of Section 133 feet; thence North parallel to the West section line 133 feet; thence West 133 feet to the West line of said Section; thence South 133 feet to the place of beginning.
MIDLAND COUNTY
Certain land in Ingersoll Township, Midland County, Michigan described as:
The West 200 feet of the W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 4, T13N, R2E.
MISSAUKEE COUNTY
Certain land in Norwich Township, Missaukee County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 16, T24N, R6W, described as follows: Commencing at the Northwest corner of said section, running thence N 89 degrees 01 45 E along the North line of said section 233.00 feet; thence South 233.00 feet; thence S 89 degrees 01 45 W, 233.00 feet to the West line of said section; thence North along said West line of said section 233.00 feet to the place of beginning. (Bearings are based on the West line of Section 16, T24N, R6W, between the Southwest and Northwest corners of said section assumed as North.)
MONROE COUNTY
Certain land in Whiteford Township, Monroe County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SW1/4 of Section 20, T8S, R6E, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the S 1/4 post of said section; run thence West along the South line of said section 1269.89 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing West along said South line of said section 100 feet; thence N 00 degrees 50 35 E, 250 feet; thence East 100 feet; thence S 00 degrees 50 35 W parallel with and 16.5 feet distant Wly of as measured perpendicular to the West 1/8 line of said section, as occupied, a distance of 250 feet to the place of beginning.
MONTCALM COUNTY
Certain land in Crystal Township, Montcalm County, Michigan described as:
The N 1/2 of the S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 35, T10N, R5W.
MONTMORENCY COUNTY
Certain land in the Village of Hillman, Montmorency County, Michigan described as:
Lot 14 of Hillman Industrial Park, being a subdivision in the South 1/2 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 24, T31N, R4E, according to the plat thereof recorded in Liber 4 of Plats on Pages 32-34, Montmorency County Records.
MUSKEGON COUNTY
Certain land in Casnovia Township, Muskegon County, Michigan described as:
The West 433 feet of the North 180 feet of the South 425 feet of the SW 1/4 of Section 3, T10N, R13W.
NEWAYGO COUNTY
Certain land in Ashland Township, Newaygo County, Michigan described as:
The West 250 feet of the NE 1/4 of Section 23, T11N, R13W.
OAKLAND COUNTY
Certain land in Wixcom City, Oakland County, Michigan described as:
The E 75 feet of the N 160 feet of the N 330 feet of the W 526.84 feet of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 8, T1N, R8E, more particularly described as follows: Commence at the NW corner of said Section 8, thence N 87 degrees 14 29 E along the North line of said Section 8 a distance of 451.84 feet to the place of beginning for this description; thence continuing N 87 degrees 14 29 E along said North section line a distance of 75.0 feet to the East line of the West 526.84 feet of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of said Section 8; thence S 02 degrees 37 09 E along said East line a distance of 160.0 feet; thence S 87 degrees 14 29 W a distance of 75.0 feet; thence N 02 degrees 37 09 W a distance of 160.0 feet to the place of beginning.
OCEANA COUNTY
Certain land in Crystal Township, Oceana County, Michigan described as:
The East 290 feet of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 and the East 290 feet of the NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4, all in Section 20, T16N, R16W.
OGEMAW COUNTY
Certain land in West Branch Township, Ogemaw County, Michigan described as:
The South 660 feet of the East 660 feet of the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 33, T22N, R2E.
OSCEOLA COUNTY
Certain land in Hersey Township, Osceola County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the North 1/2 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 13, T17N, R9W, described as commencing at the Northeast corner of said Section; thence West along the North Section line 999 feet to the point of beginning of this description; thence S 01 degrees 54 20 E 1327.12 feet to the North 1/8 line; thence S 89 degrees 17 05 W along the North 1/8 line 330.89 feet; thence N 01 degrees 54 20 W 1331.26 feet to the North Section line; thence East along the North Section line 331 feet to the point of beginning.
OSCODA COUNTY
Certain land in Comins Township, Oscoda County, Michigan described as:
The East 400 feet of the South 580 feet of the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 15, T27N, R3E.
OTSEGO COUNTY
Certain land in Corwith Township, Otsego County, Michigan described as:
Part of the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 28, T32N, R3W, described as: Beginning at the N 1/4 corner of said section; running thence S 89 degrees 04 06 E along the North line of said section, 330.00 feet; thence S 00 degrees 28 43 E, 400.00 feet; thence N 89 degrees 04 06 W, 330.00 feet to the North and South 1/4 line of said section; thence N 00 degrees 28 43 W along the said North and South 1/4 line of said section, 400.00 feet to the point of beginning; subject to the use of the Nly 33.00 feet thereof for highway purposes.
OTTAWA COUNTY
Certain land in Robinson Township, Ottawa County, Michigan described as:
The North 660 feet of the West 660 feet of the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 26, T7N, R15W.
PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY
Certain land in Belknap and Pulawski Townships, Presque Isle County, Michigan described as:
Part of the South half of the Northeast quarter, Section 24, T34N, R5E, and part of the Northwest quarter, Section 19, T34N, R6E, more fully described as: Commencing at the East 1/4 corner of said Section 24; thence N 00 degrees1547 E, 507.42 feet, along the East line of said Section 24 to the point of beginning; thence S 88 degrees1536 W, 400.00 feet, parallel with the North 1/8 line of said Section 24; thence N 00 degrees1547 E, 800.00 feet, parallel with said East line of Section 24; thence N 88 degrees1536E, 800.00 feet, along said North 1/8 line of Section 24 and said line extended; thence S 00 degrees1547 W, 800.00 feet, parallel with said East line of Section 24; thence S 88 degrees1536 W, 400.00 feet, parallel with said North 1/8 line of Section 24 to the point of beginning.
Together with a 33 foot easement along the West 33 feet of the Northwest quarter lying North of the North 1/8 line of Section 24, Belknap Township, extended, in Section 19, T34N, R6E.
ROSCOMMON COUNTY
Certain land in Gerrish Township, Roscommon County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the NW 1/4 of Section 19, T24N, R3W, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the Northwest corner of said section, run thence East along the North line of said section 1,163.2 feet to the place of beginning of this description (said point also being the place of intersection of the West 1/8 line of said section with the North line of said section), thence S 01 degrees 01 E along said West 1/8 line 132 feet, thence West parallel with the North line of said section 132 feet, thence N 01 degrees 01 W parallel with said West 1/8 line of said section 132 feet to the North line of said section, thence East along the North line of said section 132 feet to the place of beginning.
SAGINAW COUNTY
Certain land in Chapin Township, Saginaw County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the SW 1/4 of Section 13, T9N, R1E, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the Southwest corner of said section; run thence North along the West line of said section 1581.4 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing North along said West line of said section 230 feet to the center line of a creek; thence S 70 degrees 07 00 E along said center line of said creek 196.78 feet; thence South 163.13 feet; thence West 185 feet to the West line of said section and the place of beginning.
SANILAC COUNTY
Certain easement rights located across land in Minden Township, Sanilac County, Michigan described as:
The Southeast 1/4 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 1, T14N, R14E, excepting therefrom the South 83 feet of the East 83 feet thereof.
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
Certain land in Burns Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan described as:
The South 330 feet of the E 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 36, T5N, R4E.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Certain land in Ira Township, St. Clair County, Michigan described as:
The N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 6, T3N, R15E.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Certain land in Mendon Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan described as:
The North 660 feet of the West 660 feet of the NW 1/4 of SW 1/4, Section 35, T5S, R10W.
TUSCOLA COUNTY
Certain land in Millington Township, Tuscola County, Michigan described as:
A strip of land 280 feet wide across the East 96 rods of the South 20 rods of the N 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 34, T10N, R8E, more particularly described as commencing at the Northeast corner of Section 3, T9N, R8E, thence S 89 degrees 55 35 W along the South line of said Section 34 a distance of 329.65 feet, thence N 18 degrees 11 50 W a distance of 1398.67 feet to the South 1/8 line of said Section 34 and the place of beginning for this description; thence continuing N 18 degrees 11 50 W a distance of 349.91 feet; thence N 89 degrees 57 01 W a distance of 294.80 feet; thence S 18 degrees 11 50 E a distance of 350.04 feet to the South 1/8 line of said Section 34; thence S 89 degrees 58 29 E along the South 1/8 line of said section a distance of 294.76 feet to the place of beginning.
VAN BUREN COUNTY
Certain land in Covert Township, Van Buren County, Michigan described as:
All that part of the West 20 acres of the N 1/2 of the NE fractional 1/4 of Section 1, T2S, R17W, except the West 17 rods of the North 80 rods, being more particularly described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the N 1/4 post of said section; run thence N 89 degrees 29 20 E along the North line of said section 280.5 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing N 89 degrees 29 20 E along said North line of said section 288.29 feet; thence S 00 degrees 44 00 E, 1531.92 feet; thence S 89 degrees 33 30 W, 568.79 feet to the North and South 1/4 line of said section; thence N 00 degrees 44 00 W along said North and South 1/4 line of said section 211.4 feet; thence N 89 degrees 29 20 E, 280.5 feet; thence N 00 degrees 44 00 W, 1320 feet to the North line of said section and the place of beginning.
WASHTENAW COUNTY
Certain land in Manchester Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 1, T4S, R3E, described as follows: To find the place of beginning of this description commence at the Northwest corner of said section; run thence East along the North line of said section 1355.07 feet to the West 1/8 line of said section; thence S 00 degrees 22 20 E along said West 1/8 line of said section 927.66 feet to the place of beginning of this description; thence continuing S 00 degrees 22 20 E along said West 1/8 line of said section 660 feet to the North 1/8 line of said section; thence N 86 degrees 36 57 E along said North 1/8 line of said section 660.91 feet; thence N 00 degrees22 20 W, 660 feet; thence S 86 degrees 36 57 W, 660.91 feet to the place of beginning.
WAYNE COUNTY
Certain land in Livonia City, Wayne County, Michigan described as:
Commencing at the Southeast corner of Section 6, T1S, R9E; thence North along the East line of Section 6 a distance of 253 feet to the point of beginning; thence continuing North along the East line of Section 6 a distance of 50 feet; thence Westerly parallel to the South line of Section 6, a distance of 215 feet; thence Southerly parallel to the East line of Section 6 a distance of 50 feet; thence easterly parallel with the South line of Section 6 a distance of 215 feet to the point of beginning.
WEXFORD COUNTY
Certain land in Selma Township, Wexford County, Michigan described as:
A parcel of land in the NW 1/4 of Section 7, T22N, R10W, described as beginning on the North line of said section at a point 200 feet East of the West line of said section, running thence East along said North section line 450 feet, thence South parallel with said West section line 350 feet, thence West parallel with said North section line 450 feet, thence North parallel with said West section line 350 feet to the place of beginning.
SECTION 12. The Company is a transmitting utility under Section 9501(2) of the Michigan Uniform Commercial Code (M.C.L. 440.9501(2)) as defined in M.C.L. 440.9102(1)(aaaa).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Consumers Energy Company has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be executed in its corporate name by its Chairman of the Board, President, a Vice President or its Treasurer and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and to be attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and said JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Trustee as aforesaid, to evidence its acceptance hereof, has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be executed in its corporate name by a Vice President and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and to be attested by a Trust Officer, in several counterparts, all as of the day and year first above written.
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CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
(SEAL) |
By:_/s/ Laura L. Mountcastle________________________
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Laura L. Mountcastle
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Attest:
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Vice President and Treasurer
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_/s/ Joyce H. Norkey________________
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Joyce H. Norkey
Assistant Secretary
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Signed, sealed and delivered
by CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY
in the presence of
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_/s/ Kimberly C. Wilson______
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Kimberly C. Wilson
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_/s/ Sammie B. Dalton_______
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Sammie B. Dalton
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
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ss.
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COUNTY OF JACKSON
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The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 24 th day of March, 2005, by Laura L. Mountcastle, Vice President and Treasurer of CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY, a Michigan corporation, on behalf of the corporation.
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_/s/ Margaret Hillman | |
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[Seal]
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Margaret Hillman, Notary Public
State of Michigan, County of Jackson |
My Commission Expires: 06/14/10 |
Acting in the County of Jackson
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE | |
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(SEAL)
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By:_/s/ L. OBrien | |
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L. | OBrien |
Attest:
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Vice President
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_/s/ Rosa Ciaccia________
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Rosa Ciaccia
Trust Officer
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Signed, sealed and delivered
by JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
in the presence of
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_/s/ James D. Heaney___
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James D. Heaney
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_/s/ Nicholas Sberlati_____
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Nicholas Sberlati
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STATE OF NEW YORK
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ss.
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COUNTY OF NEW YORK
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The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 24 th day of March, 2005, by L. OBrien, a Vice President of JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Trustee, a national banking association, on behalf of the bank.
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_/s/ Emily Fayan | |
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[Seal]
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EMILY FAYAN
Notary Public, State of New York No. 01FA4737006 Qualified in Kings County Certificate Filed in New York County |
Commission Expires Dec. 31, 2005
When recorded, return to:
Kimberly C. Wilson
One Energy Plaza, EP11-219
Jackson, MI 49201
Consumers Energy Company
Business Services Real Estate Dept.
Attn: Nancy Fisher EP7-439
One Energy Plaza
Jackson, MI 49201
3
Robert C. Shrosbree
Assistant General Counsel
March 24, 2005
Barclays Capital Inc.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe Limited
Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc.
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
c/o J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
4 World Financial Center
New York, New York 10080
Re:
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Consumers Energy Company
$300,000,000 5.65% First Mortgage Bonds due 2020 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I address this opinion to you as the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated March 21, 2005 (the Underwriting Agreement) between you and Consumers Energy Company, a Michigan corporation (the Company) and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation, a Michigan corporation (CMS Energy). I am the Assistant General Counsel of CMS Energy and have acted as Special Counsel to the Company with respect to the issuance and sale of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Companys 5.65% First Mortgage Bonds due 2020 (the Bonds) issued under the Indenture dated as of September 1, 1945 between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Trustee (the Trustee), as amended by certain supplemental indentures thereto including the 100 th Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 24, 2005 relating to the Bonds (such Indenture as so amended and supplemented is hereinafter referred to as the Indenture). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings specified in the Underwriting Agreement.
In rendering the opinions expressed below, I or attorneys acting under my supervision have examined originals, or copies of originals certified to my satisfaction, of such agreements, documents, certificates and other statements of governmental officials and corporate officers and such other papers and evidence as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for such opinions. I have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to me for examination. I have further assumed without investigation that each document submitted to me for review and relied upon for this opinion is accurate and complete as of the date given to the date hereof. I have also relied upon representations and warranties as to factual matters contained in and made pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
Whenever the opinion herein with respect to the existence or absence of facts is indicated to be based on my knowledge, it is intended to signify that, during the course of my representation of the Company or that of the attorneys acting under my direct supervision who have an active involvement in the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, no information has come to my attention which would give me actual knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts contrary to such opinion or statement.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 8(b)(iii) of the Underwriting Agreement, this will advise you that in the opinion of the undersigned:
1. | The Company is a duly organized, validly existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Michigan. |
2. | All legally required corporate proceedings in connection with the authorization, issuance and validity of the Bonds and the sale of the Bonds by the Company in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement have been taken and an appropriate order has been entered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under the Federal Power Act authority for the issuance and sale of the Bonds and such order is in full force and effect; and no other approval, authorization, consent or other order of any governmental regulatory body is required with respect to the issuance and sale of the Bonds (other than in connection with or in compliance with the provisions of the securities or blue sky laws of any state, as to which I express no opinion). |
3. | The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions Description of Securities, Description of the Bonds, Plan of Distribution and Underwriting constitute summaries of legal matters or documents referred to therein and are accurate in all material respects; and the Indenture and the Bonds conform as to legal matters to the descriptions thereof and to the statements in regard thereto contained in such section of the Prospectus. |
4. | The Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission; the Registration Statement, at the date it was declared effective by the Commission and at the date of the most recent amendment to the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus, at the time it was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and each document incorporated in the Prospectus as such document was originally filed pursuant to the Exchange Act (except for (i) the financial statements and schedules contained or incorporated by reference therein (including the notes thereto and the auditors reports thereon) and (ii) the other financial information contained or incorporated by reference therein, as to which I express no opinion), complied as to form when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and the Registration Statement has become, and at the Closing Date is, effective under the Act and, to the best of my knowledge after due inquiry, no proceedings for a stop order with respect thereto are threatened or pending under the Act. |
5. | The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. |
6. | The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). |
7. | The Indenture complies as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the TIA and the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to an indenture that is qualified thereunder. The Indenture is qualified under the TIA, and no proceedings to suspend such qualification have been instituted or, to my knowledge, threatened by the Commission. |
8. | The Bonds are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authentication thereof by the Trustee and upon payment and delivery in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); the Bonds are entitled to the security afforded by the Indenture equally and ratably with all securities presently outstanding thereunder, and no stamp taxes in respect of the original issue thereof are payable. |
9. | The Company has good and marketable title to all its important properties described in the Prospectus and to substantially all other real estate and property specifically described in the Indenture as subject to the lien thereof except (a) that released or retired in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, (b) leased offices, garages and service buildings, (c) leased nuclear fuel, (d) certain electric substations and gas regulator stations and other facilities erected on sites under leases, easements, permits or contractual arrangements, (e) certain pollution control facilities, which are subject to security interests granted to various municipalities and economic development corporations under installment sales contracts, (f) as to electric and gas transmission and distribution lines, many of such properties are constructed on rights-of-way by virtue of franchises or pursuant to easements only, and (g) as to certain gas storage fields, the Companys interest in certain of the gas rights and rights of storage and other rights incidental thereto are in the nature of an easement or leasehold interest only; the Indenture constitutes, as security for the Bonds, a valid direct first mortgage lien on the real estate, property and franchises, subject only to excepted encumbrances as defined therein and except as otherwise expressly stated therein and subject to Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated Section 324.20138, which provides under certain circumstances for the creation of priority liens on property of the Company in favor of the State of Michigan covering reimbursement for any expense incurred in a response activity under the Michigan Environmental Response Act; the Indenture is effective to create the lien intended to be created thereby; and real estate, property or franchises in the State of Michigan, hereafter acquired by the Company, will become subject to the lien of the Indenture, at the time of acquisition, subject to liens existing thereon at the time of acquisition, and subject to excepted encumbrances, and subject to any necessary filing and recording before the intervention of any lien not expressly excepted thereby, and subject to the qualification above with respect to the enforceability of the Indenture. |
10. | The issuance and sale of the Bonds in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Underwriting Agreement do not violate the provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company, and will not result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party. |
11. | The Company is not an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
12. | The Company (i) is a public utility and a subsidiary company of a holding company, as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, and (ii) is currently exempt from all provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, except Section 9(a)(2) thereof. |
13. | Nothing has come to my attention that would lead me to believe that the Prospectus (other than (i) the operating statistics, financial statements and schedules contained or incorporated by reference therein (including the notes thereto and the auditors reports thereon), (ii) the other financial or statistical information contained or incorporated by reference therein and (iii) the exhibits thereto, as to which I express no opinion), as of its date or at the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits 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. |
I am a member of the bar of the State of Michigan and I express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan or the Federal laws of the United States of America. I note that the Underwriting Agreement is stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York. However, for purposes of rendering this opinion, I have assumed that the Underwriting Agreement is stated to be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.
This opinion letter is furnished by me, as Special Counsel to the Company, solely for the benefit of you, the addressees of this letter, in connection with the transactions referred to herein and may be relied upon only by you in such capacity. I consent to the reliance on this opinion of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop LLP, in their respective opinions to you of even date herewith pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. No one may rely upon this letter, nor may you release it or quote from it, nor may you rely upon it in any other capacity or employ it in any transaction other than the transaction discussed herewith.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Robert C. Shrosbree
Robert C. Shrosbree
RICHARD M. GABRYS, PHILIP R. LOCHNER NOMINATED
TO SERVE ON CMS ENERGYS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JACKSON, Mich., March 24, 2005 Richard M. Gabrys, a former vice chairman of Deloitte & Touches U.S. Global Strategic Client Group, and Philip R. Lochner Jr., a former member of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, have been nominated to serve on CMS Energys Board of Directors, the Company (NYSE: CMS) announced today.
Gabrys, 63, retired in May 2004 after a 42-year career with Deloitte & Touche where he served a variety of publicly held companies, primarily automotive manufacturing, financial services institutions, and health care entities.
Gabrys currently serves on several boards, including those of Dana Corp., the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Karmanos Cancer Institute, and the Manufacturers Institute. He also has served on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers and was board chairman of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Lochner, 62, joined Time Inc. in 1978 and held a series of increasingly responsible positions, culminating in general counsel and secretary, and then was appointed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He served as a commissioner from March 1990 to July 1991, leaving to become senior vice president and chief administrative officer for Time Warner Inc. through his retirement in June 1998.
Lochner is a director of several public companies, serving on their audit, compensation, compliance, and governance committees. He also has been involved in various capacities on the governing or advisory bodies of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, the Investor Responsibility Research Center, and the National Association of Corporate Directors.
The nominations of Gabrys and Lochner will be submitted to shareholders for approval at CMS Energys annual meeting on May 20, 2005.
The Company also announced that William A. Parfet, a board member since 1991, has decided not to seek re-election because of increasing demands from his business, MPI Research, of Mattawan, Mich. Parfet is chairman and chief executive officer of MPI Research, which is a research laboratory conducting risk assessment toxicology studies.
CMS Energy is an integrated energy company, which has as its primary business operations an electric and natural gas utility, natural gas pipeline systems, and independent power generation.
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For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our web site at: www.cmsenergy.com
Media Contacts: Jeff Holyfield, 517/788-2394 or Dan Bishop, 517/788-2395
Investment Analyst Contact: CMS Energy Investor Relations, 517/788-2590