5 and 7(iii)
Exhibit 4.40
ENTERGY TEXAS, INC.
OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
8-B-6
Establishing the Form and Certain Terms of the
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.15% Series due June 1, 2045
THIS INSTRUMENT GRANTS A SECURITY INTEREST
BY A UTILITY
THIS INSTRUMENT CONTAINS AFTER-ACQUIRED
PROPERTY PROVISIONS
The undersigned, STACEY M. LOUSTEAU, ASSISTANT TREASURER, an Authorized Officer of Entergy Texas, Inc., a Texas Corporation (the “Company”) (all capitalized terms used herein which are not defined herein but are defined in the Indenture referred to below, shall have the meanings specified in such Indenture), pursuant to Board Resolutions dated August 29, 2008 and May 11, 2015 and Sections 201 and 301 of such Indenture, does hereby certify to THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as trustee (the “Trustee”) under the Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement of the Company dated as of October 1, 2008 (the “Indenture”) as of May 18, 2015, that:
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1.
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The Securities of the sixth series to be issued under the Indenture (the “Bonds”) shall be issued in a series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 5.15% Series due June 1, 2045”; the Bonds shall be in substantially the form set forth in
Exhibit A
hereto; the Bonds shall initially be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000; however, the aggregate principal amount of Bonds which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited; and the Bonds issued on the original issue date and any additional Bonds issued thereafter shall be considered one and the same series of Securities under the Indenture; additional Bonds, without limitation as to amount, having substantially the same terms as the Outstanding Bonds (except for the issue date, price to public and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date) may be issued by the Company without notice to or the consent of the existing Holders of the Bonds.
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2.
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The Bonds shall mature and the principal shall be due and payable together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon on June 1, 2045, and the Company shall not have any right to extend the Maturity of the Bonds as contemplated in Section 301(d) of the Indenture;
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3.
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The Bonds shall bear interest as provided in the form thereof set forth in
Exhibit A
hereto; the Interest Payment Dates for the Bonds shall be June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2015;
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4.
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Each installment of interest on the Bonds shall be payable as provided in the form thereof set forth in
Exhibit A
hereto; the Company shall not have any right to extend any interest payment periods for the Bonds as contemplated in Section 301(e) of the Indenture;
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5.
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The principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the Bonds shall be payable, and registration of transfers and exchanges in respect of the Bonds may be effected, at the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York and as otherwise provided in the form of Bond set forth in
Exhibit A
hereto; and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Bonds may be served at the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York; the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee will initially be the agency of the Company for such payment, registration of transfers and exchanges and service of notices and demands, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent for all such purposes; and the Trustee will initially
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be the Security Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Bonds;
provided
,
however
, that the Company reserves the right to change, by one or more Officer’s Certificates, any such office or agency and such agent;
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6.
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The Regular Record Dates for the interest payable on any given Interest Payment Date with respect to the Bonds shall be the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date;
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7.
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The Bonds are subject to redemption as provided in the form thereof set forth in
Exhibit A
hereto;
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8.
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No service charge shall be made for the registration of transfer or exchange of the Bonds;
provided
,
however
, that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with the exchange or transfer;
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9.
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The Bonds shall be issued initially in global form registered in the name of Cede & Co. (as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”));
provided
, that the Company reserves the right to provide for another depository, registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, to act as depository for the global Bonds (DTC and any such successor depository, the “Depository”); beneficial interests in Bonds issued in global form may not be exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificated Bonds in definitive form, and no transfer of a global Bond in whole or in part may be registered in the name of any Person other than the Depository or its nominee except that (i) if the Depository (A) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the global Bonds or (B) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor depository for such global Bonds has not been appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate providing that the global Bonds shall be so exchangeable or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Bonds, in each case, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Bonds, will authenticate and deliver Bonds in definitive certificated form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Bonds representing such Bonds in exchange for such global Bonds, such definitive Bonds to be registered in the names provided by the Depository; each global Bond (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Bonds to be represented by such global Bond, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depository, its nominee, any custodian for the Depository or otherwise pursuant to the Depository’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend restricting the transfer of such global Bond to any person other than the Depository or its nominee; none of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Authenticating Agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a global Bond or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests; the Bonds in global form will contain restrictions on transfer, substantially as described in the form set forth in
Exhibit A
hereto;
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10.
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None of the Trustee, the Security Registrar or the Company shall have any liability for any acts or omissions of the Depository, for any transfers of beneficial interests in the Bonds, for any Depository records of beneficial interests, for any transactions between the Depository and beneficial owners or in respect of any transfers effected by the Depository or by any participant members of the Depository or any beneficial owner of any interest in any Bonds held through any such participant member of the Depository;
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11.
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If the Company shall make any deposit of money and/or Eligible Obligations with respect to any Bonds, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, as contemplated by Section 801 of the Indenture, the Company shall not deliver an Officer’s Certificate described in clause (z) in the first paragraph of said Section 801 unless the Company shall also deliver to the Trustee, together with such Officer’s Certificate, either:
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(A)
an instrument wherein the Company, notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of its indebtedness in respect of such Bonds, shall assume the obligation (which shall be absolute and unconditional) to irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or Paying Agent such additional sums of money, if any, or additional Eligible Obligations (meeting the requirements of Section 801), if any, or any combination thereof, at such time or times, as shall be necessary, together with the money and/or Eligible Obligations theretofore so deposited, to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due and to become due on such Bonds or portions thereof, all in accordance with and subject to the provisions of said Section 801;
provided
,
however
, that such instrument may state that the obligation of the Company to make additional deposits as aforesaid shall be subject to the delivery to the Company by the Trustee of a notice asserting the deficiency accompanied
by an opinion of an independent public accountant of nationally recognized standing, selected by the Trustee, showing the calculation thereof; or
(B)
an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as a result of a change in law occurring after the date of this certificate, the Holders of such Bonds, or portions of the principal amount thereof, will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the satisfaction and discharge of the Company’s indebtedness in respect thereof and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, at the same times and in the same manner as if such satisfaction and discharge had not been effected;
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12.
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The Eligible Obligations with respect to the Bonds shall be Government Obligations;
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13.
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The Bonds shall have such other terms and provisions as are provided in the form set forth in
Exhibit A
hereto;
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14.
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No Event of Default under the Indenture has occurred or is occurring;
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15.
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The undersigned has read all of the covenants and conditions contained in the Indenture, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto, relating to the issuance and authentication and delivery of the Bonds and in respect of compliance with which this certificate is made;
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16.
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The statements contained in this certificate are based upon the familiarity of the undersigned with the Indenture, the documents accompanying this certificate, and upon discussions by the undersigned with officers and employees of the Company familiar with the matters set forth herein;
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17.
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In the opinion of the undersigned, she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenants and conditions have been complied with; and
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18.
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In the opinion of the undersigned, such conditions and covenants, and all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture (including any covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating to the authentication and delivery of the Bonds requested in the accompanying Company Order have been complied with.
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[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Officer’s Certificate as of the date set forth above.
By:
/s/ Stacey M. Lousteau
Name:
Stacey M. Lousteau
Title:
Assistant Treasurer
Exhibit A
[FORM OF BOND]
[Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to Entergy Texas, Inc., or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]
No. ___
CUSIP No. 29365T AD6
MATURITY DATE: June 1, 2045
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: ____________
ENTERGY TEXAS, INC.
FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS, 5.15% SERIES DUE JUNE 1, 2045
ENTERGY TEXAS, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Texas (herein referred to as the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby promises to pay to
or registered assigns, the principal amount specified above on the Maturity Date set forth above and to pay interest on the unpaid principal hereof and on any overdue interest from and including May 21, 2015 or from and including the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2015, and on the Maturity Date (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), at the rate of 5.15% per annum (the “Interest Rate”) to but excluding the date on which the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. In the event that any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day (as defined below), then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (each a “Regular Record Date”), except that interest payable at Maturity will be payable to the Person to whom principal shall be paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture referred to herein.
Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest at Maturity on this Security shall be made upon presentation of this Security at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York, in the State of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;
provided
,
however
, that, at the option of the Company, interest on this Security (other than interest payable at Maturity) may be paid by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto, as such address shall appear on the Security Register, and
provided
,
further
, that if such person is a securities depositary, such payment may be made by such other means in lieu of check as shall be agreed upon by the Company, the Trustee and such person.
All terms used in this Security not otherwise defined herein which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture and in the Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of the Securities of this series (the “Series Officer’s Certificate”).
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement dated as of October 1, 2008 (herein, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, for a statement of the property mortgaged, pledged and held in trust, the nature and extent of the security, the conditions upon which the Lien of the Indenture may be released and to the Indenture, Board Resolutions and Series Officer’s Certificate creating the series designated on the face hereof, for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The acceptance of this Security shall be deemed to constitute the consent and agreement by the Holder thereof to all of the terms and provisions of the Indenture. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof.
Securities of this series shall be redeemable at the option of the Company in whole or in part, upon notice mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption (the “Redemption Date”) (i) at any time prior to June 1, 2025, at a price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of Securities of this series being redeemed and (b) as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the Securities being redeemed (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to the Redemption Date), discounted (for purposes of determining such present values) to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 0.35%, and (ii) at any time on or after June 1, 2025, at the Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Securities of this series being redeemed, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date:
(1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the remaining term of the Securities of this series (assuming, for this purpose, that the Securities of this series matured on June 1, 2025), yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month); or
(2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date for the Adjusted Treasury Rate or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
The Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office of the Trustee is closed for business.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities of this series (assuming, for this purpose, that the Securities of this series matured on June 1, 2025) that would be utilized, 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 Securities of this series (assuming, for this purpose, that the Securities of this series matured on June 1, 2025).
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.
“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that we appoint to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time or, if any of such firms is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by each of SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or in each case, an affiliate thereof, 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 will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (2) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with the Company.
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, 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 Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
Notice of redemption (other than at the option of the Holder) shall be given by mail to Holders of Securities all as provided in the Indenture. As provided in the Indenture, notice of redemption at the election of the Company as aforesaid may state that such redemption shall be conditional upon the receipt by the applicable Paying Agent or Agents of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on this Security on or prior to the date fixed for such redemption; a notice of redemption so conditioned shall be of no force or effect if such money is not so received and, in such event, the Company shall not be required to redeem this Security.
In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series of like tenor representing the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture and the Series Officer’s Certificate.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of this series at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding to be directly affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as the Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series at the time Outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein and herein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
The Company shall not be required to execute, and the Security Registrar shall not be required to register, the transfer of or exchange of (a) Securities of this series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is to be given identifying the serial numbers of the Securities of this series called for redemption, (b) any Security during the 15 days before an Interest Payment Date, or (c) any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law or any successor to such statute), except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable.
As provided in the Indenture, no recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities, or any part thereof, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or of the indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement under the Indenture, against, and no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, shareholder, member, limited partner, officer, manager or director, as such, past, present or future of the Company or of any predecessor or successor of the Company (either directly or through the Company or a predecessor or successor of the Company), whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Indenture and all the Securities are solely corporate obligations and that any such personal liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issuance of the Securities.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to herein by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
ENTERGY TEXAS, INC.
By:_______________________________________
Name:
Title:
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee
By:_______________________________________
Authorized Signatory
[Duggins Wren Mann & Romero, LLP LETTERHEAD]
May 21, 2015
Exhibit 5.14
Entergy Texas, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as local Texas counsel for Entergy Texas, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “
Company
”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-190911-04), as amended (the “
Registration Statement
”) relating to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s First Mortgage Bonds 5.15% Series due June 1, 2045 (the “
Bonds
”). The Bonds will be issued pursuant to the Company’s Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement dated as of October 1, 2008, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, (the “
Trustee
”) (the Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, together with the officer’s certificate establishing the terms of the Bonds, being hereinafter referred to as the “
Mortgage
”).
We, as your special Texas counsel, have examined the Registration Statement and the Mortgage, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. As to questions of fact material to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied upon representations and certifications of officers of the Company and appropriate public officials without independent verification of such matters except as otherwise described herein. We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials, and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of rendering this opinion. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to the originals of the documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have not examined the Bonds, except a specimen thereof, and we have relied upon a certificate of the Trustee as to the authentication and delivery thereof.
Subject to the qualifications hereinafter expressed, we are of the following opinion:
The Bonds are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, receivership, fraudulent transfer, preference, moratorium, reorganization or other similar laws affecting enforcement of mortgagees’ and other creditors’ rights and by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, and (ii) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the States of Texas and New York and of the United States of America. To the extent that our opinions relate to or are dependent upon matters governed by the laws of the State of New York, we have relied upon the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP dated May 21, 2015, which is being filed as Exhibit 5.13 to the Registration Statement.
We express no opinion except as explicitly provided herein, and our opinions are based as of the date hereof and are based, in each case, upon existing laws and regulations effective as of the date hereof and
assume the application of such laws and regulations to events that may occur after the date of this letter. We undertake no obligation (a) to advise you of changes that may come to our attention or that become effective after the date hereof or (b) to withdraw, reissue, or supplement the opinions expressed herein as a result of any subsequent change to relevant facts or applicable law or any discovery by us that any assumption or factual conclusion set forth in this letter was incorrect as of the date hereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.14 to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus contained therein. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
This opinion is rendered to you solely in connection with the above-described matters. This opinion may not be relied on by you for any other purpose or relied on or furnished to any other person without our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
/s/ DUGGINS WREN MANN & ROMERO, LLP
DUGGINS WREN MANN & ROMERO, LLP