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Pepco Holdings, Inc. |
(a Delaware corporation) |
6.125% Notes due 2017
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Purchase Agreement
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Dated: June 5, 2007 |
Table of Contents | |||
Page | |||
SECTION 1. | Representations and Warranties. | 3 | |
(a) | Representations and Warranties of the Company. | 3 | |
(i) | Compliance with Securities Law Requirements. | 3 | |
(ii) | Incorporated Documents. | 4 | |
(iii) | Independent Accountants. | 5 | |
(iv) | Financial Statements. | 5 | |
(v) | No Material Adverse Change in Business. | 5 | |
(vi) | Good Standing of the Company. | 5 | |
(vii) | Subsidiaries of the Company. | 5 | |
(viii) | Capitalization. | 6 | |
(ix) | Authorization of this Agreement. | 6 | |
(x) | Authorization of the Indenture. | 6 | |
(xi) | Authorization of the Securities. | 6 | |
(xii) | Description of the Indenture and the Securities. | 6 | |
(xiii) | Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. | 7 | |
(xiv) | Absence of Labor Dispute. | 7 | |
(xv) | Absence of Proceedings. | 7 | |
(xvi) | Description and Filing of Contracts and Documents. | 7 | |
(xvii) | Absence of Further Requirements. | 8 | |
(xviii) | Possession of Licenses and Permits. | 8 | |
(xix) | Title to Property. | 8 | |
(xx) | Leases. | 8 | |
(xxi) | Investment Company Act. | 8 | |
(xxii) | Environmental Laws, | 9 | |
(xxiii) | Internal Controls. | 9 | |
(xxiv) | Compliance with Sarbanes Oxley. | 10 | |
(b) | Officer's Certificates. | 10 | |
SECTION 2. | Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing; Covenants of the Underwriters. | 10 | |
(a) | Securities. | 10 | |
(b) | Payment. | 10 | |
(c) | Denominations; Registration. | 11 | |
(d) | Delivery of Global Securities. | 11 | |
(e) | Notice of Completion. | 11 | |
(f) | Use of Free Writing Prospectuses. | 11 | |
SECTION 3. | Covenants of the Company. | 11 | |
(a) | Preparation and Filing of Term Sheet. | 11 | |
(b) | Preparation and Filing of the Prospectus. | 11 | |
(c) | Review of Amendments and Supplements. | 11 | |
(d) | Free Writing Prospectuses. | 12 | |
(e) | Notification of Commission Comments and Orders, Etc. | 12 | |
(f) | Delivery of Registration Statements. | 12 | |
(g) | Delivery of Prospectuses. | 12 | |
(h) | Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. | 12 |
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(i) | Blue Sky Qualifications. | 13 | |
(j) | Rule 158. | 13 | |
(k) | Use of Proceeds. | 13 | |
(l) | Restriction on Sale of Securities. | 13 | |
SECTION 4. | Payment of Expenses. | 13 | |
(a) | Expenses Payable by the Company. | 13 | |
(b) | Expenses Upon Termination. | 14 | |
SECTION 5. | Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. | 14 | |
(a) | No Stop Order; Commission Filings. | 14 | |
(b) | Opinions off Counsel for Company. | 14 | |
(c) | Opinions off Counsel for Underwriters. | 14 | |
(d) | Officers' Certificate. | 15 | |
(e) | Accountant's Comfort Letter. | 15 | |
(f) | Bring-down Comfort Letter. | 15 | |
(g) | Maintenance of Rating. | 15 | |
(h) | Additional Documents. | 15 | |
(i) | Termination of Agreement | 15 | |
SECTION 6. | Indemnification. | 16 | |
(a) | Indemnification of Underwriters. | 16 | |
(b) | Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. | 16 | |
(c) | Actions against Parties; Notification. | 16 | |
SECTION 7. | Contribution. | 17 | |
SECTION 8. | Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive. | 18 | |
SECTION 9. | Termination of Agreement. | 18 | |
(a) | Termination; General. | 18 | |
(b) | Liabilities | 19 | |
SECTION 10. | Default by One or More of the Underwriters. | 19 | |
SECTION 11. | Notices. | 19 | |
SECTION 12. | Parties in Interest. | 20 | |
SECTION 13. | No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. | 20 | |
SECTOIN 14. | Governing Law and Time. | 20 | |
SECTION 15. | Counterparts. | 20 | |
SECTION 16. | Entire Agreement. | 20 | |
SECTION 17. | Effect of Headings. | 20 |
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SCHEDULES | ||||
Schedule A | - | List of Underwriters. | Sch A-1 | |
Schedule B | - | Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. | Sch B-1 | |
Schedule C | - | Term Sheet. | Sch C-1 | |
Schedule D | - | List of Designated Subsidiaries. | Sch D-1 | |
EXHIBITS | ||||
Exhibit A | - | Form of Opinion of William T. Torgerson, Esq. | A-1 | |
Exhibit B | Form of Opinion of Covington & Burling LLP. | B-1 |
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Pepco Holdings, Inc. | |
(a Delaware corporation) | |
$250,000,000 | |
6.125% Notes due 2017 | |
PURCHASE AGREEMENT | |
June 5, 2007 | |
Merrill Lynch & Co. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated 4 World Financial Center New York, New York 10080 | |
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC Eleven Madison Avenue New York, New York 10010-3629 | |
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters | |
Ladies and Gentlemen: | |
Pepco Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") confirms its agreement ("theAgreement") with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC ("Credit Suisse") and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters", which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the "Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective principal amounts set forth in Schedule A hereto of $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6.125% Notes due 2017 (the "Securities"). | |
The Securities are to be issued under an indenture, dated as of September 6, 2002, between the Company and The Bank of New York, trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by an officer's certificate, to be dated the Closing Time (as hereinafter defined in Section 2(b)), establishing the terms of the Securities, such indenture, as so supplemented, being hereinafter called the "Indenture". | |
The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities promptly after this Agreement has been executed and delivered. | |
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on March 23, 2005 a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-123525), for the registration of securities, including the Securities, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the offer and sale thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations"), and for the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). | |
When used in this Agreement, the following terms have the specified meanings: | |
"Applicable Time" means 3:10 p.m. (Eastern time), on June 5, 2007. | |
"Basic Prospectus" means the base prospectus relating to the Securities filed as part of the Registration Statement, in the form in which it has been most recently filed with the Commission prior to the date of this Agreement. | |
"Disclosure Package" means, collectively, (i) the Pricing Prospectus, (ii) the Term Sheet and (iii) any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule B. | |
"Effective Time" means the date and time of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for purposes of Section 11 of the 1933 Act as it applies to the respective Underwriters. | |
"Issuer Free Writing Prospectus" means (i) the Term Sheet and (ii) any other "issuer free writing prospectus" (as defined by Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations ("Rule 433")) with respect to the Securities. | |
"Preliminary Prospectus" means either (i) the Basic Prospectus or (ii) the Basic Prospectus as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement provided by the Company to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities,in either case as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations ("Rule 424(b)"). | |
"Pricing Prospectus" means the Preliminary Prospectus in the form most recently provided to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities prior to the Applicable Time. | |
"Prospectus" means the Basic Prospectus as supplemented by the final prospectus supplement relating to the offer and sale of the Securities,as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). | |
"Registration Statement" means, with reference to any particular time, the Company's registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-123525), referred to above, including (a) any amendments thereto at such time, (b) the exhibits and schedules thereto at such time and (c) any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) that, in accordance with Rule 430B of the 1933 Act Regulations ("Rule 430B") is deemed to be a part thereof. | |
"Term Sheet" means the term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement. | |
The foregoing definitions are subject to the following qualifications: | |
(a) all references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus or to any the financial statements, schedules or other information that is "contained", "included" or "stated" (or other words of like import) therein shall be deemed to include the information contained in documents filed with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") that are incorporated, or deemed incorporated, therein by reference pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, to the extent such information has not been superseded or modified in accordance with Rule 412 under the 1933 Act (as qualified by Rule 430B(g) of the 1933 Act Regulations) and (i) in the case of references to the "Registration Statement" are filed with the Commission at or prior to the Effective Time and (ii) in the c ase of references to any "Preliminary Prospectus" or the "Prospectus" are filed with the Commission at or prior to the date thereof; | |
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(b) all references in this Agreement to an amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include of any document filed under the 1934 Act subsequent to the date thereof that is deemed incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act; | |
(c) all references in this Agreement to an amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any document filed under the 1934 Act subsequent to the date thereof that is deemed incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act; and | |
(d) all references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR"). | |
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties. | |
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(A) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer Status. At the time of the most recent amendment to the Registration Statement for purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, or form of prospectus), the Company was a "well-known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations. | |
(B) Eligibility to Use Form S-3. At the time of the filing of the Registration Statement and at the time of the most recent amendment to the Registration Statement for purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, the Company met the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. | |
(C) Status and Content of the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement was declared effective under the 1933 Act on April 13, 2005. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted by the Commission or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information with respect to the Registration Statement has been complied with. At the time the Registration Statement was declared effective, at the time of each amendment to the Registration Statement for purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act and at the Effective Time, the Registration Statement, complied in al l material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act Regulations"). At the Effective Time, the Registration Statement did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. | |
(D) Status and Content of the Preliminary Prospectus. Each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time it was filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the 1939 | |
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Act Regulations,and did not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each Preliminary Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission. | |
(E) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities, the Company was not an "ineligible issuer" as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, at the time it was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 (i) did not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement and was not superseded or modified and (ii) complied in all other respects with the requirements of Rule 164 and Rule 433 (without reliance on subsections (b), (c) and (d) of Rule 164). No order preventing or suspending th e use of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission. | |
(F) Content of the Disclosure Package. The Disclosure Package at the Applicable Time did not, and at the Closing Time will not, contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. | |
(G) Status and Content of the Prospectus. At the time the Prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and at the Closing Time, the Prospectus will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act Regulations and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities will be identical to the copy thereof filed electronically with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. | |
The representations and warranties in this subsection (a) shall not apply to any statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter expressly for use therein. | |
(ii) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply, as applicable, in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations") and, when filed did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the information included in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting in resp onse to Item 402 of Regulation S-K under the 1934 Act and incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended | |
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(vii) Subsidiaries of the Company. Each "significant subsidiary" of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X), each of which is listed on Schedule C hereto, and each additional subsidiary listed on Schedule C hereto (together with the significant | |
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(xvi) Description and Filing of Contracts and Documents. All contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the | |
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(xxiii) Internal Controls. (A) The Company has established and maintains the following: |
(I) a system of "internal accounting controls" as contemplated in Section 13(b)(2)(B) of the 1934 Act (the "Accounting Controls"); | |
(II) "disclosure controls and procedures" as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the 1934 Act (the "Disclosure Controls"); and | |
(III) "internal control over financial reporting" as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the 1934 Act (the "Reporting Controls" and, together with the Accounting Controls and the Disclosure Controls, the "Internal Controls"); |
(B) The Internal Controls are evaluated by the Company periodically as appropriate and, in any event, as required by law; | |
(C) Based on the most recent evaluations of the Accounting Controls, the Accounting Controls perform the functions for which they were established in all material respects; | |
(D) As of March 31, 2007 (the most recent date as of which the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Disclosure Controls were evaluated by the Company), the Disclosure Controls were effective to provide reasonable assurance that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries that is required to be disclosed in reports filed with, or submitted to, the Commission under the 1934 Act (I) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission rules and forms and (II) is | |
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accumulated and communicated to management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure; | |
(E) As of December 31, 2006 (the most recent date as of which the Reporting Controls were evaluated by the Company), the Reporting Controls were effective based on criteria established in Internal Control -- Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission; and | |
(F) Since the respective dates as of which the Internal Controls were last evaluated, nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to conclude that (I) the Accounting Controls do not perform the functions for which they were established in all material respects or (II) the Disclosure Controls or the Reporting Controls are not effective (within the meaning of the evaluation standards identified above). | |
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing; Covenants of the Underwriters. | |
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and to make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities which it has agreed to purchase. Either or both of the Representatives, individually and not as representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder. | |
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SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. | |
Prior to the delivery of the Notice of Completion, the Company will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm such notice in writing, when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or shall become effective and when any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed. | |
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(ii) The Company will notify the Representatives promptly if, prior to the delivery of the Notice of Completion, (A) any filing is made by the Company of information relating to the offering of the Securities with any securities exchange or any other regulatory body in the United States or any other jurisdiction or (B) any material change occurs in or affecting the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise that (I) is not disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or (II) makes any statement in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus false or misleading. | |
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(iii) Upon any notification pursuant to clause (ii)(B) above, or if prior to delivery of the Notice of Completion any event shall occur as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Company or of the Underwriters, (A) to amend the Registration Statement in order that it does not, as of the Effective Time, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading or otherwise to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or (B) to amend the Prospectus in order that it does not, as of the time it (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the 1933 Act) is delivered to purchasers, does not contain any untrue statement of materia l fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at such time, not misleading or otherwise to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(c), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. | |
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. | |
(a) Expenses Payable by the Company. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any | |
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SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. | |
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, as of the date of this Agreement, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Time, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof and in all certificates of officers of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to the Closing Time, and to the following further conditions: | |
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SECTION 6. Indemnification. | |
| (i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, (A) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; |
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any untrue statement or omission, or any alleged untrue statement or omission in either case of the nature described in clause (i) above;provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and | |
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above; | |
provided,however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). | |
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially | |
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SECTION 7. Contribution. | |
If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. | |
The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover. | |
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. | |
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, | |
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claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. | |
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. | |
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. | |
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint. | |
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive. | |
All of the respective representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the several Underwriters contained in this Agreement, or in certificates of officers of the Company delivered pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person of any Underwriter , or by or on behalf of the Company, or any director, officer or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. | |
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement. | |
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disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities. | |
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. | |
If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth. If, however, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then: | |
(a) if the amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased hereunder, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or | |
(b) if the amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect with respect to any non-defaulting Underwriter. | |
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default. | |
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10. | |
SECTION 11. Notices. | |
All notices, requests and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if received by mail or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Global Energy and Power, 4 World Financial Center, New York, NY 10080, attention of Mr. Jeffrey Kulik, Managing Director, and at Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, attention of Transaction Advisory Group; and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at 701 Ninth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20068, attention of Treasurer. | |
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SECTION 12. Parties in Interest. | |
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of S ecurities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase. | |
SECTION 13. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. | |
The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm's-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters ) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. | |
SECTION 14. Governing Law and Time. | |
This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.Specified times of day refer to New York City time. | |
SECTION 15. Counterparts. | |
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement. | |
SECTION 16. Entire Agreement. | |
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. | |
SECTION 17. Effect of Headings. | |
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. | |
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms. |
Very truly yours, | ||||
Pepco Holdings, Inc. | ||||
By: | /s/ A. J. KAMERICK Name: Anthony J. Kamerick Title: Vice President & Treasurer | |||
Confirmed And Accepted, as of the date first above written: | ||||
Merrill Lynch & Co. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated | ||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC | ||||
By: | Merrill Lynch & Co. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated | |||
By: | /s/ W. SCOTT TRACHSEL Name: W. Scott Trachsel Title: Director |
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto. |
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SCHEDULE A | ||
Name of Underwriter | Principal Amount ofSecurities | |
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated | 106,250,000 | |
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC | 106,250,000 | |
Lazard Capital Markets LLC | 12,500,000 | |
Mizuho Securities USA Inc. | 12,500,000 | |
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated | 12,500,000 | |
Total | $250,000,000 |
Sch A-1 |
Schedule B |
Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses |
1. Term Sheet attached as Schedule C hereto |
Sch B-1 |
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433 | |||
PEPCO HOLDINGS, INC. | |||
$250,000,000 | |||
6.125% Notes due 2017 | |||
Issuer: | Pepco Holdings, Inc. | ||
Issue: | 6.125% Notes due 2017 | ||
Ratings: | Baa3/BBB-/BBB (Moody's/S&P/Fitch) | ||
Offering Size: | $250,000,000 | ||
Coupon: | 6.125% | ||
Trade Date: | June 5, 2007 | ||
Settlement Date: | June 8, 2007 (T+3) | ||
Stated Maturity: | June 1, 2017 | ||
Initial Public Offering Price: | 99.479% per Note | ||
Proceeds to Issuer (before expenses): | $247,072,500 | ||
Yield to Maturity: | 6.196% | ||
Benchmark Treasury: | 4.50% due May 2017 | ||
Benchmark Treasury Yield: | 4.976% | ||
Spread to Benchmark Treasury: | +122 bps | ||
Optional Redemption: | Make-whole call, 20bps spread over U.S. Treasuries | ||
Interest Payment Dates: | June 1 and December 1 of each year, | ||
CUSIP Number: | 713291 AP 7 | ||
Representatives: | Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
* A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and should be evaluated independently of any other rating. The rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. | |
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the offering to which the communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may obtain these documents free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriters or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at 1-800-221-1037 or Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated toll free at 1-866-500-5408. | |
Sch C-1 | |
SCHEDULE D | |
List of Designated Subsidiaries | |
Atlantic City Electric Company | |
Sch D-1 | |
Exhibit A | |
Form of Opinion of William T. Torgerson, Esq. | |
[LETTERHEAD OF PHI] | |
June [__], 2007 | |
Merrill Lynch & Co. | |
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC | |
as Representatives of the Several Underwriters | |
Ladies and Gentlemen: | |
I am Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Pepco Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of [____]% Notes due June 1, 2017 (the "Securities") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated June [__], 2007, among the Company and Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, for themselves and as representatives of the other underwriters named in Schedule A thereto (the "Purchase Agreement"). The Securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of September 6, 2002 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"). This opinion is being delivered to you in accordance with Sec tion [5(b)] of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. | |
In connection with rendering the opinions set forth herein, I, or my representatives, have reviewed: | |
(i) the Purchase Agreement; | |
(ii) the Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-123525, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on March 23, 2005 (the "Registration Statement"), registering,inter alia, the Securities for sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"); | |
(iii) the preliminary prospectus, consisting of the prospectus, dated April 13, 2005 (the "Basic Prospectus"), as supplemented by a prospectus supplement, dated June [__], 2007, with respect to the offer and sale of the Securities, filed with the Commission on June [__], 2007, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act (the "Pricing Prospectus"); | |
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(iv) the term sheet, dated June [__], 2007, with respect to the offer and sale of the Securities, filed with the Commission on June [__], 2007, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the 1933 Act (the "Term Sheet" and together with the Pricing Prospectus, the "Disclosure Package"); | |
(v) the final prospectus, dated June [___], 2007, consisting of the Basic Prospectus, as supplemented by a prospectus supplement, dated June __, 2007, with respect to the offer and sale of the Securities, filed with the Commission on June [__], 2007, pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) under the 1933 Act (the "Prospectus"); | |
(vi) the Indenture; and | |
(vii) a facsimile copy of the Securities furnished by the Trustee. | |
I, or my representatives, also have examined or caused to be examined originals, or copies that have been certified or otherwise identified to my or their satisfaction as being true copies, of such other instruments, certificates and other documents or records as I or they have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable me to render the opinions set forth below. In my or my representatives' review and examination, I or they have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me or them as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me or them as copies. | |
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the reservations and exceptions set forth herein, I am of the opinion that: | |
1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. | |
2. The Company has corporate power and authority to own or lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement. | |
3. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. | |
4. Each Designated Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and each Designated Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Designated Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable ; the capital stock of each Designated Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from any liens or encumbrances; and to the best of my knowledge the capital stock of each other subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from any liens or encumbrances. | |
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5. The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. | |
6. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. | |
7. The Securities have been duly authorized and executed by the Company, and when the Securities have been (A) authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under the Indenture and (B) issued and delivered by the Company against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in the Purchase Agreement, the Securities will constitute valid securities within the meaning of Section 8-110(a)(1) of the Delaware Uniform Commercial Code. | |
8. The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the 1933 Act, and, to the best of my knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under Section 8(d) of the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted by the Commission or are pending or threatened by the Commission. The Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act and the Term Sheet has been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 433(b) under the 1933 Act. | |
9. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other than the financial statements, including the notes thereto, the financial schedules and the other financial data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which I express no opinion), when they were filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations. | |
10. The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture and the Purchase Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance with the terms thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or Repayment Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company under, (i) any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties that in my experience customarily applies to transactions of the type contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities, (ii) an y agreement or instrument to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject, or (iii) the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any such subsidiary, except, in the cases of clauses (i) and (ii) above, for any such breach, violation, default, Repayment Event or lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has full corporate power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Securities as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement. | |
11. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there is not pending or, to the best of my knowledge, threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which could reasonably be | |
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expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder. | |
12. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Securities by the Company, except such as have already been obtained or such as may be required under state securities laws, and the Company has complied, in all material respects, with all terms and conditions contained in all such consents, approvals, authorizations and orders as have been obtained. | |
I am not passing upon and do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and make no representations that I have independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements, except insofar as such statements refer specifically to me. However, based on my examination of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, on my general familiarity with the affairs of the Company and on my participation in conferences with officials and other representatives of, and other counsel for, the Company, with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent accountants of the Company, and with your representatives and your counsel, I do not believe that (a) the Registration Statement, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement as provided in Rule 430B(f)(2) under the 1933 Act, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (b) the Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (c) the Prospectus, as of its date contained, or the Prospectus, at the Closing Time 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing statement is subject to the qualification that that I am not expressing opinion or belief on the financial statements, including the notes thereto, the financial schedules and the other financial data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. | |
I am a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia, and I express no opinion herein as to any laws other than the laws of the District of Columbia, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the federal laws of the United States and, with respect to the opinions set forth in paragraph 4, the Virginia Stock Corporation Act, the Maryland General Corporation Law and the New Jersey Business Corporation Act. | |
The opinions contained herein are rendered solely for your benefit and may not be relied on by any other person, except that I hereby authorize Dewey Ballantine LLP, in connection with rendering its opinion to you on the date hereof relating to the offer and sale of the Securities, to rely on this opinion with respect to matters governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, the State of Delaware (except such matters that relate expressly to the Company, are governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law and are expressly addressed therein), the Virginia Stock Corporation Act, the Maryland General Corporation Law and the New Jersey Business Corporation Act. The opinions expressed in this letter are limited to the matters set forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred | |
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beyond those opinions expressly stated. I assume no obligation to advise you of any facts that come to my attention, or any changes in law, subsequent to the date hereof. | |
Very truly yours, | |
William T. Torgerson | |
A-5 | |
Exhibit B | |
Form of Opinion of Covington & Burling | |
June [__], 2007 | |
Merrill Lynch & Co. | |
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC | |
as Representatives of the Several Underwriters | |
Ladies and Gentlemen: | |
We have acted as special counsel to Pepco Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of [__]% Notes due June 1, 2017 (the "Securities") pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated June [___], 2007, among the Company and Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, for themselves and as representatives of the other underwriters named in Schedule A thereto (the "Purchase Agreement"). The Securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of September 6, 2002 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"). This opinion is being delivered to you in accordance with Section [5(b)] of the Purchase Agre ement. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings provided in the Purchase Agreement. | |
We have reviewed: | |
(i) the Purchase Agreement; | |
(ii) the Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-123525, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on March 23, 2005 (the "Registration Statement"), registering, inter alia, the Securities for sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"); | |
(iii) the preliminary prospectus, consisting of the prospectus, dated April 13, 2005 (the "Basic Prospectus"), as supplemented by a prospectus supplement, dated June [__], 2007, with respect to the offer and sale of the Securities, filed with the Commission on June [__], 2007, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act (the "Pricing Prospectus"); | |
(iv) the term sheet, dated June [__], 2007, with respect to the offer and sale of the Securities, filed with the Commission on June [__], 2007, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the 1933 Act (the "Term Sheet" and together with the Pricing Prospectus, the "Disclosure Package"); | |
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(v) the final prospectus, dated June [___], 2007, consisting of the Basic Prospectus, as supplemented by a prospectus supplement, dated June [__], 2007, with respect to the offer and sale of the Securities, filed with the Commission on June [__], 2007, pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) under the 1933 Act (the "Prospectus"); | |
(vi) the Indenture; and | |
(vii) a facsimile copy of the Securities furnished by the Trustee. | |
We also have reviewed such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of rendering this opinion. | |
We have assumed that all signatures are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and that all copies of documents submitted to us conform to the originals. We have assumed further that (i) the Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all legal right, power and authority and has obtained all authorizations and approvals of governmental authorities necessary (A) to issue and sell the Securities, and (B) to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, and the Securities, and (ii) the Securities will constitute valid securities within the meaning of Section 8-110(a)(1) of the Delaware Uniform Commercial Code. | |
We have made no investigation for the purpose of verifying the assumptions set forth herein. | |
We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and on information regarding the Company contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. | |
In addition, the qualification in paragraph 5 of this letter "to the best of our knowledge" means the actual knowledge, but not constructive or imputed knowledge, of the attorneys in our firm who have given substantive attention to the transaction that is the subject of this opinion, without any representation or implication that any inquiry has been made with respect to such statements. | |
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that: | |
1. The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. | |
2. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles. The Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). | |
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3. The Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture and have been duly authorized and executed by the Company, and when the Securities have been (A) authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under the Indenture and (B) issued and delivered by the Company against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in the Purchase Agreement, the Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. | |
4. The descriptions of the Securities and the Indenture contained in the Prospectus are accurate in all material respects. | |
5. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the 1933 Act; the Term Sheet, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 433(b) and Rule 424(b), respectively, under the 1933 Act; and, to the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the Commission. | |
6. The Registration Statement, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement as provided in Rule 430B(f)(2) under the 1933 Act, and the Prospectus, as of the date thereof (excluding the documents incorporated in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus by reference and other than the financial statements, including the notes thereto, the financial schedules and the other financial and statistical data included therein, as to which we express no opinion) complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and with the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. | |
7. The Company is not, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated by the Prospectus and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. | |
Our opinions in paragraphs 2 and 3 above are subject to the following limitations and qualifications: | |
(a) We express no opinion as to: |
(i) | waivers of defenses or other rights or benefits bestowed by operation of law; |
(ii) | releases or waivers of unmatured claims or rights; |
(iii) | provisions requiring amendments and waivers to be in writing; |
(iv) | provisions making notices effective even if not actually received; or |
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(v) | provisions purporting to make a party's determination conclusive. |
(b) We express no opinion as to any right of setoff, bankers lien or counterclaim or right to the application of property in the possession or control of the Trustee. | |
In addition, in accordance with our understanding with the Company as to the scope of our services in connection with the offering of the Securities, as special counsel to the Company, we reviewed the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and participated in discussions with your representatives and those of the Company, your counsel and the Company's accountants. On the basis of the information which was reviewed by us in the course of the performance of the services referred to above, considered in the light of our understanding of the applicable law and the experience we have gained through our practice under the Federal securities laws, we confirm to you that nothing came to our attention in the course of such review which has caused us to believe that (a) the Registration Statement, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement as provided in Rule 430B(f)(2) under the 1933 Act, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (b) the Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time (as specified in the Purchase Agreement), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (c) the Prospectus, as of its date or as of the date hereof, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. | |
The limitations inherent in the independent verification of factual matters and the character of determinations involved in the registration process are such, however, that we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, except as specified in paragraph 4 above. Also, we do not express any opinion or belief as to the financial statements, including the notes thereto, the financial schedules and the other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. | |
We are members of the bar of the District of Columbia and the State of New York. We do not express any opinion on any laws other than the laws of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law and, to the extent expressly referred to herein, the Federal laws of the United States. | |
This letter is given to you as Representatives of the several Underwriters and is solely for the benefit of the several Underwriters. It may not be disclosed to or relied upon any other person without our written consent. | |
Very truly yours, | |
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