Exhibit 4.42
Execution Version
SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
between
MICHIGAN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Trustee
Dated as of December 5, 2014
Supplementing the First Mortgage Indenture dated as of December 10, 2003, as heretofore supplemented
THIS INSTRUMENT CONTAINS AFTER-ACQUIRED PROPERTY PROVISIONS
Establishing a series of Securities designated 4.19% Senior Secured Notes due 2044
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION | 6 |
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ARTICLE TWO TITLE, FORM AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES | 12 |
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Section 2.01. The Notes | 12 |
Section 2.02. Payment on the Notes | 13 |
Section 2.03. Mandatory Redemption of the Notes | 14 |
Section 2.04. Optional Redemption | 15 |
Section 2.05. Purchase of Notes | 15 |
Section 2.06. Payment upon Event of Default | 16 |
Section 2.07. Transfers | 16 |
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ARTICLE THREE ADDITIONAL COVENANTS | 16 |
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Section 3.01. Affirmative Covenants of the Company | 16 |
Section 3.02. Negative Covenants of the Company | 17 |
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ARTICLE FOUR ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 18 |
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Section 4.01. Events of Default | 18 |
Section 4.02. Acceleration of Maturity | 19 |
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ARTICLE FIVE MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 19 |
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Section 5.01. Execution of Seventh Supplemental Indenture | 19 |
Section 5.02. Effect of Headings | 20 |
Section 5.03. Successors and Assigns | 20 |
Section 5.04. Severability Clause | 20 |
Section 5.05. Benefit of Seventh Supplemental Indenture | 20 |
Section 5.06. Execution and Counterparts | 20 |
Section 5.07. Conflict with Mortgage Indenture | 20 |
Section 5.08. Recitals | 20 |
Section 5.09. Governing Law | 21 |
Section 5.10. Interpretation of Financial Covenants | 21 |
Schedule 1 | Recording Information |
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Exhibit A | Description of Properties |
Exhibit B | Subordination Terms |
Exhibit C | Form of Note |
SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE”), dated as of December 5, 2014, between MICHIGAN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC, a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 27175 Energy Way, Novi, Michigan 48377, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), the office of the Trustee at which on the date hereof its corporate trust business is administered being 2 N. LaSalle, Suite 1020, Chicago, Illinois 60602.
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee a First Mortgage Indenture dated as of December 10, 2003 (the “Original Mortgage Indenture”), as amended and supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of November 25, 2008, (together with the Original Mortgage Indenture, the “Mortgage Indenture”) encumbering the real property interests as more particularly described on Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached to the Original Mortgage Indenture, on Exhibit A to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture thereto, Exhibit A to the Fifth Supplemental Indenture thereto and Exhibit A to the Sixth Supplemental Indenture thereto, and providing for (i) the issuance by the Company from time to time of its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (in the Mortgage Indenture and herein called the “Debt Securities”) to be issued in one or more series and to provide security for the payment of the principal of and premium (including any Make-Whole Amount), if any, and interest, if any, on the Debt Securities and (ii) the issuance from time to time of Collateral Securities (as defined in the Mortgage Indenture) (together with the Debt Securities, in the Mortgage Indenture and herein called the “Securities”); and
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered the following supplemental indentures, each dated as hereinafter set forth:
Instrument |
| Date |
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First Supplemental Indenture |
| December 10, 2003 |
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Second Supplemental Indenture |
| December 10, 2003 |
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Third Supplemental Indenture |
| November 25, 2008 |
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Fourth Supplemental Indenture |
| December 11, 2008 |
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Fifth Supplemental Indenture |
| April 20, 2010 |
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Sixth Supplemental Indenture |
| October 5, 2012 |
WHEREAS, the Original Mortgage Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture listed in the foregoing paragraph were recorded in the offices set forth in Schedule 1 attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, there have heretofore been issued under the Indenture the following Securities in the principal amounts as follows:
Title |
| Issued |
| Principal Amount |
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5.75% Senior Secured Notes, due 2015 |
| December 10, 2003 |
| $ | 175,000,000 |
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Senior Secured Bonds, Collateral Series A |
| December 10, 2003 (Discharged on March 29, 2007) |
| $ | 35,000,000 |
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6.63% Senior Secured Notes due 2014 |
| December 11, 2008 |
| $ | 50,000,000 |
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5.64% Senior Secured Notes due 2040 |
| May 6, 2010 |
| $ | 50,000,000 |
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3.98% Senior Secured Notes due 2042 |
| October 26, 2012 |
| $ | 75,000,000 |
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WHEREAS, in addition to the property described in the Original Mortgage Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the Company has acquired certain other property, rights, and interests in property; and
WHEREAS, the Company, in the exercise of the power and authority conferred upon and reserved to it under the provisions of the Mortgage Indenture and pursuant to a Company Resolution, has duly determined to make, execute and deliver to the Trustee this Seventh Supplemental Indenture to the Mortgage Indenture as permitted by Sections 201, 301 and 1201 of the Mortgage Indenture in order to establish the form and terms of, and to provide for the creation and issuance of, a series of Securities under the Mortgage Indenture in an aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000 and to amend and supplement the Mortgage Indenture as herein provided; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Notes (as defined herein), when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent and issued upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter and in the Mortgage Indenture set forth against payment therefor the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company and to make this Seventh Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal agreement of the Company, have been done;
GRANTING CLAUSES
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH that, in order to establish the terms of a series of Securities, and for and in consideration of the premises and of the covenants contained in the Mortgage Indenture and in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in order to secure the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, and all other amounts (including, without limitation, fees, expenses and indemnities) in connection with, all Securities from time to time Outstanding and the performance of the covenants therein and herein contained and to declare the terms and conditions on which such Securities are secured, the Company hereby grants, bargains, sells, conveys, assigns, transfers, mortgages, pledges, sets over and confirms to the Trustee, and grants to the Trustee, for itself and for the benefit of the Holders, with power of sale, a lien upon and a security interest in, the following (subject, however, to the terms and conditions set forth in the Mortgage Indenture and herein):
GRANTING CLAUSE FIRST
All right, title and interest of the Company, as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, as originally executed and delivered, in and to all of the following property:
(a) all real property owned in fee and other interests in real property located in the State of Michigan or wherever else situated including, but not limited to, such property as described in Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached to the Original Mortgage Indenture, Exhibit A attached to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, Exhibit A attached to the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, Exhibit A attached to the Sixth Supplemental Indenture and Exhibit A attached hereto;
(b) the entire easement estate created under and by virtue of the Easement Agreement (as defined in Section 101 of the Original Mortgage Indenture), including any interest in any fee, or greater or lesser title to such easement estate, including, without limitation, the Company’s interest in the parcels of real property described in Exhibit B attached to the Original Mortgage Indenture for purposes of local recording of the Indenture (collectively, the “Easement Land”) and the Improvements (as defined below) that the Company may own or hereafter acquire (whether acquired pursuant to a right or option contained in the Easement Agreement or otherwise) and all credits, deposits, options, privileges and rights of the Company under the Easement Agreement (including all rights of use, occupancy and enjoyment) and under any amendments, supplements, extensions, renewals, restatements, replacements and modifications thereof (including, without limitation, (i) the right to give consents, (ii) the right to receive moneys payable to the Company, (iii) the right to renew or extend the Easement Agreement for a succeeding term or terms, (iv) the right, if any, to purchase the Real Estate (as defined below) and (v) the right to terminate or modify the Easement Agreement); all of the Company’s claims and rights to the payment of damages arising under the Bankruptcy Code (as defined in Section 101 of the Original Mortgage Indenture) from any rejection of the Easement Agreement by the grantor thereunder or any other party (such parcel(s) of real property (including the real property owned in fee and the Easement Land and the Company’s easement estate), together with all of the buildings, improvements, structures and fixtures now or subsequently located thereon (the “Improvements”) are collectively referred to as the “Real Estate”);
(c) the Improvements or any part thereof (whether owned in fee by the Company or held pursuant to the Easement Agreement or otherwise) and all the estate, right, title, claim or demand whatsoever of the Company, in possession or expectancy, in and to the Real Estate or any part thereof;
(d) all rights of way, gores of land, streets, ways, alleys, passages, sewer rights, waters, water courses, water and riparian rights, development rights, air rights, mineral rights and all estates, rights, titles, interests, privileges, licenses, tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging, relating or appertaining to the Real Estate, and any reversions, remainders, rents, issues, profits and revenue thereof and all land lying in the bed of any street, road or avenue, in front of or adjoining the Real Estate to the center line thereof (the assets described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above and this clause (d) are collectively referred to as the “Real Property”);
(e) all fixtures, towers, pole structures, poles, crossarms, wires, cables, conduits, guys, anchors, transformers, insulators, substations, switching stations, chattels, business machines, machinery, apparatus, equipment, furnishings, fittings and articles of personal property of every kind and nature whatsoever, and all appurtenances and additions thereto and substitutions or replacements thereof (together with, in each case, attachments, components, parts and accessories) currently owned or subsequently acquired by the Company and now or subsequently attached to, or contained in or used or usable in any way in connection with any operation or letting of the Real Estate, including but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all screens, awnings, shades, blinds, curtains, draperies, artwork, carpets, rugs, storm doors and windows, furniture and furnishings, heating, electrical, and mechanical
equipment, lighting, switchboards, plumbing, ventilating, air conditioning and air-cooling apparatus, refrigerating, and incinerating equipment, escalators, elevators, loading and unloading equipment and systems, stoves, ranges, laundry equipment, cleaning systems (including window cleaning apparatus), telephones, communication systems (including satellite dishes and antennae), televisions, computers, sprinkler systems and other fire prevention and extinguishing apparatus and materials, security systems, motors, engines, machinery, pipes, pumps, tanks, conduits, appliances, fittings and fixtures of every kind and description and all other assets that constitute “Equipment” as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code (all of the foregoing in this clause (e), collectively being referred to as the “Equipment”);
(f) all substitutes and replacements of, and all additions and improvements to, the Real Estate and the Equipment, subsequently acquired by or released to the Company or constructed, assembled or placed by the Company on the Real Estate, immediately upon such acquisition, release, construction, assembling or placement, including, without limitation, any and all building materials whether stored at the Real Estate or offsite, and, in each such case, without any further mortgage, conveyance, assignment or other act by the Company;
(g) all leases, subleases, underlettings, concession agreements, management agreements, licenses and other agreements relating to the use or occupancy of the Real Estate or the Equipment or any part thereof, now existing or subsequently entered into by the Company and whether written or oral and all guarantees of any of the foregoing (collectively, as any of the foregoing may be amended, restated, extended, renewed or modified from time to time, the “Leases”), and all rights of the Company in respect of cash and securities deposited thereunder and the right to receive and collect the revenues, income, rents, issues and profits thereof, together with all other rents, royalties, issues, profits, revenue, income and other benefits arising from the use and enjoyment of the Mortgaged Property (collectively, the “Rents”), including, but not limited to, all rights conferred by Act No. 210 of the Michigan Public Acts of 1953 as amended by Act No. 151 of the Michigan Public Acts of 1966 (MCLA 554.231 et seq.), and Act No. 228 of the Michigan Public Acts of 1925 as amended by Act No. 55 of the Michigan Public Acts of 1933 (MCLA 554.211 et seq.);
(h) all trade names, trade marks, logos, copyrights, good will and books and records relating to or used in connection with the operation of the Real Estate or the Equipment or any part thereof, all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks, trademark licenses, technology, know-how and processes, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom; all general intangibles related to the operation of the Improvements now existing or hereafter arising and all other assets that constitute “Intellectual Property” as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code (all of the foregoing in this clause (h), collectively being referred to as “Intellectual Property”);
(i) all unearned premiums under insurance policies now or subsequently obtained by the Company relating to the Real Estate or Equipment and the Company’s interest in and to all proceeds of any such insurance policies (including title insurance policies) including the right to collect and receive such proceeds, subject to the provisions relating to insurance generally set forth below; and all awards and other compensation, including the interest payable thereon and the right to collect and receive the same, made to the present or any subsequent owner of the Real Estate or Equipment for the taking by eminent domain, condemnation or otherwise, of all or any part of the Real Estate or any easement or other right therein;
(j) all contracts from time to time executed by the Company or any Manager or agent on its behalf relating to the ownership, construction, maintenance, repair, operation, occupancy, sale
or financing of the Real Estate or Equipment or any part thereof and all agreements relating to the purchase or lease of any portion of the Real Estate or any property which is adjacent or peripheral to the Real Estate, together with the right to exercise such options and all leases of Equipment; all consents, licenses, building permits, certificates of occupancy and other Governmental Approvals (to the extent constituting property) relating to construction, completion, occupancy, use or operation of the Real Estate or any part thereof; and all drawings, plans, specifications and similar or related items relating to the Real Estate (all of the foregoing in this clause (j) being referred to as “Real Estate Contracts”);
(k) any and all moneys now or subsequently on deposit for the payment of real estate taxes or special assessments against the Real Estate or for the payment of premiums on insurance policies covering the foregoing property or otherwise on deposit with or held by the Company as provided in the Indenture;
(l) any right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, (i) for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned or otherwise disposed of, (ii) for services rendered or to be rendered, (iii) for a policy of insurance issued or to be issued, (iv) for a secondary obligation incurred or to be incurred, (v) for energy provided or to be provided, (vi) for the use or hire of a vessel under a charter or other contract, (vii) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card, or (viii) as winnings in a lottery or other game of chance operated or sponsored by a state, governmental unit of a state, or person licensed or authorized to operate the game by a state or governmental unit of the state;
(m) all Accounts;
(n) all Chattel Paper;
(o) all Contracts;
(p) all Deposit Accounts;
(q) all Documents;
(r) all General Intangibles;
(s) all Instruments;
(t) all Inventory;
(u) all Investment Property;
(v) all Letter of Credit Rights;
(w) all other property not otherwise described above;
(x) all books and records pertaining to the Mortgaged Property; and
(y) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds, Supporting Obligations and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.
GRANTING CLAUSE SECOND
All right, title and interest of the Company in all property described in the foregoing Granting Clause First, which may be hereafter acquired by the Company, it being the intention of the Company that all such property and all such rights, title and interests acquired by the Company after the date of the execution and delivery of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, as originally executed and delivered, shall be as fully embraced within and subjected to the Lien hereof as if such property were owned by the Company as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, as originally executed and delivered;
GRANTING CLAUSE THIRD
All tenements, hereditaments, servitudes and appurtenances belonging or in any way appertaining to the aforesaid property, with the reversions and remainders thereof;
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all such property, unto the Trustee, its successors in trust and their assigns forever;
IN TRUST, for the equal and ratable benefit and security of the Holders from time to time of all Outstanding Securities without any priority of any such Security over any other such Security;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right, title and interest of the Trustee in and to the Mortgaged Property shall cease, terminate and become void in accordance with, and subject to the conditions set forth in, Article Seven or Article Twelve of the Original Mortgage Indenture, and if, thereafter, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, and any other amounts (including, without limitation, fees, expenses and indemnities) in connection with, the Securities shall have been paid to the Holders thereof, or shall have been paid to the Company pursuant to Section 603 of the Original Mortgage Indenture, then and in that case the Indenture shall terminate, and the Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Company such instruments as the Company shall require to evidence such termination; otherwise the Indenture, and the estate and rights hereby granted, shall be and remain in full force and effect;
IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED AND AGREED by and between the Company and the Trustee that all the Securities are to be authenticated and delivered, and that the Mortgaged Property is to be held, subject to the further covenants, conditions and trusts set forth in the Indenture; and
THE PARTIES HEREBY COVENANT AND AGREE as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
(a) Mortgage Indenture Definitions. Each capitalized term that is used herein and is defined in the Mortgage Indenture shall have the meaning specified in the Mortgage Indenture unless such term is otherwise defined herein; provided, however, that any reference to a “Section” or “Article” refers to a Section or Article, as the case may be, of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, unless otherwise expressly stated.
(b) Additional Definitions. For purposes of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) in the equity of such Person, including, without limitation, all partnership interests, limited liability company membership or other interests, common stock and preferred stock and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.
“Closing Date” has the meaning assigned to that term in Schedule B to the Note Agreement.
“Change in Ownership” means and shall be deemed to have occurred if Holdco ceases to own, directly or indirectly, 85% of the Capital Stock of the Company.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Controlled Group” means, when used with respect to the Company, all members of a controlled group of corporations and all members of a controlled group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with such Person, are treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
“Dispose” or “Disposition” means a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of any assets of the Company.
“Easement Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Easement Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2002, between the Company and Consumers, as amended and supplemented to date.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, licenses or legally enforceable governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to that term in Article Four of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
“FERC” means the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
“Financing Agreements” means the Mortgage Indenture, this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Note Agreement and the Notes.
“Hazardous Material” means any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes or other substances that could be reasonably expected to pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which could be reasonably expected to be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage or filtration of which is restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law including, but not limited to, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances.
“Holdco” means ITC Holdings Corp., a Michigan corporation.
“Indenture” means the Original Mortgage Indenture, as supplemented and modified by any and all indentures supplemental thereto, including this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
“Initial Noteholder” means each Noteholder listed on Schedule A to the Note Agreement purchasing any Notes on the Closing Date.
“Institutional Investor” means (a) any Initial Noteholder, (b) any holder of more than $5,000,000 of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes and (c) any bank, trust company, other financial institution, pension plan, investment company, insurance company, or similar financial institution.
“Investment” or “Invest” means (a) a purchase or acquisition of, or an investment or reinvestment in, Rate Base Assets or (b) without duplication, the making of a firm, good faith contractual commitment, in the ordinary course of business and not subject to any conditions in the Company’s control, to purchase or acquire, or invest or reinvest in, Rate Base Assets.
“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any Note, an amount, as determined by the Company, equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the amount of such Called Principal; provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:
“Called Principal” means, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be redeemed pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.04 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 802 of the Mortgage Indenture, as the context requires.
“Discounted Value” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.
“Reinvestment Yield” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, 0.50% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported, as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” on the Bloomberg Financial Markets Services Screen (or such other display as may replace Page PX1 on the Bloomberg Financial Markets Services Screen) for the most recently issued actively traded on the run U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded on the run U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called
Principal as of such Settlement Date. In the case of each determination under clause (i) or clause (ii), as the case may be, of the preceding sentence, such implied yield will be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond-equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the applicable actively traded on the run U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than such Remaining Average Life and (2) the applicable traded actively traded on the run U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the interest rate of the applicable Note.
“Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.
“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date; provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the Notes, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.04 or Section 802 of the Mortgage Indenture.
“Settlement Date” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be redeemed pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.04 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 802 of the Mortgage Indenture, as the context requires.
“Material” means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company, (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any Financing Agreement (including, the timely payments of principal of, or Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on, the Notes), (c) the legality, validity or enforceability of the Financing Agreements or (d) the perfection or priority of the Liens purported to be created pursuant to the Indenture or the rights and remedies of the Noteholders with respect thereto.
“MISO” means the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
“Mortgage Indenture” has the meaning assigned to that term in the first Recital.
“Net Proceeds” means, with respect to any Disposition of assets, the gross proceeds thereof (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment, installment, price adjustment
or otherwise), whether in cash or otherwise, net of any taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be paid as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions applicable thereto).
“Note” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.01(a).
“Note Agreement” means that certain Note Purchase Agreement, expected to be dated as of December 17, 2014, between the Company and the Initial Noteholders.
“Noteholders” means (a) the Initial Noteholders and (b) each subsequent holder of a Note as shown on the register maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 305 of the Mortgage Indenture.
“OATT” means, at any given time, the open access transmission tariff of MISO that is applicable to the Company, approved by the FERC and then in effect.
“Original Mortgage Indenture” has the meaning assigned to that term in the first Recital.
“Pension Plan” means shall mean a “pension plan”, as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), and to which the Company or any corporation, trade or business that is, along with the Company, a member of a Controlled Group, is a contributing employer or a sponsor.
“Rate Base Assets” means assets of the Company which are included in FERC’s determination of the Company’s revenue requirement under the OATT.
“Reputable Insurer” means any financially sound and responsible insurance provider permitted to do business in the State of Michigan rated “A-” or better by A.M. Best Company (or if such ratings cease to be published generally for the insurance industry, meeting comparable financial standards then applicable to the insurance industry).
“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Company, means any Senior Financial Officer or any vice president of the Company or Holdco and any other officer of the Company or Holdco with responsibility for the administration of the relevant Financing Agreement, or portion thereof.
“Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer, comptroller or any vice president of Holdco.
“Seventh Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introductory paragraph hereof.
“Subordinated Debt” means unsecured Debt of the Company fully subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and other Senior Secured Debt substantially on the terms set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto.
“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any Corporation or other business entity in which such Person beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding voting securities thereof.
“Transmission Documents” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Note Agreement.
(c) For purposes of the Notes, pursuant to Section 301(22) of the Mortgage Indenture, the Mortgage Indenture is hereby supplemented as follows:
(i) The following Section 116 shall be added immediately following Section 115:
Section 116. Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.
(a) The Company irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b) The Company consents to process being served by or on behalf of the Trustee or any Holder in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 116(a) by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to it at its address specified in Section 15 of the Note Agreement or at such other address of which the Trustee or any such Holder shall then have been notified pursuant to said Section. The Company agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it. Notices hereunder shall be conclusively presumed received as evidenced by a delivery receipt furnished by the United States Postal Service or any reputable commercial delivery service.
(c) Nothing in this Section 116 shall affect the right of the Trustee or any Holder to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the Trustee or any Holder may have to bring proceedings against the Company in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.
(d) THE PARTIES HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(ii) The following provisions shall be added immediately following Section 903(13):
(14) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, any provision of any law or regulation or any act of any governmental authority; acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services (it being understood that the Trustee shall maintain a business continuity plan and otherwise use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to avoid and mitigate the effects of such occurrences and to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances); accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action; and
(15) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(iii) The following sentence shall be added immediately following the last sentence of Section 1004:
Delivery of such information, documents and other reports to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
ARTICLE TWO
TITLE, FORM AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
Section 2.01.The Notes.
(a) The Securities of this series to be issued under the Mortgage Indenture pursuant to this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall be designated as “4.19% Senior Secured Notes due 2044” (the “Notes”) and shall be Debt Securities issued under the Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Notes for original issue on the Closing Date in the aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000, upon a Company Order for the authentication and delivery thereof pursuant to Section 401 of the Mortgage Indenture.
(c) Interest on the Notes shall be payable to the Persons in whose names such Notes are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest (as specified in subsection (e) below), except as otherwise expressly provided in the form of such Notes attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(d) The Notes shall mature and the principal thereof shall be due and payable together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon on December 15, 2044.
(e) The Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 4.19% per annum; provided that, to the extent permitted by law, any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest and any overdue payment of any Make-Whole Amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 6.19% and (ii) 2.0% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from time to time in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate. Interest shall accrue on the Notes from the Closing Date, or the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. The Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be June 15 and December 15 in each year, commencing June 15, 2015, and the Regular Record Dates with respect to the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be the 15th calendar day preceding each Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day); provided, however, that interest payable at Maturity will be payable to the Noteholder to whom principal is payable.
(f) Subject to Section 2.02, the office or agency of the Trustee in New York, New York, which as of the date hereof is located at c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, Trust Services Window, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, shall be the place at which the principal of
and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be payable. The office or agency of the Trustee in New York, New York, which as of the date hereof is located at c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, Trust Services Window, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, shall be the place at which registration of transfer of the Notes may be effected; and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall be the Security Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Notes; provided, however, that the Company reserves the right to designate, by one or more Officer’s Certificates, its principal office in Novi, Michigan as any such place or itself as the Security Registrar; provided, however, that there shall be only a single Security Registrar for the Notes.
(g) The Notes shall be issuable in registered form in denominations of at least $250,000 or any integral multiple thereof.
(h) The Notes shall not be defeasible pursuant to Section 702 of the Mortgage Indenture and such Section of the Mortgage Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.
(i) The Notes shall have such other terms and provisions as are provided in the form thereof attached hereto as Exhibit C, and shall be issued in substantially such form.
Section 2.02.Payment on the Notes.
(a) Subject to Section 2.02(b), payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made at the Place of Payment designated in Section 2.01(f) or such place as the Company may at any time, by notice, specify to each Noteholder, so long as such Place of Payment shall be either the principal office of the Company or the principal office of a bank or trust company in New York, New York.
(b) So long as any Initial Noteholder or its nominee shall be a Noteholder, and notwithstanding anything contained in the Indenture, Section 2.02(a) or in such Note to the contrary, the Company will pay all sums becoming due on such Note for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose below such Initial Noteholder’s name in Schedule A to the Note Agreement, or by such other method or at such other address as such Initial Noteholder shall have from time to time specified to the Company and the Trustee in writing for such purpose in accordance with the Note Agreement, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the making of any notation thereon, except that concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or redemption in full of any Note, such Initial Noteholder shall surrender such Note for cancellation to the Company at its principal office or at the Place of Payment most recently designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.02(a). Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Note held by such Initial Noteholder or its nominee such Initial Noteholder will, at its election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company in exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to Section 305 of the Indenture; provided, that a transfer by endorsement shall not constitute a registration of transfer for purposes of the Indenture and the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee shall be entitled to the protections of Section 308 of the Indenture with respect to any Note, the transfer of which has not been so registered. The Company will afford the benefits of this Section 2.02(b) to any Institutional Investor that is the direct or indirect transferee of any Note purchased by such Initial Noteholder under the Indenture. The Company agrees and acknowledges that the Trustee shall not be liable for any Noteholder’s failure to perform its obligations under this Section 2.02(b). Each Initial Noteholder and any such Institutional Investor by its purchase of its Note agrees to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with such Noteholder’s or Institutional Investor’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.02(b), including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in
connection therewith, such indemnity to survive the payment of such Notes and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 113 of the Mortgage Indenture, if the Stated Maturity or any Redemption Date of the Notes shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Mortgage Indenture or this Seventh Supplemental Indenture) payment of interest on or principal (and premium, if any) of the Notes due at the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date thereof need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date thereof, provided that interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal amount of the Notes due at the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date thereof at the rate set forth in the Notes until the date of actual payment.
Section 2.03.Mandatory Redemption of the Notes.
In addition to the mandatory redemption required by Section 501(a) of the Mortgage Indenture, which Section 501(a) shall apply to the Notes, in the event that any one or more Dispositions during any consecutive 12 month period (except, subject to compliance with Section 610 of the Mortgage Indenture, Dispositions in the ordinary course of business of obsolete or worn out Property and real estate interests not needed by the Company for its Transmission System or for the conduct of its business and Dispositions of assets that would be permitted under Article Eleven of the Mortgage Indenture) yield Net Proceeds in excess of $10,000,000, in the aggregate, the Net Proceeds of such Disposition or Dispositions shall be used for the mandatory redemption of the Notes, and/or the redemption or prepayment of other Senior Secured Debt in accordance with its terms, on a date which is no more than nine months following a Disposition that, when aggregated with any other Dispositions, requires compliance with this Section 2.03 unless (x) during the nine month period immediately preceding the date of such Disposition, the Company Invested in any Rate Base Assets in which case an amount of such Net Proceeds equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the total aggregate amount of all such Investments made during such preceding nine month period (excluding, however, the amount of any Investments made pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of “Investment” that were not expended for Rate Base Assets during such nine month period) over (B) the aggregate amount of Debt incurred by the Company (which, with respect to any Debt incurred under any permitted credit facility of a revolving nature, shall be calculated on a net basis after taking into account any borrowings, prepayments, repayments, reborrowings or other extensions of credit made by or in favor of the Company thereunder), in each case, during such preceding nine month period, need not be applied to such redemption or prepayment, as the case may be, or (y) during the nine month period following the date of such Disposition, the Company shall Invest in Rate Base Assets, in which case an amount of such Net Proceeds so Invested during such following nine month period need not be applied to such redemption or prepayment, as the case may be; provided, however, that in the event that any such amounts referred to in this clause (y) Invested pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of “Investment” are not expended for Rate Base Assets within a period of six months from the end of such following nine month period, any such amounts not so expended shall be used for the mandatory redemption of the Notes, and/or the redemption or prepayment of other Senior Secured Debt in accordance with its terms, on a date not later than the last day of such six month period. Any redemption of the Notes pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be made (i) at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed and shall be accompanied by payment of accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes so redeemed to the redemption date and a Make-Whole Amount and (ii) in accordance with the procedures for optional redemption set forth in Section 2.04(c) below. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.03, any amounts utilized pursuant to clauses (x) or (y) above to reduce the amount of Net Proceeds required to be applied to redemption of the Notes and/or redemption or prepayment of other Senior Secured Debt in accordance with its terms may be
utilized no more than once with respect to the Net Proceeds of any one or more Dispositions occurring in any consecutive twelve month period.
Section 2.04.Optional Redemption.
(a) Pursuant to Section 501(b) of the Mortgage Indenture, the Notes may be redeemed at the option of Company, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of such Notes plus the Make-Whole Amount plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date; provided, however, that if the Notes are redeemed in part, the Notes shall not be redeemed in an amount less than $5,000,000 of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding.
(b) Pursuant to Section 501(b) of the Mortgage Indenture, the Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company, in whole, on or after June 15, 2044 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article Five of the Mortgage Indenture, the redemption of the Notes shall take place in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in this Section 2.04(c), without prejudice to the requirements of Section 502 (which shall for purposes of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture also be applicable to a redemption under Section 2.03) and Sections 505 through 507 of the Mortgage Indenture. The Company (or the Trustee, if so requested pursuant to Section 504 of the Mortgage Indenture) shall give each Noteholder written notice of each optional redemption under this Section 2.04, or a mandatory redemption under Section 2.03, as the case may be, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption. Each such notice shall specify such date, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed on such date, the principal amount of each Note held by such Noteholder to be redeemed (determined in accordance with Section 2.04(d)) and the interest to be paid on the redemption date with respect to such principal amount being redeemed, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount, if applicable, due in connection with such redemption (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the redemption), setting forth the details of such computation. Two Business Days prior to such redemption, the Company shall deliver to each Noteholder and the Trustee a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount, if applicable, as of the specified redemption date. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation. From and after the date of such redemption, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article Five of the Mortgage Indenture, in the case of each partial redemption of the Notes pursuant to Section 2.04(c), the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed shall be allocated by the Trustee among all of the Notes at the time Outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofor called for redemption.
Section 2.05.Purchase of Notes.
Except as may be agreed to by a Noteholder or Noteholders in connection with an offer made to all Noteholders on the same terms and conditions, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the Outstanding Notes except upon the payment or redemption of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. The Company will promptly cause the Trustee to cancel all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant
to any payment, redemption or purchase of Notes pursuant to any provision of the Indenture and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.
Section 2.06.Payment upon Event of Default.
Upon any Notes becoming due and payable under Section 802 of the Indenture, whether automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire unpaid principal amount of such Notes, plus (x) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, without limitation, interest accrued thereon at the applicable rate for overdue payments) and (y) the Make-Whole Amount determined in respect of such principal amount (to the full extent permitted by applicable Law), shall all be immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice, all of which are hereby waived. The Company acknowledges that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and that the provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount by the Company in the event that the Notes have become due and payable under Section 802 of the Indenture, whether automatically or by declaration, as a result of an Event of Default, is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.
Section 2.07.Transfers.
In registering the transfer of any Note in accordance with Section 305 of the Mortgage Indenture, the Security Registrar and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to monitor securities law compliance in connection with any such transfer.
ARTICLE THREE
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
Section 3.01.Affirmative Covenants of the Company.
For purposes of the Notes, pursuant to Section 301(20) of the Mortgage Indenture, Article Six of the Mortgage Indenture is hereby supplemented by (i) deeming each reference to the phrase “Material Adverse Effect” in Article Six of the Mortgage Indenture to be a reference to the phrase “Material Adverse Effect” as defined in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture and (ii) incorporating therein the following additional affirmative covenants which the Company shall observe solely for the benefit of the Noteholders for so long as any Note is Outstanding:
(a) Maintenance and Operation of Properties. The Company shall maintain and preserve, develop, and operate in substantial conformity with all Transmission Documents, applicable Law, Good Utility Practices, and all material Governmental Approvals, all elements of the Transmission System which are used or necessary in the conduct of its businesses in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to so maintain and preserve, develop and operate the Transmission System would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Maintenance of Insurance. At any time and from time to time, the Company shall provide or cause to be provided, for itself and its assets (including the Transmission System and related equipment), insurance with Reputable Insurers (or self-insurance, if adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto) in amounts and within the limits and coverages (including deductibles and co-insurance) customarily obtained for comparable businesses under similar circumstances.
(c) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Notes to (i) refinance existing indebtedness or for general corporate purposes, and (ii) pay reasonable fees and expenses associated with the sale of the Notes.
(d) Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The Company shall comply with all Laws (including Environmental Laws) to which its Property or assets may be subject, except where failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. In addition, the Company shall immediately pay or cause to be paid when due all costs and expenses incurred in such compliance, except to the extent that the same is being contested in good faith by the Company through appropriate means under circumstances where none of the Mortgaged Property or the Liens thereon will be endangered.
(e) Real Estate Filings. To the extent that any filing required to perfect any security interest in real property or fixtures constituting Mortgaged Property is not made on or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall undertake to present all such documents for filing with the appropriate registers of deeds as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event shall any such presentation for filing take place more than five (5) Business Days after the Closing Date; provided that the Company shall confirm by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee (if not delivered prior to the Closing Date) within six (6) weeks after the Closing Date that each such document has been recorded with the applicable registers of deeds and the security interests created or purported to be created in real property or fixtures by such documents have been fully perfected by recording in the land records, except for documents to be recorded in the registers of deeds in the Counties of Oakland, Kent, Calhoun and Genesee in the State of Michigan, in which case the Company shall confirm by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee (if not delivered prior to the Closing Date) no more than three (3) months after the Closing Date with respect to the County of Kent, and no more than five (5) months after the Closing Date with respect to the Counties of Oakland, Calhoun and Genesee, that such documents have been so recorded.
(f) Delivery of Opinions of Counsel. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee the opinions of counsel required pursuant to Section 4.4(a) of the Note Agreement.
Section 3.02.Negative Covenants of the Company.
For purposes of the Notes, pursuant to Section 301(20) of the Mortgage Indenture, Article Six of the Mortgage Indenture is hereby supplemented by incorporating therein the following negative covenants which the Company shall observe solely for the benefit of the Noteholders for so long as any Note is Outstanding:
(a) Limitation on Lines of Business. As of the Closing Date, the Company is in the business of owning electric transmission facilities and providing electric transmission service over such facilities. From the Closing Date onward, the Company shall not engage in any business, if as a result, the general nature of the business engaged in by the Company taken as a whole would be substantially changed from the general nature of the business the Company is engaged in on the Closing Date.
(b) Amendments to Exhibit B Hereto. The Company shall not make any amendments or changes to the subordination terms and conditions set forth in Exhibit B hereto that adversely affect the Noteholders without the prior consent of the Noteholders of all the Outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE FOUR
ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Section 4.01.Events of Default.
For purposes of the Notes, pursuant to Section 301(21) of the Mortgage Indenture, Section 801 of the Mortgage Indenture shall be supplemented to include as “Events of Default” thereunder the occurrence of any of the following events (each such event, together with those “Events of Default” in Section 801 of the Mortgage Indenture, an “Event of Default”):
(a) Material Covenants. The Company shall fail to perform or observe any covenant set forth in Section 3.02 or its obligation to provide notice to the Noteholders under Section 7.1(b) of the Note Agreement and such failure is not cured within thirty (30) days after earlier to occur of (i) a Responsible Officer of the Company obtaining actual knowledge of such failure and (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such failure from the Trustee or any Noteholder in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or the Note Agreement;
(b) Other Covenants. The Company shall fail to perform or observe any of its obligations or covenants (other than the covenants described in Section 4.01(a) or in Section 801(a), 801(b) or 801(e) of the Mortgage Indenture) contained in any of the Financing Agreements, including Section 7 of the Note Agreement (or in any modification or supplement thereto), and such failure is not cured within sixty (60) days after the earlier to occur of (i) a Responsible Officer of the Company obtaining actual knowledge of such failure and (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such failure from the Trustee or any Noteholder in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage Indenture or the Note Agreement;
(c) Representations. Any representation, warranty or certification by the Company in any of the Financing Agreements or in any certificate furnished to the Trustee or any Noteholder pursuant to the provisions of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture or any other Financing Agreement shall prove to have been false in any Material respect as of the time made or furnished, as the case may be;
(d) Debt.
(i) The Company shall be in default in the payment of any principal, premium, including any make-whole amount, if any, or interest on any Debt (other than Subordinated Debt) in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000 or more beyond the expiration of any applicable grace or cure period relating thereto;
(ii) The Company shall be in default in the performance or compliance with any term (other than those referred to in Section 4.01(d)(i)) of any agreement or instrument evidencing any Debt (other than Subordinated Debt) in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000 or more or any other document relating thereto or any condition exists and, as a consequence, such Debt has become or has been declared (or the holder or beneficiary of such Debt or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or beneficiary is entitled to declare such Debt to be) due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment; or
(iii) As a consequence of the occurrence or continuation of any event or condition (other than the passage of time or the right of the holder of Debt
to convert such Debt into equity interests), other than as provided in Section 2.03 or Section 2.04 or Section 501(a) of the Mortgage Indenture, (x) the Company shall have become obligated to purchase or repay any Debt before its regularly scheduled maturity date in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000 or more or (y) one or more Persons have the right to require such Debt to be purchased or repaid;
(e) Judgments. Any judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of $30,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) in the aggregate by the Company, which is, or are, not covered by insurance, shall be rendered by one or more courts, administrative tribunals or other bodies having jurisdiction over the Company and the same shall not be discharged (or provision shall not be made for such discharge), bonded or a stay of execution thereof shall not be procured, within 60 days from the date of entry thereof and the Company shall not, within said period of 60 days, or such longer period during which execution of the same shall have been stayed, appeal therefrom and cause the execution thereof to be stayed during such appeal;
(f) Pension Plans. Any of the following events shall occur with respect to any Pension Plan: (a) the institution of any steps by the Company or any other Person to terminate a Pension Plan if, as a result of such termination, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries could be required to make a contribution to such Pension Plan, or would reasonably expect to incur a liability or obligation to such Pension Plan in respect of such termination; or (b) a contribution failure occurs with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA, where in each case under clauses (a) or (b) such contribution, liability, obligation or Lien would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or
(g) Change in Ownership. A Change in Ownership shall occur.
Section 4.02.Acceleration of Maturity.
Pursuant to Section 301(21) of the Mortgage Indenture, in addition to the provisions set forth in Section 802 of the Mortgage Indenture, if an Event of Default arising from the failure to pay principal of, or interest on, or any Make-Whole Amount relating to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, then in every such case each Holder of Notes may declare the principal amount of the Notes held by it to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and to the Trustee, and upon receipt by the Company or the Trustee of such notice of such declaration, such principal amount, together with Make-Whole Amount and accrued interest, if any, thereon (including, without limitation, interest accrued thereon at the applicable rate for overdue payments), shall become immediately due and payable (subject to Section 821 of the Indenture).
ARTICLE FIVE
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 5.01.Execution of Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
Except as expressly amended and supplemented hereby, the Mortgage Indenture shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof and the Mortgage Indenture is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Seventh Supplemental Indenture and all of its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Mortgage Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided. The Notes executed, authenticated and delivered under this Seventh Supplemental Indenture constitute a series of Securities and shall not be considered to be a part of a series of Securities
executed, authenticated and delivered under any other supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to the Mortgage Indenture.
Section 5.02.Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 5.03.Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 5.04.Severability Clause.
In case any provision in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 5.05.Benefit of Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
Except as otherwise provided in the Mortgage Indenture, nothing in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Noteholders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
Section 5.06.Execution and Counterparts.
This Seventh Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Any such counterpart, as recorded or filed in any jurisdiction, may omit such portions of Exhibit A hereto as shall not describe or refer to properties located in such jurisdiction. The exchange of copies of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Seventh Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 5.07.Conflict with Mortgage Indenture.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision of the Mortgage Indenture, such provision of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall control, insofar as the rights between the Company and the Noteholders are concerned.
Section 5.08.Recitals.
The recitals and statements contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness and makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
Section 5.09.Governing Law.
This Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law 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 that (i) to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable, this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Trust Indenture Act and (ii) if the law of any jurisdiction wherein any portion of the Mortgaged Property that is Real Property is located shall govern the creation of a mortgage lien on and security interest in, or perfection, priority or enforcement of the Lien of the Indenture or exercise of remedies with respect to, such portion of the Mortgaged Property, this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of such jurisdiction to the extent mandatory.
Section 5.10.Interpretation of Financial Covenants.
For purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants set out in the Indenture, any election by the Company to measure an item of Debt using fair value (as permitted by Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159) or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) shall be disregarded and such determination shall be made by valuing Debt at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof (except to the extent such Debt was issued at a discount or premium in which case the value of such Debt shall be valued at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, less any unamortized discount or plus any unamortized premium, as the case may be).
Drafted by:
Elizabeth B. Hardin
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, NY 10005
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Seventh Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| MICHIGAN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company | |
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| By: ITC Holdings Corp., its sole manager | |
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| By: | /s/ Daniel J. Oginsky |
| Name: | Daniel J. Oginsky |
| Title: | Executive Vice President and General Counsel |
Signature Page to
Seventh Supplemental Indenture
| THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST | |
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| By: | /s/ Jonathan Glover |
| Name: | Jonathan Glover |
| Title: | Vice President |
Signature Page to
Seventh Supplemental Indenture
ACKNOWLEDGMENT |
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STATE OF MICHIGAN | ) |
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COUNTY OF OAKLAND | ) |
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On the 5th day of December, 2014, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally came Daniel J. Oginsky, to me known to be Executive Vice President and General Counsel of ITC Holdings Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Michigan, the sole manager of Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Michigan, and acknowledged that he executed the foregoing instrument in his authorized capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument he, or the entity upon behalf of which he acted, executed the instrument.
| /s/ Denise Juras | |
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| By: | Denise M. Juras, Notary Public |
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| Oakland County, Michigan |
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| My Commission Expires October 29, 2020 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENT |
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STATE OF ILLINOIS | ) |
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COUNTY OF COOK | ) |
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On the 5th day of December, 2014, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally came Jonathan Glover, Vice President of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, and acknowledged to me that he executed the foregoing instrument in his authorized capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument he, or the entity upon behalf of which he acted, executed the instrument.
| /s/ Colleen Sketch | |
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| By: | Colleen Sketch |
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| Notary Public State of Illinois |
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| Qualified in Cook County |
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| My Commission Expires May 20, 2017 |
Schedule 1
The recording information for the Original Mortgage Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, each recorded in the Offices of the Register of Deeds in the Michigan counties as indicated, is as follows:
County |
| Original Mortgage |
| First Supplemental |
| Second Supplemental |
| Fourth Supplemental |
| Fifth Supplemental |
| Sixth Supplemental |
Alcona |
| Instrument No. 200300006636; L395, P141 |
| Instrument No. 200300006637; L395, P270 |
| Instrument No. 200300006638; L395, P336 |
| Instrument No. 200800003865; L457, P1036 |
| L470, P107 |
| * |
Allegan |
| L2609, P654 |
| L2610, P1 |
| L2610, P194 |
| Instrument No. 2008023175 |
| L3414, P1 |
| * |
Alpena |
| L431, P340 |
| L431, P341 |
| L431, P342 |
| Instrument No. |
| L476, P998 |
| * |
Antrim |
| L00697, P0280 |
| L00697, P0404 |
| L00697, P0465 |
| Instrument No. |
| L803, P942 |
| * |
Arenac |
| L423, P301 |
| L423, P444 |
| L423, P524 |
| L541, P212 |
| L561, P725 |
| * |
Barry |
| Instrument No. 1120018 |
| Instrument No. 1120019 |
| Instrument No. 1120020 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
Bay |
| L2156, P585 |
| L2157, P249 |
| L2157, P004 |
| L2647, P508 |
| L2734, P912 |
| L2912, P194 |
Branch |
| L01000, P0600 |
| L01000, P0737 |
| L01000, P0811 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
Calhoun |
| L2765, P587 |
| L2765, P829 |
| L2766, P1 |
| L3421, P892 |
| L3538, P553 |
| L3745, P545 |
Charlevoix |
| L591, P042 |
| L591, P156 |
| L591, P207 |
| L0869, P0414 |
| L0919, P0518 |
| L1008, P0001 |
County |
| Original Mortgage |
| First Supplemental |
| Second Supplemental |
| Fourth Supplemental |
| Fifth Supplemental |
| Sixth Supplemental |
Cheboygan |
| L925, P483 |
| L925, P637 |
| L925, P727 |
| L1112, P918 |
| L1149, P529 |
| L1215, P350 |
Clare |
| L890, P333 |
| L890, P443 |
| L890, P490 |
| Instrument No. |
| L1139, P464 |
| * |
Clinton |
| Instrument No. 5048529 |
| Instrument No. 5048530 |
| Instrument No. 5048531 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
Crawford |
| L663, P4 |
| L663, P115 |
| L663, P163 |
| L694, P129 |
| L700, P257 |
| * |
Eaton |
| L1775, P271 |
| L1775, P449 |
| L1775, P564 |
| L2207, P0903 |
| L2278, P834 |
| * |
Emmet |
| L1032, P537 |
| L1032, P669 |
| L1032, P738 |
| Instrument No. |
| L1122, P870 |
| L1149, P747 |
Genesee |
| Instrument No. 200312160161714 |
| Instrument No. 200312160161715 |
| Instrument No. 200312160161716 |
| Instrument No. 200812160082181 |
| Instrument No. 201004270037454 |
| Instrument No. 201211010081960 |
Gladwin |
| L709, P27 |
| L709, P151 |
| L709, P212 |
| L883, P873 |
| L917, P533 |
| * |
Grand Traverse |
| L2049, P508 |
| L2049, P652 |
| L2049, P733 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
Gratiot |
| L740, P595 |
| L740, P752 |
| L740, P846 |
| L858, P1452 |
| L883, P563 |
| L929, P1022 |
Hillsdale |
| L1125, P517 |
| L1125, P643 |
| L1125, P706 |
| L1373, P218 |
| L1422, P469 |
| * |
Ingham |
| L3084, P73 |
| L3084, P74 |
| L3084, P75 |
| Instrument No. |
| B3382, P132 |
| * |
Ionia |
| L577, P7152 |
| L577, P7299 |
| L577, P7383 |
| L610, P4348 |
| L0616, P1388 |
| L0626, P6502 |
County |
| Original Mortgage |
| First Supplemental |
| Second Supplemental |
| Fourth Supplemental |
| Fifth Supplemental |
| Sixth Supplemental |
Iosco |
| L781, P793 |
| L782, P1 |
| L782, P79 |
| L964, P582 |
| L997, P895 |
| L1062, P178 |
Isabella |
| L1216, P4 |
| L1216, P122 |
| L1216, P177 |
| L1458, P591 |
| L1515, P139 |
| * |
Jackson |
| L1767, P119 |
| L1767, P117 |
| L1767, P118 |
| Instrument No. |
| L1941, P1155 |
| L1995, P0646 |
Kalamazoo |
| Instrument No. 2003-087140 |
| Instrument No. 2003-087142 |
| Instrument No. 2003-087141 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
Kalkaska |
| Instrument No. 3053445 |
| Instrument No. 3053446 |
| Instrument No. 3053447 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
Kent |
| Instrument No. 20040105-0000653 |
| Instrument No. 20040105-0000654 |
| Instrument No. 20040105-0000655 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| * |
Lake |
| L281, P477 |
| L281, P598 |
| L281, P656 |
| L330, P319 |
| L339, P1857 |
| * |
Leelanau |
| L1045, P258 |
| L1045, P258 |
| L1045, P258 |
| L1045, P258 |
| L1046, P153 |
| * |
Lenawee |
| L2258, P769 |
| L2258, P770 |
| L2258, P771 |
| L2375, P632 |
| L2403, P35 |
| * |
Livingston |
| L4282, P0464 |
| L4282, P0602 |
| L4282, P0677 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| * |
Manistee |
| L890, P415 |
| L890, P578 |
| L890, P678 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
Mason |
| L555, P2265 |
| L555, P2419 |
| L555, P2510 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| * |
Mecosta |
| L705, P2593 |
| L705, P2707 |
| L705, P2758 |
| Instrument No. |
| L799, P795 |
| * |
Midland |
| L1206, P4 |
| L1206, P160 |
| L1206, P253 |
| L1451, P208 |
| L1507, P721 |
| * |
County |
| Original Mortgage |
| First Supplemental |
| Second Supplemental |
| Fourth Supplemental |
| Fifth Supplemental |
| Sixth Supplemental |
Missaukee |
| Instrument No. 2003-06377 |
| Instrument No. 2003-06378 |
| Instrument No. 2003-06379 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| * |
Monroe |
| L2647, P657 |
| L2647, P833 |
| L2647, P935 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
Montcalm |
| L1149, P293 |
| L1149, P442 |
| L1149, P528 |
| L1426, P510 |
| L1475, P1019 |
| * |
Montmorency |
| L244, P679 |
| L244, P804 |
| L244, P866 |
| Instrument No. |
| L314, P926 |
| * |
Muskegon |
| L3581, P921 |
| L3581, P922 |
| L3581, P923 |
| L3797, P757 |
| L3845, P318 |
| * |
Newaygo |
| L404, P5495 |
| L404, P5687 |
| L404, P5816 |
| L433, P3422 |
| L438, P5704 |
| * |
Oakland |
| L31677, P1 |
| L31677, P128 |
| L31677, P196 |
| Instrument No. |
| B42014, P518 |
| * |
Oceana |
| GR 2004/822 |
| GR 2004/976 |
| GR 2004/1067 |
| GR2008/24361 |
| GR 2010/6790 |
| * |
Ogemaw |
| Instrument No. 3044799 |
| Instrument No. 3044800 |
| Instrument No. 3044801 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| * |
Oscoda |
| L204, P332 |
| L204, P479 |
| L204, P563 |
| L208, P03034 |
| L210, P00987 |
| L212, P02739 |
Otsego |
| L0976, P078 |
| L0976, P222 |
| L0976, P303 |
| L1187, P72 |
| L1228, P493 |
| * |
Ottawa |
| L4372, P557 |
| L4373, P001 |
| L4373, P221 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| * |
Presque Isle |
| L383, P100 |
| L383, P232 |
| L383, P301 |
| Instrument No. |
| L489, P842 |
| * |
County |
| Original Mortgage |
| First Supplemental |
| Second Supplemental |
| Fourth Supplemental |
| Fifth Supplemental |
| Sixth Supplemental |
Roscommon |
| L997, P1285 |
| L997, P1404 |
| L997, P1460 |
| Instrument No. |
| L1092, P2232 |
| * |
Saginaw |
| L2269, P1263 |
| L2269, P1264 |
| L2269, P1265 |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
| Instrument No. |
St. Joseph |
| L1205, P86 |
| L1205, P196 |
| L1205, P243 |
| L1510, P1 |
| L1571, P810 |
| L1674, P465 |
Shiawassee |
| L1052, P721 |
| L1052, P722 |
| L1052, P723 |
| L1130, P0333 |
| L1146, P0786 |
| * |
Tuscola |
| Instrument No. 200400846443, L980, P619 |
| Instrument No. 200400846444, L980, P772 |
| Instrument No. 200400846445, L980, P862 |
| Instrument No. |
| L1196, P1456 |
| L1263, P160 |
Van Buren |
| L1403, P256 |
| L1403, P257 |
| L1403, P258 |
| Instrument No. |
| L1534, P360 |
| L1575, P308 |
Washtenaw |
| L4352, P238 |
| L4352, P239 |
| L4352, P240 |
| Instrument No. |
| L4786, P271 |
| * |
Wexford |
| L530, P704 |
| L530, P834 |
| L531, P001 |
| Instrument No. |
| L629, P2044 |
| * |
* Recording information not available. Proof of filing for recordation contained in “Certificate of Confirmation of Filing — Michigan Electric Company, LLC Sixth Supplemental Indenture,” dated January 3, 2013 and signed by Donald Rysztak, Commercial Closing Officer of Fidelity National Title.
Exhibit A
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES
The following properties of the Company, owned as of the date hereof, have been acquired by the Company subsequent to the date of the Sixth Supplemental Indenture:
See Attached.
Exhibit B
SUBORDINATION TERMS
The unsecured permitted indebtedness evidenced by this instrument is subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt Obligations (as hereinafter defined) of Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Michigan (the “Company”). Each holder of this instrument, by its acceptance hereof, agrees to and shall be bound by all the provisions hereof.
All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2014 (as in effect on the date hereof, the “Supplemental Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as trustee (the “Trustee”).
The term “Senior Debt Obligations”, as used herein, shall include all, loans, advances, debts, liabilities and obligations, howsoever arising (whether or not evidenced by any note or instrument and whether or not for the payment of money), direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising (collectively, as used herein, “Obligations”) of the Company now or hereafter existing in respect of Senior Debt (as defined herein) and any amendments, modifications, deferrals, renewals or extensions of any such Senior Debt, or of any notes or evidences of indebtedness heretofore or hereafter issued in evidence of or in exchange for any such Obligation, whether for principal, interest (including interest payable in respect of any such Obligations subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding against or with respect to the Company under any chapter of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. (the “Bankruptcy Code”), or any provision of corresponding bankruptcy, insolvency or commercial reorganization legislation of any other jurisdiction, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor, and whether or not the holder of such obligation would be otherwise entitled to receive dividends or payments with respect to any such interest or any such proceeding), premium (including Make-Whole Amount), if any, fees, expenses or otherwise.
The term “Senior Debt”, as used herein, shall mean (i) all Senior Secured Debt and (ii) all unsecured Debt of the Company permitted to be incurred by the Company pursuant to the Mortgage Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture which is not subject to any subordination terms whether or not similar to those set forth in this instrument.
The term “Subordinated Debt”, as used herein, shall mean all Obligations of the Company evidenced by this instrument owing to any Person now or hereafter existing hereunder (whether created directly or acquired by assignment or otherwise), whether for principal, interest (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any bankruptcy proceeding described in the definition of Senior Debt Obligations, whether or not such interest accrues after the filing of such petition for purposes of the Bankruptcy Code or is an allowed claim in such proceeding), fees, expenses or otherwise.
On and after the Closing Date, no payment on account of principal, interest, fees, premium, expenses or otherwise on this Subordinated Debt shall be made by the Company in cash or otherwise unless (a) full payment of all amounts then due and payable on all Senior Debt Obligations has been made, (b) such payment would be permitted by the Indenture and any Senior Debt Document (as defined below) and (c) immediately after giving effect to such payment, there shall not exist any Default or Event of Default. Any such payment permitted pursuant to this paragraph is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Payment”. For the purposes of these provisions, no Senior Debt Obligations shall be deemed to have
been paid in full until the obligee of such Senior Debt Obligations shall have received payment in full in cash.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, then and in any such event all principal, premium and interest and all other amounts due or to become due upon all Senior Debt Obligations shall first be paid in full before the holders of the Subordinated Debt shall be entitled to retain any assets so paid or distributed in respect of the Subordinated Debt (whether for principal, premium, interest or otherwise), and upon any such dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the holders of the Subordinated Debt would be entitled, except as otherwise provided herein, shall be paid pro rata among the holders of Senior Debt Obligations by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the holders of the Subordinated Debt if received by them. So long as any Senior Debt Obligations are outstanding, the holder of this instrument shall not commence, or join with any creditor other than the Trustee or the Senior Debt Parties (as hereinafter defined) in commencing, or directly or indirectly causing the Company to commence, or assist the Company in commencing, any proceeding referred to in the preceding sentence.
The holder of this instrument hereby irrevocably authorizes and empowers (without imposing any obligation on) each Person (each such Person a “Senior Debt Party” and collectively, the “Senior Debt Parties”) that has entered into an agreement, instrument, or other document evidencing or relating to any Senior Debt Obligation (each such agreement, instrument or other document, a “Senior Debt Document”) as a lender or creditor and such Senior Debt Party’s representatives, under the circumstances set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, to demand, sue for, collect and receive every such payment or distribution described therein and give acquittance therefor, to file claims and proofs of claims in any statutory or nonstatutory proceeding, to vote such Senior Debt Party’s ratable share of the full amount of the Subordinated Debt evidenced by this instrument in its sole discretion in connection with any resolution, arrangement, plan of reorganization, compromise, settlement or extension and to take all such other action (including, without limitation, the right to participate in any composition of creditors and the right to vote such Senior Debt Party’s ratable share of the full amount of the Subordinated Debt at creditors’ meetings for the election of trustees, acceptances of plans and otherwise), in the name of the holder of the Subordinated Debt evidenced by this instrument or otherwise, as such Senior Debt Party’s representatives may deem necessary or desirable for the enforcement of the subordination provisions of this instrument. The holder of this instrument shall execute and deliver to each Senior Debt Party and such holder’s representatives all such further instruments confirming the foregoing authorization, and all such powers of attorney, proofs of claim, assignments of claim and other instruments, and shall take all such other action as may be reasonably requested by such holder or such holder’s representatives in order to enable such holder to enforce all claims upon or in respect of such holder’s ratable share of the Subordinated Debt evidenced by this instrument.
The holder of this instrument shall not, without the prior written consent of the Senior Debt Parties, have any right to accelerate payment of, or institute any proceeding to enforce, the Subordinated Debt so long as any Senior Debt Obligations are outstanding, unless and until all Senior Debt Parties have accelerated payment thereof and commenced proceedings to enforce such Senior Debt Obligations.
After the payment in full of all amounts due in respect of Senior Debt Obligations, the holder or holders of the Subordinated Debt shall be subrogated to the rights of the Senior Debt Parties to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Debt Obligations until
the principal of, premium on, interest on and all other amounts due or to become due with respect to the Subordinated Debt shall be paid in full subject to the terms and conditions of the Subordinated Debt or of any agreement among the holders of the Subordinated Debt and other Subordinated Debt of the Company.
If any payment (other than a Permitted Payment) or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the holder of the Subordinated Debt in such capacity before all Senior Debt Obligations are paid in full, such payment or distribution will be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be immediately paid over pro rata among the Senior Debt Parties, for application to the payment in full of Senior Debt Obligations, until all Senior Debt Obligations shall have been paid in full.
Nothing contained in this instrument is intended to or shall impair as between the Company, its creditors (other than the Senior Debt Parties) and the holders of the Subordinated Debt, the obligations of the Company to pay to the holders of the Subordinated Debt, as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the holders of the Subordinated Debt and creditors of the Company (other than the Senior Debt Parties).
The Senior Debt Parties shall not be prejudiced in their rights to enforce the subordination contained herein in accordance with the terms hereof by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company.
The holder of this instrument agrees to execute and deliver such further documents and to do such other acts and things as the Senior Debt Parties may reasonably request in order fully to effect the purposes of these subordination provisions. Each holder of this instrument by its acceptance hereof authorizes and directs the trustee or other representative, if any, of the Subordinated Debt represented by this instrument on its behalf to take such further action as may be necessary to effectuate the subordination as provided herein and appoints such trustee or other representative, if any, as its attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
The subordination effected by these provisions, and the rights of the Senior Debt Parties, shall not be affected by (i) any amendment of, or addition or supplement to, the Financing Agreements, any other Senior Debt Document, or any other document evidencing or securing Senior Debt Obligations, (ii) any exercise or non-exercise of any right, power or remedy under or in respect to the Financing Agreements, any other Senior Debt Document, or any other document evidencing or securing Senior Debt Obligations or (iii) any waiver, consent, release, indulgence, extension, renewal, modification, delay, or other action, inaction or omission, in respect of the Financing Agreements, any other Senior Debt Document, or any other document evidencing or securing Senior Debt Obligations; whether or not any holder of any Subordinated Debt shall have had notice or knowledge of any of the foregoing.
No failure on the part of any Senior Debt Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor all any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by Law.
The holder of this instrument and the Company each hereby waive promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance and any other notice with respect to any of the Senior Debt Obligations and these terms of subordination and any requirement that the Trustee or any Senior Debt Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien or any property subject thereto or exhaust any right to take any action against the Company or any other Person or any Mortgaged Property.
These terms of subordination shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Senior Debt Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the
Trustee or any Senior Debt Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.
The provisions of these terms of subordination constitute a continuing agreement and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the indefeasible payment in full of the Senior Debt Obligations and the termination or expiration of all obligations to extend credit under the Senior Debt Documents, (ii) be binding upon the holder of this instrument, the Company and its successors, transferees and assignees and (iii) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Trustee and each Senior Debt Party. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (iii), each Senior Debt Party may assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under all or any of the Senior Debt Documents to any other Person (to the extent permitted by the Senior Debt Documents), and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the rights in respect thereof granted to such Senior Debt Party herein or otherwise.
This instrument shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Exhibit C
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR PURSUANT TO THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. ACCORDINGLY, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (1) EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR (2) UNLESS THIS NOTE IS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
MICHIGAN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC
4.19% Senior Secured Note due 2044
Original Interest Accrual Date: December 17, 2014
Stated Maturity: December 15, 2044
Interest Rate: 4.19% per annum
Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15
Regular Record Dates: May 31 and November 30
This Note is not an Original Issue Discount Security
within the meaning of the within-mentioned Indenture.
This Note is a Debt Security within the
meaning of the within-mentioned Indenture.
Registered No. [RA - ] | December 17, 2014 |
$[ ](1) | PPN 59447# AF0 |
MICHIGAN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC, a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Corporation under the Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [ ], or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] DOLLARS ($ ) on the Stated Maturity specified above, and to pay interest (a) thereon from the Original Interest Accrual Date specified above or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on the Interest Payment Dates specified above in each year, commencing on June 15, 2015 and at Maturity, at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for and (b) to the extent permitted by law, on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest and any overdue payment of any Make-Whole Amount, at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 6.19% and (ii) 2.0% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from time to time in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date specified above (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest payable at Maturity shall be paid to the Person to whom principal shall be paid. Except as otherwise provided in said Indenture, any such interest not so timely paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Noteholder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid
(1) Reference is made to Schedule A attached hereto with respect to the amount of principal paid hereon and the last date to which interest has been paid hereon.
to the Person in whose name this Note (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 of which shall be given to the Noteholders 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 or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
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| The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. | |||
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| Authorized Officer |
Capitalized terms used in this Note and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.
Subject to the home office payment obligation set forth in Section 2.02(b) of the Supplemental Indenture (referred to below), payment of the principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on this Note and interest hereon at Maturity shall be made upon presentation of this Note at the office or agency of the Trustee in New York, New York at c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, Trust Services Window, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, or at such other office or agency as may be designated for such purpose by the Company from time to time in accordance with the Indenture. Subject to the home office payment obligation set forth in Section 2.02(b) of the Supplemental Indenture, payment of interest on this Note (other than interest at Maturity) shall be made as set forth in Section 307 of the Original Indenture (as defined below). Payment of the principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on this Note, as aforesaid, shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (all such series of securities herein called the “Securities”) issued and issuable in one or more series under and equally secured by a First Mortgage Indenture, dated as of December 10, 2003 (such indenture as originally executed and delivered herein called the “Original Indenture” and as supplemented and modified by any and all indentures supplemental thereto, including the Supplemental Indenture referred to below, being herein called the “Indenture”), and has been issued pursuant to that certain Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2014 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), each of the Indenture and the Seventh Supplemental Indenture being between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the property mortgaged, pledged and held in trust as security for payment of all amounts due under this Note, the nature and extent of the security and the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities thereunder and of
the terms and conditions upon which the Securities (including the Securities of this series) are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered and secured. The acceptance of this Note shall be deemed to constitute the consent and agreement by the Holder hereof to all of the terms and provisions of the Indenture. This Note is one of the series of Securities designated above.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 113 of the Original Indenture, in the Supplemental Indenture or in this Note, if the Stated Maturity or any Redemption Date of this Note shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Original Indenture or the Supplemental Indenture or this Note) payment of interest on or principal (and premium, if any) of this Note due at the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date thereof need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date thereof, provided that interest shall accrue on the Outstanding principal amount of this Note due at the Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date thereof until the date of actual payment. Interest hereon will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
This Note is subject to mandatory redemption under the circumstances set forth in Section 501(a) of the Original Indenture and as set forth in Section 2.03 of the Supplemental Indenture. This Note is subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, as set forth in Section 2.04 of the Supplemental Indenture.
If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
The Original Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Trustee to enter into one or more supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, the Indenture with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series then Outstanding under the Indenture, considered as one class; provided, however, that if there shall be Securities of more than one series Outstanding under the Indenture and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series so directly affected, considered as separate classes, shall be required; and provided, further, that if the Securities of any series shall have been issued in more than one Tranche and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such Tranches, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all Tranches so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required; and provided, further, that the Original Indenture permits the Trustee to enter into one or more supplemental indentures for limited purposes without the consent of any Holders of Securities and for certain other purposes with the consent of all Holders of affected Securities. The Original Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding, 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 Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal and interest and
any Make-Whole Amount on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Trustee in New York, New York, which as of the date hereof is located at c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, Trust Services Window, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, or such other office or agency as may be designated by the Company from time to time in accordance with the Indenture, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in the form attached hereto as Annex A duly executed by the Holder hereof, or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only as registered Securities, without coupons, and in denominations of $250,000 or any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same, and of like tenor upon surrender of the Note or Notes to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Trustee in New York, New York at c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, Trust Services Window, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, or such other office or agency as may be designated by the Company from time to time in accordance with the Indenture.
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 in accordance with the Indenture.
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Securities of this series are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
As provided in Section 2.05 of the Supplemental Indenture, except as may be agreed to by the Holder hereof in connection with an offer made to all Holders of the Securities of this series on the same terms and conditions, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate of the Company to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, this Note, except upon the payment or redemption of this Note in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. The Company will promptly cause the Trustee to cancel this Note once acquired by it or any Affiliate of the Company pursuant to any payment, redemption or purchase of this Note pursuant to any provision of the Indenture and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for this Note.
As provided in Section 1401 of the Original Indenture, no recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or Make-Whole Amount, 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, member, manager, stockholder, officer, director or employee, as such, past, present or future of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation (either directly or through the Company or a predecessor or successor corporation), 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 (including the
Notes) 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 (including the Notes).
Demand, presentment, protest and notice of non-payment and protest are hereby waived by the Company.
This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law 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 that (i) to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable, this Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Trust Indenture Act and (ii) if the law of any jurisdiction wherein any portion of the Mortgaged Property that is Real Property is located shall govern the creation of a mortgage lien on and security interest in, or perfection, priority or enforcement of the Lien of the Indenture or exercise of remedies with respect to, such portion of the Mortgaged Property, this Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of such jurisdiction to the extent mandatory.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit as a Security under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
| MICHIGAN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company | |||
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| By: | ITC Holdings Corp., its sole manager | |
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| By: |
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| Name: | Rejji P. Hayes | |
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| Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
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SCHEDULE A
SCHEDULE OF NOTATIONS
The notations on the following table have been made by the holder of the within Note in connection with the transfer thereof in accordance with Section 2.02(b) of the Supplemental Indenture.
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| Last date to which interest has |
| Notation by Holder |
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ANNEX A
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER
Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code of assignee
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing
attorney to transfer said Note on the Security Register, upon surrender of said Note at the office or agency of the Trustee in New York, New York, or such other office or agency as may be designated by the Company from time to time in accordance with the Indenture, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: |
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| [NAME OF TRANSFEROR] | ||||
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| Name: | |||
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| NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. | ||||
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| Signature Guarantee: |
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SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.