GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
(as Guarantor)
and
The Bank of New York
(as Guarantee Trustee)
dated as of
May 1, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 101. Definitions...................................................1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 201. Trust Indenture Act; Application..............................5
SECTION 202. List of Holders...............................................5
SECTION 203. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee..............................5
SECTION 204. Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee.........................5
SECTION 205. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..............6
SECTION 206. Events of Default; Waiver.....................................6
SECTION 207. Event of Default; Notice......................................6
SECTION 208. Conflicting Interests.........................................6
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 301. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee....................7
SECTION 302. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee...........................8
SECTION 303. Indemnity....................................................10
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 401. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility...............................10
SECTION 402. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the
Guarantee Trustee............................................11
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 501. Guarantee....................................................11
SECTION 502. Waiver of Notice and Demand..................................12
SECTION 503. Obligations Not Affected.....................................12
SECTION 504. Rights of Holders............................................13
SECTION 505. Guarantee of Payment.........................................13
SECTION 506. Subrogation..................................................13
SECTION 507. Independent Obligations......................................13
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 601. Subordination................................................14
SECTION 602. Pari Passu Guarantees........................................14
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 701. Termination..................................................14
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 801. Successors and Assigns.......................................14
SECTION 802. Amendments...................................................15
SECTION 803. Notices......................................................15
SECTION 804. Benefit......................................................16
SECTION 805. Interpretation...............................................16
SECTION 806. Governing Law................................................17
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Section of Section of
Trust Indenture Act Guarantee
of 1939, as amended Agreement
310(a).......................................................... 401(a)
310(b).......................................................... 401(c), 208
310(c).......................................................... Inapplicable
311(a).......................................................... 202(b)
311(b).......................................................... 202(b)
311(c).......................................................... Inapplicable
312(a).......................................................... 202(a)
312(b).......................................................... 202(b)
313............................................................. 203
314(a).......................................................... 204
314(b).......................................................... Inapplicable
314(c).......................................................... 205
314(d).......................................................... Inapplicable
314(e).......................................................... 101, 205, 302
314(f).......................................................... 201, 302
315(a).......................................................... 301(d)
315(b).......................................................... 207
315(c).......................................................... 301
315(d).......................................................... 301(d)
316(a).......................................................... 101, 206, 504
316(b).......................................................... 503
316(c).......................................................... 802
317(a).......................................................... Inapplicable
317(b).......................................................... Inapplicable
318(a).......................................................... 201(b)
318(b).......................................................... 201
318(c).......................................................... 201(b)
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee
Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms
or provisions.
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 1, 1997, is executed
and delivered by Southwestern Electric Power Company, a Delaware corporation
(the "Guarantor"), and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation
organized under the laws of the State of New York, as trustee (the "Guarantee
Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time
of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of SWEPCO Capital I, a Delaware
statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement
(the "Trust Agreement"), dated as of May 1, 1997 among the Issuer Trustees named
therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the Holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is
issuing 4,400,000 of its 7.875% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred
Securities, Series A (liquidation preference $25 per preferred security) (the
"Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer
and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the
Issuer's Common Securities (as defined below), will be used to purchase the
Debentures (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor which will be
deposited with The Bank of New York, as Property Trustee under the Trust
Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities
the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on
the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each
Holder of Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall
benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee
Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred
Securities.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 101. Definitions.
As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below
shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings.
Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in
effect on the date hereof.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person, provided, however, that an Affiliate
of the Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the Issuer. For the purposes of
this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means
the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Debt" means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is
to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent,
(i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of
such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; and (vi) every
obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of another Person
and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such
Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as
obligor or otherwise.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of
its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided,
however, that, except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee
Payments, the Guarantor shall have received notice of default and shall not have
cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or
distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to
the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accumulated
and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid
on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price, including all
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption
Price"), with respect to the Preferred Securities called for redemption by the
Issuer to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available therefor at
the date of redemption, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination,
winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer, unless Debentures are distributed to
the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation preference of
$25 per Preferred Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the
Preferred Securities to the date of payment to the extent the Issuer shall have
funds on hand available to make such payment at such time and (b) the amount of
assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in
liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means The Bank of New York, until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and
records of the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee or any Affiliate of the
Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of May 1, 1997
relating to Junior Subordinated Debentures of the Guarantor, as supplemented and
amended between the Guarantor and The Bank of New York, as trustee.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 202(a).
"Majority in liquidation preference of the Preferred
Securities" means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the
Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation
preference of all then outstanding Preferred Securities issued by the Issuer.
"Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman, President, General Manager, the Treasurer,
an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of such Person, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officer's
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Guarantee Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement that the officer signing the Officer's
Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions
relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation undertaken by the officer in rendering the
Officer's Certificate;
(c) a statement that such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable
such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such
covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual,
corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee
Trustee, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice
President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant
Treasurer, any Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer of
the Corporate Trust Department of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of, and premium, if
any, and interest on and any other payment due pursuant to any of the following,
whether outstanding at the date of execution of this Guarantee or thereafter
incurred, created or assumed: (a) all indebtedness of the Guarantor evidenced by
notes, debentures, bonds or other securities sold by the Guarantor for money,
(b) all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding clause
(a) assumed by or guaranteed in any manner by the Guarantor or in effect
guaranteed by the Guarantor through an agreement to purchase, contingent or
otherwise, (c) all renewals, extensions or refundings of indebtedness of the
kinds described in either of the preceding clauses (a) and (b) and (d) any
payment of money relating to any lease which is capitalized on the balance sheet
or consolidated balance sheet, as the case may be, of the Guarantor, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time
to time, unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, renewal, extension,
refunding or lease payment, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or
the assumption or guarantee of the same expressly provides that such
indebtedness, renewal, extension, refunding or lease payment is not superior in
right of payment to or is pari passu with this Guarantee. Such Senior
Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and entitled to the
benefits of the subordination provisions set forth in Article VI of this
Guarantee irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of
such Senior Indebtedness.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee
Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section
401.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 201. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this
Guarantee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be
governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee
Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties
imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust
Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 202. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Guarantee Trustee (a) semiannually, on or before January 15
and July 15 of each year, a list, in such form as the
Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not
more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at
such other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in
writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of
any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than
15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case
to the extent such information is in the possession or control
of the Guarantor and is not identical to a previously supplied
list of Holders or has not otherwise been received by the
Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as such. The Guarantee
Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it
on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Section 311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 203. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Not later than November 1 of each year, commencing November 1,
1997, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports as are
required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in
the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee
Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 204. Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Holders such documents, reports and
information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and
the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in
the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 205. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions
Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such
evidence of compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in
this Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section
314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be
given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an
Officer's Certificate.
SECTION 206. Events of Default: Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation preference of the
Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past
Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of
Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall
be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but
no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of
Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 207. Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first
class postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all Events
of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such
defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice,
provided, that, except in the case of a default in the payment
of a Guarantee Payment, the Guarantee Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the
Board of Directors, the executive committee or a trust
committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the
Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the
withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have
received written notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with
the administration of the Trust Agreement shall have obtained
written notice, of such Event of Default.
SECTION 208. Conflicting Interests.
The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically
described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the
first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 301. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee
Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee
Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any
Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant
to Section 504(iv) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right,
title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, upon
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its
appointment hereunder, and such vesting and cessation of title
shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have
been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of
such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for
the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may
have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as
are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no
implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement
against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has
occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to
Section 206), the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement,
and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise
thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to
relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for failure to
act or willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall
be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee
Agreement, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set
forth in this Guarantee Agreement; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth
of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed
therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically
required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error
of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect
to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation
preference of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this
Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require
the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the
exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have
reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability
is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it.
SECTION 302. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 301:
(i) The Guarantee Trustee may rely and shall be
fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor
contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officer's Certificate unless otherwise prescribed herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter
be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take any action
hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon
an Officer's Certificate which, upon receipt of such request from the Guarantee
Trustee, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal
counsel of its choice, and the written advice or opinion of such legal counsel
with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it
hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such
legal counsel may be legal counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and
may be one of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any
time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this
Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such
Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such adequate security and
indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the Guarantee
Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses)
and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or
direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Guarantee Trustee; provided that nothing contained in this Section 302(a)(v)
shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by
this Guarantee Agreement.
(vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to
make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the
trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through its agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or
attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive
instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other
action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the
Holders, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such
other action until such instructions are received, and (C) shall be protected in
acting in accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed
to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or
acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it
in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee
Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law,
to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and
authority.
SECTION 303. Indemnity.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for,
and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or
charge on any Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this
Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 401. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which
shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000, and shall be a corporation meeting the requirements of
Section 310 (a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of the supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this
Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined
capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 401(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately
resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 402(c).
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply
with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 402. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the
Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 402(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered
to the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall hold
office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until
its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing
executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which
resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by
such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the
resigning Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 402 within 60
days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the
resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any
court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it
may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 501. Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in
full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts
theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of
any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or
assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied
by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by
causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 502. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the
Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply,
presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against
the Guarantee Trustee, Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the
Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of
redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 503. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the
Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired
by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise,
of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to
be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all
or any portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment
of Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period
on the Debentures as so provided in the Indenture), Redemption Price,
Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred
Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the
part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power
or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred
Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or
extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment
of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the
assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the
Preferred Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being
the intent of this Section 503 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder
shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to,
or obtain the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of
the foregoing.
SECTION 504. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee
Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the
benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this
Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation preference of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee
Agreement; and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer
or any other Person.
SECTION 505. Guarantee of Payment.
This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and
not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by
payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts
theretofore paid by the Issuer) or upon distribution of Debentures to Holders as
provided in the Trust Agreement.
SECTION 506. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of
the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by
the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement and shall have the right to waive
payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 501; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way
of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases
as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any
such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If
any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding
sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and
to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 507. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred
Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee
Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections
(a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 503 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 601. Subordination.
This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor.
SECTION 602. Pari Passu Guarantees.
This Guarantee Agreement shall rank pari passu with any
similar Guarantee Agreements issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of
Preferred Securities issued by SWEPCO Capital I.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 701. Termination.
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further
force and effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred
Securities, (ii) the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for
all of the Preferred Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in
accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Issuer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be
effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder
must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or
this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 801. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee
Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a
consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under
Article Ten of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in
writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall
not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 802. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes which do not adversely
affect the rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no
consent of the Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be
amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
liquidation preference of the Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article VI
of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the
giving of such approval.
SECTION 803. Notices.
Any notice, request or other communication required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party
giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as
follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set
forth below or such other addressas the Guarantor may give notice of to the
Holders:
Southwestern Electric and Power Company
c/o Central and South West Corporation
1616 Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75202
Facsimile No: (214) 777-1223
Attention: Director, Finance
(b) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Guarantee
Trustee, at the Issuer's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below
or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer may give
notice to the Holders:
SWEPCO Capital I
c/o Central and South West Corporation
1616 Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75202
Facsimile No: (214) 777-1223
Attention: Director, Finance
with a copy to:
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
21 West
New York, NY 10286
Facsimile No: (212) 815-5915
Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee Administration
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth
on the books and records of the Issuer.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when
received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class
mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused
delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice
was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered
on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 804. Benefit.
This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the
Holders and is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 805. Interpretation.
In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not
defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in
Section 101;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has
the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this
Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented
or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless
otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same
meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this
Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice
versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein
shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 806. GOVERNING LAW.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT
REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year
first above written.
SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
By:
Name: Wendy G. Hargus
Title: Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Guarantee Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Guarantee Trustee
By:
Name:
Title: