EXHIBIT 4.03
TRUST AGREEMENT
This TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of January 31, 1997 (this "Trust
Agreement"), between (i) NEVADA POWER COMPANY, a Nevada corporation (the
"Depositor"), and (ii) DELAWARE TRUST CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC., a Delaware
banking corporation (the "Trustee"). The Depositor and the Trustee hereby agree
as follows:
1. The trust created hereby (the "Trust") shall be known as "NVP
Capital I" in which name the Trustee, or the Depositor to the extent provided
herein, may engage in the transactions contemplated hereby, make and execute
contracts, and sue and be sued.
2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers conveys and sets over to
the Trustee the sum of $10. The Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of such
amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the initial
trust estate. The Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the trust estate
in trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of the parties hereto that
the Trust created hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of
Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 DEL. C. Section 3801, ET. SEQ. (the
"Business Trust Act"), and that this document constitute the governing
instrument of the Trust. The Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to
execute and file a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State
in accordance with the provisions of the Business Trust Act.
3. The Depositor and the Trustee will enter into an amended and
restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially in
the form included as an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement (as
defined below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created
hereby and the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities
referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and
restated Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation
hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise required by
applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such execution and
delivery of any licenses, consents or approvals required by applicable law or
otherwise.
4. The Depositor and the Trustee hereby authorize and direct the
Depositor, as the sponsor of the Trust, (i) to file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and execute, in each case on behalf of
the Trust, (a) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "1933 Act
Registration Statement"), including any pre-effective or post-effective
amendments to the 1933 Act Registration Statement, relating to the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Preferred Securities of the
Trust and possible certain other securities and (b) a Registration Statement on
Form 8-A (the "1934 Act Registration Statement") (including all pre-effective
and post-effective amendments thereto) relating to the registration of the
Preferred Securities of the Trust under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; (ii) to file with the New York Stock Exchange or any other national
stock exchange or The Nasdaq National Market (each, an "Exchange") and execute
on behalf of the Trust one or more listing applications and all other
applications, statements, certificates, agreements and other instruments as
shall be necessary or desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be
listed on any of the Exchanges; (iii) to file and execute on behalf of the
Trust such applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable consents,
appointments of attorney for service of process and other papers and
documents as shall be
necessary or desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the securities
or blue sky laws or such jurisdictions as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust,
may deem necessary or desirable and (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust that
certain Underwriting Agreement relating to the Preferred Securities, among the
Trust, the Depositor and the several Underwriters named therein, substantially
in the form included as an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement. In
connection with the filings referred to above, the Depositor hereby constitutes
and appoints Richard L. Hinkley and Richard C. Schmalz, Jr. and each of them, as
its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for the Depositor or in the Depositor's name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to the 1933 Act Registration Statement and
the 1934 Act Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, the
Exchange and administrators of state securities or blue sky laws, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection
therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as the Depositor might or could
to in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents or any of them, or their respective substitute or substitutes, shall
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
5. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts.
6. The number of Trustees initially shall be one (1) and thereafer
the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to
time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor which may increase or
decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the extent
required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural
person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural
person, an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of
Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law.
Subject to the foregoing, the Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove
without cause any Trustee at any time. The Trustees may resign upon thirty
(30) days' prior notice to the Depositor.
7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws of principles).
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
NEVADA POWER COMPANY, as Depositor
By: /s/ Cynthia K. Gillian
-----------------------------
Name: Cynthia K. Gillian
Title: Vice President, Retail
Customer Operations
DELAWARE TRUST CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT, INC., as Trustee
By: /s/ Richard N. Smith
-----------------------------
Name: Richard N. Smith
Title: Vice President
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