EXHIBIT 4.12
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
OGE Energy Capital Trust I
Dated as of October 21, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I. INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS...................................................1
SECTION 1.1. Interpretation and Definitions..............................................1
"Affiliate"......................................................................................2
"Authorized Officer".............................................................................2
"Beneficial Owners"..............................................................................2
"Business Day"...................................................................................2
"Business Trust Act".............................................................................2
"Cedel"..........................................................................................2
"Certificate"....................................................................................2
"Certificate of Trust"...........................................................................2
"Closing Date"...................................................................................2
"Code"...........................................................................................2
"Commission".....................................................................................2
"Common Securities Holder".......................................................................2
"Common Security"................................................................................2
"Common Security Certificate"....................................................................3
"Corporate Trust Office".........................................................................3
"Covered Person".................................................................................3
"Debenture Issuer"...............................................................................3
"Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person"............................................................3
"Debenture Trustee"..............................................................................3
"Debentures".....................................................................................3
"Delaware Trustee"...............................................................................3
"Depositary".....................................................................................3
"Depositary Participant".........................................................................3
"Direct Action"..................................................................................3
"Distribution"...................................................................................3
"Euroclear"......................................................................................3
"Exchange Act"...................................................................................3
"Fiduciary Indemnified Person"...................................................................3
"Fiscal Year"....................................................................................4
"Global Security"................................................................................4
"Guarantee"......................................................................................4
"Holder".........................................................................................4
"Indemnified Person".............................................................................4
"Indenture"......................................................................................4
"Indenture Event of Default".....................................................................4
"Investment Company".............................................................................4
"Investment Company Act".........................................................................4
"Investment Company Event".......................................................................4
"Legal Action"...................................................................................4
"List of Holders"................................................................................4
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
PAGE
"Majority in Liquidation Amount".................................................................5
"New York Stock Exchange"........................................................................5
"Officers' Certificate"..........................................................................5
"Paying Agent"...................................................................................5
"Payment Amount".................................................................................5
"Person" ........................................................................................5
"Preferred Security".............................................................................5
"Preferred Security Certificate".................................................................5
"Property Account"...............................................................................6
"Property Trustee"...............................................................................6
"Pro Rata".......................................................................................6
"Quorum" .................................................................................6
"Redemption/Distribution Notice".................................................................6
"Redemption Price"...............................................................................6
"Regular Trustee"................................................................................6
"Related Party"..................................................................................6
"Responsible Officer"............................................................................6
"Rule 3a-5"......................................................................................6
"Securities".....................................................................................6
"Securities Act".................................................................................6
"Special Event"..................................................................................6
"Sponsor" .................................................................................6
"Successor Delaware Trustee".....................................................................6
"Successor Entity"...............................................................................7
"Successor Property Trustee".....................................................................7
"Successor Securities"...........................................................................7
"Super Majority".................................................................................7
"Tax Event"......................................................................................7
"10% in Liquidation Amount"......................................................................7
"Treasury Regulations"...........................................................................7
"Trust"..........................................................................................7
"Trust Enforcement Event"........................................................................7
"Trust Indenture Act"............................................................................7
"Trustee" or "Trustees"..........................................................................7
ARTICLE II. TRUST INDENTURE ACT..............................................................8
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application............................................8
SECTION 2.2. Lists of Holders of Securities..............................................8
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Property Trustee.............................................9
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Property Trustee....................................9
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent............................9
SECTION 2.6. Trust Enforcement Events; Waiver............................................9
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
PAGE
SECTION 2.7. Trust Enforcement Event; Notice............................................11
ARTICLE III. ORGANIZATION....................................................................11
SECTION 3.1. Name and Organization......................................................11
SECTION 3.2. Office.....................................................................12
SECTION 3.3. Purpose....................................................................12
SECTION 3.4. Authority..................................................................12
SECTION 3.5. Title to Property of the Trust.............................................13
SECTION 3.6. Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees..................................13
SECTION 3.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.......................15
SECTION 3.8. Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee..................................16
SECTION 3.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Property Trustee................18
SECTION 3.10. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.........................................20
SECTION 3.11. Delaware Trustee...........................................................22
SECTION 3.12. Execution of Documents.....................................................22
SECTION 3.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.....................23
SECTION 3.14. Duration of Trust..........................................................23
SECTION 3.15. Mergers....................................................................23
SECTION 3.16. Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim..................................25
ARTICLE IV. SPONSOR.........................................................................26
SECTION 4.1. Responsibilities of the Sponsor............................................26
SECTION 4.2. Indemnification and Expenses of the Trustees...............................26
ARTICLE V. TRUST COMMON SECURITIES HOLDER..................................................27
SECTION 5.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities....................................27
SECTION 5.2. Covenants of the Common Securities Holder..................................27
ARTICLE VI. TRUSTEES........................................................................27
SECTION 6.1. Number of Trustees.........................................................27
SECTION 6.2. Delaware Trustee; Eligibility..............................................28
SECTION 6.3. Property Trustee; Eligibility..............................................28
SECTION 6.4. Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware Trustee Generally..........29
SECTION 6.5. Initial Regular Trustees...................................................29
SECTION 6.6. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees...........................29
SECTION 6.7. Vacancies among Trustees...................................................30
SECTION 6.8. Effect of Vacancies........................................................30
SECTION 6.9. Meetings...................................................................31
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
PAGE
SECTION 6.10. Delegation of Power........................................................31
SECTION 6.11. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business................32
ARTICLE VII. TERMS OF SECURITIES.............................................................32
SECTION 7.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities....................................32
SECTION 7.2. Distributions..............................................................34
SECTION 7.3. Redemption of Securities...................................................35
SECTION 7.4. Redemption Procedures......................................................36
SECTION 7.5. Voting Rights of Preferred Securities......................................37
SECTION 7.6. Voting Rights of Common Securities.........................................39
SECTION 7.7. Paying Agent...............................................................41
SECTION 7.8. Listing....................................................................41
SECTION 7.9. Transfer of Securities.....................................................41
SECTION 7.10. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates..........................42
SECTION 7.11. Deemed Security Holders....................................................43
SECTION 7.12. Global Securities..........................................................43
ARTICLE VIII. DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST............................................45
SECTION 8.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust.......................................45
SECTION 8.2. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution of the Trust.....................46
ARTICLE IX. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, DELAWARE TRUSTEES OR OTHERS...47
SECTION 9.1. Liability..................................................................47
SECTION 9.2. Exculpation................................................................47
SECTION 9.3. Fiduciary Duty.............................................................48
SECTION 9.4. Indemnification............................................................49
SECTION 9.5. Outside Businesses.........................................................52
ARTICLE X. ACCOUNTING......................................................................52
SECTION 10.1. Fiscal Year................................................................52
SECTION 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters.................................................52
SECTION 10.3. Banking....................................................................53
SECTION 10.4. Withholding................................................................53
ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS.........................................................53
SECTION 11.1. Amendments.................................................................53
SECTION 11.2. Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent...........56
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
PAGE
ARTICLE XII. REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE........................58
SECTION 12.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee.....................58
SECTION 12.2. Representations and Warranties of the Delaware Trustee.....................58
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS...................................................................59
SECTION 13.1. Notices....................................................................59
SECTION 13.2. Governing Law..............................................................60
SECTION 13.3. Intention of the Parties...................................................60
SECTION 13.4. Headings...................................................................60
SECTION 13.5. Successors and Assigns.....................................................60
SECTION 13.6. Partial Enforceability.....................................................60
SECTION 13.7. Counterparts...............................................................61
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CROSS REFERENCE TABLE*
SECTION OF TRUST
INDENTURE ACT OF SECTION OF
1939, AS AMENDED AGREEMENT
310(a)...................................................................................6.3
310(b)........................................................................6.3(c); 6.3(d)
310(c)..........................................................................Inapplicable
311(a)................................................................................2.2(b)
311(b)............................................................................... 2.2(b)
311(c)..........................................................................Inapplicable
312(a)................................................................................2.2(a)
312(b)................................................................................2.2(b)
312(c)..........................................................................Inapplicable
313(a)...................................................................................2.3
313(b)...................................................................................2.3
313(c)...................................................................................2.3
313(d)...................................................................................2.3
314(a)...........................................................................2.4; 3.6(j)
314(b)..........................................................................Inapplicable
314(c)...................................................................................2.5
314(d)..........................................................................Inapplicable
314(e)...................................................................................2.5
314(f)..........................................................................Inapplicable
315(a)........................................................................3.9(b);3.10(a)
315(b)................................................................................2.7(a)
315(c)................................................................................3.9(a)
315(d)................................................................................3.9(b)
316(a)...................................................................2.6; 7.5(b); 7.6(c)
316(b)..........................................................................Inapplicable
316(c)................................................................................3.6(e)
317(a)..................................................................................3.16
317(b)...........................................................................3.8(h); 7.7
318(a)................................................................................2.1(c)
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Agreement and shall
not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
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AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration"), dated
as of October 21, 1999, by and among OGE Energy Corp., an Oklahoma corporation,
as Sponsor, and A. M. Strecker and James R. Hatfield as the initial Regular
Trustees, and Wilmington Trust Company, as the initial Property Trustee and the
initial Delaware Trustee, not in their individual capacities but solely as
Trustees, and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial ownership
interests in the Trust to be issued pursuant to this Declaration.
WHEREAS, the Trustees and the Sponsor established OGE Energy Capital
Trust I (the "Trust"), a business trust under the Business Trust Act (as
defined, together with other capitalized terms, herein) pursuant to a
Declaration of Trust dated as of September 29, 1999 (the "Original Declaration")
and a Certificate of Trust (the "Certificate of Trust") filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware on September 29, 1999; and
WHEREAS, the sole purpose of the Trust shall be to issue and sell
certain securities representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in the
assets of the Trust, to invest the proceeds from such sales in the Debentures
issued by the Debenture Issuer and to engage in only those activities necessary
or incidental thereto; and
WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Sponsor, by this Declaration,
amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration.
NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to
continue the Trust as a business trust under the Business Trust Act and that
this Declaration constitute the governing instrument of such business trust, the
Trustees hereby declare that all assets contributed to the Trust be held in
trust for the benefit of the Holders, from time to time, of the Securities
representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust
issued hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration.
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the
preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section
1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to
this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Declaration to Articles, Sections, Recitals
and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of, or Recitals and Exhibits to, this
Declaration unless otherwise specified;
(e) unless otherwise defined in this Declaration, a term defined in the
Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Declaration; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa and
a reference to any masculine form of a term shall include the feminine form of a
term, as applicable.
(g) the following terms have the following meanings:
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to
bind such Person.
"Beneficial Owners" means, for Preferred Securities represented by a
Global Security, the person who acquires an interest in the Preferred Securities
which is reflected on the records of the Depositary through the Depositary
Participants.
"Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is
not a day on which banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to
close.
"Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code,
12 Del. Code Section 3801 ET SEQ., as it may be amended from time to time, or
any successor legislation.
"Cedel" means Cedel, S.A.
"Certificate" means a Common Security Certificate or a Preferred
Security Certificate.
"Certificate of Trust" has the meaning specified in the Recitals
hereto.
"Closing Date" means the date on which the Preferred Securities are
issued and sold.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation. A reference to a specific section of the
Code refers not only to such specific section but also to any corresponding
provision of any federal tax statute enacted after the date of this Declaration,
as such specific section or corresponding provision is in effect on the date of
application of the provisions of this Declaration containing such reference.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Securities Holder" means OGE Energy Corp., in its capacity as
purchaser and holder of all of the Common Securities issued by the Trust.
"Common Security" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1
2
"Common Security Certificate" means a definitive certificate in fully
registered form representing a Common Security, substantially in the form of
Exhibit B hereto.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Property
Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be
administered, which office at the date of execution of this Declaration is
located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19809-0001.
"Covered Person" means (a) any officer, director, shareholder, partner,
member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) the Trust's
Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.
"Debenture Issuer" means OGE Energy Corp., in its capacity as issuer of
the Debentures under the Indenture.
"Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person" means (a) any Regular Trustee;
(b) any Affiliate of any Regular Trustee; (c) any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any
Regular Trustee or any Affiliate thereof; or (d) any officer, employee or agent
of the Trust or its Affiliates.
"Debenture Trustee" means Bank of Oklahoma, National Association, in
its capacity as trustee under the Indenture until a successor is appointed
thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee.
"Debentures" means the series of debentures to be issued by the
Debenture Issuer under the Indenture and held by the Property Trustee.
"Delaware Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 6.2.
"Depositary" means, with respect to Securities issuable in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered
under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such
Securities.
"Depositary Participant" means a member of, or participant in, the
Depositary.
"Direct Action" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8(e).
"Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in
accordance with Section 7.2.
"Euroclear" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels
office, as operator of the Euroclear System.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Fiduciary Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section
9.4(b).
3
"Fiscal Year" has the meaning specified in Section 10.1.
"Global Security" means a fully registered, global Preferred Security
Certificate.
"Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of October 21,
1999, of the Sponsor in respect of the Securities.
"Holder" means any holder of Securities, as registered on the books and
records of the Trust; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders
of the requisite liquidation amount of Preferred Securities have voted on any
matter provided for in this Declaration, then for the purpose of such
determination only (and not for any other purpose hereunder), if the Preferred
Securities remain in the form of one or more Global Securities and if the
Depositary which is the holder of such Global Securities has sent an omnibus
proxy to the Trust assigning voting rights to Depositary Participants to whose
accounts the Preferred Securities are credited on the record date, the term
"Holders" shall mean such Depositary Participants acting at the direction of the
Beneficial Owners.
"Indemnified Person" means a Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person or a
Fiduciary Indemnified Person.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of October 20, 1999, between
the Debenture Issuer and Bank of Oklahoma, National Association, as Trustee, and
as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated
as of October 21, 1999, pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued.
"Indenture Event of Default" has the meaning given to the term "Event
of Default" in the Indenture.
"Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in the
Investment Company Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion
of counsel, rendered by a law firm having a recognized national securities
practice, to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law
or regulation or a written change in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"), there is more than an insubstantial risk
that the Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required
to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law
is announced and becomes effective on or after the Closing Date.
"Legal Action" has the meaning specified in Section 3.6(g).
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
4
"Majority in Liquidation Amount" means, except as provided in the terms
of the Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of
outstanding Securities, voting together as a single class, or, as the context
may require, Holders of outstanding Preferred Securities or Holders of
outstanding Common Securities, voting separately as a class, who are the record
owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the
stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting
percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
"New York Stock Exchange" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or
any successor thereto.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed on behalf of such Person by two Authorized Officers of such
Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' 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 each officer on behalf of such Person in rendering
the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
on behalf of such Person 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 each such officer
acting on behalf of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied
with; provided, that the term "Officers' Certificate", when used with reference
to Regular Trustees who are natural persons shall mean a certificate signed by
two of the Regular Trustees which otherwise satisfies the foregoing
requirements.
"Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8(h).
"Payment Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(c).
"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.
"Preferred Security" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.
"Preferred Security Certificate" means a definitive certificate in
fully registered form representing a Preferred Security, substantially in the
form of Exhibit A.
5
"Property Account" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8(c).
"Property Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the eligibility
requirements set forth in Section 6.3.
"Pro Rata" means pro rata to each Holder of Securities according to the
aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in
relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities outstanding.
"Quorum" means a majority of the Regular Trustees or, if there are only
two Regular Trustees, both of them.
"Redemption/Distribution Notice" has the meaning specified in Section
7.4(a) hereto.
"Redemption Price" means the amount for which the Securities will be
redeemed, which amount will equal (i) the redemption price paid by the Debenture
Issuer to repay or redeem, in whole or in part, the Debentures held by the Trust
plus an amount equal to accumulated and unpaid Distributions on such Securities
through the date of their redemption or (ii) such lesser amount as will be
received by the Trust in respect of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed.
"Regular Trustee" means any Trustee other than the Property Trustee and
the Delaware Trustee.
"Related Party" means, with respect to the Sponsor, any direct or
wholly owned subsidiary of the Sponsor or any Person that owns, directly or
indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the Sponsor.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Property Trustee, any
officer with direct responsibility for the administration of this Declaration
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.
"Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act or any
successor rule thereunder.
"Securities" means the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time, or any successor legislation.
"Special Event" means a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.
"Sponsor" means OGE Energy Corp., an Oklahoma corporation, or any
successor entity in a merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement by or
conveyance, transfer or lease of its properties substantially as an entirety, in
its capacity as sponsor of the Trust.
"Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning specified in
Section 6.6(b).
6
"Successor Entity" has the meaning specified in Section 3.15(b)(i).
"Successor Property Trustee" has the meaning specified in
Section 6.6(b).
"Successor Securities" has the meaning specified in
Section 3.15(b)(i)(b).
"Super Majority" has the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a)(ii).
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of independent
tax counsel experienced in such matters, to the effect that, as a result of (a)
any amendment to, change in or announced proposed change in the laws (or any
regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof or therein, or (b) any official administrative
pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, which amendment or change is effective or proposed change,
pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the Closing Date, there is
more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days
of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with
respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures, (ii) interest payable
by the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date
of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in
part, by the Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes, or
(iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.
"10% in Liquidation Amount" means, except as provided in the terms of
the Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding
Securities, voting together as a single class, or, as the context may require,
Holders of outstanding Preferred Securities or Holders of outstanding Common
Securities, voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 10% or
more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would
be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of
all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
"Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations, including
temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United
States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
"Trust" has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
"Trust Enforcement Event" in respect of the Securities means an
Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing in respect of the
Debentures.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this
Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in
accordance with the terms hereof, and all other
7
Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as
Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a
Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their
capacity as trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II.
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION.
(a) This Declaration is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Declaration and shall, to the
extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a Trustee
for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If and to the extent that any provision of this Declaration
conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the
Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration
shall not affect the Trust's classification as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes and shall not affect the nature of the Securities as
equity securities representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in the
assets of the Trust.
SECTION 2.2. LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
(a) Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide the Property Trustee (i), except while the Preferred Securities
are represented by one or more Global Securities, at least one Business Day
prior to the date for payment of Distributions, a list, in such form as the
Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Holders of the Securities ("List of Holders") as of the record date relating to
the payment of such Distributions and (ii) at any other time, within 30 days of
receipt by the Trust of a written request from the Property Trustee for a List
of Holders as of a date no more than 15 days before such List of Holders is
given to the Property Trustee; provided that neither the Sponsor nor the Regular
Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall be obligated to provide such List of
Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent
List of Holders given to the Property Trustee by the Sponsor and the Regular
Trustees on behalf of the Trust. The Property Trustee shall preserve, in as
current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information contained in Lists
of Holders given to it or which it receives in the capacity as Paying Agent (if
acting in such capacity), provided that the Property Trustee may destroy any
List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Property Trustee shall comply with its obligations under, and
shall be entitled to the benefits of, Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
8
SECTION 2.3. REPORTS BY THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE.
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year (commencing with the year of
the first anniversary of the issuance of the Preferred Securities), the Property
Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities 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 Property
Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4. PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE.
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as
required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) 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 2.5. EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
condition precedent provided for in this Declaration 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 Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6. TRUST ENFORCEMENT EVENTS; WAIVER.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities may, by vote or written consent, on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Preferred Securities, waive any past Trust Enforcement Event in respect of
the Preferred Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying
Indenture Event of Default:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, the Trust
Enforcement Event under the Declaration shall also
not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of greater than a
majority in principal amount of the holders of the
Debentures (a "Super Majority") to be waived under
the Indenture, the related Trust Enforcement Event
under the Declaration may only be waived by the vote
or written consent of the Holders of at least the
proportion in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities that the relevant Super Majority
represents of the aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures outstanding.
The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in lieu of
Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B)
of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration
and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Upon such
waiver, any such default shall cease to exist, and any Trust Enforcement Event
9
with respect to the Preferred Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to
have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration and the Preferred
Securities, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Trust
Enforcement Event with respect to the Preferred Securities or impair any
right consequent thereon. Any waiver by the Holders of the Preferred
Securities of a Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the Preferred
Securities shall also be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Holders of the
Common Securities of any such Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the
Common Securities for all purposes of this Declaration without any further
act, vote, or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities.
(b) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common
Securities may, by vote or written consent, on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Common Securities, waive any past Trust Enforcement Event in respect of the
Common Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying
Indenture Event of Default:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, except where the
Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have
waived such Trust Enforcement Event under the
Declaration as provided below in this Section 2.6(b),
the Trust Enforcement Event under the Declaration
shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of a Super Majority to
be waived under the Indenture, except where the
Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have
waived such Trust Enforcement Event under the
Declaration as provided below in this Section 2.6(b),
the Trust Enforcement Event under the Declaration may
only be waived by the vote or written consent of the
Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation
amount of the Common Securities that the relevant
Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures outstanding;
provided further, each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived
any Trust Enforcement Event and all Trust Enforcement Events with respect to the
Common Securities and the consequences thereof until all Trust Enforcement
Events with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated, and until such Trust Enforcement Events with respect to
the Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
Property Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will
have the right to direct the Property Trustee in accordance with the terms of
the Securities. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b) shall be in lieu
of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such
Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act are hereby
expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the
Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b),
upon such cure, waiver or other elimination, any such default shall cease to
exist and any Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the Common Securities
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this
Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
10
Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the Common Securities or impair any
right consequent thereon.
(c) A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default by the Property Trustee
at the direction of the Holders of the Preferred Securities constitutes a waiver
of the corresponding Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the Preferred
Securities under this Declaration. The foregoing provisions of this Section
2.6(c) shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and
such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly
excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.7. TRUST ENFORCEMENT EVENT; NOTICE.
(a) The Property Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of
a Trust Enforcement Event, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Holders of the Securities, notices of all defaults with respect to the
Securities actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee,
unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term
"defaults" for the purposes of this Section 2.7(a) being hereby defined to be an
Indenture Event of Default, not including any periods of grace provided for
therein and irrespective of the giving of any notice provided therein); provided
that, except for a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any)
or interest on any of the Debentures, the Property Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Property
Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Holders of the Securities.
(b) The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
default except:
(i) a default under Sections 501(1) and 501(2) of the
Indenture; or
(ii) any default as to which the Property Trustee shall
have received written notice or of which a
Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee charged
with the administration of this Declaration shall
have actual knowledge.
ARTICLE III.
ORGANIZATION
SECTION 3.1. NAME AND ORGANIZATION.
The Trust hereby continued is named "OGE Energy Capital Trust I," as
such name may be modified from time to time by the Regular Trustees following
written notice to the Holders of Securities. The Trust's activities may be
conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the
Regular Trustees.
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SECTION 3.2. OFFICE.
The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o OGE Energy
Corp., 321 North Harvey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102. On 10 Business Days'
written notice to the Holders of Securities, the Regular Trustees may designate
another principal office.
SECTION 3.3. PURPOSE.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and
sell Securities and use the gross proceeds from such sale to acquire the
Debentures, and (b) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those
other activities necessary or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow
money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of
its assets or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that
would cause the Trust not to be classified as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes.
By the acceptance of this Trust, none of the Trustees, the Sponsor, the
Holders of the Preferred Securities or Common Securities or the Preferred
Securities Beneficial Owners will take any position for United States federal
income tax purposes which is contrary to the classification of the Trust as a
grantor trust.
SECTION 3.4. AUTHORITY.
Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the
specific duties of the Property Trustee, the Regular Trustees shall have
exclusive authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken by
the Regular Trustees in accordance with their powers shall constitute the act of
and serve to bind the Trust and an action taken by the Property Trustee on
behalf of the Trust in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of
and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of
the Trust, no person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the
Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely
conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this
Declaration.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration and except if a
meeting of the Regular Trustees is called with respect to any matter over which
the Regular Trustees have power to act, any power of the Regular Trustees may be
exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Regular Trustee.
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and except as
otherwise required by the Business Trust Act or applicable law, any Regular
Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents which the
Regular Trustees have the power and authority to cause the Trust to execute
pursuant to Section 3.6(b), provided, that the registration statements referred
to in Section 3.6(b)(ii), including any amendments thereto, shall be signed by
or on behalf of a majority of the Regular Trustees; and
(c) a Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or
her power for the purposes of
12
signing any documents which the Regular Trustees have power and authority to
cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6.
SECTION 3.5. TITLE TO PROPERTY OF THE TRUST.
Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the Debentures and
the Property Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title
to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not
have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an
undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 3.6. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE REGULAR TRUSTEES.
The Regular Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority
to cause the Trust to engage in the following activities:
(a) to establish the terms and form of the Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities in the manner specified in Section 7.1 and issue and sell the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with this
Declaration; provided, however, that the Trust may issue no more than one series
of Preferred Securities and no more than one series of Common Securities, and,
provided further, that there shall be no interests in the Trust other than the
Securities, and the issuance of Securities shall be limited to a one-time,
simultaneous issuance of both Preferred Securities and Common Securities on the
Closing Date;
(b) in connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities,
at the direction of the Sponsor, to:
(i) execute and file an application, prepared by the
Sponsor, to the New York Stock Exchange or any other
national stock exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market
for listing of any Preferred Securities, the
Guarantee and the Debentures;
(ii) execute and file with the Commission one or more
registration statements on the applicable forms
prepared by the Sponsor, including any amendments
thereto, pertaining to the Preferred Securities, the
Guarantee and the Debentures;
(iii) execute and file any documents prepared by the
Sponsor, or take any acts as determined by the
Sponsor to be necessary, in order to qualify or
register all or part of the Preferred Securities in
any State in which the Sponsor has determined to
qualify or register such Preferred Securities for
sale; and
(iv) negotiate the terms of and execute and enter into an
underwriting agreement and other related agreements
providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities;
13
(c) to acquire the Debentures with the proceeds of the sale of the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities; provided, however, that the
Regular Trustees shall cause legal title to the Debentures to be held of record
in the name of the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities and the Holders of the Common Securities;
(d) to give the Sponsor and the Property Trustee prompt written notice
of the occurrence of a Special Event; provided that the Regular Trustees shall
consult with the Sponsor and the Property Trustee before taking or refraining
from taking any action in relation to any such Special Event;
(e) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken
hereunder that require a record date be established, including and with respect
to, for the purposes of Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act,
Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant
notices to the Holders of Preferred Securities and Holders of Common Securities
as to such actions and applicable record dates;
(f) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of
the Regular Trustees pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and the
Securities;
(g) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to
legal action or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the Trust
("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section 3.8(e), the Property Trustee has
the exclusive power to bring such Legal Action;
(h) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be
designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors, advisors and
consultants to conduct only those services that the Regular Trustees have
authority to conduct directly, and to pay reasonable compensation for such
services;
(i) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the
Trust Indenture Act;
(j) to give the certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust
Indenture Act to the Property Trustee, which certificate may be executed by any
Regular Trustee;
(k) to incur expenses that are necessary or incidental to carry out any
of the purposes of the Trust;
(l) to act as, or appoint another Person to act as, registrar and
transfer agent for the Securities;
(m) to give prompt written notice to the Holders of the Securities of
any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its election to defer payments
of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period under the
Debentures as authorized by the Indenture;
(n) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the
preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights,
franchises and privileges as a statutory
14
business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and of each other
jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect the limited
liability of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and the Holders of the
Common Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the
Trust was created;
(o) to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, that the
Regular Trustees determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable in
carrying out the purposes and functions of the Trust as set out in Section 3.3
or the activities of the Trust as set out in this Section 3.6, including, but
not limited to:
(i) to cause the Trust not to be deemed to be an
Investment Company required to be registered under
the Investment Company Act;
(ii) to cause the Trust to be classified as a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes;
and
(iii) to cooperate with the Debenture Issuer to ensure that
the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the
Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax
purposes.
(p) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns
and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the
Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the Regular Trustees, on behalf of the
Trust; and
(q) to execute all documents or instruments, perform all duties and
powers, and do all things for and on behalf of the Trust in all matters
necessary or incidental to the foregoing.
The Regular Trustees shall exercise the powers set forth in this
Section 3.6 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of
the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Regular Trustees shall have no power
to, and shall not, take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and
functions of the Trust set forth in Section 3.3.
Subject to this Section 3.6, the Regular Trustees shall have none of
the powers or the authority of the Property Trustee set forth in Section 3.8.
Any expenses incurred by the Regular Trustees pursuant to this Section
3.6 shall be reimbursed by the Debenture Issuer.
SECTION 3.7. PROHIBITION OF ACTIONS BY THE TRUST AND THE TRUSTEES.
(a) The Trust shall not, and the Trustees (including the Property
Trustee) shall cause the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than as
required or authorized by this Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not,
and the Trustees (including the Property Trustee) shall cause the Trust not to:
15
(i) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from
holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such
proceeds to Holders of Securities pursuant to the
terms of this Declaration and of the Securities;
(ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided
herein;
(iii) possess Trust property for other than a Trust
purpose;
(iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness;
(v) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as
to vary the Trust assets;
(vi) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as
to vary the terms of the Securities in any way
whatsoever (except to the extent expressly authorized
in this Declaration or by the terms of the
Securities);
(vii) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial
ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust
other than the Securities;
(viii) other than as provided in this Declaration or by the
terms of the Securities, (A) direct the time, method
and place of exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the
Debentures, (B) waive any past default that is
waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any right
to rescind or annul any declaration that the
principal of all the Debentures shall be due and
payable, or (D) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures where such consent shall be required
unless the Trust shall have received an opinion of
counsel to the effect that such modification will not
cause more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust
will be deemed an Investment Company required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act, or the
Trust will not be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes;
(ix) take any action inconsistent with the status of the
Trust as a grantor trust for United States federal
income tax purposes; or
(x) revoke any action previously authorized or approved
by vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 3.8. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE.
(a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of
record in the name of the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust
and the Holders of the Securities. The right, title and interest of the Property
Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may
hereafter be appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with Section 6.6.
16
Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and
delivered.
(b) The Property Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and
interest in the Debentures to the Regular Trustees or to the Delaware Trustee
(if the Property Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee).
(c) The Property Trustee shall:
(i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest
bearing trust account (the "Property Account") in the
name of and under the exclusive control of the
Property Trustee on behalf of the Holders of the
Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of funds
made in respect of the Debentures held by the
Property Trustee, deposit such funds into the
Property Account and make payments to the Holders of
the Preferred Securities and Holders of the Common
Securities from the Property Account in accordance
with Section 7.2. Funds in the Property Account shall
be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance with
this Declaration. The Property Account shall be an
account that is maintained with a banking institution
the rating on whose long-term unsecured indebtedness
is at least equal to the rating assigned to the
Preferred Securities by a "nationally recognized
statistical rating organization", within the meaning
of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act;
(ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be
necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of
the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities to
the extent the debentures are redeemed or mature; and
(iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the
Regular Trustees in accordance with the terms of the
Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as
so directed and as shall be necessary or appropriate
to effect the distribution of the Debentures to
Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of a
Special Event.
(d) The Property Trustee shall take all actions and perform such duties
as may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of
this Declaration and the Securities.
(e) The Property Trustee shall take any Legal Action which arises out
of or in connection with a Trust Enforcement Event of which a Responsible
Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge or the Property Trustee's
duties and obligations under this Declaration or the Trust Indenture Act;
provided however, that if a Trust Enforcement Event has occurred and is
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer
to pay interest, principal or other required payments on the Debentures on the
date such interest, principal or other required payments are otherwise payable
(or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of
Preferred Securities may directly institute a proceeding
17
against the Debenture Issuer for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the
principal of or interest on Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder (a
"Direct Action") on or after the respective due date specified in the
Debentures.
(f) The Property Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee until
either:
(i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the
proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the
Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of the
Securities; or
(ii) a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and
has accepted that appointment in accordance with
Section 6.6.
(g) The Property Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of
the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the Indenture
and, if a Trust Enforcement Event actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Property Trustee occurs and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall, for the
benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce its rights as holder of the
Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to the terms of such
Securities.
(h) The Property Trustee may authorize one or more Persons (each, a
"Paying Agent") to pay Distributions, redemption payments or liquidation
payments on behalf of the Trust with respect to all Securities and any such
Paying Agent shall comply with Section 317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
Paying Agent may be removed by the Property Trustee at any time and a successor
Paying Agent or additional Paying Agents may be appointed at any time by the
Property Trustee.
(i) Subject to this Section 3.8, the Property Trustee shall have none
of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Regular Trustees set
forth in Section 3.6.
The Property Trustee shall exercise the powers set forth in this
Section 3.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of
the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Property Trustee shall have no power
to, and shall not, take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and
functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3.
SECTION 3.9. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROPERTY
TRUSTEE.
(a) The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Trust
Enforcement Event and after the curing of all Trust Enforcement Events that may
have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically
set forth in this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Declaration against the Property Trustee. In case a Trust Enforcement Event has
occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) of which a
Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge, the Property
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs.
18
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be construed to relieve the
Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of a Trust Enforcement Event
and after the curing or waiving of all such Trust
Enforcement Events that may have occurred:
(a) the duties and obligations of the Property
Trustee shall be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Declaration and
the Property Trustee shall not be liable
except for the performance of such duties
and obligations as are specifically set
forth in this Declaration, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into
this Declaration against the Property
Trustee; and
(b) in the absence of bad faith on the part of
the Property Trustee, the Property 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
Property Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Declaration; but in the
case of any such certificates or opinions
that by any provision hereof are
specifically required to be furnished to the
Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall
be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Declaration;
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible
Officer of the Property Trustee, unless it shall be
proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect
to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it
without negligence, in good faith in accordance with
the direction of the Holders of not less than a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities
relating to the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Property Trustee under this
Declaration;
(iv) no provision of this Declaration shall require the
Property 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 it 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 Declaration or
indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Property
Trustee against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it;
19
(v) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the
custody, safe-keeping and physical preservation of
the Debentures and the Property Account shall be to
deal with such property in a similar manner as the
Property Trustee deals with similar property for its
own account, subject to the protections and
limitations on liability afforded to the Property
Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust
Indenture Act;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall have no duty or liability
for or with respect to the value, genuineness,
existence or sufficiency of the Debentures or the
payment of any taxes or assessments levied thereon or
in connection therewith;
(vii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any
interest on any money received by it except as it may
otherwise agree with the Sponsor. Money held by the
Property Trustee need not be segregated from other
funds held by it except in relation to the Property
Account maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant
to Section 3.8(c)(i) and except to the extent
otherwise required by law; and
(viii) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for
monitoring the compliance by the Regular Trustees or
the Sponsor with their respective duties under this
Declaration, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable
for any default or misconduct of the Regular Trustees
or the Sponsor.
SECTION 3.10. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9:
(i) the Property Trustee may conclusively 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 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 Sponsor or the Regular
Trustees contemplated by this Declaration shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;
(iii) whenever in the administration of this Declaration,
the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a
matter be proved or established before taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Property Trustee (unless other evidence is herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon
an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor
or the Regular Trustees;
20
(iv) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument
(including any financing or continuation statement or
any filing under tax or securities laws) or any
rerecording, refiling or registration thereof;
(v) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its
choice or other experts and the advice or opinion of
such counsel and experts with respect to legal
matters or advice within the scope of such experts'
area of expertise shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion,
such counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of
its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees.
The Property Trustee shall have the right at any time
to seek instructions concerning the administration of
this Declaration from any court of competent
jurisdiction;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by
this Declaration at the request or direction of any
Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the
Property Trustee security and indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Property Trustee, against the
costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses and the expenses of the Property Trustee's
agents, nominees or custodians) 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 Property Trustee;
provided that, nothing contained in this Section
3.10(a) shall be taken to relieve the Property
Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Indenture Event of
Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and
powers vested in it by this Declaration;
(vii) the Property 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
Property Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit;
(viii) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder
either directly or by or through agents, custodians,
nominees or attorneys and the Property Trustee shall
not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence
on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with
due care by it hereunder;
(ix) any action taken by the Property Trustee or its
agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders
of the Securities, and the signature of the Property
Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and
effective to perform any such action and no third
party shall be required to inquire as
21
to the authority of the Property Trustee to so act
or as to its compliance with any of the terms and
provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall
be conclusively evidenced by the Property Trustee's
or its agent's taking such action;
(x) whenever in the administration of this Declaration
the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to
receive instructions with respect to enforcing any
remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder,
the Property Trustee (i) may request instructions
from the Holders of the Securities which instructions
may only be given by the Holders of the same
proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as
would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee
under the terms of the Securities in respect of such
remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from
enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other
action until such instructions are received, and
(iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on
or acting in or accordance with such instructions;
(xi) except as otherwise expressly provided by this
Declaration, the Property Trustee shall not be under
any obligation to take any action that is
discretionary under the provisions of this
Declaration; and
(xii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any
action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it
without negligence, in good faith and reasonably
believed by it to be authorized or within the
discretion, rights or powers conferred upon it by
this Declaration.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty
or obligation on the Property 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 Property 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 Property Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.11. DELAWARE TRUSTEE.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than
Section 6.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers,
nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of
the Regular Trustees or the Property Trustee described in this Declaration.
Except as set forth in Section 6.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for
the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of
the Business Trust Act.
SECTION 3.12. EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS.
Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and except as
otherwise required by the Business Trust Act, any Regular Trustee is authorized
to execute on behalf of the Trust
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any documents that the Regular Trustees have the power and authority to
execute pursuant to Section 3.6; provided that, the registration statements
referred to in Section 3.6(b)(ii), including any amendments thereto, shall be
signed by or on behalf of a majority of the Regular Trustees.
SECTION 3.13. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF
SECURITIES.
The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be
taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to
the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The
Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Declaration, the Securities, the Debentures or the Indenture.
SECTION 3.14. DURATION OF TRUST.
The Trust shall exist until terminated pursuant to the provisions of
Article VIII hereof.
SECTION 3.15. MERGERS.
(a) The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or
be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as
described in Section 3.15(b) and (c).
(b) The Trust may, at the request of the Sponsor and with the consent
of the Regular Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the
Regular Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the Securities, the
Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or
into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any
State; provided, that:
(i) if the Trust is not the successor, such successor
entity (the "Successor Entity") either:
(a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of
the Trust with respect to the Securities; or
(b) substitutes for the Preferred Securities
other securities having substantially the
same terms as the Preferred Securities (the
"Successor Securities") so long as the
Successor Securities rank the same as the
Preferred Securities rank in priority with
respect to Distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
(ii) the Debenture Issuer expressly appoints a trustee of
such Successor Entity that possesses the same powers
and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of
the Debentures;
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(iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities
are listed, or any Successor Securities will be
listed upon notification of issuance, on any national
securities exchange or with any other or organization
on which the Preferred Securities are then listed or
quoted;
(iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
cause the Preferred Securities (including any
Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any
nationally recognized statistical rating
organization;
(v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
adversely affect the rights, preferences and
privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities
(including any Successor Securities) in any material
respect;
(vi) such Successor Entity has a purpose identical to that
of the Trust;
(vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease the
Sponsor has received an opinion of independent
counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to
the effect that:
(a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease
does not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities (including any
Successor Securities) in any material
respect;
(b) following such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor the
Successor Entity will be required to
register as an Investment Company; and
(c) following such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation or replacement, the Trust (or
the Successor Entity) will continue to be
classified as a grantor trust for United
States federal income tax purposes;
(viii) the Sponsor or any permitted successor or assignee
owns all of the Common Securities and guarantees the
obligations of such Successor Entity under the
Successor Securities at least to the extent provided
by the Securities Guarantee; and
(ix) such Successor Entity expressly assumes all of the
obligations of the Trust with respect to the
Trustees.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 3.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with
the consent of Holders of 100% in aggregate liquidation amount of the
Securities, consolidate, amalgamate,
24
merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any other entity or
permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or
replace it, if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes and each Holder of the Securities not to be treated as owning an
undivided interest in the Debentures.
SECTION 3.16. PROPERTY TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
similar judicial proceeding relative to the Trust or any other obligor upon the
Securities or the property of the Trust or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on
the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Property Trustee shall
have made any demand on the Trust for the payment of any past due Distributions)
shall be entitled and empowered, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by
intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any Distributions
owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities (or, if the Securities are
original issue discount Securities, such portion of the liquidation amount as
may be specified in the terms of such Securities) and to file such other papers
or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the
Property Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, and its counsel) and of the
Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or
other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by
each Holder to make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event the
Property Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Holders, to pay to the Property Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its
agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Property Trustee.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement adjustment or compensation affecting the
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Property
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
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ARTICLE IV.
SPONSOR
SECTION 4.1. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SPONSOR.
In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the
Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the
following activities:
(a) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission one or more
registration statements on the applicable forms, including any amendments
thereto, pertaining to the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and the
Debentures;
(b) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to
qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and to do
any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and
advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing
any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems
necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such
States;
(c) to prepare for filing by the Trust an application to the New York
Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market
for listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities, the Guarantee
and the Debentures; and
(d) to negotiate the terms of an underwriting agreement and other
related agreements providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 4.2. INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSES OF THE TRUSTEES.
The Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, agrees to indemnify
the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee for, and to hold each of them
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred on the part of the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending either of them against
any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of
their respective powers or duties hereunder except any such loss, damage, claim,
liability, penalty or expense as may be attributable to the Property Trustee's
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or, in the case of the Delaware
Trustee, any such loss, liability or expense as may be attributable to its gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; the provisions of this Section 4.2
shall survive the resignation or removal of the Delaware Trustee or the Property
Trustee or the termination of this Declaration.
The Sponsor agrees to pay the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee
from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by them
hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in
regard to the compensation of a trustee of an expressed trust), as set forth in
a separate agreement.
26
ARTICLE V.
TRUST COMMON SECURITIES HOLDER
SECTION 5.1. SPONSOR'S PURCHASE OF COMMON SECURITIES.
On the Closing Date, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common
Securities issued by the Trust, for an amount at least equal to 3% of the
capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Preferred Securities are sold.
The aggregate stated liquidation amount of Common Securities
outstanding at any time shall not be less than 3% of the capital of the Trust.
SECTION 5.2. COVENANTS OF THE COMMON SECURITIES HOLDER.
For so long as the Preferred Securities remain outstanding, the Common
Securities Holder will covenant (i) to maintain, directly or indirectly, 100%
ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) to cause the Trust to remain a
statutory business trust and not to voluntarily dissolve, wind up, liquidate or
be terminated, except as permitted by this Declaration, (iii) to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Trust will not be an
investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, and (iv) to take
no action which would be reasonably likely to cause the Trust to be classified
as an association or a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE VI.
TRUSTEES
SECTION 6.1. NUMBER OF TRUSTEES.
The number of Trustees initially shall be three, and:
(a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may,
by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and
(b) after the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees may be
increased or decreased by vote of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holders of
the Common Securities or by written consent in lieu of such meeting; provided
that the number of Trustees shall be at least three; and provided further that
(1) the Delaware Trustee, in the case of a natural person, shall be a person who
is a resident of the State of Delaware or that, if not a natural person, is an
entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and
otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law; (2) at least one Regular
Trustee is an employee or officer of, or is affiliated with, the Sponsor; and
(3) one Trustee shall be the Property Trustee for so long as this Declaration is
required to qualify as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and such
Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable
requirements.
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SECTION 6.2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
If required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee (which may be the
Property Trustee) (the "Delaware Trustee") shall be:
(a) a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or
(b) 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 law,
provided that, if the Property Trustee has its principal place of business in
the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law,
then the Property Trustee shall also be the Delaware Trustee and Section 3.11
shall have no application.
SECTION 6.3. PROPERTY TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) There shall at all times be one Trustee (which shall initially be
the Delaware Trustee) which shall act as Property Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under
the laws of the United States of America or any State
or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia,
or a corporation or other Person permitted by the
Commission to act as an institutional trustee under
the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws
to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined
capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S.
dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or
examination by federal, State, Territorial or
District of Columbia authority. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually,
pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
supervising or examining authority referred to above,
then for the purposes of this Section 6.3(a)(ii), 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 Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 6.3(a), the Property Trustee shall immediately resign in
the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 6.6(c).
(c) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities (as if it were the
obligor referred to in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
(d) The Guarantee shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Declaration for purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section
310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 6.4. QUALIFICATIONS OF REGULAR TRUSTEES AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
GENERALLY.
Each Regular Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the Property
Trustee also acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a natural person who is
at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more
Authorized Officers.
SECTION 6.5. INITIAL REGULAR TRUSTEES.
The initial Regular Trustees shall be:
A. M. Strecker and James R. Hatfield, the business address of all of
whom is c/o OGE Energy Corp., 321 North Harvey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102.
SECTION 6.6. APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF TRUSTEES.
(a) Subject to Section 6.6(b), Trustees may be appointed or removed
without cause at any time:
(i) until the issuance of any Securities, by written
instrument executed by the Sponsor; and
(ii) after the issuance of any Securities, by vote of the
Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of
the Holders of the Common Securities.
(b) The Trustee that acts as Property Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 6.6(a) until a successor Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Property Trustee under Section 6.3(a) (a "Successor
Property Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
written instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to
the Regular Trustees and the Sponsor. The Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee
shall not be removed in accordance with Section 6.6(a) until a successor Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Delaware Trustee under Sections 6.2 and
6.4 (a "Successor Delaware Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee
and delivered to the Regular Trustees and the Sponsor.
(c) A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until his or its
successor shall have been appointed, until his death or its dissolution or until
his or its removal or resignation. Any Trustee may resign from office (without
need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by
the Trustee and delivered to the Sponsor and the Trust, which resignation shall
take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein;
provided, however, that:
(i) No such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the
Property Trustee shall be effective:
29
(a) until a Successor Property Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment
by instrument executed by such Successor
Property Trustee and delivered to the Trust,
the Sponsor and the resigning Property
Trustee; or
(b) until the assets of the Trust have been
completely liquidated and the proceeds
thereof distributed to the holders of the
Securities; and
(ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the
Delaware Trustee shall be effective until a Successor
Delaware Trustee has been appointed and has accepted
such appointment by instrument executed by such
Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the
Trust, the Sponsor and the resigning Delaware
Trustee.
(d) The Holders of the Common Securities shall use their best efforts
to promptly appoint a Successor Delaware Trustee or Successor Property Trustee,
as the case may be, if the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee delivers an
instrument of resignation in accordance with this Section 6.6.
(e) If no Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as
the case may be, shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided
in this Section 6.6 within 60 days after delivery to the Sponsor and the Trust
of an instrument of resignation or removal, the resigning or removed Property
Trustee or Delaware Trustee, as applicable, may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Property Trustee or Successor
Delaware Trustee, as applicable. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing
such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Property Trustee
or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
(f) No Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be.
SECTION 6.7. VACANCIES AMONG TRUSTEES.
If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 6.1, or if the number of Trustees is
increased pursuant to Section 6.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution
certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Regular Trustees or, if there
are more than two, a majority of the Regular Trustees shall be conclusive
evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a
Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 6.6.
SECTION 6.8. EFFECT OF VACANCIES.
The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall
not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Regular
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a
Regular Trustee in accordance with Section 6.6, the Regular
30
Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers
granted to the Regular Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed
upon the Regular Trustees by this Declaration.
SECTION 6.9. MEETINGS.
If there is more than one Regular Trustee, meetings of the Regular
Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Regular Trustee.
Regular meetings of the Regular Trustees may be held at a time and place fixed
by resolution of the Regular Trustees. Notice of any in-person meetings of the
Regular Trustees shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing
(including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48
hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Regular
Trustees shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by
facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before
a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and
anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by
telephone) of a Regular Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such meeting except where a Regular Trustee attends a meeting for the express
purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity on the ground that the
meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in
this Declaration, any action of the Regular Trustees may be taken at a meeting
by vote of a majority of the Regular Trustees present (whether in person or by
telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter, provided that a
Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the
Regular Trustees. In the event there is only one Regular Trustee, any and all
action of such Regular Trustee shall be evidenced by a written consent of such
Regular Trustee.
SECTION 6.10. DELEGATION OF POWER.
(a) Any Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any natural person over the age of 21 his, her or
its power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
3.6, including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the
Commission, or making any other governmental filing.
(b) The Regular Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time
to such of their number or to officers of the Trust the doing of such things and
the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names
of the Regular Trustees or otherwise as the Regular Trustees may deem expedient,
to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to
the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.
31
SECTION 6.11. MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO
BUSINESS.
Any corporation into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee
or any Regular Trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted
or with such Trustee may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee shall be a party, or
any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust
business of such Trustee shall be the successor of such Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this
Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto.
ARTICLE VII.
TERMS OF SECURITIES
SECTION 7.1. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING SECURITIES.
(a) The Regular Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class
of preferred securities representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in
the assets of the Trust and one class of common securities representing
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust.
(i) Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities of the
Trust have an aggregate liquidation amount with
respect to the assets of the Trust of two hundred
million dollars ($200,000,000) and a liquidation
amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $25
per Preferred Security. The Preferred Securities are
hereby designated for identification purposes only as
8.375% Preferred Securities (the "Preferred
Securities"). The Preferred Security Certificates
evidencing the Preferred Securities shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the
Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto
or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary
usage, custom or practice or to conform to the rules
of any stock exchange on which the Preferred
Securities are listed or quoted.
(ii) Common Securities. The Common Securities of the Trust
have an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to
the assets of the Trust of six million one hundred
and ninety thousand dollars ($6,190,000) and a
liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the
Trust of $25 per Common Security. The Common
Securities are hereby designated for identification
purposes only as 8.375% Common Securities (the
"Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred
Securities, the "Securities"). The Common Security
Certificates evidencing the Common Securities shall
be substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the
Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto
or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary
usage, custom or practice.
32
(b) Payment of Distributions on, and payment of the Redemption Price
upon a redemption of, the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities, as
applicable, shall be made Pro Rata between the holders of Preferred Securities
and the holders of Common Securities based on the liquidation amount of such
Preferred Securities and Common Securities; provided, however, that if on any
date on which amounts payable on distribution or redemption an Indenture Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution
on, or Redemption Price of, any of the Common Securities, and no other payment
on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of such Common
Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and
unpaid Distributions on all of the outstanding Preferred Securities for all
Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or, in the case of amounts
payable on redemption, the full amount of the Redemption Price for all of the
outstanding Preferred Securities then called for redemption, shall have been
made or provided for, and all funds available to the Property Trustee shall
first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or the
Redemption Price of, the Preferred Securities then due and payable. The Trust
shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other
than the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities.
(c) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by a
Regular Trustee. Such signature shall be the manual or facsimile signature of
any present or any future Regular Trustee. In case a Regular Trustee of the
Trust who shall have signed any of the Certificates shall cease to be such
Regular Trustee before the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the
Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who
signed such Certificates had not ceased to be such Regular Trustee; and any
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the
actual date of execution of such Certificate, shall be the Regular Trustees of
the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration
any such person was not such a Regular Trustee. Certificates shall be printed,
lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably
acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof, and
may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation
and such legends or endorsements as the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate,
or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation of
any stock exchange on which Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.
A Certificate representing Preferred Securities shall not be valid
until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the
Property Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that such
Certificate has been authenticated under this Declaration.
Upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Regular Trustee, the
Property Trustee shall authenticate the Certificates representing Preferred
Securities for original issue. The aggregate number of Preferred Securities
outstanding at any time shall not exceed the liquidation amount set forth in
Section 7.1(a)(i).
The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to
the Trust to authenticate Certificates. An authenticating agent may authenticate
Certificates whenever the Property Trustee may do so. Each reference in this
Declaration to authentication by the Property Trustee includes authentication by
such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Property Trustee
to deal with the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor.
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The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the
Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall
not constitute a loan to the Trust.
Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the
Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust.
Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Preferred
Security Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this Declaration,
shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall
be bound by, this Declaration and the terms of the Securities, the Guarantee,
the Indenture and the Debentures.
The holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive rights.
SECTION 7.2. DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) Holders of Securities shall be entitled to receive cumulative cash
Distributions at the rate per annum of 8.375% of the stated liquidation amount
of $25 per Security. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall be
computed (i) for any full 90-day quarterly distribution period on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months, (ii) for any period shorter than a full
90-day quarterly distribution period for which Distributions are computed, on
the basis of a 30-day month and (iii) for periods of less than a month, the
actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. Subject to Section 7.1(b),
Distributions shall be made on the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities on a Pro Rata basis. Distributions on the Securities shall, from the
date of original issue, accrue and be cumulative and shall be payable quarterly,
in arrears, on each January 15th, April 15th, July 15th and October 15th,
commencing January 15, 2000, when, as and if available for payment, by the
Property Trustee, except as otherwise described below. Distributions are payable
only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by
the Property Trustee and to the extent that the Trust has funds available for
the payment of such Distributions in the Property Account.
(b) Distributions not paid on the scheduled payment date will
accumulate and compound quarterly at the rate of 8.375% per annum ("Compounded
Distributions"). "Distributions" shall mean ordinary cumulative distributions
together with any Compounded Distributions.
(c) If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of
interest, premium and/or principal on the Debentures held by the Property
Trustee (the amount of any such payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Property
Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available for that
purpose, to make a Pro Rata distribution of the Payment Amount to Holders,
subject to Section 7.1(b).
(d) Distributions on the Securities shall be payable to the Holders
thereof as they appear on the register of the Trust as of the close of business
on the relevant record dates. While the Preferred Securities are represented by
one or more Global Securities, the relevant record dates shall be the close of
business on the Business Day next preceding such Distribution
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payment date, unless a different regular record date is established or
provided for the corresponding interest payment date on the Debentures. The
relevant record dates for the Common Securities shall be the same as for the
Preferred Securities. If the Preferred Securities shall not continue to
remain represented by one or more Global Securities, the relevant record
dates for the Preferred Securities shall conform to the rules of any
securities exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed and , if not
so listed, the relevant record dates shall be selected by the Regular
Trustees and shall be at least one Business Day prior to the relevant payment
dates. At all times, the Distribution payment dates shall correspond to the
interest payment dates on the Debentures. Distributions payable on any
Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution payment date, as
a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the
Debentures, shall cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such
Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted
Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such
Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date
determined in accordance with this Declaration. If any date on which
Distributions are payable on the Securities is not a Business Day, then
payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is
in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made
on such payment date.
(e) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or
for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be
distributed Pro Rata among the Holders of the Securities.
SECTION 7.3. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES.
(a) Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of the
Debentures held by the Trust, whether at the stated maturity of the Debentures
or upon earlier redemption as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such
repayment or redemption shall be simultaneously applied Pro Rata (subject to
Section 7.1(b)) to redeem Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed
at the Redemption Price. Holders shall be given not less than 30 nor more than
60 days notice of such redemption in accordance with Section 7.4.
(b) If, at any time, a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the
Regular Trustees may, within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special
Event, elect to dissolve the Trust upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, if any, cause the
Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Securities in liquidation of
the Trust.
(c) On the date fixed for any distribution of Debentures, upon
dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Securities will no longer be deemed to be
outstanding and (ii) certificates representing Securities will be deemed to
represent the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
stated liquidation amount of, and bearing accrued and unpaid distributions
35
equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, such Securities until such
certificates are presented to the Sponsor or its agent for transfer or
reissuance.
SECTION 7.4. REDEMPTION PROCEDURES.
(a) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of
Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a "Redemption/Distribution Notice"),
which notice shall be irrevocable, will be given by the Trust by mail to each
Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than
60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the
case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Debentures.
For purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the
dates on which notices are given pursuant to this Section 7.4(a), a
Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such
notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of
Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the
Holders of Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing in the
register of the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the
mailing of either thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity
of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder.
(b) If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed,
the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata
between the holders of the Common Securities and the holders of the Preferred
Securities (subject to Section 7.1(b)) and the Preferred Securities to be
redeemed will be redeemed as described in Section 7.4(c) below. The Trust may
not redeem the Securities in part unless all accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the date of redemption have been paid in full on all Securities
then outstanding. The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be
selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property
Trustee from the outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for
redemption, by such method (including, without limitation, by lot) as the
Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the
selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an integral multiple of
$25 in excess thereof) of the liquidation amount of Preferred Securities of a
denomination larger than $25. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the
regular trustees in writing of the Preferred Securities selected for redemption
and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption,
the liquidation amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this
Declaration, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to
the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any
Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of
the liquidation amount of Preferred Securities that has been or is to be
redeemed.
(c) Subject to the Trust's fulfillment of the notice requirements set
forth in Section 7.4(a) above, if Securities are to be redeemed, then (i) with
respect to Preferred Securities represented by one or more Global Securities, by
12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date (provided that the
Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in
connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures), the
Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably with the Depositary or its nominee (or
successor clearing agency or its nominee) funds sufficient to pay the applicable
Redemption Price with respect to the Preferred Securities and will give the
Depositary irrevocable instructions and
36
authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities and (ii) with respect to Securities not represented by one or more
Global Securities (provided that the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property
Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption
or maturity of the Debentures), the Paying Agent will pay the relevant
Redemption Price to the Holders of such Securities by check mailed to the
address of the relevant Holder appearing on the register of the Trust on the
redemption date. If any date fixed for redemption of Securities is not a
Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will
be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such
Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on
the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on such date fixed for redemption. If payment of the
Redemption Price in respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or
refused and not paid either by the Property Trustee or by the Sponsor as
guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities will
continue to accrue at the then applicable rate from the original redemption
date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date
will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating
the Redemption Price. For these purposes, the applicable Redemption Price
shall not include Distributions which are being paid to Holders who were
Holders on a relevant record date. If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall
have been given and funds deposited or paid as required, then immediately
prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit or payment,
Distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities called for redemption
and all rights of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will
cease, except the right of the Holders to receive the Redemption Price, but
without interest on such Redemption Price, and from and after the date fixed
for redemption, such Securities will cease to be outstanding.
Neither the Regular Trustees nor the Trust shall be required to
register or cause to be registered the transfer of any Securities that have been
called for redemption, except in the case of any Securities being redeemed in
part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.
(d) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without
limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Debenture Issuer or its
subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding
Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
SECTION 7.5. VOTING RIGHTS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES.
(a) Except as provided under Section 11.1 and this Article VII and as
otherwise required by the Business Trust Act, the Trust Indenture Act and other
applicable law, the Holders of the Preferred Securities shall have no voting
rights.
(b) Subject to the requirement of the Property Trustee obtaining a tax
opinion in certain circumstances set forth in Section 7.5(e) below, the Holders
of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities voting
separately as a class have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or
to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee
under the Declaration, including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as
Holder of the Debentures, to
37
(i) exercise the remedies available to it under the Indenture as a Holder of
the Debentures; (ii) consent to any amendment or modification of the
Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required or (iii)
waive any past default and its consequences that is waivable under Section
513 of the Indenture; provided, however, that if an Indenture Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, then the Holders of 25% of the
aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities may direct the
Property Trustee to declare the principal of and interest on the Debentures
due and payable; provided, further, that where a consent or action under the
Indenture would require the consent or act of the Holders of more than a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of Debentures affected thereby,
only the Holders of the percentage of the aggregate stated liquidation amount
of the Preferred Securities which is at least equal to the percentage
required under the Indenture may direct the Property Trustee to give such
consent to take such action.
(c) If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the
Debentures after a Holder of Preferred Securities has made a written request,
such Holder of Preferred Securities may, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, institute a legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to
enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Indenture without first
instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
person or entity. In addition, if a Trust Enforcement Event has occurred and is
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer
to make any interest, principal or other required payments when due under the
Indenture, then a Holder of Preferred Securities may directly institute a Direct
Action against the Debenture Issuer on or after the respective due date
specified in the Debentures.
(d) The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred
Securities of any notice of any Indenture Event of Default received from the
Debenture Issuer with respect to the Debentures. Such notice shall state that
such Indenture Event of Default also constitutes a Trust Enforcement Event.
Except with respect to directing the time, method, and place of conducting a
proceeding for a remedy, the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to
take any of the actions described in clause 7.5(b)(i) and (ii) above unless the
Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of independent tax counsel to the
effect that the Trust will not fail to be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such action, and each
Holder will be treated as owning an undivided beneficial ownership interest in
the Debentures.
(e) In the event the consent of the Property Trustee, as the Holder of
the Debentures, is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment or
modification of the Indenture, the Property Trustee shall request the direction
of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment or modification
and shall vote with respect to such amendment or modification as directed by not
less than 66-2/3% of the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities voting
together as a single class; provided, however, that where a consent under the
Indenture would require the consent of the Holders of more than a majority of
the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, the Property Trustee may only
give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the same
proportion in aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Securities. The
Property Trustee shall not take any such action in accordance with the
directions of the Holders of the Securities unless the Property Trustee has
obtained an opinion of independent tax counsel to the effect that the Trust will
not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States
38
federal income tax purposes as a result of such action, and each Holder will
be treated as owning an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the
Debentures.
(f) A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default with respect to the
Debentures will constitute a waiver of the corresponding Trust Enforcement
Event.
(g) Any required approval or direction of Holders of Preferred
Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Preferred Securities
convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities or
pursuant to written consent. The Regular Trustees shall cause a notice of any
meeting at which Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any
matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to
be mailed to each Holder of record of Preferred Securities. Each such notice
shall include a statement setting forth the following information: (i) the date
of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken; (ii) a
description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which
such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent
is sought; and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents.
(h) No vote or consent of the Holders of Preferred Securities shall be
required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Preferred Securities or distribute
Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
(i) Notwithstanding that Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled
to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the
Securities that are owned at such time by the Debenture Issuer, the Trustees or
any entity directly or indirectly controlled by, or under direct or indirect
common control with, the Debenture Issuer or any Trustee, shall not be entitled
to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated
as if such Securities were not outstanding.
(j) Except as provided in subsection (k) below, Holders of the
Preferred Securities shall have no rights to appoint or remove the Trustees, who
may be appointed, removed or replaced solely by the Common Securities Holder.
(k) If an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed at such time by the
Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 7.6. VOTING RIGHTS OF COMMON SECURITIES.
(a) Except as provided under Section 6.1(b), this Section 7.6 or
Section 11.1 or as otherwise required by the Business Trust Act, the Trust
Indenture Act or other applicable law or provided by the Declaration, the
Holders of the Common Securities will have no voting rights.
(b) The Holders of the Common Securities shall be entitled, in
accordance with Article VI of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or
replace any Trustee or to increase or decrease the number of Trustees.
39
(c) Subject to Section 2.6 of the Declaration and only after all Trust
Enforcement Events with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured,
waived, or otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirement of the Property
Trustee obtaining a tax opinion in certain circumstances set forth in this
paragraph (c), the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the
Declaration, including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as Holder of
the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available to it under the Indenture
as a Holder of the Debentures, (ii) consent to any amendment or modification of
the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required or (iii)
waive any past default and its consequences that is waivable under Section 513
of the Indenture; provided, however, that where a consent or action under the
Indenture would require the consent or act of the Holders of more than a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of Debentures affected thereby, only
the Holders of the percentage of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the
Common Securities which is at least equal to the percentage required under the
Indenture may direct the Property Trustee to have such consent or take such
action. Except with respect to directing the time, method, and place of
conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the Property Trustee shall be under no
obligation to take any of the actions described in clause 7.6(c)(i) and (ii)
above unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of independent tax
counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, for United States
federal income tax purposes the Trust will not fail to be classified as a
grantor trust and each Holder will be treated as owning an undivided beneficial
ownership interest in the Debentures.
(d) If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the
Debentures after a Holder of Common Securities has made a written request, such
Holder of Common Securities may, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
directly institute a legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to
enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Debentures without first
instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
person or entity.
(e) A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default with respect to the
Debentures will constitute a waiver of the corresponding Trust Enforcement
Event.
(f) Any required approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities
may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for
such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities or pursuant to
written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at
which Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter on
which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to
each Holder of record of Common Securities. Each such notice will include a
statement setting forth the following information: (i) the date of such meeting
or the date by which such action is to be taken; (ii) a description of any
resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are
entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought; and
(iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents.
40
(g) No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be
required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute
Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
SECTION 7.7. PAYING AGENT.
In the event that any Preferred Securities are not in book-entry only
form, the Trust shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York,
State of New York, an office or agency where the Preferred Securities may be
presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The Trust may appoint the paying agent
and may appoint one or more additional paying agents in such other locations as
it shall determine. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying
agent. The Trust may change any Paying Agent without prior notice to the
Holders. The Trust shall notify the Property Trustee of the name and address of
any Paying Agent not a party to this Declaration. If the Trust fails to appoint
or maintain another entity as Paying Agent, the Property Trustee shall act as
such. The Trust or any of its Affiliates may act as Paying Agent. In the event
an appointed Paying Agent shall no longer be the Paying Agent, the Regular
Trustees shall appoint a successor (which shall be a bank or trust company
acceptable to the Debenture Issuer) to act as Paying Agent. The Paying Agent
shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the
Property Trustee and the Debenture Issuer.
SECTION 7.8. LISTING.
The Sponsor shall use its best efforts to cause the Preferred
Securities to be listed for quotation on the New York Stock Exchange.
SECTION 7.9. TRANSFER OF SECURITIES.
(a) Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in
the terms of the Securities. Any transfer or purported transfer of any Security
not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void.
(b) Subject to this Article VII, Preferred Securities shall be freely
transferable.
(c) The Trust shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Property Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office being
herein sometimes referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to
such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Trust shall provide for the
registration of Preferred Securities and of transfers of Preferred Securities.
The Property Trustee is hereby appointed "Security Registrar" for the purpose of
registering Preferred Securities and transfers of Preferred Securities as herein
provided.
(d) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at an
office or agency of the Trust designated for such purpose, the Trust shall
execute, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of
the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any
authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.
41
(e) At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other
Securities of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal
amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or
agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Trust shall
execute, and in the case of Preferred Securities the Property Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.
(f) Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of
transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Trust or the Property
Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer
in form satisfactory to the Trust and the Security Registrar duly executed, by
the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
(g) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Trust may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities.
(h) If the Securities are to be redeemed in part, the Trust shall not
be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities
during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of
the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for
redemption under Section 7.4 and ending at the close of business on the day of
such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer or exchange of any Security so
selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any Security being redeemed in part.
SECTION 7.10. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES.
If:
(a) Trustees shall receive evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and
(b) there shall be delivered to the Regular Trustees such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of them, the Sponsor and the
Trust harmless,
then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been
acquired by a bona fide purchaser, any Regular Trustee on behalf of the Trust
shall execute and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination.
In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 7.10,
the Regular Trustees may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute
conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if
originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate
shall be found at any time.
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SECTION 7.11. DEEMED SECURITY HOLDERS.
The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall
be registered on the register of the Trust as the sole holder of such
Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes
of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and,
accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such
Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust shall have
actual or other notice thereof.
SECTION 7.12. GLOBAL SECURITIES.
The Preferred Securities may be issued in the form of one or more
Global Securities. If the Preferred Securities are to be issued in the form of
one or more Global Securities, then the Regular Trustee on behalf of the Trust
shall execute and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or
more Global Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an
amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of all of the Preferred
Securities to be issued in the form of Global Securities and not yet cancelled,
(ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security
or Preferred Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, and (iii) shall be
delivered by the Property Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such
Depositary's instructions. Global Securities shall bear a legend substantially
to the following effect:
"This Preferred Security is a Global Security within the
meaning of the Declaration hereinafter referred to and is registered in
the name of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (the
"Depositary"), or a nominee of the Depositary. This Preferred Security
is exchangeable for Preferred Securities registered in the name of a
person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited
circumstances described in the Declaration and no transfer of this
Preferred Security (other than a transfer of this Preferred Security as
a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the
Depositary) may be registered except in limited circumstances.
Unless this Preferred Security Certificate is presented by an
authorized representative of the Depositary to OGE Energy Capital Trust
I or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and
any Preferred Security Certificate issued is registered in the name of
Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized
representative of the Depositary (and any payment hereon is made to
Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized
representative of the Depositary), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein."
Preferred Securities not represented by a Global Security issued in
exchange for all or a part of a Global Security pursuant to this Section 7.12
shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the
Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or
otherwise, shall instruct the Property Trustee. Upon execution and
43
authentication, the Property Trustee shall deliver such Preferred Securities not
represented by a Global Security to the persons in whose names such definitive
Preferred Securities are so registered.
At such time as all interests in Global Securities have been redeemed,
repurchased or cancelled, such Global Securities shall be, upon receipt thereof,
cancelled by the Property Trustee in accordance with standing procedures of the
Depositary. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in Global
Securities is exchanged for Preferred Securities not represented by a Global
Security, redeemed, cancelled or transferred to a transferee who receives
Preferred Securities not represented by a Global Security therefor or any
Preferred Security not represented by a Global Security is exchanged or
transferred for part of Global Securities, the principal amount of such Global
Securities shall, in accordance with the standing procedures of the Depositary,
be reduced or increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on
such Global Securities by the Property Trustee to reflect such reduction or
increase.
The Trust and the Property Trustee may for all purposes, including the
making of payments due on the Preferred Securities, deal with the Depositary as
the authorized representative of the Holders for the purposes of exercising the
rights of Holders hereunder. The rights of the owner of any beneficial interest
in a Global Security shall be limited to those established by law and agreements
between such owners and depository participants or Euroclear and Cedel;
provided, that no such agreement shall give any rights to any person against the
Trust or the Property Trustee without the written consent of the parties so
affected. Multiple requests and directions from and votes of the Depositary as
holder of Preferred Securities in global form with respect to any particular
matter shall not be deemed inconsistent to the extent they do not represent an
amount of Preferred Securities in excess of those held in the name of the
Depositary or its nominee.
If at any time the Depositary for any Preferred Securities represented
by one or more Global Securities notifies the Trust that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as Depositary for such Preferred Securities or if at any time
the Depositary for such Preferred Securities shall no longer be eligible under
this Section 7.12, the Trust shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect
to such Preferred Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Preferred
Securities is not appointed by the Trust within 90 days after the Trust receives
such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Trust's election that
such Preferred Securities be represented by one or more Global Securities shall
no longer be effective and the Trust shall execute, and the Property Trustee
will authenticate and deliver, Preferred Securities in definitive registered
form, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate liquidation amount equal
to the principal amount of the Global Security or Preferred Securities
representing such Preferred Securities in exchange for such Global Security or
Preferred Securities.
The Trust may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the
Preferred Securities issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall
no longer be represented by a Global Security or Preferred Securities. In such
event the Trust shall execute, and the Property Trustee, shall authenticate and
deliver, Preferred Securities in definitive registered form, in any authorized
denominations, in an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the principal amount
of
44
the Global Security or Preferred Securities representing such Preferred
Securities, in exchange for such Global Security or Preferred Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration (other than
the provisions set forth in Section 7.9), Global Securities may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary
or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the
Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or
a nominee of such successor Depositary.
Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Security may be transferred
or exchanged for Preferred Securities not represented by a Global Security and
Preferred Securities not represented by a Global Security may be transferred or
exchange for Global Securities in accordance with rules of the Depositary and
the provisions of Section 7.9.
ARTICLE VIII.
DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST
SECTION 8.1. DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST.
(a) The Trust shall dissolve upon the earliest of:
(i) the bankruptcy of the Holder of the Common Securities
or the Sponsor;
(ii) the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its
equivalent with respect to the Sponsor; the filing of
a certificate of cancellation with respect to the
Trust after obtaining the consent of the Holders of
at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Securities to the filing of a certificate of
cancellation with respect to the Trust or the
revocation of the Sponsor's charter and the
expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation
without a reinstatement thereof;
(iii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the
Sponsor or the Trust;
(iv) the time when all of the Securities shall have been
called for redemption and the amounts then due shall
have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the
terms of the Securities;
(v) upon the election of the Regular Trustees, following
the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event
pursuant to which the Trust shall have been dissolved
in accordance with the terms of the Securities, and
all of the Debentures shall have been distributed to
the Holders of Securities in exchange for all of the
Securities; or
(vi) at the Sponsor's election by notice and direction to
the Property Trustee to distribute the Debentures to
the Holders of the Securities in exchange for all of
the Securities; provided that the Sponsor will be
required to obtain
45
an opinion of counsel that the distribution of the
Debentures will not be taxable to the Holders of the
Preferred Securities for United States federal
income tax purposes;
(vii) the time when all of the Regular Trustees and the
Sponsor shall have consented to dissolution of the
Trust provided such action is taken before the
issuance of any Securities;
(b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred
to in Section 8.1(a) and upon completion of the winding up and liquidation of
the Trust, the Trustees shall terminate the Trust by filing a certificate of
cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(c) The provisions of Section 4.2 and Article IX shall survive the
termination of the Trust.
SECTION 8.2. LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION OF THE
TRUST.
(a) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, or winding-up of the Trust (each, a "Liquidation"), the Holders of
the Preferred Securities on the date of the Liquidation will be entitled to
receive, out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of
Securities after satisfaction of the Trusts' liabilities to creditors, if any,
distributions in cash or other immediately available funds in an amount equal to
the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Security plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount
being the "Liquidation Distribution"), unless, in connection with such
Liquidation, Debentures in an aggregate stated liquidation amount equal to the
aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with a distribution rate identical to
the distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid distributions equal to
accumulated and unpaid Distributions on, such Securities shall be distributed on
a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for such
Securities.
(b) If, upon any such Liquidation, the Liquidation Distribution can be
paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in
full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly
by the Trust on the Securities shall be paid on a Pro Rata basis. The Holders of
the Common Securities will be entitled to receive distributions upon any such
Liquidation Pro Rata with the Holders of the Preferred Securities except that if
an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred
Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities with regard to
such distributions.
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ARTICLE IX.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, DELAWARE TRUSTEES OR OTHERS
SECTION 9.1. LIABILITY.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Guarantee
and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor:
(i) shall not be personally liable for the return of any
portion of the capital contributions (or any return
thereon) of the Holders of the Securities which shall
be made solely from assets of the Trust; and
(ii) shall not be required to pay to the Trust or to any
Holder of Securities any deficit upon dissolution of
the Trust or otherwise.
(b) Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holder
of the Common Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; provided, however,
the Holders of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the debts and
obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the
extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.
(c) Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holders
of the Preferred Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
SECTION 9.2. EXCULPATION.
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such
Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority
conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports
or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified
Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert
competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the
Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses or any other facts
pertinent to the
47
existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of
Securities might properly be paid.
SECTION 9.3. FIDUCIARY DUTY.
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has
duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the
Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this
Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to an other Covered Person for
its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of
this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of
an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the
duties imposed on the Property Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are
agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of
such Indemnified Person.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises
between any Covered Persons; or
(ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement
contemplated herein or therein provides that an
Indemnified Person shall act in a manner that is, or
provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the
Trust or any Holder of Securities,
the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action
or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each
party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or
situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary
or accepted industry practices and any applicable generally accepted accounting
practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person,
the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the Indemnified
Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement
contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at
law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or
required to make a decision:
(i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar
authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled
to consider such interests and factors as it desires,
including its own interests, and shall have no duty
or obligation to give any consideration to any
interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any
other Person; or
(ii) in its "good faith" or under another express
standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such
express standard and shall not be subject to any
other or different standard imposed by this
Declaration or by applicable law.
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SECTION 9.4. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a)
(i) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full
extent permitted by law, any Debenture Issuer
Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the Trust) by reason of the fact that he is
or was a Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person against
expenses (including attorney fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and,
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction
or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent,
shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the
Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person did not act in
good faith and in a manner which he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause
to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(ii) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full
extent permitted by law, any Debenture Issuer
Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the
right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor
by reason of the fact that he is or was a Debenture
Issuer Indemnified Person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in connection with the defense or settlement of
such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in
a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Trust and except
that no such indemnification shall be made in respect
of any claim, issue or matter as to which such
Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and only to
the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware or
the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which such Court of Chancery or such other court
shall deem proper.
(iii) Any indemnification under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of
this Section 9.4(a) (unless ordered by a court) shall
be made by the Debenture Issuer only as authorized in
the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification
49
of the Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person is proper
in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in
paragraphs (i) and (ii) Such determination shall be
made (1) by the Regular Trustees by a majority vote
of a quorum consisting of such Regular Trustees who
were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding,
(2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if
obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Regular
Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in
a written opinion, or (3) by the Common Security
Holder of the Trust.
(iv) Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a
Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person in defending a
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs
(i) and (ii) of this Section 9.4(a) shall be paid by
the Debenture Issuer in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person to repay such
amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he
is not entitled to be indemnified by the Debenture
Issuer as authorized in this Section 9.4(a).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be
made by the Debenture Issuer if a determination is
reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Regular
Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum of
disinterested Regular Trustees, (ii) if such a quorum
is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a
quorum of disinterested Regular Trustees so directs,
by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or
(iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust,
that, based upon the facts known to the Regular
Trustees, counsel or the Common Security Holder at
the time such determination is made, such Debenture
Issuer Indemnified Person acted in bad faith or in a
manner that such person did not believe to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, or,
with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such
Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person believed or had
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
In no event shall any advance be made in instances
where the Regular Trustees, independent legal counsel
or Common Security Holder reasonably determine that
such person deliberately breached his duty to the
Trust or its Common or Preferred Security Holders.
(v) The indemnification and advancement of expenses
provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other
paragraphs of this Section 9.4(a) shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification and advancement of expenses may be
entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors of the Debenture Issuer or
Preferred Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise,
both as to action in his official capacity and as to
action in another capacity while holding such office.
All rights to indemnification under this Section
9.4(a) shall be deemed to be provided by a contract
between the Debenture Issuer and each Debenture
Issuer Indemnified Person who serves in such capacity
at any
50
time while this Section 9.4(a) is in effect. Any
repeal or modification of this Section 9.4(a)
shall not affect any rights or obligations then
existing.
(vi) The Debenture Issuer or the Trust may purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or
was a Debenture Issuer Indemnified Person against any
liability asserted against him and incurred by him in
any such capacity, or arising out of his status as
such, whether or not the Debenture Issuer would have
the power to indemnify him against such liability
under the provisions of this Section 9.4(a).
(vii) For purposes of this Section 9.4(a), references to
"the Trust" shall include, in addition to the
resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity
(including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed
in a consolidation or merger, so that any person who
is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of
such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the
request of such constituent entity as a director,
trustee, officer, employee or agent of another
entity, shall stand in the same position under the
provisions of this Section 9.4(a) with respect to the
resulting or surviving entity as he would have with
respect to such constituent entity if its separate
existence had continued.
(viii) The indemnification and advancement of expenses
provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section
9.4(a) shall, unless otherwise provided when
authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who
has ceased to be a Debenture Issuer Indemnified
Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person. The
obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section
9.4(a) shall survive the resignation or removal of
the Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee or the
termination of this Declaration.
(b) The Debenture Issuer agrees to indemnify the (i) Property Trustee,
(ii) the Delaware Trustee, (iii) any Affiliate of the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (each of the Persons in (i) through
(iv) being referred to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person") for, and to hold
each Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses) of defending itself against or investigating any claim or liability in
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 9.4(b) shall
survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Declaration.
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SECTION 9.5. OUTSIDE BUSINESSES.
Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property
Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any
nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to
the activities of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall
have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures
or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture,
even if competitive with the activities of the Trust, shall not be deemed
wrongful or improper. No Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee or
the Property Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or
other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that,
if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person,
the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee shall have the right
to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to
recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any
Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee may engage or be
interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any
Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or
act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of
the Sponsor or its Affiliates.
ARTICLE X.
ACCOUNTING
SECTION 10.1. FISCAL YEAR.
The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall be the calendar
year, or such other year as is required by the Code.
SECTION 10.2. CERTAIN ACCOUNTING MATTERS.
(a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Regular
Trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of account, records and
supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail, each transaction
of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of
accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied. The Trust shall use the accrual method of accounting for
United States federal income tax purposes. The books of account and the records
of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal
Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected
by the Regular Trustees.
(b) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be prepared and delivered to
each of the Holders of Securities, within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal
Year of the Trust, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance
sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements
of income or loss.
(c) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered
to each of the Holders of Securities, an annual United States federal income tax
information statement, required
52
by the Code, containing such information with regard to the Securities held
by each Holder as is required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations.
Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any such statement at a
later date, the Regular Trustees shall endeavor to deliver all such
statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust.
(d) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and filed with
the appropriate taxing authority, an annual United States federal income tax
return, on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal
income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by
the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing
authority.
SECTION 10.3. BANKING.
The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the name and for
the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in
respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee shall be made directly to
the Property Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the
Property Account. The sole signatories for such accounts shall be designated by
the Regular Trustees; provided, however, that the Property Trustee shall
designate the signatories for the Property Account.
SECTION 10.4. WITHHOLDING.
The Trust and the Regular Trustees shall comply with all withholding
requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Trust shall
request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates
as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to each
Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by
the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its
withholding obligations. The Regular Trustees shall file required forms with
applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly
established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder
to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Trust is required to
withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions
or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a
distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any
claimed over withholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the
applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld
from actual Distributions made, the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by
the amount of such withholding.
ARTICLE XI.
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
SECTION 11.1. AMENDMENTS.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any
applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a
written instrument approved and executed by the Sponsor and (i) the Regular
Trustees (or, if there are more than two Regular Trustees, a
53
majority of the Regular Trustees) and (ii) the Property Trustee if the
amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of
the Property Trustee; and (iii) by the Delaware Trustee if the amendment
affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware
Trustee.
(b) No amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall
be void and ineffective:
(i) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment, the
Property Trustee shall have first received an
Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the
Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and
conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including
the terms of the Securities);
(ii) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment which
affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or
immunities of the Property Trustee, the Property
Trustee shall have first received:
(a) an Officers' Certificate from each of the
Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is
permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of
this Declaration (including the terms of the
Securities); and
(b) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to
the Sponsor or the Trust) that such
amendment is permitted by, and conforms to,
the terms of this Declaration (including the
terms of the Securities); and
(iii) to the extent the result of such amendment would be
to:
(a) cause the Trust to be classified other than
as a grantor trust for United States federal
income tax purposes;
(b) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the
powers of the Property Trustee in
contravention of the Trust Indenture Act; or
(c) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an
Investment Company required to be registered
under the Investment Company Act.
(c) If the Trust has issued any Securities that remain outstanding:
(i) any amendment that would (a) change the amount or
timing of any distribution of the Securities or
otherwise adversely affect the amount of any
distribution required to be made in respect of the
Securities as of a specified date or (b) restrict the
right of a Holder of Securities to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment on or after such
date, will entitle the Holders of such Securities,
voting together as a single class, to vote on such
amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal
54
shall not be effective except with the approval of
each of the Holders of the Securities affected
thereby; and
(ii) any amendment that would (a) adversely affect the
powers, preferences or special rights of the
Securities, whether by way of amendment to this
Declaration or otherwise or (b) result in the
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust
other than pursuant to the terms of this Declaration,
will entitle the Holders of the Securities voting
together as a single class to vote on such amendment
or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not
be effective except with the approval of a Majority
in Liquidation Amount of each class of the Securities
as affected thereby; provided that, if any amendment
or proposal referred to in clause (a) above would
adversely affect on the Preferred Securities or the
Common Securities, then only the affected class will
be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and
such amendment or proposal shall not be effective
except with the approval of a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the class of Securities affected thereby.
(iii) amendment that would (a) adversely affect the powers,
preferences or special rights of the Securities,
whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or
otherwise or (b) result in the dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Trust other than
pursuant to the terms of this Declaration or (c)
change the amount or timing of any distribution of
the Securities or otherwise adversely affect the
amount of any distribution required to be made in
respect of the Securities as of a specified date or
(d) restrict the right of a Holder of Securities to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such date, then the holders of
the Securities voting together as a single class will
be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and
such amendment or proposal shall not be effective
except with the approval of a Majority Liquidation
Amount of Securities affected thereby; provided that,
if any amendment or proposal referred to in clause
(a) above would adversely affect only the Preferred
Securities or the Common Securities, then only the
affected class will be entitled to vote on such
amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal
shall not be effective except with the approval of a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of such class of
Securities affected thereby.
(d) This Section 11.1 shall not be amended without the consent of all
of the Holders of the Securities.
(e) Article IV shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders
of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities.
(f) The rights of the Holders of the Common Securities under Article V
to increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove, Trustees shall
not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Common Securities.
55
(g) Notwithstanding Section 11.1(c), this Declaration may be amended
without the consent of the Holders of the Securities to:
(i) cure any ambiguity;
(ii) correct or supplement any provision in this
Declaration that may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provision of this Declaration;
(iii) add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of
the Sponsor;
(iv) to conform to any change in Rule 3a-5 or written
change in interpretation or application of Rule 3a-5
by any legislative body, court, government agency or
regulatory authority which amendment does not have a
material adverse effect on the rights, preferences or
privileges of the Holders; or
(v) to modify, eliminate and add to any provision of this
Declaration to ensure that the Trust will be
classified as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes at all times that any
Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the
Trust will not be required to register as an
Investment Company under the Investment Company Act;
provided, however, that such modification,
elimination or addition would not adversely affect in
any material respect the rights, privileges or
preferences of any Holder of the Securities.
SECTION 11.2. MEETINGS OF THE HOLDERS OF SECURITIES; ACTION BY
WRITTEN CONSENT.
(a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at
any time by the Regular Trustees (or as provided in the terms of the Securities)
to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities
are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of the
Securities or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities
are listed or admitted for trading. The Regular Trustees shall call a meeting of
the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in
Liquidation Amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by
delivering to the Regular Trustees one or more calls in a writing stating that
the signing Holders of Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the
general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders
of Securities calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Certificates held
by the Holders of Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only
those Securities specified shall be counted for purposes of determining whether
the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has
been met.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the
Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of
Securities:
(i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the
Holders of Securities having a right to vote thereat
at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the
date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or
approval of the Holders of Securities is permitted or
required under this Declaration or
56
the rules of any stock exchange on which the
Preferred Securities are listed or admitted for
trading, such vote, consent or approval may be
given at a meeting of the Holders of Securities.
Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the
Holders of Securities may be taken without a
meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the
action so taken is signed by the Holders of
Securities owning not less than the minimum amount
of Securities in liquidation amount that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a
meeting at which all Holders of Securities having
a right to vote thereon were present and voting.
Prompt notice of the taking of action without a
meeting shall be given to the Holders of
Securities entitled to vote who have not consented
in writing. The Regular Trustees may specify that
any written ballot submitted to the Security
Holders for the purpose of taking any action
without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust
within the time specified by the Regular Trustees;
(ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to
act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder
of Securities is entitled to participate, including
waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or
participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid
after the expiration of 11 months from the date
thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every
proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the
Holder of Securities executing such proxy. Except as
otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to
the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be
governed by the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial
interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a
Delaware corporation and the Holders of the
Securities were stockholders of a Delaware
corporation;
(iii) each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall
be conducted by the Regular Trustees or by such other
Person that the Regular Trustees may designate; and
(iv) unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration, the
terms of the Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or
the listing rules of any stock exchange on which the
Preferred Securities are then listed for trading,
otherwise provides, the Regular Trustees, in their
sole discretion, shall establish all other provisions
relating to meetings of Holders of Securities,
including notice of the time, place or purpose of any
meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any
Holders of Securities, waiver of any such notice,
action by consent without a meeting, the
establishment of a record date, quorum requirements,
voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with
respect to the exercise of any such right to vote.
57
ARTICLE XII.
REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
SECTION 12.1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PROPERTY
TRUSTEE.
The Trustee that acts as initial Property Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Sponsor at the time of the Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Property Trustee that:
(a) the Property Trustee is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization, with trust power and authority to execute and
deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this
Declaration;
(b) the Property Trustee satisfies the requirements set forth in
Section 6.3(a);
(c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of
this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Property Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed and
delivered by the Property Trustee;
(d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the
Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the articles
of association or incorporation, as the case may be, or the by-laws (or other
similar organizational documents) of the Property Trustee; and
(e) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any State or federal banking authority is required for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Property Trustee of this Declaration.
SECTION 12.2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE DELAWARE
TRUSTEE.
The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Delaware Trustee that:
(a) the Delaware Trustee satisfies the requirements set forth in
Section 6.2 and has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry
out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration and, if it
is not a natural person, is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization;
(b) the Delaware Trustee has been authorized to perform its obligations
under the Certificate of Trust and this Declaration.
58
(c) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any State or federal banking authority is required for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration.
ARTICLE XIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 13.1. NOTICES.
All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or
mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Regular Trustees at the
Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may
give notice of to the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Holders of
the Securities):
c/o OGE Energy Corp.
321 North Harvey
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Attention: Treasurer
Telecopy No: (405) 553-3760
(b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the
Regular Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Holders of the Securities):
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration
Telecopy No: (302) 651-1576
(c) if given to the Property Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office (or
such other address as the Property Trustee may give notice of to the Regular
Trustees, the Delaware Trustee and the Holders of the Securities).
59
(d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing
address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of
the Common Securities may give notice of to the Property Trustee, the Delaware
Trustee and the Trust):
OGE Energy Corp.
321 North Harvey
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Attention: Treasurer
Telecopy No.: (405) 553-3760
(e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the
register of the Trust.
All such notices 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 13.2. GOVERNING LAW.
This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be
governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware.
SECTION 13.3. INTENTION OF THE PARTIES.
It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified
for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions
of this Declaration shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such
classification.
SECTION 13.4. HEADINGS.
Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any
provision hereof.
SECTION 13.5. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or
referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be
included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor
and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective
successors and assigns, whether so expressed.
SECTION 13.6. PARTIAL ENFORCEABILITY.
If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such
provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of
this Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or
circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be
affected thereby.
60
SECTION 13.7. COUNTERPARTS.
This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature
page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of
each of the Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such
counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the
same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature
page.
61
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
OGE ENERGY CORP.,
as Sponsor and as Common Securities Holder
By: /s/ James R. Hatfield
--------------------------------------------
Name: James R. Hatfield
------------------------------------------
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
-----------------------------------------
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Delaware Trustee and Property Trustee
By: /s/ James P. Lawler
--------------------------------------------
Name: James P. Lawler
------------------------------------------
Title: Vice President
-----------------------------------------
/s/ A. M. Strecker
------------------------------------------------
A. M. Strecker, as Regular Trustee
/s/ James R. Hatfield
------------------------------------------------
James R. Hatfield, as Regular Trustee
62
EXHIBIT A
[IF THE PREFERRED SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT THE
FOLLOWING: THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF
THE DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (THE "DEPOSITARY"), OR A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR PREFERRED
SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS
NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION AND NO
TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED
SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS THIS PREFERRED SECURITY CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED SECURITY
CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REQUESTED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS
REGISTERED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT
HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]
CERTIFICATE NO. ______ NUMBER OF PREFERRED SECURITIES: ________
CUSIP NO.
CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING PREFERRED SECURITIES
OF
OGE ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST I
8.375% PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
OGE Energy Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co.
(the "Holder") is the registered owner of ___ preferred securities of the Trust
representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust
designated the 8.375% Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Preferred
Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Securities are
transferable on the register of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, upon
surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer
as provided in the Declaration (as defined below). The designation, rights,
privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the
Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects
be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
of the Trust, dated as of October 21, 1999 (as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Declaration"), among OGE ENERGY CORP., as Sponsor, A. M.
Strecker and James R. Hatfield, as Regular Trustees, and Wilmington Trust
Company, as Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee. Capitalized terms used
herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration.
The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent
described therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the
Guarantee and the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request
to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal
income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Preferred Securities
as evidence of undivided indirect beneficial ownership interests in the
Debentures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this day
of.
OGE ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST I
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------
Title: Regular Trustee
This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
2
EXHIBIT B
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
CERTIFICATE NO. NUMBER OF COMMON SECURITIES: ____
CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING COMMON SECURITIES
OF
OGE ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST I
COMMON SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER COMMON SECURITY)
OGE Energy Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that OGE ENERGY
CORP. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of common securities of the Trust
representing an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the
Trust designated the 8.375% Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common
Security) (the "Common Securities"). Except as provided in the Declaration, the
Common Securities are not transferable and any attempted transfer thereof shall
be void. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and
other terms and provisions of the Common Securities represented hereby are
issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of October 21, 1999 (as the
same may be amended from time to time, the "Declaration"), among OGE ENERGY
CORP., as Sponsor, A. M. Strecker and James R. Hatfield, as Regular Trustees,
and Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee. The
Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent described
therein. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning
given them in the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the
Declaration, the Guarantee and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon
written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal
income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common Securities as
evidence of an undivided indirect beneficial ownership interest in the
Debentures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this ____ day of
___________, ____.
OGE ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------
Title: Regular Trustee
2