Exhibit 4(m)(iii)
TRUST SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Among
American Electric Power Company, Inc.
(as Guarantor)
and
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(as Guarantee Trustee)
Relating to AEP Capital Trust III
dated as of
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Definitions..............................................................................1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01 Trust Indenture Act; Application.........................................................3
SECTION 2.02 Lists of Holders of [Preferred Trust] Securities.........................................3
SECTION 2.03 Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.........................................................3
SECTION 2.04 Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee....................................................3
SECTION 2.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.........................................4
SECTION 2.06 Events of Default; Waiver................................................................4
SECTION 2.07 Event of Default; Notice.................................................................4
SECTION 2.08 Conflicting Interests....................................................................4
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.01 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee...............................................4
SECTION 3.02 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee......................................................5
SECTION 3.03 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee....................................7
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility...........................................................7
SECTION 4.02 Compensation, Reimbursement and Indemnity................................................7
SECTION 4.03 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Guarantee Trustee................................8
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01 Guarantee................................................................................8
SECTION 5.02 Waiver of Notice and Demand..............................................................8
SECTION 5.03 Obligations Not Affected.................................................................8
SECTION 5.04 Rights of Holders........................................................................9
SECTION 5.05 Guarantee of Payment.....................................................................9
SECTION 5.06 Subrogation..............................................................................9
SECTION 5.07 Independent Obligations.................................................................10
ARTICLE VI
SUBORDINATION
(i)
SECTION 6.01 Subordination...........................................................................10
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.01 Termination.............................................................................10
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01 Successors and Assigns..................................................................10
SECTION 8.02 Amendments..............................................................................10
SECTION 8.03 Notices.................................................................................10
SECTION 8.04 Benefit.................................................................................11
SECTION 8.05 Interpretation..........................................................................11
SECTION 8.06 Governing Law...........................................................................12
SECTION 8.07 Counterparts............................................................................12
(ii)
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
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Section of Section of
Trust Indenture Act Guarantee
of 1939, as amended Agreement
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310(a)...................................................... 4.01(a)
310(b)...................................................... 4.01(c), 2.08
310(c)...................................................... Inapplicable
311(a)...................................................... 2.02(b)
311(b)...................................................... 2.02(b)
311(c)...................................................... Inapplicable
312(a)...................................................... 2.02(a)
312(b)...................................................... 2.02(b)
313......................................................... 2.03
314(a)...................................................... 2.04
314(b)...................................................... Inapplicable
314(c)...................................................... 2.05
314(d)...................................................... Inapplicable
314(e)...................................................... 1.01, 2.05, 3.02
314(f)...................................................... 2.01
315(a)...................................................... 3.01, 3.02
315(b)...................................................... 2.07
315(c)...................................................... 3.01
315(d)...................................................... 3.01(c)
316(a)...................................................... 5.04, 2.06
316(b)...................................................... 5.03
316(c)...................................................... 8.02
317(a)...................................................... Inapplicable
317(b)...................................................... Inapplicable
318(a)...................................................... 2.01(b)
318(b)...................................................... 2.01
318(c)...................................................... 2.01(a)
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* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee
Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
(iii)
TRUST SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This TRUST SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("Guarantee Agreement"), dated as
of ____________, is executed and delivered by American Electric Power Company,
Inc., a New York corporation (the "Guarantor"), and
______________________________, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the
benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred
Trust Securities [and Common Trust Securities] ([each] as defined herein [and
together, the "Securities"]) of AEP Capital Trust III, a Delaware statutory
business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust
Agreement"), dated as of _____________among the Trustees named therein, American
Electric Power Company, Inc., as Depositor and Trust Securities Guarantor and
the several Holders (as defined therein), the Issuer is issuing as of the date
hereof $_____________ aggregate Liquidation Amount of its __%
___________________________ Securities (the "Preferred Trust Securities")
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and
having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Preferred Trust Securities are to be issued for sale by the
Issuer and the proceeds [thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance
of the Issuer's Common Trust Securities (as defined herein)] are to be invested
in $___________ principal amount of Debentures (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) [of the Debenture Issuer, which Debentures will be deposited with
Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, as
trust assets]; and
WHEREAS, as an incentive for Holders to purchase Preferred Trust
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as
defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions
set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of Debentures, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor
executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders
from time to time.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Definitions.As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set
forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following
meanings. Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as
in effect on the date hereof.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
["Common Trust Securities" means the common securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer that will be issued
to American Electric Power Company, Inc., as Depositor.]
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that,
except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payments, the
Guarantor shall have received notice of default from the Guarantee Trustee or
any Holder (with a copy to the Guarantee Trustee) and shall not have cured such
default within 90 days after receipt of such notice.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the [Preferred Trust] Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid
Distributions that are required to be paid on such [Preferred Trust] Securities
but only if and to the extent that the Property Trustee has available in the
Payment Account funds sufficient to make such payment at such time, (ii) the
redemption price (the "Redemption Price"), and all accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date of redemption, with respect to the [Preferred Trust]
Securities called for redemption by the Issuer but only if and to the extent
that the Property Trustee has available in the Payment Account funds sufficient
to make such payment, (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the
distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for [Preferred Trust]
Securities as provided in the Trust Agreement or upon a redemption of all of the
[Preferred Trust] Securities upon maturity or redemption of the Debentures as
provided in the Trust Agreement), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the
Liquidation Amount of all [Preferred Trust] Securities and all accrued and
unpaid Distributions on the [Preferred Trust] Securities to the date of payment
but only if and to the extent that the Property Trustee has available in the
Payment Account funds sufficient to make such payment at such time, and (b) the
amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders
in liquidation of the Issuer after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of
the Issuer as required by applicable law (in either case, the "Liquidation
Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means ______________________________, until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant
to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a [Preferred Trust] Security or
[Preferred Trust] Securities is registered in the Securities Register; provided,
however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of
[Preferred Trust] Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver
hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the
Guarantor.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the [Preferred Trust] Securities" means
a vote by Holders, voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding [Preferred Trust]
Securities.
"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman or a
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President, the
Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer of the Guarantor, and delivered to the
Guarantee Trustee. Any Officer's Certificate or Opinion of Counsel delivered
with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Guarantee Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement that the officer or counsel signing the Officer's
Certificate or the Opinion of Counsel 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 in rendering the Officer's
Certificate or the Opinion of Counsel;
(c) a statement that each such officer or counsel has made such
examination or investigation as, in such officer's or counsel's opinion, is
necessary to enable such officer or counsel 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 or
counsel, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel
for the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Guarantor, or
an employee or any thereof, who shall be acceptable to the Guarantee Trustee.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or government, or
any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever
nature.
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"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any
vice-president, any assistant vice-president, the secretary, any assistant
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any senior trust officer, any
trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer in the Corporate
Trust Department of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions
similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to
whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
"Subordinated Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of ____________,
____, among the Guarantor, the Debenture Issuer and
______________________________, as trustee pursuant to which the Debentures are
issued, together with any indenture supplemental thereto.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01 Trust Indenture Act; Application.(a) This Guarantee Agreement
is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required or
deemed to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and shall, to the extent
applicable, be governed by such provisions; and
(b) if and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee
Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section
310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties
shall control.
SECTION 2.02 Lists of Holders of [Preferred Trust] Securities.(a) The
Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee (a)
semiannually, not later than ________ __ and ____ __ in each year, a list, in
such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days
prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at such other times as the Guarantee
Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the
Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15
days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided that, the Guarantor
shall not 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
Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List
of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the provisions of
Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, and Section 312(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.03 Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.Within 60 days after each
____________, commencing ________________, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide
to the Holders such reports, if any, as are required by Section 313(a) of the
Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313(a) of
the Trust Indenture Act. Any such report shall be dated as of the next preceding
____________. The Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the other
requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.04 Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee.The Guarantor shall
provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
Holders such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by
Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at
the times required by Section 314 of
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the Trust Indenture Act, provided that such compliance certificate shall be
delivered annually on or before _________ in each year, beginning _____________.
SECTION 2.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.The Guarantor
shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent provided for in this Guarantee Agreement as and to the
extent required by Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or
opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c) of the
Trust Indenture Act may be given in the form of an Officer's Certificate.
SECTION 2.06 Events of Default; Waiver.(a) The Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of [Preferred Trust] Securities may, by vote, on behalf of
all of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon
such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose
of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(b) The right of any Holder to receive payment of the Guarantee
Payments in accordance with this Guarantee Agreement, or to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired without the
consent of each such Holder.
SECTION 2.07 Event of Default; Notice.(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall,
within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail,
first class postage prepaid, to the Holders, a notice of such Event of Default
known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or
waived before the giving of such notice, provided that, except in the case of a
default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the Guarantee Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors,
the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or Responsible
Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding
of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written
notice, or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the
administration of this Guarantee Agreement shall have received written
notice, in each case from the Guarantor or a Holder, of such Event of
Default.
SECTION 2.08 Conflicting Interests.The Trust Agreement, the Subordinated
Indenture and the securities of any series issued thereunder [OTHERS] shall be
deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes
of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.01 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.(a) This Guarantee
Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders,
and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement or any
rights hereunder to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her rights
pursuant to Section 5.04 or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by
such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor
Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have
been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor
Guarantee Trustee.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may
have occurred, shall undertake to perform such duties and only such duties
as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied
covenants or
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obligations shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the
Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not
been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee
Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise
thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances
in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(c) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to
relieve the Guarantee 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 any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Guarantee Agreement, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations
as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the
truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions
expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to
the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or
opinions that by any provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture
Act are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine
the same to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment
was made;
(iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the [Preferred Trust] Securities relating to the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement;
and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the
Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties
hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the
Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the
repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it
under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.02 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.(a) Subject to the
provisions of Section 3.01:
(i) the Guarantee Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected
in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness
or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and
to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;
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(ii) any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's
Certificate, or as otherwise expressly provided herein;
(iii) whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter
be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take
any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on
its part, request and rely upon an Officer's Certificate which, upon
receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly
delivered by the Guarantor;
(iv) the Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its
choice, and the written advice or Opinion of Counsel with respect to
legal matters 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 Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantor or any of its
Affiliates and may include any of its employees; the Guarantee Trustee
shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent
jurisdiction;
(v) the Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee
Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such
Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such adequate
security and indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the
position of the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses
(including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including
such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee;
provided that, nothing contained in this Section 3.02(a)(v) shall be
taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence and
continuance of an Event of Default, of its obligation under the last
sentence of Section 3.01(b) to exercise the rights and powers vested
in it by this Guarantee Agreement;
(vi) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in
its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(vii) the Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(viii) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement
the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions
with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other
action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (1) may request instructions
from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Trust Securities, (2) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right
or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and
(3) shall be protected in relying on or acting in accordance with such
instructions;
(ix) the Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any
financing or continuation statement or any tax or securities form) (or
any rerecording, refiling or re-registration thereof); and
(x) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action
taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and
reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or
rights or powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee Agreement.
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(c) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose
any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts
or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it
in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee
Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable
law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power,
duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the
Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with
such power or authority.
SECTION 3.03 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.The
recitals contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall be taken as the statements
of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility
for their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.(a) There shall at all times be
a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a 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 Person permitted by
the Securities and Exchange 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 4.01(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 Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 4.01(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately
resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.03(c).
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act,
the Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the
provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.02 Compensation, Reimbursement and Indemnity.The Guarantor agrees
to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited
by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust), to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances (including the reasonable fees and expenses
of its attorneys and agents) incurred or made by the Guarantee Trustee in
accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement and to indemnify each
of the Guarantee Trustee and any predecessor Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold
it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense,
including taxes (other than taxes based upon the income of the Guarantee
Trustee) incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its
part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance of the trusts created
by, or the administration of, this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with
the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The
obligations of the Guarantor under this Section shall survive the termination of
this Guarantee Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Guarantee
Trustee.
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SECTION 4.03 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Guarantee Trustee.(a)
Subject to Section 4.03(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed
without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed by the Guarantor and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee
Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until
a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its
removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in
writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor,
which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee
has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in
writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and
accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60 days after
delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation or removal, the
Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may
deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to
act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01 Guarantee.The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees
to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of
amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may
have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be
satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the
Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.02 Waiver of Notice and Demand.The Guarantor hereby waives notice
of acceptance of this Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it
applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee, Issuer or any other Person
before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice
of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 5.03 Obligations Not Affected.The obligation of the Guarantor to
make the Guarantee Payments under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be
affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the
following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the [Preferred Trust]
Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or
any other sums payable under the terms of the [Preferred Trust] Securities
or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the [Preferred Trust] Securities
(other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption
Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results
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from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures
permitted by the Subordinated Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the [Preferred
Trust] Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting
indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer
or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the [Preferred
Trust] Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby
or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute
a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the
intent of this Section 5.03 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder
shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent
of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.04 Rights of Holders.The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that:
(i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be
held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to
enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of
a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the [Preferred Trust] Securities have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this
Guarantee Agreement, provided, however, that, subject to Section 3.01, the
Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction
if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so
directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith
shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Guarantee Trustee, determine
that the proceedings so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal
liability or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders not party to such
direction, and provided further that nothing in this Trust Agreement shall
impair the right of the Guarantee Trustee to take any action deemed proper by
the Guarantee Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and (iv)
any Holder may enforce this Guarantee Agreement, or institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under
this Guarantee Agreement without first instituting a legal proceeding against
the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee, or any other Person.
SECTION 5.05 Guarantee of Payment.This Guarantee Agreement creates a
guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be
discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without
duplication) or upon the distribution of Debentures as provided in the Trust
Agreement.
SECTION 5.06 Subrogation.The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all, if any,
rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the
Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that
the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions
of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by
way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all
cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of
any such payment, any amounts of Guarantee Payments are due and unpaid under
this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in
violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in
trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
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SECTION 5.07 Independent Obligations.The Guarantor acknowledges that its
obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with
respect to the [Preferred Trust] Securities and that the Guarantor shall be
liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant
to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any
event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.03.
ARTICLE VI
SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.01 Subordination.This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an
unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior
in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, including the
guarantee of the Debentures, except those made pari passu or subordinate by
their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock
now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with any guarantee now or hereafter
entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference stock of
any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to all common stock of the
Guarantor. [When a Debenture Event of Default (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) occurs and is continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Trust
Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption or otherwise are subordinated to the rights to payment of holders of
Preferred Trust Securities.] Each Person, by virtue of having become a Holder of
a Security, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms
of, and shall be bound by, this Guarantee Agreement, the Trust Agreement and the
Subordinated Indenture.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.01 Termination.This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of
no further force and effect upon: (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of
all [Preferred Trust] Securities, and all accrued and unpaid Distributions to
the date of redemption, (ii) the distribution of Debentures to Holders in
exchange for all of the [Preferred Trust] Securities, or (iii) full payment of
the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of
the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to [Preferred
Trust] Securities or under this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01 Successors and Assigns.All guarantees and agreements contained
in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers,
trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of
the Holders of the [Preferred Trust] Securities then outstanding. Except in
connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is
permitted under Article Eleven of the Subordinated Indenture and pursuant to
which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations
hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 8.02 Amendments.This Guarantee Agreement may be amended only by an
instrument in writing entered into by the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee.
Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect the
rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this
Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders
of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of all the
outstanding [Preferred Trust] Securities. Any such consent shall be deemed to be
on behalf of the holders of all the [Preferred Trust] Securities. The provisions
of Article VI of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings or consents of Holders
shall apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 8.03 Notices.Any notice, request or other communication required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party
giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as
follows:
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(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below or such
other address or facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person
as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Guarantee Trustee and the
Holders of the Preferred Trust Securities:
American Electric Power Company, Inc.
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Facsimile No: 614-223-1687
Attention: Treasurer
(b) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative Trustees, at
the Issuer's (and the Administrative Trustees') address set forth below or
such other address or facsimile number or to the attention of such other
Person as the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Issuer may give
notice of to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:
AEP Capital Trust III
c/o American Electric Power Company, Inc.
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Facsimile No: 614-223-1687
Attention: Administrative Trustees
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, to the address set forth below
or such other address or facsimile number or to the attention of such other
Person as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Guarantor and the
Holders of the Preferred Trust Securities:
------------------------------
450 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor
New York, New York _____
Facsimile No: 212-___-____
Attention: ____________________
(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 8.04 Benefit.This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of
the Holders and, subject to Section 3.01(a), is not separately transferable from
the Preferred Trust Securities.
SECTION 8.05 Interpretation.In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires:
(a) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same
meaning throughout;
(b) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee
Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or
amended from time to time;
(c) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless
otherwise specified;
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(d) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this
Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
(e) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
and
(f) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall
include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 8.06 Governing Law.THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
SECTION 8.07 Counterparts.
This Guarantee Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.,
As Guarantor
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
------------------------------,
as Guarantee Trustee
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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