Appendix A to Subpart B of Part 1718 - Model Form of Mortgage for Electric Distribution Borrowers
7:11.1.2.1.7.2.1.6.1 : Appendix A
Appendix A to Subpart B of Part 1718 - Model Form of Mortgage for
Electric Distribution Borrowers RESTATED MORTGAGE AND SECURITY
AGREEMENT Made By And Between Mortgagor and UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA and MORTGAGEE Dated as of THIS INSTRUMENT GRANTS A SECURITY
INTEREST BY A TRANSMITTING UTILITY THIS INSTRUMENT CONTAINS FUTURE
ADVANCE PROVISIONS THIS INSTRUMENT CONTAINS AFTER-ACQUIRED PROPERTY
PROVISIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS GRANTING CLAUSES FIRST SECOND THIRD
FOURTH EXCEPTED PROPERTY HABENDUM ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS & OTHER
PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION SECTION 1.01 Definitions SECTION
1.02 General Rules of Construction SECTION 1.03 Special Rules of
Construction if RUS is a Mortgagee SECTION 1.04 Governing Law
SECTION 1.05 Notices ARTICLE II - ADDITIONAL NOTES SECTION 2.01
Additional Notes SECTION 2.02 Refunding or Refinancing Notes
SECTION 2.03 Other Additional Notes SECTION 2.04 Additional Lenders
Entitled to the Benefits of This Mortgage SECTION 2.05 Form of
Supplemental Mortgage ARTICLE III - PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE
MORTGAGOR SECTION 3.01 Payment of Debt Service on Notes SECTION
3.02 Warranty of Title SECTION 3.03 After-Acquired Property;
Further Assurances: Recording SECTION 3.04 Environmental
Requirements and Indemnity SECTION 3.05 Payment of Taxes SECTION
3.06 Authority to Execute and Deliver Notes, Loan Agreements and
Mortgage; All Action Taken; Enforceable Obligations SECTION 3.07
Restrictions on Further Encumbrances on Property SECTION 3.08
Restrictions on Additional Permitted Debt SECTION 3.09 Preservation
of Corporate Existence and Franchises SECTION 3.10 Limitations on
Consolidations and Mergers SECTION 3.11 Limitations on Transfers of
Property SECTION 3.12 Maintenance of Mortgaged Property SECTION
3.13 Insurance; Restoration of Damaged Mortgaged Property SECTION
3.14 Mortgagee Right to Expend Money to Protect Mortgaged Property
SECTION 3.15 Time Extensions for Payment of Notes SECTION 3.16
Application of Proceeds from Condemnation SECTION 3.17 Compliance
with Loan Agreements; Notice of Amendments to and Defaults under
Loan Agreements SECTION 3.18 Rights of Way, etc., Necessary in
Business SECTION 3.19 Limitations on Providing Free Electric
Services SECTION 3.20 Keeping Books; Inspection by Mortgagee
ARTICLE IV - EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES SECTION 4.01 Events of
Default SECTION 4.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and
Annulment SECTION 4.03 Remedies of Mortgagees SECTION 4.04
Application of Proceeds from Remedial Actions SECTION 4.05 Remedies
Cumulative; No Election SECTION 4.06 Waiver of Appraisement Rights,
Marshaling of Assets Not Required SECTION 4.07 Notice of Default
ARTICLE V - POSSESSION UNTIL DEFAULT - DEFEASANCE CLAUSE SECTION
5.01 Possession Until Default SECTION 5.02 Defeasance SECTION 5.03
Special Defeasance ARTICLE VI - MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 6.01 Property
Deemed Real Property SECTION 6.02 Mortgage to Bind and Benefit
Successors and Assigns SECTION 6.03 Headings SECTION 6.04
Severability Clause SECTION 6.05 Mortgage Deemed Security Agreement
SECTION 6.06 Indemnification by Mortgagor of Mortgagees Schedule A
Schedule B Schedule C Exhibit A - Manager's Certificate Exhibit B -
Form of Supplemental Mortgage Supplemental Mortgage Schedule A -
Maximum Debt Limit and Other Information Supplemental Mortgage
Schedule B - Property Schedule Supplemental Mortgage Schedule C -
Excepted Property
RESTATED MORTGAGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of
______________ 19____, hereinafter sometimes called this
“Mortgage”) is made by and between
(hereinafter called the “Mortgagor”), a corporation existing under
the laws of the State of ____________________, and the UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA acting by and through the Administrator of the
Rural Utilities Service (hereinafter called the “Government”),
________________ { Supplemental Lender}, (hereinafter called
“________________”) a ________________ existing under the laws of
________________, and is intended to confer rights and benefits on
both the Government and __________________ as well as any and all
other lenders pursuant to Article II of this Mortgage that enter
into a supplemental mortgage in accordance with Section [2.04] of
Article II hereof (the Government and any such other lenders being
herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Mortgagees”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Mortgagor, the Government and ________________ are
parties to that certain ________________ Mortgage and Security
Agreement dated as of __________________, 19____, as supplemented,
amended or restated (the “Original Mortgage” identified in Schedule
“A” of this Mortgage) originally entered into between the
Mortgagor, the Government acting by and through the Administrator
of the Rural Electrification Administration, the predecessor of
RUS, and ________________;
WHEREAS, the Mortgagor deems it necessary to borrow money for
its corporate purposes and to issue its promissory notes and other
debt obligations therefor from time to time in one or more series,
and to mortgage and pledge its property hereinafter described or
mentioned to secure the payment of the same;
WHEREAS, the Mortgagor desires to enter into this Mortgage
pursuant to which all secured debt of the Mortgagor hereunder shall
be secured on parity;
WHEREAS, this Mortgage restates and consolidates the Original
Mortgage while preserving the priority of the Lien under the
Original Mortgage securing the payment of Mortgagor's outstanding
obligations secured under the Original Mortgage, which indebtedness
is described more particularly by listing the Original Notes in
Schedule “A” hereto; and
WHEREAS, all acts necessary to make this Mortgage a valid and
binding legal instrument for the security of such notes and
obligations, subject to the terms of this Mortgage, have been in
all respects duly authorized;
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS MORTGAGE WITNESSETH: That to secure the
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on
the Original Notes and all Notes issued hereunder according to
their tenor and effect, and the performance of all provisions
therein and herein contained, and in consideration of the covenants
herein contained and the purchase or guarantee of Notes by the
guarantors or holders thereof, the Mortgagor has mortgaged, pledged
and granted a continuing security interest in, and by these
presents does hereby grant, bargain, sell, alienate, remise,
release, convey, assign, transfer, hypothecate, pledge, set over
and confirm, pledge, and grant a continuing security interest and
lien in for the purposes hereinafter expressed [other language may
be required under various state laws], unto the Mortgagees all
property, rights, privileges and franchises of the Mortgagor of
every kind and description, real, personal or mixed, tangible and
intangible, of the kind or nature specifically mentioned herein OR
ANY OTHER KIND OR NATURE, except any Excepted Property, now owned
or hereafter acquired by the Mortgagor (by purchase, consolidation,
merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way)
wherever located, including (without limitation) all and singular
the following:
GRANTING CLAUSE FIRST
A. all of those fee and leasehold interests in real property set
forth in Schedule “B” hereto, subject in each case to those matters
set forth in such Schedule;
B. all of the Mortgagor's interest in fixtures, easements,
permits, licenses and rights-of-way comprising real property, and
all other interests in real property, comprising any portion of the
Utility System (as herein defined) located in the Counties listed
in Schedule “B” hereto;
C. all right, title and interest of the Mortgagor in and to
those contracts of the Mortgagor (i) relating to the ownership,
operation or maintenance of any generation, transmission or
distribution facility owned, whether solely or jointly, by the
Mortgagor, (ii) for the purchase of electric power and energy by
the Mortgagor and having an original term in excess of 3 years,
(iii) for the sale of electric power and energy by the Mortgagor
and having an original term in excess of 3 years, and (iv) for the
transmission of electric power and energy by or on behalf of the
Mortgagor and having an original term in excess of 3 years,
including in respect of any of the foregoing, any amendments,
supplements and replacements thereto;
D. all the property, rights, privileges, allowances and
franchises particularly described in the annexed Schedule “B” are
hereby made a part of, and deemed to be described in, this Granting
Clause as fully as if set forth in this Granting Clause at length;
and
ALSO ALL OTHER PROPERTY, real estate, lands, easements,
servitudes, licenses, permits, allowances, consents, franchises,
privileges, rights of way and other rights in or relating to real
estate or the occupancy of the same; all power sites, storage
rights, water rights, water locations, water appropriations,
ditches, flumes, reservoirs, reservoir sites, canals, raceways,
waterways, dams, dam sites, aqueducts, and all other rights or
means for appropriating, conveying, storing and supplying water;
all rights of way and roads; all plants for the generation of
electric and other forms of energy (whether now known or hereafter
developed) by steam, water, sunlight, chemical processes and/or
(without limitation) all other sources of power (whether now known
or hereafter developed); all power houses, gas plants, street
lighting systems, standards and other equipment incidental thereto;
all telephone, radio, television and other communications, image
and data transmission systems, air conditioning systems and
equipment incidental thereto, water wheels, waterworks, water
systems, steam and hot water plants, substations, lines, service
and supply systems, bridges, culverts, tracks, ice or refrigeration
plants and equipment, offices, buildings and other structures and
the equipment thereto all machinery, engines, boilers, dynamos,
turbines, electric, gas and other machines, prime movers,
regulators, meters, transformers, generators (including, but not
limited to, engine-driven generators and turbogenerator units),
motors, electrical, gas and mechanical appliances, conduits,
cables, water, steam, gas or other pipes, gas mains and pipes,
service pipes, fittings, valves and connections, pole and
transmission lines, towers, overhead conductors and devices,
underground conduits, underground conductors and devices, wires,
cables, tools, implements, apparatus, storage battery equipment,
and all other fixtures and personalty; all municipal and other
franchises, consents, certificates or permits; all emissions
allowances; all lines for the transmission and distribution of
electric current and other forms of energy, gas, steam, water or
communications, images and data for any purpose including towers,
poles, wires, cables, pipes, conduits, ducts and all apparatus for
use in connection therewith, and (except as hereinbefore or
hereinafter expressly excepted) all the right, title and interest
of the Mortgagor in and to all other property of any kind or nature
appertaining to and/or used and/or occupied and/or employed in
connection with any property hereinbefore described, but in all
circumstances excluding Excepted Property;
GRANTING CLAUSE SECOND
All other property, real, personal or mixed, of whatever kind
and description and wheresoever situated, including without
limitation goods, accounts, money held in a trust account pursuant
hereto or to a Loan Agreement, and general intangibles now owned or
which may be hereafter acquired by the Mortgagor, but excluding
Excepted Property, now owned or which may be hereafter acquired by
the Mortgagor, it being the intention hereof that all property,
rights, privileges, allowances and franchisees now owned by the
Mortgagor or acquired by the Mortgagor after the date hereof (other
than Excepted Property) shall be as fully embraced within and
subjected to the lien hereof as if such property were specifically
described herein.
GRANTING CLAUSE THIRD
Also any Excepted Property that may, from time to time
hereafter, by delivery or by writing of any kind, be subjected to
the lien hereof by the Mortgagor or by anyone in its behalf; and
any Mortgagee is hereby authorized to receive the same at any time
as additional security hereunder for the benefit of all the
Mortgagees. Such subjection to the lien hereof of any Excepted
Property as additional security may be made subject to any
reservations, limitations or conditions which shall be set forth in
a written instrument executed by the Mortgagor or the person so
acting in its behalf or by such Mortgagee respecting the use and
disposition of such property or the proceeds thereof.
GRANTING CLAUSE FOURTH
Together with (subject to the rights of the Mortgagor set forth
on Section [5.01]) all and singular the tenements, hereditaments
and appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining to the
aforesaid property or any part thereof, with the reversion and
reversions, remainder and remainders and all the tolls, earnings,
rents, issues, profits, revenues and other income, products and
proceeds of the property subjected or required to be subjected to
the lien of this Mortgage, and all other property of any nature
appertaining to any of the plants, systems, business or operations
of the Mortgagor, whether or not affixed to the realty, used in the
operation of any of the premises or plants or the System, or
otherwise, which are now owned or acquired by the Mortgagor, and
all the estate, right, title and interest of every nature
whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, of the Mortgagor in and to
the same and every part thereof (other than Excepted Property with
respect to any of the foregoing).
EXCEPTED PROPERTY
There is, however, expressly excepted and excluded from the lien
and operation of this Mortgage the following described property of
the Mortgagor, now owned or hereafter acquired (herein sometimes
referred to as “Excepted Property”):
A. all shares of stock, securities or other interests of the
Mortgagor in the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance
Corporation, the National Bank for Cooperatives and the St. Paul
Bank for Cooperatives other than any stock, securities or other
interests that are specifically described in Subclause D of
Granting Clause First as being subjected to the lien hereof;
B. all rolling stock (except mobile substations), automobiles,
buses, trucks, truck cranes, tractors, trailers and similar
vehicles and movable equipment, and all tools, accessories and
supplies used in connection with any of the foregoing;
C. all vessels, boats, ships, barges and other marine equipment,
all airplanes, airplane engines and other flight equipment, and all
tools, accessories and supplies used in connection with any of the
foregoing;
D. all office furniture, equipment and supplies that is not data
processing, accounting or other computer equipment or software;
E. all leasehold interests for office purposes;
F. all leasehold interests of the Mortgagor under leases for an
original term (including any period for which the Mortgagor shall
have a right of renewal) of less than five (5) years;
G. all timber and crops (both growing and harvested) and all
coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals (both in place or
severed);
H. the last day of the term of each leasehold estate (oral or
written) and any agreement therefor, now or hereafter enjoyed by
the Mortgagor and whether falling within a general or specific
description of property herein: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Mortgagor covenants and agrees that it will hold each such last day
in trust for the use and benefit of all of the Mortgagees and
Noteholders and that it will dispose of each such last day from
time to time in accordance with such written order as the Mortgagee
in its discretion may give;
I. all permits, licenses, franchises, contracts, agreements,
contract rights and other rights not specifically subjected or
required to be subjected to the lien hereof by the express
provisions of this Mortgage, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired by the Mortgagor, which by their terms or by reason of
applicable law would become void or voidable if mortgaged or
pledged hereunder by the Mortgagor, or which cannot be granted,
conveyed, mortgaged, transferred or assigned by this Mortgage
without the consent of other parties whose consent has been
withheld, or without subjecting any Mortgagee to a liability not
otherwise contemplated by the provisions of this Mortgage, or which
otherwise may not be, hereby lawfully and effectively granted,
conveyed, mortgaged, transferred and assigned by the Mortgagor;
and
J. the property identified in Schedule “C” hereto.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) if, upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default, any Mortgagee, or any receiver appointed pursuant to
statutory provision or order of court, shall have entered into
possession of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property,
all the Excepted Property described or referred to in the foregoing
Subdivisions A through H, inclusive, then owned or thereafter
acquired by the Mortgagor shall immediately, and, in the case of
any Excepted Property described or referred to in Subdivisions I
through J, inclusive, upon demand of any Mortgagee or such
receiver, become subject to the lien hereof to the extent permitted
by law, and any Mortgagee or such receiver may, to the extent
permitted by law, at the same time likewise take possession
thereof, and (ii) whenever all Events of Default shall have been
cured and the possession of all or substantially all of the
Mortgaged Property shall have been restored to the Mortgagor, such
Excepted Property shall again be excepted and excluded from the
lien hereof to the extent and otherwise as hereinabove set
forth.
However, pursuant to Granting Clause Third, the Mortgagor may
subject to the lien of this Mortgage any Excepted Property,
whereupon the same shall cease to be Excepted Property.
HABENDUM
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all said property, rights, privileges and
franchises of every kind and description, real, personal or mixed,
hereby and hereafter (by supplemental mortgage or otherwise)
granted, bargained, sold, aliened, remised, released, conveyed,
assigned, transferred, mortgaged, encumbered, hypothecated,
pledged, setover, confirmed, or subjected to a continuing security
interest and lien as aforesaid, together with all the appurtenances
thereto appertaining (said properties, rights, privileges and
franchises, including any cash and securities hereafter deposited
with any Mortgagee ((other than any such cash, if any, which is
specifically stated herein not to be deemed part of the Mortgaged
Property)), being herein collectively called the “Mortgaged
Property”) unto the Mortgagees and the respective assigns of the
Mortgagees forever, to secure equally and ratably the payment of
the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes,
according to their terms, without preference, priority or
distinction as to interest or principal (except as otherwise
specifically provided herein) or as to lien or otherwise of any
Note over any other Note by reason of the priority in time of the
execution, delivery or maturity thereof or of the assignment or
negotiation thereof, or otherwise, and to secure the due
performance of all of the covenants, agreements and provisions
herein and in the Loan Agreements contained, and for the uses and
purposes and upon the terms, conditions, provisos and agreements
hereinafter expressed and declared.
SUBJECT, HOWEVER, to Permitted Encumbrances (as defined in
Section 1.01).
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS & OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 1.01. Definitions. In addition to the terms
defined elsewhere in this Mortgage, the terms defined in this
Article I shall have the meanings specified herein and under the
UCC, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. The terms
defined herein include the plural as well as the singular and the
singular as well as the plural.
Accounting Requirements shall mean the requirements of
any system of accounts prescribed by RUS so long as the Government
is the holder, insurer or guarantor of any Notes, or, in the
absence thereof, the requirements of generally accepted accounting
principles applicable to businesses similar to that of the
Mortgagor.
Additional Notes shall mean any Notes issued by the
Mortgagor to the Government or any other lender pursuant to Article
II of this Mortgage including any refunding, renewal, or substitute
Notes which may from time to time be executed and delivered by the
Mortgagor pursuant to the terms of Article II.
Board shall mean either the Board of Directors or the
Board of Trustees, as the case may be, of the Mortgagor.
Business Day shall mean any day that the Government is
open for business.
Debt Service Coverage Ratio (“DSC”) shall mean the ratio
determined as follows: for each calendar year add (i) Patronage
Capital or Margins of the Mortgagor, (ii) Interest Expense on Total
Long Term Debt of the Mortgagor (as computed in accordance with the
principles set forth in the definition of TIER) and (iii)
Depreciation and Amortization Expense of the Mortgagor, and divide
the total so obtained by an amount equal to the sum of all payments
of principal and interest required to be made on account of Total
Long-Term Debt during such calendar year increasing said sum by any
addition to interest expense on account of Restricted Rentals as
computed with respect to the Times Interest Earned Ratio
herein.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense shall mean an
amount constituting the depreciation and amortization of the
Mortgagor as computed pursuant to Accounting Requirements.
Electric System shall mean, and shall be broadly
construed to encompass and include, all of the Mortgagor's
interests in all electric production, transmission, distribution,
conservation, load management, general plant and other related
facilities, equipment or property and in any mine, well, pipeline,
plant, structure or other facility for the development, production,
manufacture, storage, fabrication or processing of fossil, nuclear
or other fuel of any kind or in any facility or rights with respect
to the supply of water, in each case for use, in whole or in major
part, in any of the Mortgagor's generating plants, now existing or
hereafter acquired by lease, contract, purchase or otherwise or
constructed by the Mortgagor, including any interest or
participation of the Mortgagor in any such facilities or any rights
to the output or capacity thereof, together with all additions,
betterments, extensions and improvements to such Electric System or
any part thereof hereafter made and together with all lands,
easements and rights-of-way of the Mortgagor and all other works,
property or structures of the Mortgagor and contract rights and
other tangible and intangible assets of the Mortgagor used or
useful in connection with or related to such Electric System,
including without limitation a contract right or other contractual
arrangement referred to in Granting Clause First, Subclause [(C)]
but excluding any excepted property.
Environmental Law and Environmental Laws shall
mean all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and
requirements related to protection of human health or the
environment, including but not limited to the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (42
U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.
1251 et seq.) and the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et
seq.), and any amendments and implementing regulations of such
acts.
Equity shall mean the total margins and equities and
margins computed pursuant to Accounting Requirements, but excluding
any Regulatory Created Assets.
Event of Default shall have the meaning specified in
Section [4.01] hereof.
Excepted Property shall have the meaning stated in the
Granting Clauses.
Government shall mean the United States of America acting
by and through the Administrator of RUS and shall include its
successors and assigns.
Government Notes shall mean the Original Notes, and any
Additional Notes, issued by the Mortgagor to the Government, or
guaranteed or insured as to payment by the Government.
Independent shall mean when used with respect to any
specified person or entity means such a person or entity who (1) is
in fact independent, (2) does not have any direct financial
interest or any material indirect financial interest in the
Mortgagor or in any affiliate of the Mortgagor and (3) is not
connected with the Mortgagor as an officer, employee, promoter,
underwriter, trustee, partner, director or person performing
similar functions.
Interest Expense shall mean an amount constituting the
interest expense of the Mortgagor as computed pursuant to
Accounting Requirements.
Lien shall mean any statutory or common law consensual or
non-consensual mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
lien, right of set off, claim or charge of any kind, including,
without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention
transaction, any lease transaction in the nature thereof and any
secured transaction under the UCC.
Loan Agreement shall mean any agreement executed by and
between the Mortgagor and the Government or any other lender in
connection with the execution and delivery of any Notes secured
hereby.
Long-Term Debt shall mean any amount included in Total
Long-Term Debt pursuant to Accounting Requirements.
Long-Term Lease shall mean a lease having an unexpired
term (taking into account terms of renewal at the option of the
lessor, whether or not such lease has previously been renewed) of
more than 12 months.
Margins shall mean the sum of amounts recorded as
operating margins and non-operating margins as computed in
accordance with Accounting Requirements.
Maximum Debt Limit, if any, shall mean the amount more
particularly described in Schedule “A” hereof.
Mortgage shall mean this Restated Mortgage and Security
Agreement, including any amendments or supplements thereto from
time to time.
Mortgaged Property shall have the meaning specified as
stated in the Habendum to the Granting Clauses.
MORTGAGEE or MORTGAGEES shall mean the Government,
__________ {the supplemental lender}, __________ their successors
and assigns as well as any and all other lenders pursuant to
Article II of this Mortgage that enter into a supplemental mortgage
in accordance with Section [2.04] of Article II hereof, their
successors and assigns.
Net Utility Plant shall mean the amount constituting the
total utility plant of the Mortgagor less depreciation computed in
accordance with Accounting Requirements.
Note or Notes shall mean one or more of the Government
Notes, and any other Notes which may, from time to time, be secured
under this Mortgage.
Noteholder or Noteholders shall mean one or more of the
holders of Notes secured by this Mortgage; PROVIDED, however, that
in the case of any Notes that have been guaranteed or insured as to
payment by RUS, as to such Notes Noteholder or Noteholders shall
mean RUS, exclusively, regardless of whether such notes are in the
possession of RUS.
Original Mortgage means the instrument(s) identified as
such in Schedule “A” hereof.
Original Notes shall mean the Notes listed on Schedule
“A” hereto as such, such Notes being instruments evidencing
outstanding indebtedness of the Mortgagor (i) to the Government
(including indebtedness which has been issued by the Mortgagor to a
third party and guaranteed or insured as to payment by the
Government) and (ii) to each other Mortgagee on the date of this
Mortgage.
Outstanding Notes shall mean as of the date of
determination, (i) all Notes theretofore issued, executed and
delivered to any Mortgagee and (ii) any Notes guaranteed or insured
as to payment by the Government, except (a) Notes referred
to in clause (i) or (ii) for which the principal and interest have
been fully paid and which have been canceled by the Noteholder, and
(b) Notes the payment for which has been provided for pursuant to
Section [5.03].
Permitted Debt shall have the meaning specified in
Section [3.08].
Permitted Encumbrances shall mean:
(1) as to the property specifically described in Granting Clause
First, the restrictions, exceptions, reservations, conditions,
limitations, interests and other matters which are set forth or
referred to in such descriptions and each of which fits one or more
of the clauses of this definition, PROVIDED, such matters do not in
the aggregate materially detract from the value of the Mortgaged
Property taken as a whole and do not materially impair the use of
such property for the purposes for which it is held by the
Mortgagor;
(2) liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges
which are not delinquent;
(3) liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges
already delinquent which are currently being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings; PROVIDED the Mortgagor shall have
set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto;
(4) mechanics', workmen's, repairmen's, materialmen's,
warehousemen's and carriers' liens and other similar liens arising
in the ordinary course of business for charges which are not
delinquent, or which are being contested in good faith and have not
proceeded to judgment; PROVIDED the Mortgagor shall have set aside
on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto;
(5) liens in respect of judgments or awards with respect to
which the Mortgagor shall in good faith currently be prosecuting an
appeal or proceedings for review and with respect to which the
Mortgagor shall have secured a stay of execution pending such
appeal or proceedings for review; PROVIDED the Mortgagor shall have
set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto;
(6) easements and similar rights granted by the Mortgagor over
or in respect of any Mortgaged Property, PROVIDED that in the
opinion of the Board or a duly authorized officer of the Mortgagor
such grant will not impair the usefulness of such property in the
conduct of the Mortgagor's business and will not be prejudicial to
the interests of the Mortgagees, and similar rights granted by any
predecessor in title of the Mortgagor;
(7) easements, leases, reservations or other rights of others in
any property of the Mortgagor for streets, roads, bridges, pipes,
pipe lines, railroads, electric transmission and distribution
lines, telegraph and telephone lines, the removal of oil, gas, coal
or other minerals and other similar purposes, flood rights, river
control and development rights, sewage and drainage rights,
restrictions against pollution and zoning laws and minor defects
and irregularities in the record evidence of title, PROVIDED that
such easements, leases, reservations, rights, restrictions, laws,
defects and irregularities do not materially affect the
marketability of title to such property and do not in the aggregate
materially impair the use of the Mortgaged Property taken as a
whole for the purposes for which it is held by the Mortgagor;
(8) liens upon lands over which easements or rights of way are
acquired by the Mortgagor for any of the purposes specified in
Clause [(7)] of this definition, securing indebtedness neither
created, assumed nor guaranteed by the Mortgagor nor on account of
which it customarily pays interest, which liens do not materially
impair the use of such easements or rights of way for the purposes
for which they are held by the Mortgagor;
(9) leases existing at the date of this instrument affecting
property owned by the Mortgagor at said date which have been
previously disclosed to the Mortgagees in writing and leases for a
term of not more than two years (including any extensions or
renewals) affecting property acquired by the Mortgagor after said
date;
(10) terminable or short term leases or permits for occupancy,
which leases or permits expressly grant to the Mortgagor the right
to terminate them at any time on not more than six months' notice
and which occupancy does not interfere with the operation of the
business of the Mortgagor;
(11) any lien or privilege vested in any lessor, licensor or
permittor for rent to become due or for other obligations or acts
to be performed, the payment of which rent or performance of which
other obligations or acts is required under leases, subleases,
licenses or permits, so long as the payment of such rent or the
performance of such other obligations or acts is not
delinquent;
(12) liens or privileges of any employees of the Mortgagor for
salary or wages earned but not yet payable;
(13) the burdens of any law or governmental regulation or permit
requiring the Mortgagor to maintain certain facilities or perform
certain acts as a condition of its occupancy of or interference
with any public lands or any river or stream or navigable
waters;
(14) any irregularities in or deficiencies of title to any
rights-of-way for pipe lines, telephone lines, telegraph lines,
power lines or appurtenances thereto, or other improvements
thereon, and to any real estate used or to be used primarily for
right-of-way purposes, PROVIDED that in the opinion of counsel for
the Mortgagor, the Mortgagor shall have obtained from the apparent
owner of the lands or estates therein covered by any such
right-of-way a sufficient right, by the terms of the instrument
granting such right-of-way, to the use thereof for the
construction, operation or maintenance of the lines, appurtenances
or improvements for which the same are used or are to be used, or
PROVIDED that in the opinion of counsel for the Mortgagor, the
Mortgagor has power under eminent domain, or similar statutes, to
remove such irregularities or deficiencies;
(15) rights reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or
governmental or other public authority to control or regulate any
property of the Mortgagor, or to use such property in any manner,
which rights do not materially impair the use of such property, for
the purposes for which it is held by the Mortgagor;
(16) any obligations or duties, affecting the property of the
Mortgagor, to any municipality or governmental or other public
authority with respect to any franchise, grant, license or
permit;
(17) any right which any municipal or governmental authority may
have by virtue of any franchise, license, contract or statute to
purchase, or designate a purchaser of or order the sale of, any
property of the Mortgagor upon payment of cash or reasonable
compensation therefor or to terminate any franchise, license or
other rights or to regulate the property and business of the
Mortgagor; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this clause 17 is
intended to waive any claim or rights that the Government may
otherwise have under Federal laws;
(18) as to properties of other operating electric companies
acquired after the date of this Mortgage by the Mortgagor as
permitted by Section [3.10] hereof, reservations and other matters
as to which such properties may be subject as more fully set forth
in such Section;
(19) any lien required by law or governmental regulations as a
condition to the transaction of any business or the exercise of any
privilege or license, or to enable the Mortgagor to maintain
self-insurance or to participate in any fund established to cover
any insurance risks or in connection with workmen's compensation,
unemployment insurance, old age pensions or other social security,
or to share in the privileges or benefits required for companies
participating in such arrangements; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing
in this clause 19 is intended to waive any claim or rights that the
Government may otherwise have under Federal laws;
(20) liens arising out of any defeased mortgage or indenture of
the Mortgagor;
(21) the undivided interest of other owners, and liens on such
undivided interests, in property owned jointly with the Mortgagor
as well as the rights of such owners to such property pursuant to
the ownership contracts;
(22) any lien or privilege vested in any lessor, licensor or
permittor for rent to become due or for other obligations or acts
to be performed, the payment of which rent or the performance of
which other obligations or acts is required under leases,
subleases, licenses or permits, so long as the payment of such rent
or the performance of such other obligations or acts is not
delinquent;
(23) purchase money mortgages permitted by Section [3.08];
and
(24) the Original Mortgage.
Property Additions shall mean Utility System property as
to which the Mortgagor shall provide Title Evidence and which shall
be (or, if retired, shall have been) subject to the lien of this
Mortgage, which shall be properly chargeable to the Mortgagor's
utility plant accounts under Accounting Requirements (including
property constructed or acquired to replace retired property
credited to such accounts) and which shall be:
(1) acquired (including acquisition by merger, consolidation,
conveyance or transfer) or constructed by the Mortgagor after the
date hereof, including property in the process of construction,
insofar as not reflected on the books of the Mortgagor with respect
to periods on or prior to the date hereof, and
(2) used or useful in the utility business of the Mortgagor
conducted with the properties described in the Granting Clauses of
this Mortgage, even though separate from and not physically
connected with such properties.
“Property Additions” shall also include:
(3) easements and rights-of-way that are useful for the conduct
of the utility business of the Mortgagor, and
(4) property located or constructed on, over or under public
highways, rivers or other public property if the Mortgagor has the
lawful right under permits, licenses or franchises granted by a
governmental body having jurisdiction in the premises or by the law
of the State in which such property is located to maintain and
operate such property for an unlimited, indeterminate or indefinite
period or for the period, if any, specified in such permit, license
or franchise or law and to remove such property at the expiration
of the period covered by such permit, license or franchise or law,
or if the terms of such permit, license, franchise or law require
any public authority having the right to take over such property to
pay fair consideration therefor.
“Property Additions” shall NOT include:
(a) good will, going concern value, contracts, agreements,
franchises, licenses or permits, whether acquired as such, separate
and distinct from the property operated in connection therewith, or
acquired as an incident thereto, or
(b) any shares of stock or indebtedness or certificates or
evidences of interest therein or other securities, or
(c) any plant or system or other property in which the Mortgagor
shall acquire only a leasehold interest, or any betterments,
extensions, improvements or additions (other than movable physical
personal property which the Mortgagor has the right to remove), of,
upon or to any plant or system or other property in which the
Mortgagor shall own only a leasehold interest unless (i) the term
of the leasehold interest in the property to which such betterment,
extension, improvement or addition relates shall extend for at
least 75% of the useful life of such betterment, extension,
improvement or addition and (ii) the lessor shall have agreed to
give the Mortgagee reasonable notice and opportunity to cure any
default by the Mortgagor under such lease and not to disturb any
Mortgagee's possession of such leasehold estate in the event any
Mortgagee succeeds to the Mortgagor's interest in such lease upon
any Mortgagee's exercise of any remedies under this Mortgage so
long as there is no default in the performance of the tenant's
covenants contained therein, or
(d) any property of the Mortgagor subject to the Permitted
Encumbrance described in clause [(23)] of the definition
thereof.
Prudent Utility Practice shall mean any of the practices,
methods and acts which, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, in
light of the facts, including, but not limited to, the practices,
methods and acts engaged in or approved by a significant portion of
the electric utility industry prior thereto, known at the time the
decision was made, would have been expected to accomplish the
desired result consistent with cost-effectiveness, reliability,
safety and expedition. It is recognized that Prudent Utility
Practice is not intended to be limited to optimum practice, method
or act to the exclusion of all others, but rather is a spectrum of
possible practices, methods or acts which could have been expected
to accomplish the desired result at the lowest reasonable cost
consistent with cost-effectiveness, reliability, safety and
expedition.
REA shall mean the Rural Electrification Administration
of the United States Department of Agriculture, the predecessor of
RUS.
Regulatory Created Assets shall mean the sum of any
amounts properly recordable as unrecovered plant and regulatory
study costs or as other regulatory assets, pursuant to Accounting
Requirements.
Restricted Rentals shall mean all rentals required to be
paid under finance leases and charged to income, exclusive of any
amounts paid under any such lease (whether or not designated
therein as rental or additional rental) for maintenance or repairs,
insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. For
the purpose of this definition the term “finance lease” shall mean
any lease having a rental term (including the term for which such
lease may be renewed or extended at the option of the lessee) in
excess of 3 years and covering property having an initial cost in
excess of $250,000 other than aircraft, ships, barges, automobiles,
trucks, trailers, rolling stock and vehicles; office, garage and
warehouse space; office equipment and computers.
RUS shall mean the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of
the United States Department of Agriculture, or if at any time
after the execution of this Mortgage RUS is not existing and
performing the duties of administering a program of rural
electrification as currently assigned to it, then the entity
performing such duties at such time.
Security Interest shall mean any assignment, transfer,
mortgage, hypothecation or pledge.
Subordinated Indebtedness shall mean secured indebtedness
of the Mortgagor, payment of which shall be subordinated to the
prior payment of the Notes in accordance with the provisions of
Section [3.08] hereof by subordination agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to each Mortgagee which approval will not be
unreasonably withheld.
Supplemental Mortgage shall mean an instrument of the
type described in Section [2.04].
Times Interest Earned Ratio (“TIER”) shall mean the ratio
determined as follows: for each calendar year: add (i) patronage
capital or margins of the Mortgagor and (ii) Interest Expense on
Total Long-Term Debt of the Mortgagor and divide the total so
obtained by Interest Expense on Total Long-Term Debt of the
Mortgagor, provided, however, that in computing Interest
Expense on Total Long-Term Debt, there shall be added, to the
extent not otherwise included, an amount equal to 33-1/3% of the
excess of Restricted Rentals paid by the Mortgagor over 2% of the
Mortgagor's Equity.
Title Evidence shall mean with respect to any real
property:
(1) an opinion of counsel to the effect that the Mortgagor has
title, whether fairly deducible of record or based upon
prescriptive rights (or, as to personal property, based on such
evidence as counsel shall determine to be sufficient), as in the
opinion of counsel is satisfactory for the use thereof in
connection with the operations of the Mortgagor, and counsel in
giving such opinion may disregard any irregularity or deficiency in
the record evidence of title which, in the opinion of such counsel,
can be cured by proceedings within the power of the Mortgagor or
does not substantially impair the usefulness of such property for
the purpose of the Mortgagor and may base such opinion upon
counsel's own investigation or upon affidavits, certificates,
abstracts of title, statements or investigations made by persons in
whom such counsel has confidence or upon examination of a
certificate or guaranty of title or policy of title insurance in
which counsel has confidence; or
(2) a mortgagee's policy of title insurance in the amount of the
cost to the Mortgagor of the land included in Property Additions,
as such cost is determined by the Mortgagor in accordance with the
Accounting Requirements, issued in favor of the Mortgagees by an
entity authorized to insure title in the states where the subject
property is located, showing the Mortgagor as the owner of the
subject property and insuring the lien of this Mortgage; and with
respect to any personal property a certificate of the
general manage or other duly authorized officer that the Mortgagor
lawfully owns and is possessed of such property.
Total Assets shall mean an amount constituting total
assets of the Mortgagor as computed pursuant to Accounting
Requirements, but excluding any Regulatory Created Assets.
Total Long-Term Debt shall mean the total outstanding
long-term debt of the Mortgagor as computed pursuant to Accounting
Requirements.
Total Utility Plant shall mean the total of all property
properly recorded in the utility plant accounts of the Mortgagor,
pursuant to Accounting Requirements.
Uniform Commercial Code or UCC shall mean the UCC of the
state referred to in Section [1.04], and if Mortgaged Property is
located in a state other than that state, then as to such Mortgaged
Property UCC refers to the UCC in effect in the state where such
property is located.
Utility System shall mean the Electric System and all of
the Mortgagor's interest in community infrastructure located
substantially within its electric service territory, namely water
and waste systems, solid waste disposal facilities,
telecommunications and other electronic communications systems, and
natural gas distribution systems.
SECTION 1.02. General Rules of Construction:
a. Accounting terms not referred to above are used in this
Mortgage in their ordinary sense and any computations relating to
such terms shall be computed in accordance with the Accounting
Requirements.
b. Any reference to “directors” or “board of directors” shall be
deemed to mean “trustees” or “board of trustees,” as the case may
be.
SECTION 1.03. Special Rules of Construction if RUS is a
Mortgagee: During any period that RUS is a Mortgagee, the
following additional provisions shall apply:
a. In the case of any Notes that have been guaranteed or insured
as to payment by RUS, as to such Notes RUS shall be considered to
be the Noteholder, exclusively, regardless of whether such Notes
are in the possession of RUS.
b. In the case of any prior approval rights conferred upon RUS
by Federal statutes, including (without limitation) Section 7 of
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, with respect to
the sale or disposition of property, rights, or franchises of the
Mortgagor, all such statutory rights are reserved except to the
extent that they are expressly modified or waived in this
Mortgage.
SECTION 1.04. Governing Law: This Mortgage shall be
construed in and governed by Federal law to the extent applicable,
and otherwise by the laws of the State of ________.
SECTION 1.05 Notices: All demands, notices, reports,
approvals, designations, or directions required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be
properly given if sent by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, or delivered by hand, or sent by facsimile transmission,
receipt confirmed, addressed to the proper party or parties at the
following address:
As to the Mortgagor:
As to the Mortgagee:
Rural Utilities Service,
United States Department of Agriculture,
Washington, DC 20250-1500
and as to any other person, firm, corporation or governmental body
or agency having an interest herein by reason of being a Mortgagee,
at the last address designated by such person, firm, corporation,
governmental body or agency to the Mortgagor and the other
Mortgagees. Any such party may from time to time designate to each
other a new address to which demands, notices, reports, approvals,
designations or directions may be addressed, and from and after any
such designation the address designated shall be deemed to be the
address of such party in lieu of the address given above. ARTICLE
II ADDITIONAL NOTES
SECTION 2.01. Additional Notes: (a) Without the prior
consent of any Mortgagee or any Noteholder, the Mortgagor may issue
Additional Notes to the Government or to another lender or lenders
for the purpose of acquiring, procuring or constructing new or
replacement Eligible Property Additions which Notes will thereupon
be secured equally and ratably with the Notes if each of the
following requirements are satisfied:
(1) As evidenced by a certificate of an Independent certified
public accountant sent to each Mortgagee on or before the first
advance of proceeds from such Additional Notes:
(i) The Mortgagor shall have achieved for each of the two
calendar years immediately preceding the issuance of such
Additional Notes, a TIER of not less than 1.25 and a DSC of not
less than 1.25;
(ii) After taking into account the effect of such Additional
Notes on the Total Long Term Debt of the Mortgagor, the ratio of
the Mortgagor's Net Utility Plant to its Total Long Term Debt shall
be greater than or equal to 1.0 on a pro forma basis;
(iii) After taking into account the effect of such Additional
Notes on the Total Assets of such Mortgagor, the Mortgagor shall
have Equity greater than or equal to 27 percent of Total Assets on
a pro forma basis; and
(iv) The sum of the aggregate principal amount of such
Additional Notes (if any) that are not related to the Electric
System if added to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
all the existing Notes (if any) that are not related to the
Electric System will not exceed 30% of the Mortgagor's Equity on a
pro forma basis.
(2) No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
hereunder, or any event which with the giving of notice or lapse of
time or both would become an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
(3) The Eligible Property Additions being constructed, acquired,
procured or replaced are part of the Mortgagor's Utility
System.
(4) The Borrower's general manager or other duly authorized
officer shall send to each of the Mortgagees a certificate in
substantially the form attached hereto as [Exhibit A] on or before
the date of the first advance of proceeds from such Additional
Notes.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Eligible Property Additions” shall mean Property Additions
acquired or whose construction was completed not more than 5 years
prior to the issuance of the Additional Notes and Property
Additions acquired or whose construction is started and/or
completed not more than 4 years after issuance of the Additional
Notes, but shall exclude any Property Additions financed by any
other debt secured under the Mortgage at the time additional Notes
are issued;
(2) Notes are considered to be “issued” on, and the date of
“issuance” shall be, the date on which they are executed by the
Mortgagor; and
(3) For purposes of calculating the pro forma ratios in
subparagraphs (a)(1)(ii) and (iii), the values for Total Long Term
Debt and Total Assets before debt issuance and the values for
Equity and Net Utility Plant shall be the most recently available
end-of-month figures preceding the issuance of the Additional
Notes, but in no case for a month ending more than 180 days
preceding such issuance.
SECTION 2.02. Refunding or Refinancing Notes: The
Mortgagor shall also have the right without the consent of any
Mortgagee or any Noteholder to issue Additional Notes for the
purpose of refunding or refinancing any Notes so long as the total
amount of outstanding indebtedness evidenced by such Additional
Note or Notes is not greater than 105% of the then outstanding
principal balance of the Note or Notes being refunded or
refinanced. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Mortgagor may not exercise
its rights under this Section if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, or any event which with the giving of notice or
lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing. On or before the first advance of proceeds from
Notes issued under this section, the Mortgagor shall notify each
Mortgagee of the refunding or refinancing. Additional Notes issued
pursuant to this Section [2.02] will thereupon be secured equally
and ratably with the Notes.
SECTION 2.03. Other Additional Notes. With the prior
written consent of each Mortgagee, the Mortgagor may issue
Additional Notes to the Government or any lender or lenders, which
Notes will thereupon be secured equally and ratably with Notes
without regard to whether any of the requirements of Sections
[2.01] or [2.02] are satisfied.
SECTION 2.04. Additional Lenders Entitled to the Benefits of
This Mortgage: Without the prior consent of any Mortgagee or
any Noteholder, each new lender designated as a payee in any
Additional Notes issued by the Mortgagor pursuant to Section [2.01]
or [2.02] of this Mortgage shall become a Mortgagee hereunder upon
the execution and delivery by the Mortgagor and such lender of a
supplemental mortgage hereto designating such lender as a Mortgagee
hereunder. Such new lender shall be entitled to the benefits of
this Mortgage without further act or deed. Each Mortgagee and each
person or entity that becomes a lender pursuant to Section [2.01]
or [2.02] of this Mortgage shall, upon the request of the Mortgagor
to do so, execute and deliver a supplement to this Mortgage in
substantially the form set forth in Section [2.05] to evidence the
addition of such new lender as an additional Mortgagee entitled to
the benefits of this Mortgage. The failure of any existing
Mortgagee to enter into such supplemental mortgage shall not
deprive the new lender of its rights under this Mortgage; provided
that such additional indebtedness otherwise conforms in all
respects with the requirements for issuing Additional Notes under
this Mortgage.
SECTION 2.05. Form of Supplemental Mortgage: (a) The form
of supplemental mortgage referred to in Section [2.04] is attached
to this Mortgage as Exhibit B and hereby incorporated by reference
as if set forth in full at this point.
(b) In the event that the Mortgagor subsequently issues
Additional Notes pursuant to Sections [2.01] or [2.02] to any
existing Mortgagee and that Mortgagee desires further assurance
that such Additional Notes will be secured by the lien of the
Mortgage, an instrument substantially in the form of the
supplemental mortgage attached as Exhibit B may be used.
(c) In the event that the Mortgagor issues Additional Notes
pursuant to Section [2.03] to either an existing Mortgagee or a new
lender, in either case with the prior written consent of each
Mortgagee, then an instrument substantially in the form of the
supplemental mortgage attached as Exhibit B may also be used.
ARTICLE III - PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE MORTGAGOR
SECTION 3.01. Payment of Debt Service on Notes: The
Mortgagor will duly and punctually pay the principal, premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the
Notes, the Loan Contracts, this Mortgage and any Supplemental
Mortgage authorizing such Notes.
SECTION 3.02. Warranty of Title: (a) At the time of the
execution and delivery of this instrument, the Mortgagor has good
and marketable title in fee simple to the real property
specifically described in Granting Clause First as owned in fee and
good and marketable title to the interests in real property
specifically described in Granting Clause [First], subject to no
mortgage, lien, charge or encumbrance except as stated therein, and
has full power and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, alien,
remise, release, convey, assign, transfer, encumber, mortgage,
pledge, set over and confirm said real property and interests in
real property in the manner and form aforesaid.
(b) At the time of the execution and delivery of this
instrument, the Mortgagor lawfully owns and is possessed of the
personal property specifically described in Granting Clauses [First
and Second], subject to no mortgage, lien, charge or encumbrance
except as stated therein, and has full power and lawful authority
to mortgage, assign, transfer, deliver, pledge and grant a
continuing security interest in said property and, including any
proceeds thereof, in the manner and form aforesaid.
(c) The Mortgagor hereby does and will forever warrant and
defend the title to the property specifically described in Granting
Clause First against the claims and demands of all persons
whomsoever, except Permitted Encumbrances.
SECTION 3.03. After-Acquired Property; Further Assurances;
Recording: (a) All property of every kind, other than Excepted
Property, acquired by the Mortgagor after the date hereof, shall,
immediately upon the acquisition thereof by the Mortgagor, and
without any further mortgage, conveyance or assignment, become
subject to the lien of this Mortgage; SUBJECT, HOWEVER, to
Permitted Encumbrances and the exceptions, if any, to which all of
the Mortgagees consent. Nevertheless, the Mortgagor will do,
execute, acknowledge and deliver all and every such further acts,
conveyances, mortgages, financing statements and assurances as any
Mortgagee shall require for accomplishing the purposes of this
Mortgage.
(b) The Mortgagor will cause this Mortgage and all Supplemental
Mortgages and other instruments of further assurance, including all
financing statements covering security interests in personal
property, to be promptly recorded, registered and filed, and will
execute and file such financing statements and cause to be issued
and filed such continuation statements, all in such manner and in
such places as may be required by law fully to preserve and protect
the rights of all of the Mortgagees and Noteholders hereunder to
all property comprising the Mortgaged Property. The Mortgagor will
furnish to each Mortgagee:
(1) promptly after the execution and delivery of this instrument
and of each Supplemental Mortgage or other instrument of further
assurance, an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of
such Counsel, this instrument and all such Supplemental Mortgages
and other instruments of further assurance have been properly
recorded, registered and filed to the extent necessary to make
effective the lien intended to be created by this Mortgage, and
reciting the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions
of Counsel in which such details are given, and stating that all
financing statements and continuation statements have been executed
and filed that are necessary fully to preserve and protect the
rights of all of the Mortgagees and Noteholders hereunder, or
stating that, in the opinion of such Counsel, no such action is
necessary to make the lien effective; and
(2) within 30 days after __________ in each year beginning with
the year ____, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of such date, either
stating that, in the opinion of such Counsel, such action has been
taken with respect to the recording, registering, filing,
re-recording, re-registering and re-filing of this instrument and
of all Supplemental Mortgages, financing statements, continuation
statements or other instruments of further assurances as is
necessary to maintain the lien of this Mortgage (including the lien
on any property acquired by the Mortgagor after the execution and
delivery of this instrument and owned by the Mortgagor at the end
of preceding calendar year) and reciting the details of such action
or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are
given, and stating that all financing statements and continuation
statements have been executed and filed that are necessary to fully
preserve and protect the rights of all of the Mortgagees and
Noteholders hereunder, or stating that, in the opinion of such
Counsel, no such action is necessary to maintain such lien.
SECTION 3.04. Environmental Requirements and Indemnity:
(a) The Mortgagor shall, with respect to all facilities which may
be part of the Mortgaged Property, comply with all Environmental
Laws.
(b) The Mortgagor shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless
each Mortgagee, its successors and assigns, from and against any
and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses (including
but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), causes
of actions, administrative proceedings, suits, claims, demands, or
judgments of any nature arising out of or in connection with any
matter related to the Mortgage Property and any Environmental Law,
including but not limited to:
(1) the past, present, or future presence of any hazardous
substance, contaminant, pollutant, or hazardous waste on or related
to the Mortgaged Property;
(2) any failure at any time by the undersigned to comply with
the terms of any order related to the Mortgaged Property and issued
by any federal, state, or municipal department or agency (other
than RUS) exercising its authority to enforce any Environmental
Law; and
(3) any lien or claim imposed under any Environmental Law
related to clause (1).
(c) Within 10 (ten) business days after receiving knowledge of
any liability, losses, damages, costs, expenses (including but not
limited to reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), cause of
action, administrative proceeding, suit, claim, demand, judgment,
lien, reportable event including but not limited to the release of
a hazardous substance, or potential or actual violation or
non-compliance arising out of or in connection with the Mortgaged
Property and any Environmental Law, the Mortgagor shall provide
each Mortgagee with written notice of such matter. With respect to
any matter upon which it has provided such notice, the Mortgagor
shall immediately take any and all appropriate actions to remedy,
cure, defend, or otherwise affirmatively respond to the matter.
SECTION 3.05. Payment of Taxes: The Mortgagor will pay or
cause to be paid as they become due and payable all taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges lawfully levied or
assessed or imposed upon the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof
or upon any income therefrom, and also (to the extent that such
payment will not be contrary to any applicable laws) all taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges lawfully levied,
assessed or imposed upon the lien or interest of the Noteholders or
of the Mortgagees in the Mortgaged Property, so that (to the extent
aforesaid) the lien of this Mortgage shall at all times be wholly
preserved at the cost of the Mortgagor and without expense to the
Mortgagees or the Noteholders; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Mortgagor shall not be required to pay and discharge or cause to be
paid and discharged any such tax, assessment or governmental charge
to the extent that the amount, applicability or validity thereof
shall currently be contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and the Mortgagor shall have established and shall
maintain adequate reserves on its books for the payment of the
same.
SECTION 3.06. Authority to Execute and Deliver Notes, Loan
Agreements and Mortgage; All Action Taken; Enforceable
Obligations: The Mortgagor is authorized under its articles of
incorporation and bylaws [or code of regulations] and all
applicable laws and by corporate action to execute and deliver the
Notes, any Additional Notes, the Loan Agreements and this Mortgage.
The Notes, the Loan Agreements and this Mortgage are, and any
Additional Notes and Loan Agreements when executed and delivered
will be, the valid and enforceable obligations of the Mortgagor in
accordance with their respective terms.
SECTION 3.07. Restrictions on Further Encumbrances on
Property: Except to secure Additional Notes, the Mortgagor will
not, without the prior written consent of each Mortgagee, create or
incur or suffer or permit to be created or incurred or to exist any
Lien, charge, assignment, pledge, mortgage on any of the Mortgaged
Property inferior to, prior to, or on a parity with the Lien of
this Mortgage except for the Permitted Encumbrances. Subject to the
provisions of Section [3.08], or unless approved by each of the
Mortgagees, the Mortgagor will purchase all materials, equipment
and replacements to be incorporated in or used in connection with
the Mortgaged Property outright and not subject to any conditional
sales agreement, chattel mortgage, bailment, lease or other
agreement reserving to the seller any right, title or Lien.
SECTION 3.08. Restrictions On Additional Permitted Debt:
The Mortgagor shall not incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise
become liable in respect of any debt for borrowed money and
Restricted Rentals (including Subordinated Debt) other than the
following: (“Permitted Debt”)
(1) Additional Notes issued in compliance with Article II
hereof;
(2) Purchase money indebtedness in non-Utility System property,
in an amount not exceeding 10% of Net Utility Plant;
(3) Restricted Rentals in an amount not to exceed 5% of Equity
during any 12 consecutive calendar month period;
(4) Unsecured lease obligations incurred in the ordinary course
of business except Restricted Rentals;
(5) Debt represented by dividends declared but not paid; and
(6) Subordinated Indebtedness approved by each Mortgagee.
PROVIDED, However, that the Mortgagor may incur Permitted Debt
without the consent of the Mortgagee only so long as there exists
no Event of Default hereunder and there has been no continuing
occurrence which with the passage of time and giving of notice
could become an Event of Default hereunder.
PROVIDED, FURTHER, by executing this Mortgage any consent of RUS
that the Mortgagor would otherwise be required to obtain under this
Section is hereby deemed to be given or waived by RUS by operation
of law to the extent, but only to the extent, that to impose such a
requirement of RUS consent would clearly violate existing federal
laws or government regulations.
SECTION 3.09. Preservation of Corporate Existence and
Franchises: The Mortgagor will, so long as any Outstanding
Notes exist, take or cause to be taken all such action as from time
to time may be necessary to preserve its corporate existence and to
preserve and renew all franchises, rights of way, easements,
permits, and licenses now or hereafter to be granted or upon it
conferred the loss of which would have a material adverse affect on
the Mortgagor's financial condition or business. The Mortgagor will
comply with all laws, ordinances, regulations, orders, decrees and
other legal requirements applicable to it or its property the
violation of which could have a material adverse affect on the
Mortgagor's financial condition or business.
SECTION 3.10. Limitations on Consolidations and Mergers:
The Mortgagor shall not, without the prior written approval of each
Mortgagee, consolidate or merge with any other corporation or
convey or transfer the Mortgaged Property substantially as an
entirety unless: (1) such consolidation, merger, conveyance or
transfer shall be on such terms as shall fully preserve the lien
and security hereof and the rights and powers of the Mortgagees
hereunder; (2) the entity formed by such consolidation or with
which the Mortgagor is merged or the corporation which acquires by
conveyance or transfer the Mortgaged Property substantially as an
entirety shall execute and deliver to the Mortgagees a mortgage
supplemental hereto in recordable form and containing an assumption
by such successor entity of the due and punctual payment of the
principal of and interest on all of the Outstanding Notes and the
performance and observance of every covenant and condition of this
Mortgage; (3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction,
no default hereunder shall have occurred and be continuing; (4) the
Mortgagor shall have delivered to the Mortgagees a certificate of
its general manager or other officer, in form and substance
satisfactory to each of the Mortgagees, which shall state that such
consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental
mortgage comply with this subsection and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have
been complied with; (5) the Mortgagor shall have delivered to the
Mortgagees an opinion of counsel in form and substance satisfactory
to each of the Mortgagees; and (6) the entity formed by such
consolidation or with which the Mortgagor is merged or the
corporation which acquires by conveyance or transfer the Mortgaged
Property substantially as an entirety shall be an entity - (A)
having Equity equal to at least 27% of its Total Assets on a pro
forma basis after giving effect to such transaction, (B) having a
pro forma TIER of not less than 1.25 and a pro forma DSC of not
less than 1.25 for each of the two preceding calendar years, and
(C) having Net Utility Plant equal to or greater than 1.0 times its
Total Long-Term Debt on a pro forma basis. Upon any consolidation
or merger or any conveyance or transfer of the Mortgaged Property
substantially as an entirety in accordance with this subsection,
the successor entity formed by such consolidation or with which the
Mortgagor is merged or to which such conveyance or transfer is made
shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every
right and power of, the Mortgagor under this Mortgage with the same
effect as if such successor entity had been named as the Mortgagor
herein.
SECTION 3.11. Limitations on Transfers of Property: The
Mortgagor may not, except as provided in [Section 3.10] above,
without the prior written approval of each Mortgagee, sell, lease
or transfer any Mortgaged Property to any other person or entity
(including any subsidiary or affiliate of the Mortgagor), unless
(1) there exists no Event of Default or occurrence which with the
passing of time and the giving of notice would be an Event of
Default, (2) fair market value is obtained for such property, (3)
the aggregate value of assets so sold, leased or transferred in any
12-month period is less than 10% of Net Utility Plant, and (4) the
proceeds of such sale, lease or transfer, less ordinary and
reasonable expenses incident to such transaction, are immediately
(i) applied as a prepayment of all Notes equally and ratably, (ii)
in the case of dispositions of equipment, materials or scrap,
applied to the purchase of other property useful in the Mortgagor's
utility business, not necessarily of the same kind as the property
disposed of, which shall forthwith become subject to the Lien of
the Mortgage, or (iii) applied to the acquisition or construction
of utility plant.
SECTION 3.12. Maintenance of Mortgaged Property: (a) So
long as the Mortgagor holds title to the Mortgaged Property, the
Mortgagor will at all times maintain and preserve the Mortgaged
Property which is used or useful in the Mortgagor's business and
each and every part and parcel thereof in good repair, working
order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and acts of God
excepted, and in compliance with Prudent Utility Practice and in
compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and orders, and
will from time to time make all needed and proper repairs, renewals
and replacements, and useful and proper alterations, additions,
betterments and improvements, and will, subject to contingencies
beyond its reasonable control, at all times use all reasonable
diligence to furnish the consumers served by it through the
Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, with an adequate supply of
electric power and energy. If any substantial part of the Mortgaged
Property is leased by the Mortgagor to any other party, the lease
agreement between the Mortgagor and the lessee shall obligate the
lessee to comply with the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of
this Section in respect of the leased facilities and to permit the
Mortgagor to operate the leased facilities in the event of any
failure by the lessee to so comply.
(b) If in the sole judgement of any Mortgagee, the Mortgaged
Property is not being maintained and repaired in accordance with
paragraph (a) of this section, such Mortgagee may send to the
Mortgagor a written report of needed improvements and the Mortgagor
will upon receipt of such written report promptly undertake to
accomplish such improvements.
(c) The Mortgagor further agrees that upon reasonable written
request of any Mortgagee, which request together with the requests
of any other Mortgagees shall be made no more frequently than once
every three years, the Mortgagor will supply promptly to each
Mortgagee a certification (hereinafter called the “Engineer's
Certification”), in form satisfactory to the requestor, prepared by
a professional engineer, who shall be satisfactory to the
Mortgagees, as to the condition of the Mortgaged Property. If in
the sole judgment of any Mortgagee the Engineer's Certification
discloses the need for improvements to the condition of the
Mortgaged Property or any other operations of the Mortgagor, such
Mortgagee may send to the Mortgagor a written report of such
improvements and the Mortgagor will upon receipt of such written
report promptly undertake to accomplish such of these improvements
as are required by such Mortgagee.
SECTION 3.13. Insurance; Restoration of Damaged Mortgaged
Property: (a) The Mortgagor will take out, as the respective
risks are incurred, and maintain the classes and amounts of
insurance in conformance with generally accepted utility industry
standards for such classes and amounts of coverages of utilities of
the size and character of the Mortgagor and consistent with Prudent
Utility Practice.
(b) The foregoing insurance coverage shall be obtained by means
of bond and policy forms approved by regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction, and, with respect to insurance upon any part of the
Mortgaged Property, shall provide that the insurance shall be
payable to the Mortgagees as their interests may appear by means of
the standard mortgagee clause without contribution. Each policy or
other contract for such insurance shall contain an agreement by the
insurer that, notwithstanding any right of cancellation reserved to
such insurer, such policy or contract shall continue in force for
at least 30 days after written notice to each Mortgagee of
cancellation.
(c) In the event of damage to or the destruction or loss of any
portion of the Mortgaged Property which is used or useful in the
Mortgagor's business and which shall be covered by insurance,
unless each Mortgagee shall otherwise agree, the Mortgagor shall
replace or restore such damaged, destroyed or lost portion so that
such Mortgaged Property shall be in substantially the same
condition as it was in prior to such damage, destruction or loss,
and shall apply the proceeds of the insurance for that purpose. The
Mortgagor shall replace the lost portion of such Mortgaged Property
or shall commence such restoration promptly after such damage,
destruction or loss shall have occurred and shall complete such
replacement or restoration as expeditiously as practicable, and
shall pay or cause to be paid out of the proceeds of such insurance
all costs and expenses in connection therewith.
(d) Sums recovered under any policy or fidelity bond by the
Mortgagor for a loss of funds advanced under the Notes or recovered
by any Mortgagee or any Noteholder for any loss under such policy
or bond shall, unless applied as provided in the preceding
paragraph, be used to finance construction of utility plant secured
or to be secured by this Mortgage, or unless otherwise directed by
the Mortgagees, be applied to the prepayment of the Notes pro
rata according to the unpaid principal amounts thereof (such
prepayments to be applied to such Notes and installments thereof as
may be designated by the respective Mortgagee at the time of any
such prepayment), or be used to construct or acquire utility plant
which will become part of the Mortgaged Property. At the request of
any Mortgagee, the Mortgagor shall exercise such rights and
remedies which they may have under such policy or fidelity bond and
which may be designated by such Mortgagee, and the Mortgagor hereby
irrevocably appoints each Mortgagee as its agent to exercise such
rights and remedies under such policy or bond as such Mortgagee may
choose, and the Mortgagor shall pay all costs and reasonable
expenses incurred by the Mortgagee in connection with such
exercise.
SECTION 3.14. Mortgagee Right to Expend Money to Protect
Mortgaged Property: The Mortgagor agrees that any Mortgagee
from time to time hereunder may, in its sole discretion, after
having given 5 Business days prior written notice to Mortgagor, but
shall not be obligated to, advance funds on behalf of Mortgagor, in
order to insure the Mortgagor's compliance with any covenant,
warranty, representation or agreement of the Mortgagor made in or
pursuant to this Mortgage or any of the Loan Agreements, to
preserve or protect any right or interest of the Mortgagees in the
Mortgaged Property or under or pursuant to this Mortgage or any of
the Loan Agreements, including without limitation, the payment of
any insurance premiums or taxes and the satisfaction or discharge
of any judgment or any Lien upon the Mortgaged Property or other
property or assets of Mortgagor; provided, however, that the
making of any such advance by or through any Mortgagee shall not
constitute a waiver by any Mortgagee of any Event of Default with
respect to which such advance is made nor relieve the Mortgagor of
any such Event of Default. The Mortgagor shall pay to a Mortgagee
upon demand all such advances made by such Mortgagee with interest
thereon at a rate equal to that on the Note having the highest
interest rate but in no event shall such rate be in excess of the
maximum rate permitted by applicable law. All such advances shall
be included in the obligations and secured by the security interest
granted hereunder.
SECTION 3.15. Time Extensions for Payment of Notes: Any
Mortgagee may, at any time or times in succession without notice to
or the consent of the Mortgagor, or any other Mortgagee, and upon
such terms as such Mortgagee may prescribe, grant to any person,
firm or corporation who shall have become obligated to pay all or
any part of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on
any Note held by or indebtedness owed to such Mortgagee or who may
be affected by the lien hereby created, an extension of the time
for the payment of such principal, (and premium, if any) or
interest, and after any such extension the Mortgagor will remain
liable for the payment of such Note or indebtedness to the same
extent as though it had at the time of such extension consented
thereto in writing.
SECTION 3.16. Application of Proceeds from Condemnation:
(a) In the event that the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof,
shall be taken under the power of eminent domain, all proceeds and
avails therefrom may be used to finance construction of utility
plant secured or to be secured by this Mortgage. Any proceeds not
so used shall forthwith be applied by the Mortgagor: first, to the
ratable payment of any indebtedness secured by this Mortgage other
than principal of or interest on the Notes; second, to the ratable
payment of interest which shall have accrued on the Notes and be
unpaid; third, to the ratable payment of or on account of the
unpaid principal of the Notes, to such installments thereof as may
be designated by the respective Mortgagee at the time of any such
payment; and fourth, the balance shall be paid to whomsoever shall
be entitled thereto.
(b) If any part of the Mortgaged Property shall be taken by
eminent domain, each Mortgagee shall release the property so taken
from the Mortgaged Property and shall be fully protected in so
doing upon being furnished with:
(1) A certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Mortgagor
requesting such release, describing the property to be released and
stating that such property has been taken by eminent domain and
that all conditions precedent herein provided or relating to such
release have been complied with; and
(2) an opinion of counsel to the effect that such property has
been lawfully taken by exercise of the right of eminent domain,
that the award for such property so taken has become final and that
all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such
release have been complied with.
SECTION 3.17. Compliance with Loan Agreements; Notice of
Amendments to and Defaults under Loan Agreements: The Mortgagor
will observe and perform all of the material covenants, agreements,
terms and conditions contained in any Loan Agreement entered into
in connection with the issuance of any of the Notes, as from time
to time amended. The Mortgagor will send promptly to each Mortgagee
notice of any default by the Mortgagor under any Loan Agreement and
notice of any amendment to any Loan Agreement. Upon request of any
Mortgagee, the Mortgagor will furnish to such Mortgagee single
copies of such Loan Agreements and amendments thereto as such
Mortgagee may request.
SECTION 3.18. Rights of Way, etc., Necessary in Business:
The Mortgagor will use its best efforts to obtain all such rights
of way, easements from landowners and releases from lienors as
shall be necessary or advisable in the conduct of its business,
and, if requested by any Mortgagee, deliver to such Mortgagee
evidence satisfactory to such Mortgagee of the obtaining of such
rights of way, easements or releases.
SECTION 3.19. Limitations on Providing Free Electric
Services. The Mortgagor will not furnish or supply or cause to
be furnished or supplied any electric power, energy or capacity
free of charge to any person, firm or corporation, public or
private, and the Mortgagor will enforce the payment of any and all
amounts owning to the Mortgagor by reason of the ownership and
operation of the Utility System by discontinuing such use, output,
capacity, or service, or by filing suit therefor within 90 days
after any such accounts are due, or by both such discontinuance and
by filing suit.
SECTION 3.20. Keeping Books; Inspection by Mortgagee: The
Mortgagor will keep proper books, records and accounts, in which
full and correct entries shall be made of all dealings or
transactions of or in relation to the Notes and the Utility
Systems, properties, business and affairs of the Mortgagor in
accordance with the Accounting Requirements. The Mortgagor will at
any and all times, upon the written request of any Mortgagee and at
the expense of the Mortgagor, permit such Mortgagee by its
representatives to inspect the Utility Systems and properties and
properties, books of account, records, reports and other papers of
the Mortgagor and to take copies and extracts therefrom, and will
afford and procure a reasonable opportunity to make any such
inspection, and the Mortgagor will furnish to each Mortgagee any
and all such information as such Mortgagee may request, with
respect to the performance by the Mortgagor of its covenants under
this Mortgage, the Notes and the Loan Agreements.
ARTICLE IV EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 4.01. Events of Default: Each of the following
shall be an “Event of Default” under this Mortgage:
(a) default shall be made in the payment of any installment of
or on account of interest on or principal of (or premium, if any
associated with) any Note or Notes for more than five (5) Business
Days after the same shall be required to be made;
(b) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
of any other of the covenants, conditions or agreements on the part
of the Mortgagor, in any of the Notes, Loan Agreements or in this
Mortgage, and such default shall continue for a period of thirty
(30) days after written notice specifying such default and
requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a
“Notice of Default” hereunder shall have been given to the
Mortgagor by any Mortgagee; PROVIDED, HOWEVER that in the case of a
default on the terms of a Note or Loan Agreement of a particular
Mortgagee, the “Notice of Default” required under this paragraph
may only be given by that Mortgagee;
(c) the Mortgagor shall file a petition in bankruptcy or be
adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or shall make an assignment
for the benefit of its creditors, or shall consent to the
appointment of a receiver of itself or of its property, or shall
institute proceedings for its reorganization or proceedings
instituted by others for its reorganization shall not be dismissed
within sixty (60) days after the institution thereof;
(d) a receiver or liquidator of the Mortgagor or of any
substantial portion of its property shall be appointed and the
order appointing such receiver or liquidator shall not be vacated
within sixty (60) days after the entry thereof;
(e) the Mortgagor shall forfeit or otherwise be deprived of its
corporate charter or franchises, permits, easements, or licenses
required to carry on any material portion of its business;
(f) a final judgment for an amount of more than $__________
shall be entered against the Mortgagor and shall remain unsatisfied
or without a stay in respect thereof for a period of sixty (60)
days; or,
(g) any material representation or warranty made by the
Mortgagor herein, in the Loan Agreements or in any certificate or
financial statement delivered hereunder or thereunder shall prove
to be false or misleading in any material respect at the time
made.
SECTION 4.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and
Annulment:
(a) If an Event of Default described in Section [4.01(a)] has
occurred and is continuing, any Mortgagee upon which such default
has occurred may declare the principal of all its Notes secured
hereunder to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing
to the Mortgagor and to the other Mortgagees (failure to provide
said notice to any other Mortgagee shall not affect the validity of
any acceleration of the Note or Notes by such Mortgagee), and upon
such declaration, all unpaid principal (and premium, if any) and
accrued interest so declared shall become due and payable
immediately, anything contained herein or in any Note or Notes to
the contrary notwithstanding.
(b) If any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any Mortgagee may declare the principal of all its
Notes secured hereunder to be due and payable immediately by a
notice in writing to the Mortgagor and to the other Mortgagees
(failure to provide said notice to any other Mortgagee shall not
affect the validity of any acceleration of the Note or Notes by
such Mortgagee), and upon such declaration, all unpaid principal
(and premium, if any) and accrued interest so declared shall become
due and payable immediately, anything contained herein or in any
Note or Notes to the contrary notwithstanding.
(c) Upon receipt of actual knowledge of or any notice of
acceleration by any Mortgagee, any other Mortgagee may declare the
principal of all of its Notes to be due and payable immediately by
a notice in writing to the Mortgagor and upon such declaration, all
unpaid principal (and premium, if any) and accrued interest so
declared shall become due and payable immediately, anything
contained herein or in any Note or Notes or Loan Agreements to the
contrary notwithstanding.
(d) If after the unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and
accrued interest on any of the Notes shall have been so declared to
be due and payable, all payments in respect of principal and
interest which shall have become due and payable by the terms of
such Note or Notes (other than amounts due as a result of the
acceleration of the Notes) shall be paid to the respective
Mortgagees, and (i) all other defaults under the Loan Agreements,
the Notes and this Mortgage shall have been made good or cured to
the satisfaction of the Mortgagees representing at least 80% of the
aggregate unpaid principal balance of all of the Notes then
Outstanding, (ii) proceedings to foreclose the lien of this
Mortgage have not been commenced, and (iii) all reasonable expenses
paid or incurred by the Mortgagees in connection with the
acceleration shall have been paid to the respective Mortgagees,
then in every such case such Mortgagees representing at least 80%
of the aggregate unpaid principal balance of all of the Notes then
Outstanding may by written notice to the Mortgagor, for purposes of
this Mortgage, annul such declaration and waive such default and
the consequences thereof, but no such waiver shall extend to or
affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
SECTION 4.03. Remedies of Mortgagees: If one or more of
the Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, any Mortgagee
personally or by attorney, in its or their discretion, may, in so
far as not prohibited by law:
(a) take immediate possession of the Mortgaged Property, collect
and receive all credits, outstanding accounts and bills receivable
of the Mortgagor and all rents, income, revenues, proceeds and
profits pertaining to or arising from the Mortgaged Property, or
any part thereof, whether then past due or accruing thereafter, and
issue binding receipts therefor; and manage, control and operate
the Mortgaged Property as fully as the Mortgagor might do if in
possession thereof, including, without limitation, the making of
all repairs or replacements deemed necessary or advisable by such
Mortgagee in possession;
(b) proceed to protect and enforce the rights of all of the
Mortgagees by suits or actions in equity or at law in any court or
courts of competent jurisdiction, whether for specific performance
of any covenant or any agreement contained herein or in aid of the
execution of any power herein granted or for the foreclosure hereof
or hereunder or for the sale of the Mortgaged Property, or any part
thereof, or to collect the debts hereby secured or for the
enforcement of such other or additional appropriate legal or
equitable remedies as may be deemed necessary or advisable to
protect and enforce the rights and remedies herein granted or
conferred, and in the event of the institution of any such action
or suit the Mortgagee instituting such action or suit shall have
the right to have appointed a receiver of the Mortgaged Property
and of all proceeds, rents, income, revenues and profits pertaining
thereto or arising therefrom, whether then past due or accruing
after the appointment of such receiver, derived, received or had
from the time of the commencement of such suit or action, and such
receiver shall have all the usual powers and duties of receivers in
like and similar cases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and
if application shall be made for the appointment of a receiver the
Mortgagor hereby expressly consents that the court to which such
application shall be made may make said appointment; and
(c) sell or cause to be sold all and singular the Mortgaged
Property or any part thereof, and all right, title, interest, claim
and demand of the Mortgagor therein or thereto, at public auction
at such place in any county (or its equivalent locality) in which
the property to be sold, or any part thereof, is located, at such
time and upon such terms as may be specified in a notice of sale,
which shall state the time when and the place where the sale is to
be held, shall contain a brief general description of the property
to be sold, and shall be given by mailing a copy thereof to the
Mortgagor at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date fixed for
such sale and by publishing the same once in each week for two
successive calendar weeks prior to the date of such sale in a
newspaper of general circulation published in said locality or, if
no such newspaper is published in such locality, in a newspaper of
general circulation in such locality, the first such publication to
be not less than fifteen (15) days nor more than thirty (30) days
prior to the date fixed for such sale. Any sale to be made under
this subparagraph (c) of this Section [4.03] may be adjourned from
time to time by announcement at the time and place appointed for
such sale or for such adjourned sale or sales, and without further
notice or publication the sale may be had at the time and place to
which the same shall be adjourned; provided, however, that
in the event another or different notice of sale or another or
different manner of conducting the same shall be required by law
the notice of sale shall be given or the sale be conducted, as the
case may be, in accordance with the applicable provisions of law.
The expense incurred by any Mortgagee (including, but not limited
to, receiver's fees, counsel fees, cost of advertisement and
agents' compensation) in the exercise of any of the remedies
provided in this Mortgage shall be secured by this Mortgage.
(d) In the event that a Mortgagee proceeds to enforce remedies
under this Section, any other Mortgagee may join in such
proceedings. In the event that the Mortgagees are not in agreement
with the method or manner of enforcement chosen by any other
Mortgagee, the Mortgagees representing a majority of the aggregate
unpaid principal balance on the then Outstanding Notes may direct
the method and manner in which remedial action will proceed.
SECTION 4.04. Application of Proceeds from Remedial
Actions: Any proceeds or funds arising from the exercise of any
rights or the enforcement of any remedies herein provided after the
payment or provision for the payment of any and all costs and
expenses in connection with the exercise of such rights or the
enforcement of such remedies shall be applied first, to the ratable
payment of indebtedness hereby secured other than the principal of
or interest on the Notes; second, to the ratable payment of
interest which shall have accrued on the Notes and which shall be
unpaid; third, to the ratable payment of or on account of the
unpaid principal of the Notes; and the balance, if any, shall be
paid to whomsoever shall be entitled thereto.
SECTION 4.05. Remedies Cumulative; No Election: Every
right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Mortgagees
or to the Noteholders shall be cumulative and shall be in addition
to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law, or in equity, or by statute. The pursuit of any
right or remedy shall not be construed as an election.
SECTION 4.06. Waiver of Appraisement Rights; Marshaling of
Assets Not Required: The Mortgagor, for itself and all who may
claim through or under it, covenants that it will not at any time
insist upon or plead, or in any manner whatever claim, or take the
benefit or advantage of, any appraisement, valuation, stay,
extension or redemption laws now or hereafter in force in any
locality where any of the Mortgaged Property may be situated, in
order to prevent, delay or hinder the enforcement or foreclosure of
this Mortgage, or the absolute sale of the Mortgaged Property, or
any part thereof, or the final and absolute putting into possession
thereof, immediately after such sale, of the purchaser or
purchasers thereat, and the Mortgagor, for itself and all who may
claim through or under it, hereby waives the benefit of all such
laws unless such waiver shall be forbidden by law. Under no
circumstances shall there be any marshalling of assets upon any
foreclosure or to other enforcement of this Mortgage.
SECTION 4.07. Notice of Default: The Mortgagor covenants
that it will give immediate written notice to each Mortgagee of the
occurrence of any Event of Default or in the event that any right
or remedy described in Sections [4.02] and [4.03] hereof is
exercised or enforced or any action is taken to exercise or enforce
any such right or remedy.
ARTICLE V - POSSESSION UNTIL DEFAULT-DEFEASANCE CLAUSE
SECTION 5.01. Possession Until Default: Until some one or
more of the Events of Default shall have happened, the Mortgagor
shall be suffered and permitted to retain actual possession of the
Mortgaged Property, and to manage, operate and use the same and any
part thereof, with the rights and franchises appertaining thereto,
and to collect, receive, take, use and enjoy the rents, revenues,
issues, earnings, income, proceeds, products and profits thereof or
therefrom, subject to the provisions of this Mortgage.
SECTION 5.02. Defeasance: If the Mortgagor shall pay or
cause to be paid the whole amount of the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest on the Notes at the times and in the manner
therein provided, and shall also pay or cause to be paid all other
sums payable by the Mortgagor hereunder or under any Loan Agreement
and shall keep and perform, all covenants herein required to be
kept and performed by it, then and in that case, all property,
rights and interest hereby conveyed or assigned or pledged shall
revert to the Mortgagor and the estate, right, title and interest
of the Mortgagee so paid shall thereupon cease, determine and
become void and such Mortgagee, in such case, on written demand of
the Mortgagor but at the Mortgagor's cost and expense, shall enter
satisfaction of the Mortgage upon the record. In any event, each
Mortgagee, upon payment in full to such Mortgagee by the Mortgagor
of all principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Note
held by such Mortgagee and the payment and discharge by the
Mortgagor of all charges due to such Mortgagee hereunder or under
any Loan Agreement, shall execute and deliver to the Mortgagor such
instrument of satisfaction, discharge or release as shall be
required by law in the circumstances.
SECTION 5.03. Special Defeasance: Other than any Notes
excluded by the foregoing Sections 5.01 and 5.02 and Notes which
have become due and payable, the Mortgagor may cause the Lien of
this Mortgage to be defeased with respect to any Note for which it
has deposited or caused to be deposited in trust solely for the
purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire
indebtedness on such Note for principal (and premium, if any) and
interest to the date of maturity thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
depository serving as trustee for such trust must first be accepted
as such by the Mortgagee whose Notes are being defeased under this
section. In such event, such a Note will no longer be considered to
be an Outstanding Note for purposes of this Mortgage and the
Mortgagee shall execute and deliver to the Mortgagor such
instrument of satisfaction, discharge or release as shall be
required by law in the circumstances.
ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. Property Deemed Real Property: It is hereby
declared to be the intention of the Mortgagor that any electric
generating plant or plants and facilities and all electric
transmission and distribution lines, or other Electric System or
Utility System facilities, embraced in the Mortgaged Property,
including (without limitation) all rights of way and easements
granted or given to the Mortgagor or obtained by it to use real
property in connection with the construction, operation or
maintenance of such plant, lines, facilities or systems, and all
other property physically attached to any of the foregoing, shall
be deemed to be real property.
SECTION 6.02. Mortgage to Bind and Benefit Successors and
Assigns: All of the covenants, stipulations, promises,
undertakings and agreements herein contained by or on behalf of the
Mortgagor shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so
specified or not, and all titles, rights and remedies hereby
granted to or conferred upon the Mortgagees shall pass to and inure
to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Mortgagees and
shall be deemed to be granted or conferred for the ratable benefit
and security of all who shall from time to time be a Mortgagee. The
Mortgagor hereby agrees to execute such consents, acknowledgements
and other instruments as may be reasonably requested by any
Mortgagee in connection with the assignment, transfer, mortgage,
hypothecation or pledge of the rights or interests of such
Mortgagee hereunder or under the Notes or in and to any of the
Mortgaged Property.
SECTION 6.03. Headings: The descriptive headings of the
various articles and sections of this Mortgage and also the table
of contents were formulated and inserted for convenience only and
shall not be deemed to affect the meaning or construction of any of
the provisions hereof.
SECTION 6.04. Severability Clause: In case any provision
of this Mortgage or in the Notes or in the Loan Agreements shall be
invalid or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability
of the remaining provisions thereof shall not in any way be
affected or impaired, nor shall any invalidity or unenforceability
as to any Mortgagee hereunder affect or impair the rights hereunder
of any other Mortgagee.
SECTION 6.05. Mortgage Deemed Security Agreement: To the
extent that any of the property described or referred to in this
Mortgage is governed by the provisions of the UCC this Mortgage is
hereby deemed a “security agreement” under the UCC, and, if so
elected by any Mortgagee, a “financing statement” under the UCC for
said security agreement. The mailing addresses of the Mortgagor as
debtor, and the Mortgagees as secured parties are as set forth in
Section [1.05] hereof. If any Mortgagee so directs the Mortgagor to
do so, the Mortgagor shall file as a financing statement under the
UCC for said security agreement and for the benefit of all of the
Mortgagees, an instrument other than this Mortgage. In such case,
the instrument to be filed shall be in a form customarily accepted
by the filing office as a financing statement. PROCEEDS OF
COLLATERAL ARE COVERED HEREBY.
SECTION 6.06. Indemnification by Mortgagor of Mortgagees:
The Mortgagor agrees to indemnify and save harmless each Mortgagee
against any liability or damages which any of them may incur or
sustain in the exercise and performance of their rightful powers
and duties hereunder. For such reimbursement and indemnity, each
Mortgagee shall be secured under this Mortgage in the same manner
as the Notes and all such reimbursements for expense or damage
shall be paid to the Mortgagee incurring or suffering the same with
interest at the rate specified in Section [3.14] hereof. The
Mortgagor's obligation to indemnify the Mortgagees under this
section and under Section [3.04] shall survive the satisfaction of
the Notes, the reconveyance or foreclosure of this Mortgage, the
acceptance of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, or any transfer or
abandonment of the Mortgaged Property.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, __________ as Mortgagor, has caused this
Restated Mortgage and Security Agreement to be signed in its name
and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested by its
officers thereunto duly authorized, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
as Mortgagee, and as Mortgagee, has caused this Restated Mortgage
and Security Agreement to be signed in its name by duly authorized
persons, all as of the day and year first above written.
(SEAL) By: President Attest: Title:
Executed by the Mortgagor in the presence of:
Witnesses UNITED STATES OF AMERICA By: Director, of the __________
Rural Utilities Service
Executed by the United States of America, Mortgagee, in the
presence of:
Witnesses By: (SEAL) Attest: Title:
Executed by the above-named Mortgagee in the presence of:
Witnesses Schedule A
1. The Maximum Debt Limit is __________.
2. The Original Mortgage as described in the [first] WHEREAS
clause above is __________.
3. The outstanding secured indebtedness described in the
[fourth] WHEREAS clause above as evidenced by the Original Notes is
as follows:
[Note this requires computation of principal balances, not
merely a toting up of the original face amounts of the notes.
Alternative approaches may be used by the parties where legally
effective and mutually agreeable.]
Schedule B - Property Schedule
The fee and leasehold interests in real property referred to in
Section Subclause (a) of Granting Clause One are __________.
The counties referred to in Subclause (B) of Granting Clause One
are __________.
Schedule C - Excepted Property STATE OF __________ COUNTY OF
__________
On this ______ day of __________, 19 ____, before me appeared
__________ and __________ personally known, by me and having been
duly sworn by me, did say that they are the President and
Secretary, respectively, of ________________, a __________
corporation, and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument
is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument
was signed and sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of
its Board, and said __________ and __________ acknowledged that the
execution of said instrument was a free act and deed of said
corporation.
IN WITNESS whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and official
seal the day and year last above written.
Notary Public (Notarial Seal)
My commission expires:
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ) SS
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this
______________ day of 19____, by __________________ Director,
________________ Regional Division of the Rural Utilities Service,
acknowledging an agency of the United States of America, on behalf
of the Rural Utilities Service, United States of America.
Notary Public (Notarial Seal)
My Commission expires:
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA ) SS
BEFORE ME, a Notary Public, in and for the Commonwealth of
Virginia, appeared in person ______________________, signing for
the Governor of the National Rural Utilities cooperative Finance
Corporation, to me personally known, and known to be the identical
person who subscribed the name of said corporation to the foregoing
instrument, being by me duly sworn, and who stated that she/he is
duly authorized to execute the foregoing instrument on behalf of
said corporation, and further stated and acknowledged that she/he
executed the foregoing instrument as a free and voluntary act and
deed of said corporation for the consideration therein mentioned
and set forth.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official
seal this __________ day of __________, 19____.
Notary Public (Notarial Seal)
My commission expires:
Exhibit A - Manager's Certificate Manager's Certificate Required
Under Mortgage Section 2.01 for Additional Notes
On behalf on ______________________ [Name of Borrower] (the
“Borrower”), I ________________________ hereby certify as
follows:
1. I am the Manager of the Borrower and have been duly
authorized to deliver this certificate in connection with the
Additional Note or Notes to be issued on or about
______________________ [Date Note or Notes are to be Signed]
pursuant to Section [2.01] of the Mortgage dated
______________________.
2. No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the
Mortgage, or any event which with the giving of notice or lapse of
time or both would become an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
3. The Additional Notes described in paragraph 1 are for the
purpose of funding Property Additions being constructed, acquired,
procured or replaced that are or will become part of the Borrower's
Utility System.
4. The Property Additions referred to in paragraph 3 are
Eligible Property Additions, i.e. Property Additions acquired or
whose construction was completed not more than 5 years prior to the
issuance of additional Notes and Property Additions acquired or
whose construction is started and/or completed not more than 4
years after issuance of the additional Notes, but shall exclude any
Property Additions financed by any other debt secured under the
Mortgage at the time additional Notes are issued.
5. I have reviewed the certificate of the Independent certified
public accountant also being delivered to each of the Mortgagees
pursuant to Section [2.01] in connection with the aforesaid
Additional Note or Notes and concur with the conclusions expressed
therein.
6. Capitalized terms that are used in this certificate but are
not defined herein have the meanings defined in the Mortgage.
[Signed] [Dated] [Name] [Title] [Name and Address of Borrower]
Exhibit B - Form of Supplemental Mortgage
Supplemental Mortgage and Security Agreement, dated as of
__________, ______, ________, (hereinafter sometimes called this
“Supplemental Mortgage”) is made by and between __________
(hereinafter called the “Mortgagor”), a corporation existing under
the laws of the State of __________, and the UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA acting by and through the Administrator of the Rural
Utilities Service (hereinafter called the “Government”), __________
(Supplemental Lender) (hereinafter called __________), a __________
existing under the laws of __________, and intended to confer
rights and benefits on both the Government and __________ and
__________ in accordance with this Supplemental Mortgage and the
Original Mortgage (hereinafter defined) (the Government and the
Supplemental Lenders being herein sometimes collectively referred
to as the “Mortgagees”).
Recitals
Whereas, the Mortgagor, the Government and __________ are
parties to that certain Restated Mortgage and Security Agreement,
as supplemented, amended or restated (the “Original Mortgage”
identified in Schedule “A” of this Mortgage) originally entered
into between the Mortgagor, the Government acting by and through
the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (hereinafter
called “RUS”), and __________; and
Whereas, the Mortgagor deems it necessary to borrow money for
its corporate purposes and to issue its promissory notes and other
debt obligations therefor, and to mortgage and pledge its property
hereinafter described or mentioned to secure the payment of the
same, and to enter into this Supplemental Mortgage pursuant to
which all secured debt of the Mortgagor hereunder shall be secured
on parity, and to add __________ as a secured party hereunder and
under the Original Mortgage (the Supplemental Mortgage and the
Original Mortgage, as it may have been previously amended or
supplemented, hereinafter may be called collectively the “RUS
Mortgage”); and
Whereas, the RUS Mortgage, as supplemented hereby, preserves the
priority of the Original Mortgage for the pro rata benefit of all
the Mortgagees and secures the payment of all of the Mortgagor's
outstanding indebtedness as listed in the Instruments Recital of
Schedule “A”; and
Whereas, all acts necessary to make this Supplemental Mortgage a
valid and binding legal instrument for the security of such notes
and obligations, subject to the terms of the RUS Mortgage, have
been in all respects duly authorized:
Now, Therefore, This Supplemental Mortgage Witnesseth: That to
secure the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on all Notes issued hereunder according to their tenor and
effect, and the performance of all provisions therein and herein
contained, and in consideration of the covenants herein contained
and the purchase or guarantee of Notes by the guarantors or holders
thereof, the Mortgagor has mortgaged, pledged and granted a
continuing security interest in, and by these presents does hereby
grant, bargain, sell, alienate, remise, release, convey, assign,
transfer, hypothecate, pledge, set over and confirm, pledge and
grant a continuing security interest in for the purposes
hereinafter expressed [other language may be required under various
state laws], unto the Mortgagees all property, rights, privileges
and franchises of the Mortgagor of every kind and description,
real, personal or mixed, tangible and intangible, of the kind or
nature specifically mentioned herein or any other kind or nature,
except any Excepted Property set forth on Schedule “C” hereof owned
or hereafter acquired by the Mortgagor (by purchase, consolidation,
merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way)
wherever located, including (without limitation) all and singular
the following:
A. All of those fee and leasehold interests in real property set
forth in Schedule “B” hereto, subject in each case to those matters
set forth in such Schedule; and
B. All of those fee and leasehold interests in real property set
forth in Schedule “B” of the Original Mortgage or in any
restatement, amendment or supplement thereto, subject in each case
to those matters set forth in such Schedule; and
C. All of the kinds, types or items of property, now owned or
hereafter acquired, described as Mortgaged Property in the Original
Mortgage or in any restatement, amendment to supplement thereto as
Mortgaged Property.
It is Further Agreed and Covenanted That the Original Mortgage,
as previously restated, amended or supplemented, and this
Supplement shall constitute one agreement and the parties hereto
shall be bound by all of the terms thereof and, without limiting
the foregoing.
1. All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the
meaning given in Article I of the Original Mortgage.
2. This Supplemental Mortgage is one of the Supplemental
Mortgages contemplated by Article II of the Original Mortgage.
In Witness Whereof, __________ as Mortgagor.
[ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS] Supplemental Mortgage Schedule A - Maximum Debt
Limit and Other Information
1. The Maximum Debt Limit is __________.
2. The Original Mortgage as described in the first WHEREAS
clause above is __________.
3. The outstanding secured indebtedness described in the third
WHEREAS clause above is __________.
Supplemental Mortgage Schedule B - Property Schedule
The fee and leasehold interests in real property referred to in
clause A of the granting clause are __________.
Supplemental Mortgage Schedule C - Excepted Property [60 FR 36888,
July 18, 1995, as amended at 60 FR 67410, Dec. 29, 1995; 65 FR
51749, Aug. 25, 2000]
Appendix A to Subpart C of Part 1718 - Model Form of Loan Contract for Electric Distribution Borrowers
7:11.1.2.1.7.3.1.6.2 : Appendix A
Appendix A to Subpart C of Part 1718 - Model Form of Loan Contract
for Electric Distribution Borrowers LOAN CONTRACT TABLE OF CONTENTS
RECITALS ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS ARTICLE II - REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES Section 2.1. Representations and Warranties. ARTICLE III
- LOAN Section 3.1. Advances. Section 3.2. Interest Rate and
Payment. Section 3.3. Prepayment. ARTICLE IV - CONDITIONS OF
LENDING Section 4.1. General Conditions. Section 4.2. Special
Conditions. ARTICLE V - AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS Section 5.1.
Generally. Section 5.2. Annual Certificates. Section 5.3.
Simultaneous Prepayment of Contemporaneous Loans. Section 5.4.
Rates to Provide Revenue Sufficient to Meet Coverage Ratios
Requirements. Section 5.5. Depreciation Rates. Section 5.6.
Property Maintenance. Section 5.7. Financial Books. Section 5.8.
Rights of Inspection. Section 5.9. Area Coverage. Section 5.10.
Real Property Acquisition. Section 5.11. “Buy American”
Requirements. Section 5.12. Power Requirements Studies. Section
5.13. Long Range Engineering Plans and Construction Work Plans.
Section 5.14. Design Standards, Construction Standards, and List of
Materials. Section 5.15. Plans and Specifications. Section 5.16.
Standard Forms of Construction Contracts, and Engineering and
Architectural Services Contracts. Section 5.17. Contract Bidding
Requirements. Section 5.18. Nondiscrimination. Section 5.19.
Financial Reports. Section 5.20. Miscellaneous Reports and Notices.
Section 5.21 Special Construction Account. Section 5.22. Additional
Affirmative Covenants. ARTICLE VI - NEGATIVE COVENANTS Section 6.1.
General. Section 6.2. Limitations on System Extensions and
Additions. Section 6.3. Limitations on Changing Principal Place of
Business. Section 6.4. Limitations on Employment and Retention of
Manager. Section 6.5. Limitations on Certain Types of Contracts.
Section 6.6. Limitations on Mergers and Sale, Lease or Transfer of
Capital Assets. Section 6.7. Limitations on Using non FDIC-insured
Depositories. Section 6.8. Limitation on Distributions. Section
6.9. Limitations on Loans, Investments and Other Obligations.
Section 6.10. Depreciation Rates. Section 6.11. Historic
Preservation. Section 6.12. Rate Reductions. Section 6.13.
Limitations on Additional Indebtedness. Section 6.14. Limitations
on Issuing Additional Indebtedness Secured Under the Mortgage.
Section 6.15. Impairment of Contracts Pledged to RUS. Section 6.16.
Additional Negative Covenants. ARTICLE VII - DEFAULT Section 7.1.
Events of Default. ARTICLE VIII - REMEDIES Section 8.1. Generally.
Section 8.2. Suspension of Advances. ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Notices. Section 9.2. Expenses. Section 9.3. Late
Payments. Section 9.4. Filing Fees. Section 9.5. No Waiver. Section
9.6. Governing Law. Section 9.7. Holiday Payments. Section 9.8.
Rescission. Section 9.9. Successors and Assigns. Section 9.10.
Complete Agreement; Amendments. Section 9.11. Headings. Section
9.12. Severability. Section 9.13. Right of Setoff. Section 9.14.
Schedules and Exhibits. Section 9.15. Prior Loan Documents. Section
9.16. Authority of Representatives of RUS. Section 9.17. Term.
Schedule 1 Schedule 2 - Existing Liens Schedule 3 - Additional
Contracts Exhibit A - Form of Promissory Note Exhibit B - Equal
Opportunity Contract Provisions Exhibit C-1 - Manager's Certificate
Required Under Loan Contract Section 6.14 for Additional Notes
Exhibit C-2 - Manager's Certificate Required Under Loan Contract
Section 6.14 for Refinancing Notes Loan Contract
AGREEMENT, dated ____________________, 199____, between
____________________ (“Borrower”), a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of ____________________ (the
“State”) and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA acting by and through the
Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (“RUS”).
Recitals
The Borrower has applied to RUS for a loan for the purpose(s)
set forth in Schedule 1 hereto.
RUS is willing to make such a loan to the Borrower pursuant to
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, on the terms and
conditions stated herein.
THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree
and bind themselves as follows:
Article I - Definitions
Capitalized terms that are not defined herein shall have the
meanings as set forth in the Mortgage. The terms defined herein
include the plural as well as the singular and the singular as well
as the plural.
“Act” shall mean the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as
amended.
“Advance” or “Advances” shall mean advances by RUS to Borrower
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Agreement” shall mean this Loan Contract together with all
schedules and exhibits and also any subsequent supplements or
amendments.
“Business Day” shall mean any day that RUS is open for
business.
“Contemporaneous Loan” shall mean any loan which the Borrower
has used to satisfy RUS Regulations or loan conditions requiring
that supplemental financing be obtained in order to obtain a loan
from RUS. Any loan used to refinance or refund a Contemporaneous
Loan is also considered to be a Contemporaneous Loan.
“Coverage Ratios” shall mean, collectively, the following
financial ratios: (i) TIER of 1.25; (ii) Operating TIER of 1.1;
(iii) DSC of 1.25; and Operating DSC of 1.1.
“Debt Service Coverage Ratio” (“DSC”) shall have the meaning
provided in the Mortgage.
“Distributions” shall mean for the Borrower to, in any calendar
year, declare or pay any dividends, or pay or determine to pay any
patronage refunds, or retire any patronage capital or make any
other Cash Distributions, to its members, stockholders or
consumers; provided, however, that for the purposes of this
Agreement a “Cash Distribution” shall be deemed to include any
general cancellation or abatement of charges for electric energy or
services furnished by the Borrower, but not the repayment of a
membership fee upon termination of a membership or the rebate of an
abatement of wholesale power costs previously incurred pursuant to
an order of a state regulatory authority or a wholesale power cost
adjustment clause or similar power pricing agreement between the
Borrower and a power supplier.
“Electric System” shall have the meaning as defined in the
Mortgage.
“Equity” shall mean the Borrower's total margins and equities
computed pursuant to RUS Accounting Requirements but excluding any
Regulatory Created Assets.
“Event of Default” shall have the meaning as defined in Section
[7.1].
“Independent” when used with respect to any specified person or
entity means such a person or entity who (1) is in fact
independent, (2) does not have any direct financial interest or any
material indirect financial interest in the Borrower or in any
affiliate of the Borrower and (3) is not connected with the
Borrower as an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee,
partner, director or person performing similar functions.
“Interest Expense” shall mean the interest expense of the
Borrower computed pursuant to RUS Accounting Requirements.
“Loan” shall mean the loan described in Article III which is
being made pursuant to the RUS Commitment in furtherance of the
objectives of the Act.
“Loan Documents” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the
Mortgage and the Note.
“Long-Term Debt” shall mean the total of all amounts included in
the long-term debt of the Borrower pursuant to RUS Accounting
Requirements.
“Maturity Date” shall have the meaning as defined in the
Note.
“Monthly Payment Date” shall have the meaning as defined in the
Note.
“Mortgage” shall have the meaning as described in Schedule 1
hereto.
“Mortgaged Property” shall have the meaning as defined in the
Mortgage.
“Net Utility Plant” shall mean the amount constituting the Total
Utility Plant of the Borrower, less depreciation, computed in
accordance with RUS Accounting Requirements.
“Note” shall mean a promissory note executed by the Borrower in
the form of exhibit A hereto, and any note executed and delivered
to RUS to refund, or in substitution for such a note.
“Operating DSC” or “ODSC” shall mean Operating Debt Service
Coverage calculated as:
Where: All amounts are for the same calendar
year and are computed pursuant to RUS Accounting Requirements and
RUS form 7; A = Depreciation and Amortization Expense of the
Electric System; B = Interest Expense on Total Long-Term Debt of
the Electric System, except that such Interest Expense shall be
increased by 1/3 of the amount, if any, by which the Restricted
Rentals of the Electric System exceed 2 percent of the Mortgagor's
Equity; C = Patronage capital & operating margins of the Electric
System, (which equals operating revenue and patronage capital of
Electric System operations, less total cost of electric service,
including Interest Expense on Total Long-Term Debt of the Electric
System) plus cash received from the retirement of patronage capital
by suppliers of electric power and by lenders for credit extended
for the Electric System; and D = Debt service billed which equals
the sum of all payments of principal and interest required to be
made on account of Total Long-Term Debt of the Electric System
during the calendar year, plus 1/3 of the amount, if any, by which
Restricted Rentals of the Electric System exceed 2 percent of the
Mortgagor's Equity.
“Operating TIER” or “OTIER” shall mean Operating Times Interest
Earned Ratio calculated as:
Where: All amounts are for the same calendar
year and are computed pursuant to RUS Accounting Requirements and
RUS form 7; A = Interest Expense on Total Long-Term Debt of the
Electric System, except that such Interest Expense shall be
increased by 1/3 of the amount, if any, by which Restricted Rentals
of the Electric System exceed 2 percent of the Mortgagor's Equity;
and B = Patronage capital & operating margins of the Electric
System, (which equals operating revenue and patronage capital of
Electric System operations, less total cost of electric service,
including Interest Expense on Total Long-Term Debt of the Electric
System) plus cash received from the retirement of patronage capital
by suppliers of electric power and by lenders for credit extended
for the Electric System.
“Payment Notice” shall mean a notice furnished by RUS to
Borrower that indicates the precise amount of each payment of
principal and interest and the total amount of each payment.
“Permitted Debt” shall have the meaning as defined in section
[6.13].
“Prior Loan Contracts” shall have the meaning as defined in
section 9.15.
“Regulatory Created Assets” shall mean the sum of any amounts
properly recordable as unrecovered plant and regulatory study costs
or as other regulatory assets, computed pursuant to RUS Accounting
Requirements.
“RUS Accounting Requirements” shall mean any system of accounts
prescribed by RUS Regulations as such RUS Accounting Requirements
exist at the date of applicability thereof.
“RUS Commitment” shall have the meaning as defined in schedule 1
hereto.
“RUS Regulations” shall mean regulations of general
applicability published by RUS from time to time as they exist at
the date of applicability thereof, and shall also include any
regulations of other Federal entities which RUS is required by law
to implement.
“Special Construction Account” shall have the meaning as defined
in section 5.21.
“Subsidiary” shall mean a corporation that is a subsidiary of
the Borrower and subject to the Borrower's control, as defined by
RUS Accounting Requirements.
“Termination Date” shall have the meaning as defined in the
Note.
“Times Interest Earned Ratio” (“TIER”) shall have the meaning
provided in the Mortgage.
“Total Assets” shall mean an amount constituting the total
assets of the Borrower as computed pursuant to RUS Accounting
Requirements, but excluding any Regulatory Created Assets.
“Total Utility Plant” shall mean the amount constituting the
total utility plant of the Borrower computed in accordance with RUS
Accounting Requirements.
“Utility System” shall have the meaning as defined in the
Mortgage.
Article II - Representations and Warranties Section 2.1.
Representations and Warranties.
To induce RUS to make the Loan, and recognizing that RUS is
relying hereon, the Borrower represents and warrants as
follows:
(a) Organization; Power, Etc. The Borrower: (i) is duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of
its state of incorporation; (ii) is duly qualified to do business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary;
(iii) has all requisite corporate and legal power to own and
operate its assets and to carry on its business and to enter into
and perform the Loan Documents; (iv) has duly and lawfully obtained
and maintained all licenses, certificates, permits, authorizations,
approvals, and the like which are material to the conduct of its
business or which may be otherwise required by law; and (v) is
eligible to borrow from RUS.
(b) Authority. The execution, delivery and performance by
the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the
performance of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and shall not violate
any provision of law or of the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws
of the Borrower or result in a breach of, or constitute a default
under, any agreement, indenture or other instrument to which the
Borrower is a party or by which it may be bound.
(c) Consents. No consent, permission, authorization,
order, or license of any governmental authority is necessary in
connection with the execution, delivery, performance, or
enforcement of the Loan Documents, except (i) such as have been
obtained and are in full force and effect and (ii) such as have
been disclosed on Schedule 1 hereto.
(d) Binding Agreement. Each of the Loan Documents is, or
when executed and delivered shall be, the legal, valid, and binding
obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject only to limitations on enforceability imposed by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally.
(e) Compliance With Laws. The Borrower is in compliance
in all material respects with all federal, state, and local laws,
rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, and orders (collectively,
“Laws”), the failure to comply with which could have a material
adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise,
operations, properties, or business of the Borrower, or on the
ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan
Documents, except as the Borrower has disclosed on Schedule 1
attached hereto.
(f) Litigation. There are no pending legal, arbitration,
or governmental actions or proceedings to which the Borrower is a
party or to which any of its property is subject which, if
adversely determined, could have a material adverse effect on the
condition, financial or otherwise, operations, properties, profits
or business of the Borrower, or on the ability of the Borrower to
perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, and to the best
of the Borrower's knowledge, no such actions or proceedings are
threatened or contemplated, except as the Borrower has disclosed to
RUS in writing.
(g) Title to Property. As to property which is presently
included in the description of Mortgaged Property, the Borrower
holds good and marketable title to all of its real property and
owns all of its personal property free and clear of any Lien except
the Liens specifically identified on Schedule 2 attached hereto
(the “Existing Liens”), and Permitted Encumbrances or Liens
permitted under the Mortgage.
(h) Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change;
Etc. All financial statements submitted to RUS in connection
with the application for the Loan or in connection with this
Agreement fairly and fully present the financial condition of the
Borrower and the results of the Borrower's operations for the
periods covered thereby and are prepared in accordance with RUS
Accounting Requirements consistently applied. Since the dates
thereof, there has been no material adverse change in the financial
condition or operations of the Borrower. All budgets, projections,
feasibility studies, and other documentation submitted by the
Borrower to RUS are based upon assumptions that are reasonable and
realistic, and as of the date hereof, no fact has come to light,
and no event or transaction has occurred, which would cause any
assumption made therein not to be reasonable or realistic.
(i) Principal Place of Business; Records. The principal
place of business and chief executive office of the Borrower is at
the address of the Borrower shown on Schedule 1 attached
hereto.
(j) Location of Properties. All property owned by the
Borrower is located in the counties identified in Schedule 1
hereto.
(k) Subsidiaries. The Borrower has no subsidiary, except
as the Borrower has disclosed to RUS in writing.
(l) Defaults Under Other Agreements. The Borrower is not
in default under any agreement or instrument to which it is a party
or under which any of its properties are subject that is material
to its financial condition, operations, properties, profits, or
business.
(m) Survival. All representations and warranties made by
the Borrower herein or made in any certificate delivered pursuant
hereto shall survive the making of the Advances and the execution
and delivery to RUS of the Note.
Article III - Loan Section 3.1. Advances
RUS agrees to make, and the Borrower agrees to request, on the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, Advances from time to time
in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the RUS Commitment.
On the Termination Date, RUS may stop advancing funds and limit the
RUS Commitment to the amount advanced prior to such date. The
obligation of the Borrower to repay the Advances shall be evidenced
by the Note in the principal amount of the unpaid principal amount
of the Advances from time to time outstanding. The Borrower shall
give RUS written notice of the date on which each Advance is to be
made.
Section 3.2. Interest Rate and Payment
The Note shall be payable and bear interest as follows:
(a) Payments and Amortization. Principal shall be
amortized in accordance with the method stated in Schedule 1 hereto
and more fully described in the form of Note attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
(b) Application of Payments. All payments which the
Borrower sends to RUS on any outstanding obligation owed to RUS
shall be applied in the manner provided in the Borrower's loan
documents to which such payments relate and in a manner consistent
with RUS policies, practices, and procedures for obligations that
have been similarly classified by RUS.
(c) Electronic Funds Transfer. Except as otherwise
prescribed by RUS, the Borrower shall make all payments on the Note
utilizing electronic funds transfer procedures as specified by
RUS.
(d) Fixed or Variable Rate. The Note shall bear interest
at either a fixed or variable rate in accordance with the method
stated in Schedule 1 hereto and as more particularly described in
the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Section 3.3. Prepayment
The Borrower has no right to prepay the Note in whole or in part
except such rights, if any, as are expressly provided for in the
Note. However, prepayment of the Note (and any penalties) shall be
mandatory under Section [5.3] hereof if the Borrower has used a
Contemporaneous Loan in order to qualify for the RUS Commitment,
and later prepays the Contemporaneous Loan.
Article IV - Conditions of Lending Section 4.1. General Conditions
The obligation of RUS to make any Advance hereunder is subject
to satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent on or
before the date of such Advance:
(a) Legal Matters. All legal matters incident to the
consummation of the transactions hereby contemplated shall be
satisfactory to counsel for RUS.
(b) Loan Documents. That RUS receive duly executed
originals of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(c) Authorization. That RUS receive evidence satisfactory
to it that all corporate documents and proceedings of the Borrower
necessary for duly authorizing the execution, delivery and
performance of the Loan Documents have been obtained and are in
full force and effect.
(d) Approvals. That RUS receive evidence satisfactory to
it that all consents and approvals (including without limitation
the consents referred to in Section [2.1(c)] of this Agreement)
which are necessary for, or required as a condition of, the
validity and enforceability of each of the Loan Documents have been
obtained and are in full force and effect.
(e) Event of Default. That no Event of Default specified
in Article VII and no event which, with the lapse of time or the
notice and lapse of time specified in Article VII would become such
an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, or
shall have occurred after giving effect to the Advance on the books
of the Borrower.
(f) Continuing Representations and Warranties. That the
representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in this
Agreement be true and correct on and as of the date of such Advance
as though made on and as of such date.
(g) Opinion of Counsel. That RUS receive an opinion of
counsel for the Borrower (who shall be acceptable to RUS) in form
and content acceptable to RUS.
(h) Mortgage Filing. The Mortgage shall have been duly
recorded as a mortgage on real property, including after-acquired
real property, and duly filed, recorded or indexed as a security
interest in personal property, including after acquired personal
property, wherever RUS shall have requested, all in accordance with
applicable law, and the Borrower shall have caused satisfactory
evidence thereof to be furnished to RUS.
(i) Wholesale Power Contract. That the Borrower shall not
be in default under the terms of, or contesting the validity of,
any contract for sales for resale that has been pledged by any
entity to RUS as security for the repayment of any loan made or
guaranteed by RUS under the Act.
(j) Material Adverse Change. That there has occurred no
material adverse change in the business or condition, financial or
otherwise, of the Borrower and nothing has occurred which in the
opinion of RUS materially and adversely affects the Borrower's
ability to meet its obligations hereunder.
(k) Requisitions. That the Borrower shall requisition all
Advances by submitting its requisition to RUS in form and substance
satisfactory to RUS. Requisitions shall be made only for the
purpose(s) set forth herein. The Borrower agrees to apply the
proceeds of the Advances in accordance with its loan application
with such modifications as may be mutually agreed.
(l) Flood Insurance. That for any Advance used in whole
or in part to finance the construction or acquisition of any
building in any area identified by the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development pursuant to the Flood Disaster Protection Act of
1973 (the “Flood Insurance Act”) or any rules, regulations or
orders issued to implement the Flood Insurance Act (“Rules”) as any
area having special flood hazards, or to finance any facilities or
materials to be located in any such building, or in any building
owned or occupied by the Borrower and located in such a flood
hazard area, the Borrower has submitted evidence, in form and
substance satisfactory to RUS, or RUS has otherwise determined,
that (i) the community in which such area is located is then
participating in the national flood insurance program, as required
by the Flood Insurance Act and any Rules, and (ii) the Borrower has
obtained flood insurance coverage with respect to such building and
contents as may then be required pursuant to the Flood Insurance
Act and any Rules.
(m) Compliance With Loan Contract and Mortgage. That the
Borrower is in material compliance with all provisions of this
Agreement and the Mortgage.
Section 4.2. Special Conditions
The obligation of RUS to make any Advance hereunder is also
subject to satisfaction, on or before the date of such Advance, of
each of the special conditions, if any, listed in Schedule 1
hereto.
Article V - Affirmative Covenants Section 5.1. Generally
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by RUS, while this
Agreement is in effect, whether or not any Advance is outstanding,
the Borrower agrees to duly observe each of the affirmative
covenants contained in this Article:
Section 5.2. Annual Certificates
(a) Performance Under Loan Documents. The Borrower shall
duly observe and perform all of its obligations under each of the
Loan Documents.
(b) Annual Certification. Within ninety (90) days after
the close of each calendar year, commencing with the year following
the year in which the initial Advance hereunder shall have been
made, the Borrower shall deliver to RUS a written statement signed
by its General Manager, stating that during such year the Borrower
has fulfilled all of its obligations under the Loan Documents
throughout such year in all material respects or, if there has been
a default in the fulfillment of any such obligations, specifying
each such default known to said person and the nature and status
thereof.
Section 5.3. Simultaneous Prepayment of Contemporaneous Loans
If the Borrower shall at any time prepay in whole or in part the
Contemporaneous Loan described on Schedule 1, the Borrower shall
prepay the RUS Note correspondingly in order to maintain the ratio
that the Contemporaneous Loan bears to the RUS Commitment. If the
RUS Note calls for a prepayment penalty or premium, such amount
shall be paid but shall not be used in computing the amount needed
to be paid to RUS under this section to maintain such ratio. In the
case of Contemporaneous Loans and RUS Notes existing prior to the
date of this Agreement under previous agreements, prepayments shall
be treated as if governed by this section. Provided, however, in
all cases prepayments associated with refinancing or refunding a
Contemporaneous Loan pursuant to Article II of the Mortgage are not
considered to be prepayments for purposes of this Agreement if they
satisfy each of the following requirements:
(a) Principal. The principal amount of such refinancing
or refunding loan is not less than the amount of loan principal
being refinanced; and
(b) Weighted Average Life. The weighted average life of
the refinancing or refunding loan is materially equal to the
weighted average remaining life of the loan being refinanced.
Section 5.4 Rates To Provide Revenue Sufficient to Meet Coverage
Ratios Requirements
(a) Prospective Requirement. The Borrower shall design
and implement rates for utility service furnished by it to provide
sufficient revenue (along with other revenue available to the
Borrower in the case of TIER and DSC) (i) to pay all fixed and
variable expenses when and as due, (ii) to provide and maintain
reasonable working capital, and (iii) to maintain, on an annual
basis, the Coverage Ratios. In designing and implementing rates
under this paragraph, such rates should be capable of producing at
least enough revenue to meet the requirements of this paragraph
under the assumption that average weather conditions in the
Borrower's service territory shall prevail in the future, including
average Utility System damage and outages due to weather and the
related costs.
(b) The average Coverage Ratios achieved by the Borrower in the
2 best years out of the 3 most recent calendar years must be not
less than any of the following:
TIER = 1.25 DSC = 1.25 OTIER = 1.1 ODSC = 1.1
(c) Prospective Notice of Change in Rates. The Borrower
shall give thirty (30) days prior written notice of any proposed
change in its general rate structure to RUS if RUS has requested in
writing that it be notified in advance of such changes.
(d) Routine Reporting of Coverage Ratios. Promptly
following the end of each calendar year, the Borrower shall report,
in writing, to RUS the TIER, Operating TIER, DSC and Operating DSC
levels which were achieved during that calendar year.
(e) Reporting Non-achievement of Retrospective
Requirement. If the Borrower fails to achieve the average
levels required by paragraph (b) of this section, it must promptly
notify RUS in writing to that effect.
(f) Corrective Plans. Within 30 days of sending a notice
to RUS under paragraph (e) of this section, or of being notified by
RUS, whichever is earlier, the Borrower in consultation with RUS,
shall provide a written plan satisfactory to RUS setting forth the
actions that shall be taken to achieve the required Coverage Ratios
on a timely basis.
(g) Noncompliance. Failure to design and implement rates
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section and failure to develop
and implement the plan called for in paragraph (f) of this section
shall constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement in the
event that REA so notifies the Borrower to that effect under
section [7.1(d)] of this Agreement.
Section 5.5. Depreciation Rates
The Borrower shall adopt as its depreciation rates only those
which have been previously approved for the Borrower by RUS.
Section 5.6. Property Maintenance
The Borrower shall maintain and preserve its Utility System in
compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the
Mortgage, RUS Regulations and all applicable laws.
Section 5.7. Financial Books
The Borrower shall at all times keep, and safely preserve,
proper books, records and accounts in which full and true entries
shall be made of all of the dealings, business and affairs of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in accordance with any applicable
RUS Accounting Requirements.
Section 5.8. Rights of Inspection
The Borrower shall afford RUS, through its representatives,
reasonable opportunity, at all times during business hours and upon
prior notice, to have access to and the right to inspect the
Utility System, any other property encumbered by the Mortgage, and
any or all books, records, accounts, invoices, contracts, leases,
payrolls, canceled checks, statements and other documents and
papers of every kind belonging to or in the possession of the
Borrower or in anyway pertaining to its property or business,
including its Subsidiaries, if any, and to make copies or extracts
therefrom.
Section 5.9. Area Coverage
(a) The Borrower shall make diligent effort to extend electric
service to all unserved persons within the service area of the
Borrower who (i) desire such service and (ii) meet all reasonable
requirements established by the Borrower as a condition of such
service.
(b) If economically feasible and reasonable considering the cost
of providing such service and/or the effects on consumers' rates,
such service shall be provided, to the maximum extent practicable,
at the rates and minimum charges established in the Borrower's rate
schedules, without the payment of such persons, other than seasonal
or temporary consumers, of a contribution in aid of construction. A
seasonal consumer is one that demands electric service only during
certain seasons of the year. A temporary consumer is a seasonal or
year-round consumer that demands electric service over a period of
less than five years.
(c) The Borrower may assess contributions in aid of construction
provided such assessments are consistent with this section.
Section 5.10. Real Property Acquisition
In acquiring real property, the Borrower shall comply in all
material respects with the provisions of the Uniform Relocation
Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (the
“Uniform Act”), as amended by the Uniform Relocation Act Amendments
of 1987, and 49 CFR part 24, referenced by 7 CFR part 21, to the
extent the Uniform Act is applicable to such acquisition.
Section 5.11. “Buy American” Requirements
The Borrower shall use or cause to be used in connection with
the expenditures of funds advanced on account of the Loan only such
unmanufactured articles, materials, and supplies as have been mined
or produced in the United States or any eligible country, and only
such manufactured articles, materials, and supplies as have been
manufactured in the United States or any eligible country
substantially all from articles, materials, and supplies mined,
produced or manufactured, as the case may be, in the United States
or any eligible country, except to the extent RUS shall determine
that such use shall be impracticable or that the cost thereof shall
be unreasonable. For purposes of this section, an “eligible
country” is any country that applies with respect to the United
States an agreement ensuring reciprocal access for United States
products and services and United States suppliers to the markets of
that country, as determined by the United States Trade
Representative.
Section 5.12. Power Requirements Studies
The Borrower shall prepare and use power requirements studies of
its electric loads and future energy and capacity requirements in
conformance with RUS Regulations.
Section 5.13. Long Range Engineering Plans and Construction Work
Plans
The Borrower shall develop, maintain and use up-to-date
long-range engineering plans and construction work plans in
conformance with RUS Regulations.
Section 5.14. Design Standards, Construction Standards, and List of
Materials
The Borrower shall use design standards, construction standards,
and lists of acceptable materials in conformance with RUS
Regulations.
Section 5.15. Plans and Specifications
The Borrower shall submit plans and specifications for
construction to RUS for review and approval, in conformance with
RUS Regulations, if the construction will be financed in whole or
in part by a loan made or guaranteed by RUS.
Section 5.16. Standard Forms of Construction Contracts, and
Engineering and Architectural Services Contracts
The Borrower shall use the standard forms of contracts
promulgated by RUS for construction, procurement, engineering
services and architectural services in conformance with RUS
Regulations, if the construction, procurement, or services are
being financed in whole or in part by a loan being made or
guaranteed by RUS.
Section 5.17. Contract Bidding Requirements
The Borrower shall follow RUS contract bidding procedures in
conformance with RUS Regulations when contracting for construction
or procurement financed in whole or in part by a loan made or
guaranteed by RUS.
Section 5.18. Nondiscrimination
(a) Equal Opportunity Provisions in Construction
Contracts. The Borrower shall incorporate or cause to be
incorporated into any construction contract, as defined in
Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965 and implementing
regulations, which is paid for in whole or in part with funds
obtained from RUS or borrowed on the credit of the United States
pursuant to a grant, contract, loan, insurance or guarantee, or
undertaken pursuant to any RUS program involving such grant,
contract, loan, insurance or guarantee, the equal opportunity
provisions set forth in Exhibit B hereto entitled Equal Opportunity
Contract Provisions.
(b) Equal Opportunity Contract Provisions Also Bind the
Borrower. The Borrower further agrees that it shall be bound by
such equal opportunity clause in any federally assisted
construction work which it performs itself other than through the
permanent work force directly employed by an agency of
government.
(c) Sanctions and Penalties. The Borrower agrees that it
shall cooperate actively with RUS and the Secretary of Labor in
obtaining the compliance of contractors and subcontractors with the
equal opportunity clause and the rules, regulations and relevant
orders of the Secretary of Labor, that it shall furnish RUS and the
Secretary of Labor such information as they may require for the
supervision of such compliance, and that it shall otherwise assist
the administering agency in the discharge of RUS's primary
responsibility for securing compliance. The Borrower further agrees
that it shall refrain from entering into any contract or contract
modification subject to Executive Order 11246 with a contractor
debarred from, or who has not demonstrated eligibility for,
Government contracts and federally assisted construction contracts
pursuant to Part II, Subpart D of Executive Order 11246 and shall
carry out such sanctions and penalties for violation of the equal
opportunity clause as may be imposed upon contractors and
subcontractors by RUS or the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Part
II, Subpart D of Executive Order 11246. In addition, the Borrower
agrees that if it fails or refuses to comply with these
undertakings RUS may cancel, terminate or suspend in whole or in
part this contract, may refrain from extending any further
assistance under any of its programs subject to Executive Order
11246 until satisfactory assurance of future compliance has been
received from such Borrower, or may refer the case to the
Department of Justice for appropriate legal proceedings.
Section 5.19. Financial Reports
The Borrower shall cause to be prepared and furnished to RUS a
full and complete annual report of its financial condition and of
its operations in form and substance satisfactory to RUS, audited
and certified by Independent certified public accountants
satisfactory to RUS and accompanied by a report of such audit in
form and substance satisfactory to RUS. The Borrower shall also
furnish to RUS from time to time such other reports concerning the
financial condition or operations of the Borrower, including its
Subsidiaries, as RUS may reasonably request or RUS Regulations
require.
Section 5.20. Miscellaneous Reports and Notices
The Borrower shall furnish to RUS:
(a) Notice of Default. Promptly after becoming aware
thereof, notice of: (i) the occurrence of any default; and (ii) the
receipt of any notice given pursuant to the Mortgage with respect
to the occurrence of any event which with the giving of notice or
the passage of time, or both, could become an “Event of Default”
under the Mortgage.
(b) Notice of Non-Environmental Litigation. Promptly
after the commencement thereof, notice of the commencement of all
actions, suits or proceedings before any court, arbitrator, or
governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency, or
instrumentality affecting the Borrower which, if adversely
determined, could have a material adverse effect on the condition,
financial or otherwise, operations, properties or business of the
Borrower, or on the ability of the Borrower to perform its
obligations under the Loan Documents.
(c) Notice of Environmental Litigation. Without limiting
the provisions of Section [5.20(b)] above, promptly after receipt
thereof, notice of the receipt of all pleadings, orders,
complaints, indictments, or other communications alleging a
condition that may require the Borrower to undertake or to
contribute to a cleanup or other response under laws relating to
environmental protection, or which seek penalties, damages,
injunctive relief, or criminal sanctions related to alleged
violations of such laws, or which claim personal injury or property
damage to any person as a result of environmental factors or
conditions for which the Borrower is not fully covered by
insurance, or which, if adversely determined, could have a material
adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise,
operations, properties or business of the Borrower, or on the
ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan
Documents.
(d) Notice of Change of Place of Business. Promptly in
writing, notice of any change in location of its principal place of
business or the office where its records concerning accounts and
contract rights are kept.
(e) Regulatory and Other Notices. Promptly after receipt
thereof, copies of any notices or other communications received
from any governmental authority with respect to any matter or
proceeding which could have a material adverse effect on the
condition, financial or otherwise, operations, properties, or
business of the Borrower, or on the ability of the Borrower to
perform its obligations under the Loan Documents.
(f) Material Adverse Change. Promptly, notice of any
matter which has resulted or may result in a material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, operations,
properties, or business of the Borrower, or the ability of the
Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents.
(g) Other Information. Such other information regarding
the condition, financial or otherwise, or operations of the
Borrower as RUS may, from time to time, reasonably request.
Section 5.21. Special Construction Account
The Borrower shall hold all moneys advanced to it by RUS
hereunder in trust for RUS and shall deposit such moneys promptly
after the receipt thereof in a bank or banks which meet the
requirements of Section [6.7] of this Agreement. Any account
(hereinafter called “Special Construction Account”) in which any
such moneys shall be deposited shall be insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or other federal agency acceptable to
RUS and shall be designated by the corporate name of the Borrower
followed by the words “Trustee, Special Construction Account.”
Moneys in any Special Construction Account shall be used solely for
the construction and operation of the Utility System and may be
withdrawn only upon checks, drafts, or orders signed on behalf of
the Borrower and countersigned by an executive officer thereof.
Section 5.22. Additional Affirmative Covenants
The Borrower also agrees to comply with any additional
affirmative covenant(s) identified in Schedule 1 hereto.
Article VI - Negative Covenants Section 6.1. General
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by RUS, while this
Agreement is in effect, whether or not any Advance is outstanding
hereunder, the Borrower shall duly observe each of the negative
covenants set forth in this Article.
Section 6.2. Limitations on System Extensions and Additions
(a) The Borrower shall not extend or add to its Electric System
either by construction or acquisition without the prior written
approval of RUS if the construction or acquisition is financed or
will be financed, in whole or in part, by a RUS loan or loan
guarantee.
(b) The Borrower shall not extend or add to its Electric System
with funds from other sources without prior written approval of RUS
in the case of:
(1) Generating facilities if the combined capacity of the
facilities to be built, procured, or leased, including any future
facilities included in the planned project, will exceed the lesser
of 5 Megawatts or 30 percent of the Borrower's Equity;
(2) Existing electric facilities or systems in service whose
purchase price, or capitalized value in the case of a lease,
exceeds ten percent of the Borrower's Net Utility Plant; and
(3) Any project to serve a customer whose annual Kwh purchases
or maximum annual Kw demand is projected to exceed 25 percent of
the Borrower's total Kwh sales or maximum Kw demand in the year
immediately preceding the acquisition or start of construction of
facilities.
Section 6.3. Limitations on Changing Principal Place of Business
The Borrower shall not change its principal place of business or
keep property in a county not shown on a schedule to the Mortgage
if the change would cause the lien in favor of RUS to become
unperfected or fail to become perfected, as the case may be,
unless, prior thereto, the Borrower shall have taken all steps
required by law in order to assure that the lien in favor of RUS
remains or becomes perfected, as the case may be, and, in either
event, such lien has the priority accorded by the Mortgage.
Section 6.4. Limitations on Employment and Retention of Manager
At any time any Event of Default, or any occurrence which with
the passage of time or giving of notice would be an Event of
Default, occurs and is continuing the Borrower shall not employ any
general manager of the Utility System or the Electric System or any
person exercising comparable authority to such a manager unless
such employment shall first have been approved by RUS. If any Event
of Default, or any occurrence which with the passage of time or
giving of notice would be an Event of Default, occurs and is
continuing and RUS requests the Borrower to terminate the
employment of any such manager or person exercising comparable
authority, or RUS requests the Borrower to terminate any contract
for operating the Utility System or the Electric System, the
Borrower shall do so within thirty (30) days after the date of such
notice. All contracts in respect of the employment of any such
manager or person exercising comparable authority, or for the
operation of the Utility System or the Electric System, shall
contain provisions to permit compliance with the foregoing
covenants.
Section 6.5. Limitations on Certain Types of Contracts
Without the prior approval of RUS in writing, the Borrower shall
not enter into any of the following contracts:
(a) Construction Contracts. Any contract for construction
or procurement or for architectural and engineering services in
connection with its Electric System if the project is financed or
will be financed, in whole or in part, by a RUS loan or loan
guarantee;
(b) Large retail power contracts. Any contract to sell
electric power and energy for periods exceeding two (2) years if
the kWh sales or kW demand for any year covered by such contract
shall exceed 25 percent of the Borrower's total kWh sales or
maximum kW demand for the year immediately preceding the execution
of such contract;
(c) Wholesale power contracts. Any contract to sell
electric power or energy for resale and any contract to purchase
electric power or energy that, in either case, has a term exceeding
two (2) years;
(d) Power supply arrangements. Any interconnection
agreement, interchange agreement, wheeling agreement, pooling
agreement or similar power supply arrangement that has a term
exceeding two (2) years;
(e) System management and maintenance contracts. Any
contract for the management and operation of all or substantially
all of its Electric System; or
(f) Other contracts. Any contracts of the type described
on Schedule 3.
Section 6.6. Limitations on Mergers and Sale, Lease or Transfer of
Capital Assets
(a) The Borrower shall not consolidate with, or merge, or sell
all or substantially all of its business or assets, to another
entity or person except to the extent it is permitted to do so
under the Mortgage. The exception contained in this paragraph (a)
is subject to the additional limitation set forth in paragraph (b)
of this section.
(b) The Borrower shall not, without the written approval of the
Administrator, voluntarily or involuntarily sell, convey or dispose
of any portion of its business or assets (including, without
limitation, any portion of its franchise or service territory) to
another entity or person if such sale, conveyance or disposition
could reasonably be expected to reduce the Borrower's existing or
future requirements for energy or capacity being furnished to the
Borrower under any wholesale power contract which has been pledged
as security to RUS.
Section 6.7. Limitations on Using non-FDIC Insured Depositories
Without the prior written approval of RUS, the Borrower shall
not place the proceeds of the Loan or any loan which has been made
or guaranteed by RUS in the custody of any bank or other depository
that is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or
other federal agency acceptable to RUS.
Section 6.8. Limitation on Distributions
Without the prior written approval of RUS, the Borrower shall
not in any calendar year make any Distributions (exclusive of any
Distributions to the estates of deceased natural patrons) to its
members, stockholders or consumers except as follows:
(a) Equity above 30%. If, after giving effect to any such
Distribution, the Equity of the Borrower shall be greater than or
equal to 30% of its Total Assets; or
(b) Equity above 20%. If, after giving effect to any such
Distribution, the aggregate of all Distributions made during the
calendar year when added to such Distribution shall be less than or
equal to 25% of the prior year's margins.
Provided however, that in no event shall the Borrower make any
Distributions if there is unpaid when due any installment of
principal of (premium, if any) or interest on its Notes, if the
Borrower is otherwise in default hereunder or if, after giving
effect to any such Distribution, the Borrower's current and accrued
assets would be less than its current and accrued liabilities.
Section 6.9. Limitations on Loans, Investments and Other
Obligations
The Borrower shall not make any loan or advance to, or make any
investment in, or purchase or make any commitment to purchase any
stock, bonds, notes or other securities of, or guaranty, assume or
otherwise become obligated or liable with respect to the
obligations of, any other person, firm or corporation, except as
permitted by the Act and RUS Regulations.
Section 6.10. Depreciation Rates
The Borrower shall not file with or submit for approval of
regulatory bodies any proposed depreciation rates which are
inconsistent with RUS Regulations.
Section 6.11. Historic Preservation
The Borrower shall not, without approval in writing by RUS, use
any Advance to construct any facilities which shall involve any
district, site, building, structure or object which is included in,
or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic
Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the
Historic Sites Act of 1935 and the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966.
Section 6.12. Rate Reductions
Without the prior written approval of RUS, the Borrower shall
not decrease its rates if it has failed to achieve all of the
Coverage Ratios for the calendar year prior to such reduction.
Section 6.13. Limitations on Additional Indebtedness
Except as expressly permitted by Article II of the Mortgage and
subject to the further limitations expressed in the next section,
the Borrower shall not incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise become
liable in respect of any debt for borrowed money and Restricted
Rentals (including Subordinated Indebtedness) other than the
following: (“Permitted Debt”)
(a) Additional Notes issued in compliance with Article II of the
Mortgage;
(b) Purchase money indebtedness in non-Utility System property,
in an amount not exceeding 10% of Net Utility Plant;
(c) Restricted Rentals in an amount not to exceed 5% of Equity
during any 12 consecutive calendar month period;
(d) Unsecured lease obligations incurred in the ordinary course
of business except Restricted Rentals;
(e) Unsecured indebtedness for borrowed money, except when the
aggregate amount of such indebtedness exceeds 15% of Net Utility
Plant and after giving effect to such unsecured indebtedness the
Borrower's Equity is less than 30% of its Total Assets;
(f) Debt represented by dividends declared but not paid; and
(g) Subordinated Indebtedness approved by RUS.
PROVIDED, However, that the Borrower may incur Permitted Debt
without the consent of RUS only so long as there exists no Event of
Default hereunder and there has been no continuing occurrence which
with the passage of time and giving of notice could become an Event
of Default hereunder.
PROVIDED, FURTHER, by executing this Agreement any consent of
RUS that the Borrower would otherwise be required to obtain under
this Section is hereby deemed to be given or waived by RUS by
operation of law to the extent, but only to the extent, that to
impose such a requirement of RUS consent would clearly violate
federal laws or RUS Regulations.
Section 6.14. Limitations on Issuing Additional Indebtedness
Secured Under the Mortgage
(a) The Borrower shall not issue any Additional Notes under the
Mortgage to finance Eligible Property Additions without the prior
written consent of RUS unless the following additional requirements
are met in addition to the requirements set forth in the Mortgage
for issuing Additional Notes:
(1) The weighted average life of the loan evidenced by such
Notes does not exceed the weighted average of the expected
remaining useful lives of the assets being financed;
(2) The principal of the loan evidenced by such Notes is
amortized at a rate that shall yield a weighted average life that
is not greater than the weighted average life that would result
from level payments of principal and interest; and
(3) The principal of the loan being evidenced by such Notes has
a maturity of not less than 5 years.
(b) The Borrower shall not issue any Additional Notes under the
Mortgage to refund or refinance Notes without the prior written
consent of RUS unless, in addition to the requirements set forth in
the Mortgage for issuing Refunding or Refinancing Notes, the
weighted average life of any such Refunding or Refinancing Notes is
not greater than the weighted average remaining life of the Notes
being refinanced.
(c) Any request for consent from RUS under this section, shall
be accompanied by a certificate of the Borrower's manager
substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit C-1
in the case of Notes being issued under Section [2.01] of the
Mortgage and C-2 in the case of Notes being issued under Section
[2.02] of the Mortgage.
Section 6.15. Impairment of Contracts Pledged to RUS
The Borrower shall not materially breach any obligation to be
paid or performed by the Borrower on any contract, or take any
action which is likely to materially impair the value of any
contract, which has been pledged as security to RUS by the Borrower
or any other entity.
Section 6.16. Additional Negative Covenants
The Borrower also agrees to comply with any additional negative
covenant(s) identified in Schedule 1 hereto.
Article VII - Default Section 7.1. Events of Default
The following shall be Events of Default under this
Agreement:
(a) Representations and Warranties. Any representation or
warranty made by the Borrower in Article II hereof or any
certificate furnished to RUS hereunder or under the Mortgage shall
prove to have been incorrect in any material respect at the time
made and shall at the time in question be untrue or incorrect in
any material respect and remain uncured;
(b) Payment. Default shall be made in the payment of or
on account of interest on or principal of the Note when and as the
same shall be due and payable, whether by acceleration or
otherwise, which shall remain unsatisfied for five (5) Business
Days;
(c) Borrowing Under the Mortgage in Violation of the Loan
Contract. Default by the Borrower in the observance or
performance of any covenant or agreement contained in Section 6.14
of this Agreement.
(d) Other Covenants. Default by the Borrower in the
observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement
contained in any of the Loan Documents, which shall remain
unremedied for 30 calendar days after written notice thereof shall
have been given to the Borrower by RUS;
(e) Corporate Existence. The Borrower shall forfeit or
otherwise be deprived of its corporate charter, franchises,
permits, easements, consents or licenses required to carry on any
material portion of its business;
(f) Other Obligations. Default by the Borrower in the
payment of any obligation, whether direct or contingent, for
borrowed money or in the performance or observance of the terms of
any instrument pursuant to which such obligation was created or
securing such obligation;
(g) Bankruptcy. A court having jurisdiction in the
premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the
Borrower in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or
appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator or similar official, or ordering the winding up or
liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall remain
unstayed and in effect for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days
or the Borrower shall commence a voluntary case under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect, or under any such law, or consent to the
appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, custodian or trustee, of a substantial part of its
property, or make any general assignment for the benefit of
creditors; and
(h) Dissolution or Liquidation. Other than as provided in
the immediately preceding subsection, the dissolution or
liquidation of the Borrower, or failure by the Borrower promptly to
forestall or remove any execution, garnishment or attachment of
such consequence as shall impair its ability to continue its
business or fulfill its obligations and such execution, garnishment
or attachment shall not be vacated within 30 days. The term
“dissolution or liquidation of the Borrower”, as used in this
subsection, shall not be construed to include the cessation of the
corporate existence of the Borrower resulting either from a merger
or consolidation of the Borrower into or with another corporation
following a transfer of all or substantially all its assets as an
entirety, under the conditions permitting such actions.
Article VIII - Remedies Section 8.1. Generally
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, then RUS may pursue
all rights and remedies available to RUS that are contemplated by
this Agreement or the Mortgage in the manner, upon the conditions,
and with the effect provided in this Agreement or the Mortgage,
including, but not limited to, a suit for specific performance,
injunctive relief or damages. Nothing herein shall limit the right
of RUS to pursue all rights and remedies available to a creditor
following the occurrence of an Event of Default listed in Article
VII hereof. Each right, power and remedy of RUS shall be cumulative
and concurrent, and recourse to one or more rights or remedies
shall not constitute a waiver of any other right, power or
remedy.
Section 8.2. Suspension of Advances
In addition to the rights, powers and remedies referred to in
the immediately preceding section, RUS may, in its absolute
discretion, suspend making Advances hereunder if (i) any Event of
Default, or any occurrence which with the passage of time or giving
of notice would be an Event of Default, occurs and is continuing;
(ii) there has occurred a change in the business or condition,
financial or otherwise, of the Borrower which in the opinion of RUS
materially and adversely affects the Borrower's ability to meet its
obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iii) RUS is authorized to
do so under RUS Regulations.
Article IX - Miscellaneous Section 9.1. Notices
All notices, requests and other communications provided for
herein including, without limitation, any modifications of, or
waivers, requests or consents under, this Agreement shall be given
or made in writing (including, without limitation, by telecopy) and
delivered to the intended recipient at the “Address for Notices”
specified below; or, as to any party, at such other address as
shall be designated by such party in a notice to each other party.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all such
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when
transmitted by telecopier or personally delivered or, in the case
of a mailed notice, upon receipt, in each case given or addressed
as provided for herein. The Address for Notices of the respective
parties are as follows:
Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture,
Washington, DC 20250-1500 Fax: (202) xxx-xxxx Attention:
[Administrator] The Borrower: The address set forth in Schedule 1
hereto Section 9.2. Expenses
To the extent allowed by law, the Borrower shall pay all costs
and expenses of RUS, including reasonable fees of counsel, incurred
in connection with the enforcement of the Loan Documents or with
the preparation for such enforcement if RUS has reasonable grounds
to believe that such enforcement may be necessary.
Section 9.3. Late Payments
If payment of any amount due hereunder is not received at the
United States Treasury in Washington, DC, or such other location as
RUS may designate to the Borrower within five (5) Business Days
after the due date thereof or such other time period as RUS may
prescribe from time to time in its policies of general application
in connection with any late payment charge (such unpaid amount
being herein called the “delinquent amount”, and the period
beginning after such due date until payment of the delinquent
amount being herein called the “late-payment period”), the Borrower
shall pay to RUS, in addition to all other amounts due under the
terms of the Note, the Mortgage and this Agreement, any
late-payment charge as may be fixed by RUS Regulations from time to
time on the delinquent amount for the late-payment period.
Section 9.4. Filing Fees
To the extent permitted by law, the Borrower agrees to pay all
expenses of RUS (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) in
connection with the filing or recordation of all financing
statements and instruments as may be required by RUS in connection
with this Agreement, including, without limitation, all documentary
stamps, recordation and transfer taxes and other costs and taxes
incident to recordation of any document or instrument in connection
herewith. Borrower agrees to save harmless and indemnify RUS from
and against any liability resulting from the failure to pay any
required documentary stamps, recordation and transfer taxes,
recording costs, or any other expenses incurred by RUS in
connection with this Agreement. The provisions of this subsection
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
payment of all other amounts due hereunder or due on the Note.
Section 9.5. No Waiver
No failure on the part of RUS to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof
nor shall any single or partial exercise by RUS of any right
hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right.
Section 9.6. Governing Law
EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT GOVERNED BY APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW, THE
LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE [IN WHICH THE BORROWER IS
INCORPORATED].
Section 9.7. Holiday Payments
If any payment to be made by the Borrower hereunder shall become
due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment shall be
made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time
shall be included in computing any interest in respect of such
payment.
Section 9.8. Rescission
The Borrower may elect not to borrow the RUS Commitment in which
event RUS shall release the Borrower from its obligations
hereunder, provided the Borrower complies with such terms and
conditions as RUS may impose for such release and provided also
that if the Borrower has any remaining obligations to RUS for loans
made or guaranteed by RUS under any Prior Loan Contracts, RUS may,
under Section [9.15] of this Loan Contract, withhold such release
until all such obligations have been satisfied and discharged.
Section 9.9. Successors and Assigns
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Borrower and RUS and their respective successors and assigns,
except that the Borrower may not assign or transfer its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of RUS.
Section 9.10. Complete Agreement; Amendments
Subject to RUS Regulations, this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents are intended by the parties to be a complete and final
expression of their agreement. However, RUS reserves the right to
waive its rights to compliance with any provision of this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents. No amendment, modification, or waiver
of any provision hereof or thereof, and no consent to any departure
of the Borrower herefrom or therefrom, shall be effective unless
approved in writing by RUS in the form of either a RUS Regulation
or other writing signed by or on behalf of RUS, and then such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which given.
Section 9.11. Headings
The headings and sub-headings contained in the titling of this
Agreement are intended to be used for convenience only and do not
constitute part of this Agreement.
Section 9.12. Severability
If any term, provision or condition, or any part thereof, of
this Agreement or the Mortgage shall for any reason be found or
held invalid or unenforceable by any governmental agency or court
of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability
shall not affect the remainder of such term, provision or condition
nor any other term, provision or condition, and this Agreement, the
Note, and the Mortgage shall survive and be construed as if such
invalid or unenforceable term, provision or condition had not been
contained therein.
Section 9.13. Right of Setoff
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default, RUS is hereby authorized at any time and from time to
time, without prior notice to the Borrower, to exercise rights of
setoff or recoupment and apply any and all amounts held or
hereafter held, by RUS or owed to the Borrower or for the credit or
account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of
the Borrower now or hereafter existing hereunder or under the Note.
RUS agrees to notify the Borrower promptly after any such setoff or
recoupment and the application thereof, provided that the failure
to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff,
recoupment or application. The rights of RUS under this section are
in addition to any other rights and remedies (including other
rights of setoff or recoupment) which RUS may have. Borrower waives
all rights of setoff, deduction, recoupment or counterclaim.
Section 9.14. Schedules and Exhibits
Each Schedule and Exhibit attached hereto and referred to herein
is each an integral part of this Agreement.
Section 9.15. Prior Loan Contracts
It is understood and agreed that with respect to all loan
agreements previously entered into by and between RUS and the
Borrower (hereinafter being referred to as “Prior Loan Contracts”)
the Borrower shall be required, after the date hereof, to meet
affirmative and negative covenants as set forth in this Agreement
rather than those set forth in the Prior Loan Contracts. In
addition, any remaining obligation of RUS to make additional
advances on promissory notes of the Borrower that have been
previously delivered to RUS under Prior Loan Contracts shall, after
the date hereof, be subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement. In the event of any conflict between any provision set
forth in a Prior Loan Contract and any provision in this Agreement,
the requirements as set forth in this Agreement shall apply.
Nothing in this section shall, however, eliminate or modify any
special condition, special affirmative covenant or special negative
covenant, if any, unless specifically agreed to in writing by
RUS.
Section 9.16. Authority of Representatives of RUS
In the case of any consent, approval or waiver from RUS that is
required under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, such
consent, approval or waiver must be in writing and signed by an
authorized RUS representative to be effective. As used in this
section, “authorized RUS representative” means the Administrator of
RUS, and also means a person to whom the Administrator has
officially delegated specific or general authority to take the
action in question.
Section 9.17. Term
This Agreement shall remain in effect until one of the following
two events has occurred:
(a) The Borrower and RUS replace this Agreement with another
written agreement; or
(b) All of the Borrower's obligations under the prior loan
contracts and this Agreement have been discharged and paid.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.
(Name of Borrower) (SEAL) By President Attest: Secretary RURAL
UTILITIES SERVICE By Administrator Schedule 1 [citations subject to
change]
1. The purpose of this loan is ____________________ and such
other purposes that RUS may agree to in writing in order to carry
out the purposes of the Rural Electrification Act.
2. The Mortgage shall mean the Restated Mortgage and Security
Agreement, dated as of ____________________, between the Borrower
and RUS, as it may have been or shall be supplemented, amended,
consolidated, or restated from time to time.
3. The governmental authority referred to in Section [2.1(c)] is
____________________.
4. The exception being taken to the representations in Section
[2.1(e)] concerning material compliance with laws is as follows:
____________________.
5. The litigation referred to in Section [2.1(f)] is described
as follows: ____________________.
6. The date of the Borrower's financial information referred to
in Section [2.1(h)] is ____________________.
7. The principal place of business of the Borrower referred to
in Section [2.1(i)] is ____________________.
8. All of the property of the Borrower is located in the
counties of ____________________.
9. The subsidiary (or subsidiaries) referred to in Section
[2.1(k)] is (are): ____________________.
10. The Contemporaneous Loan referred to in Section [5.3] is
described as follows: ____________________.
Lender: Amount: Year of Final Maturity:
11. The RUS Commitment referred to in the definitions means a
loan in the principal amount of $________________ which is being
made by RUS to the Borrower at the ______ Hardship Rate ______
Municipal Rate (CHECK ONE) pursuant to the Rural Electrification
Act and RUS Regulations.
12. Amortization of Advance shall be based upon the method
indicated below:
______ level principal ______ level debt service ______ other
13. The SPECIAL condition(s) referred to in Section [4.2] is
(are): ____________________.
14. The additional AFFIRMATIVE covenant(s) referred to in
Section [5.22] is (are) as follows: ________________. 15. The
additional NEGATIVE covenant(s) referred to in Section [6.16] is
(are) as follows: ____________________.
16. The address of the Borrower referred to in Section [9.1]. is
____________________.
Schedule 2 - Existing Liens
The Existing Liens referred to in Section [2.1(g)] are as
follows:
[INSERT DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING LIENS, IF ANY, HERE] Schedule 3 -
Additional Contracts
The additional contracts referred to in Section [6.5(f)] are
described as follows:
[INSERT LIST OF ANY ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS HERE] Exhibit A - Form of
Promissory Note [INSERT EITHER MUNICIPAL or HARDSHIP RATE
PROMISSORY NOTE FORM HERE] Exhibit B - Equal Opportunity Contract
Provisions
During the performance of this contract, the contractor agrees
as follows:
(a) The contractor shall not discriminate against any employee
or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex
or national origin. The contractor shall take affirmative action to
ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated
during employment without regard to their race, color, religion,
sex or national origin. Such action shall include, but not be
limited to the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or
transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or
termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and
selection for training, including apprenticeship. The contractor
agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and
applicants for employment, notices to be provided setting forth the
provisions of this nondiscrimination clause.
(b) The contractor shall, in all solicitations or advertisements
for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, state that
all qualified applicants shall receive consideration for employment
without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national
origin.
(c) The contractor shall send to each labor union or
representative of workers with which he has a collective bargaining
agreement or other contract or understanding, a notice to be
provided advising the said labor union or workers' representative
of the contractor's commitments under this section, and shall post
copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees
and applicants for employment.
(d) The contractor shall comply with all provisions of Executive
Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, and of the rules, regulations
and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.
(e) The contractor shall furnish all information and reports
required by Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, and by the
rules, regulations and orders of the Secretary of Labor, or
pursuant thereto, and shall permit access to his books, records and
accounts by the administering agency and the Secretary of Labor for
purposes of investigation to ascertain compliances with such rules,
regulations and orders.
(f) In the event of the contractor's noncompliance with the
non-discrimination clauses of this contract or with any of the said
rules, regulations or orders, this contract may be cancelled,
terminated or suspended in whole or in part and the contractor may
be declared ineligible for further Government contracts or
federally assisted construction contracts in accordance with
procedures authorized in Executive Order 11246 of September 24,
1965, and such other sanctions may be imposed and remedies invoked
as provided in said Executive Order or by rule, regulation or order
of the Secretary of Labor, or as otherwise provided by law.
(g) The contractor shall include the provisions of paragraphs
(a) through (g) in every subcontract or purchase order unless
exempted by rules, regulations or orders of the Secretary of Labor
issued pursuant to section 204 of Executive Order 11246, dated
September 24, 1965, so that such provisions shall be binding upon
each subcontractor or vendor. The contractor shall take such action
with respect to any subcontract or purchase order as the
administering agency may direct as a means of enforcing such
provisions, including sanctions for noncompliance: Provided,
however, that in the event a contractor becomes involved in, or is
threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a
result of such direction by the agency, the contractor may request
the United States to enter into such litigation to protect the
interests of the United States.
Exhibit C-1 - Manager's Certificate Required Under Loan Contract
Section 6.14 for Additional Notes
On behalf on ____________________ [Name of Borrower]
____________________ I hereby certify that the Additional Note or
Notes to be issued under Section [2.01] of the Mortgage on or about
____________________ [Date Note or Notes are to be Signed]
____________________ meet all of the requirements of Section [6.14]
of the Loan Contract, namely:
(a) The weighted average life of the loan evidenced by such
Notes (________ years) does not exceed the weighted average of the
expected remaining useful lives of the assets being financed
(________ years) as evidenced by the attached calculation of said
weighted average lives.
(b) The principal of the loan evidenced by such Notes shall
either be [check one and provide evidence in the second case]:
______ (1) repaid based on level payments of principal and
interest throughout the life of the loan, or
______ (2) amortized at a rate that shall yield a weighted
average life that is not greater than the weighted average life
that would result from level payments of principal and interest
throughout the life of the loan as evidenced by the attached
analysis of said weighted average lives.
(c) The principal of the loan evidenced by such Notes has a
maturity of not less than 5 years.
[Signed] [Dated] [Name] [Title] [Name and Address of Borrower]
Exhibit C-2 - Manager's Certificate Required Under Loan Contract
Section 6.14 for Refinancing Notes
On behalf on ____________________ [Name of Borrower]
____________________ I hereby certify that the Additional Note or
Notes to be issued under Section [2.02] of the Mortgage on or about
____________________ [Date Note or Notes are to be Signed]
____________________ meet the requirement of Section [6.14] of the
Loan Contract that the weighted average life of such Notes is not
greater than the weighted average remaining life of the Notes being
refinanced, as evidenced by the attached calculation of said
weighted average lives.
[Signed] [Dated] [Name] [Title] [Name and Address of Borrower] [60
FR 67410, Dec. 29, 1995, as amended at 65 FR 51749, Aug. 25, 2000]