NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORPORATION _________________________________ FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Dated as of May 1, 2003 to PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Dated as of December 1, 1985...
EXECUTION COPY
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NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
AND
NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORPORATION
_________________________________
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Dated as of May 1, 2003
to
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 1, 1985
_________________________________
relating to
$37,500,000 Pollution Control Revenue Bonds
(Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Project), 1985 Series B
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT, made and dated as of May
1, 2003 (the "Supplemental Agreement") to the PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT made and
dated as of December 1, 1985, by and between NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (the "Authority"), a body corporate and politic,
constituting a public benefit corporation, and NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORPORATION,
a corporation duly organized and existing and qualified to do business as a
public utility under the laws of the State of New York (the
"Corporation"),
W I T N E S S E T H T H A T:
WHEREAS, pursuant to special act of the Legislature of the State of New
York (Title 9 of Article 8 of the Public Authorities Law of New York, as from
time to time amended and supplemented, herein called the "Act"), the Authority
has been established as a body corporate and politic, constituting a public
benefit corporation; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act, the Authority is empowered to contract with
any power company to participate in the incorporation of features in power
plants and the construction of associated facilities to the extent required by
the public interest in development, health, recreation, safety, conservation of
natural resources and aesthetics; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of New York has determined that,
because interest costs incurred by public utilities are reflected in the rates
paid by the customers of such utilities and because governmental action has
mandated the installation of pollution control facilities, it is in the public
interest to enable utilities to obtain the lowest possible interest rate on
bonds sold to provide pollution control facilities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act, the Authority has also been empowered to
extend credit and make loans from bond and note proceeds to any person for the
construction, acquisition and installation of, or for the reimbursement to any
person for costs in connection with, any special energy project (as defined in
the Act), including, but not limited to, any land, works, system, building or
other improvement, and all real and personal properties of any nature or any
interest in any of them which are suitable for or related to the furnishing,
generation or production of energy; and
WHEREAS, the Authority is also authorized under the Act to borrow money and
issue its negotiable bonds and notes to provide sufficient monies for achieving
its corporate purposes, including the refunding of outstanding obligations of
the Authority; and
WHEREAS, the Authority is also authorized under the Act to enter into any
contracts and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient for the
exercise of its corporate powers and the fulfillment of its corporate purposes,
including the refunding of outstanding bonds and notes of the Authority;
and
WHEREAS, the Authority and the Corporation have entered into a
Participation Agreement, dated as of December 1, 1985 (herein referred to as the
"Agreement"), providing for the financing or refinancing of certain costs
related to the acquisition, construction, and installation of certain pollution
control, solid waste, sewage disposal facilities and other facilities identified
and described in Exhibit A to the Agreement, and, as part of such participation,
that the Authority issue bonds pursuant to the Act to provide funds for such
financing or refinancing; and
WHEREAS, on December 26, 1985, the Authority
issued $37,500,000 aggregate principal amount of its Pollution Control Refunding
Revenue Bonds (Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Project), 1985 Series B (which
are being renamed as provided in Section 2.02 of the Amended and Restated
Indenture (as defined below)) (the "Bonds"), under and pursuant to Resolution
No. 637 of the Authority, adopted October 31, 1985, and an Indenture of Trust
dated as of December 1, 1985 (the "Original Indenture"), between the Authority
and The Bank of New York (as successor in interest to Irving Trust Company), as
trustee (the "Trustee"), to provide funds for the financing or refinancing
described in the preceding whereas clause; and
WHEREAS, the Bonds previously bore interest at a Variable Rate, and upon a
change in the interest rate determination method to a Daily Rate to be effective
on May 1, 2003, all Bonds were subject to mandatory redemption and purchase in
lieu of redemption by the Corporation; and
WHEREAS, Section 7.04 of the
Agreement and Section 4.02 of the Original Indenture provide that the Authority
and the Trustee may, in accordance with the terms thereof, modify, amend or
supplement the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation has requested that
upon changing the interest rate determination method of the Bonds to a Daily
Rate to be effective on May 1, 2003, the Original Indenture be amended and
restated and that the Agreement be amended to (i) permit the Bonds to bear
interest at various variable interest rates, including, without limitation, at
daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annual, term, commercial paper and auction rates,
(ii) provide for new provisions made necessary or desirable by the issuance of a
municipal bond insurance policy and (iii) otherwise conform certain terms of the
Original Indenture relating to the Bonds while they bear interest at variable
interest rates and certain other terms of the Original Indenture with the
current market standard for multi-modal bonds; and
WHEREAS, upon a change in the interest rate determination method to a Daily
Rate to be effective on May 1, 2003, the registered owners of all the Bonds
consented to the amendments to the Original Indenture and the Agreement
requested by the Corporation, and waived any and all rights to any notification
or filing procedures or requirements under the Original Indenture in addition to
the consent provided thereby; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Agreement, the Authority and the Trustee have executed and delivered an Amended and Restated Indenture of Trust, dated as of May 1, 2003 (the "Amended and Restated Indenture"), which amends and restates the Original Indenture; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Agreement, the Authority and the Trustee have executed and delivered an Amended and Restated Indenture of Trust, dated as of May 1, 2003 (the "Amended and Restated Indenture"), which amends and restates the Original Indenture; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Supplemental Agreement, an Opinion of Bond Counsel described in Section
4.01.3(C) of the Amended and Restated Indenture has been delivered to the
Trustee; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the
Amended and Restated Indenture, without any further notice, the Bonds will bear
interest at an Auction Period Rate; and
WHEREAS, all acts, conditions and
things necessary or required by the Constitution and statutes of the State of
New York, or otherwise, to exist, happen, and be performed as prerequisites to
the passage of this Supplemental Agreement, do exist, have happened, and have
been performed; and
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the Authority agrees with the
Corporation, with the written consent of the Trustee, as follows:
Section 1.01. Supplemental Agreement. This Supplemental Agreement is amendatory and supplemental to the Agreement, and is entered into in accordance with Section 7.04 of the Agreement and Article IV of the Original Indenture; and except as modified, amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Agreement, the provisions of the Agreement are in all respects ratified and confirmed and shall remain in full force and effect.
Section
1.02. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein or in the Agreement shall have the meaning given to
such terms in the Amended and Restated Indenture.
(a) The Authority is a body corporate and politic, constituting a public benefit corporation, established and existing under the laws of the State of New York;
(b) The Authority has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Supplemental Agreement and the Amended and Restated Indenture and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder;
(c) The Authority is not in default under any of the provisions of the laws of the State of New York which would affect its existence or its powers referred to in the preceding paragraph (b); and
(d) The
Authority has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental
Agreement, the Supplemental Tax Regulatory Agreement and the Amended and
Restated Indenture.
Section
2.02. Representations of the Corporation. The Corporation
represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Corporation is a corporation duly incorporated and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, is duly qualified and authorized to engage in business as a public utility in the State of New York, has power to enter into, execute and deliver this Supplemental Agreement, the Supplemental Tax Regulatory Agreement, and the Corporation Obligation and by proper corporate action has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Agreement, the Supplemental Tax Regulatory Agreement and the Corporation Obligation;
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Supplemental Agreement, the Supplemental Tax Regulatory Agreement and the Corporation Obligation and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or constitute a breach of or a default under the Corporation's Certificate of Consolidation or By-Laws or any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation or any indenture, mortgage, loan agreement or other contract or instrument to which the Corporation is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) The execution and delivery of this Supplemental Agreement and the issuance of the Corporation Obligation by the Corporation in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth have been duly authorized by order of the Public Service Commission of the State of New York; and
(d) All necessary authorizations for or approvals of the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Agreement, the Supplemental Tax Regulatory Agreement and the Corporation Obligation have been obtained by the Corporation.
The Corporation additionally represents
and warrants that the representations and warranties of the Corporation set
forth in the Supplemental Tax Regulatory Agreement are true and correct in all
material respects.
Section
3.01. Amendment to Section 1.01 of the Agreement. Section 1.01 of
the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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Section 1.01. Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Participation Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1.01 of the Amended and Restated Indenture. Capitalized terms used in this Participation Agreement and not otherwise defined herein or in Section 1.01 of the Amended and Restated Indenture shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1.01 of the Original Indenture. |
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Section 3.02.
Replacement of certain terms in the Agreement.
The Agreement is hereby amended to replace throughout the Agreement any
reference to a term set forth under the Old Term column below with a
corresponding term set forth under the New Term column below.
Old Term | New Term |
Letter of Credit | Support Facility |
Bank | Support Facility Issuer |
Paying Agent | Registrar and Paying Agent |
Indenture | Amended and Restated Indenture |
Section 3.03.
Amendment to Section 3.01 of the Agreement.
Section 3.01 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as
follows:
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Section 3.01. Construction of the Project. The Corporation hereby represents that it has caused the Project to be completed and acknowledges that it shall not be entitled to any reimbursement for the cost of construction of the Project from the Authority, the Trustee or the Holders of the Bonds, nor shall it be entitled to any diminution or postponement of the payments required to be paid by the Corporation pursuant to this Participation Agreement or the Corporation Obligations. |
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Section 3.04. Amendment to Section 3.03 of the Agreement. Section 3.03 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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Section 3.03. Application of proceeds of the Bonds. The Corporation has applied the proceeds of sale of the Bonds in accordance with the Original Indenture and the Agreement. |
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Section 3.05. Amendments to Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 of the Agreement. Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 of the Agreement are hereby deleted.
Section
3.06. Amendment to Section 3.07 of the Agreement. Section 3.07 of
the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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Section 3.07. Sale of the Project . Pursuant to an Asset Purchase
Agreement relating to Nine Mile Point Unit 1 Nuclear Generating Facility
("NMP1"), dated as of December 11, 2000, by and among the Corporation,
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. and Constellation Nuclear, LLC (the "NMP1
Purchaser"), the Corporation has sold NMP1 of which certain portions of the
Project are a part to the NMP1 Purchaser. |
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Pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement relating to Nine Mile Point Unit 2 Nuclear Generating Facility ("NMP2"), dated as of December 11, 2000, by and among the Corporation, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation, Central Xxxxxx Gas & Electric Corporation, Constellation Energy Group, Inc. and Constellation Nuclear, LLC (the "NMP2 Purchaser"), the Corporation has sold its interest in NMP2 of which certain portions of the Project are a part to the NMP2 Purchaser. |
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Section 3.07. Amendment to Section 3.09 of the Agreement. Section 3.09 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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Section 3.09. Investment of moneys in funds under the Amended and Restated
Indenture. Any moneys held as part of any fund created under the Amended
and Restated Indenture shall, at the direction of an Authorized Corporation
Representative, be invested or reinvested by the Trustee as provided in Section
9.04 of the Amended and Restated Indenture. |
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Section 4.01. Execution and delivery of Corporation Obligation to Trustee. In order to evidence the obligation of the Corporation to the Authority to repay the advance of the proceeds of the Bonds, the Authority hereby directs the Corporation, and the Corporation hereby agrees, to deliver or cause to be delivered the First Mortgage Bonds to the Trustee on the Effective Date in exchange for the cancellation of the Corporation Note. The First Mortgage Bonds shall be the amended and restated first mortgage bonds of the Corporation issued under the Corporation Indenture and relating to the Bonds in substantially the form included in the Supplemental Corporation Indenture attached hereto as Exhibit B, with only such changes, omissions and insertions thereto as shall have been approved by the Authority. |
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Section 3.09. Amendment to Section 4.04 of the Agreement. Section 4.04 of the Agreement is hereby amended to add the following paragraph between the first and second paragraph in such section:
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In addition, the Corporation shall wire to the State of New York on the Effective Date a bond issuance charge fee applicable to the Bonds pursuant to Section 2976 of the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York in the amount specified by such section on the Effective Date. The Corporation shall also pay to the Authority on the Effective Date an additional Administration Fee in the amount of $93,750.00. |
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Section 3.10. Amendment to Section 4.06 of the Agreement. Section 4.06 of the Agreement is hereby deleted.
Section 3.11. Amendment to Section 4.11 of the Agreement. Section 4.11 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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Section 4.11. Payment to Registrar and Paying Agent. The Corporation shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the Registrar and Paying Agent for deposit in the Bond Purchase Fund and credit to the Company Account therein an amount sufficient to provide for the payment of the Purchase Price of any Bond tendered for purchase pursuant to the Amended and Restated Indenture and the Bond Purchase Trust Agreement to the extent that sufficient moneys are not available for the payment of such Purchase Price from the other sources described therein. |
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Section 3.12. Amendment to Section 4.12 of the Agreement. Section 4.12 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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Section 4.12. Agreements of the Corporation relating to Support
Facilities. The Corporation agrees not to request that the interest rate
mode applicable to the Bonds be adjusted to an Adjustable Rate or a Fixed Rate
unless on the effective date of the applicable Change in the Interest Rate Mode
the Bonds shall be rated at least "A" by S&P or "A" by Xxxxx'x or an
equivalent rating by any nationally recognized rating agency. Such rating of
the Bonds may, but is not required to, be achieved by obtaining a Support
Facility which meets the requirements of this Article VI of the Amended and
Restated Indenture. |
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The Corporation further agrees that it will maintain a Liquidity Facility issued
by a financial institution rated not less than "A" by at least one nationally
recognized rating agency in effect with respect to the Bonds at all times,
except with respect to Bonds bearing an Auction Period Rate, a Term Rate for a
Calculation Period of greater than 13 months or a Fixed Rate. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, so long as the conditions set forth in Section 6.05 of the
Amended and Restated Indenture are met by the Bond Insurer and with respect to
the Policy, and unless otherwise agreed by the Bond Insurer, the Corporation
shall maintain a Liquidity Facility issued by a financial institution rated not
less than "A" by at least one nationally recognized rating agency in effect with
respect to the Bonds at all times, except with respect to Bonds bearing an
Auction Period Rate or a Fixed Rate. |
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Section 4.13. Corporation liable to owners of Bonds in the case of certain
events of taxability. The Corporation confirms and agrees that if as result
of action by the Corporation, the owner of the Project as of the date hereof, or
any successor owner of the Project, the interest on the Bonds is determined to
be included for federal income tax purposes in the gross income of any owner of
a Bond (other than a "substantial user" of the Project or a "related person"
within the meaning of section 147(a)(1) of the Code), as evidenced by a
published or private ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a final,
nonappealable judicial decision by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the
Corporation, in addition to its obligation to redeem the Bonds pursuant to
Section 5.06 of the Amended and Restated Indenture, shall be liable to the
affected owners of the Bonds for any taxes, penalties and interest assessed
against such owners by the Internal Revenue Service and attributable to the
Bonds. |
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The Authority and the Trustee agree not to object to the intervention in or
participation by the Corporation at its own expense in any proceedings by or
before the Internal Revenue Service or any court relating to whether interest on
the Bonds is includable for federal income tax purposes in the gross income of
any owner of a Bond (other than a "substantial user" of the Project or a
"related person" within the meaning of Section 147(a)(1) of the Code). |
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Section 5.08. Recording and Filing. The Corporation hereby covenants
that it will cause all financing statements related to the Amended and Restated
Indenture and all supplements thereto and this Participation Agreement and all
supplements thereto, as well as such other security agreements, financing
statements and all supplements thereto and other instruments as may be required
from time to time to be kept, to be recorded and filed in such manner and in
such places as may from time to time be required by law in order to preserve and
protect fully the security of Holders and the rights of the Trustee hereunder,
and to take or cause to be taken any and all other action necessary to perfect
the security interest created by the Amended and Restated Indenture and shall,
within ten (10) days after such filing, cause there to be furnished to the
Trustee an opinion of counsel as to the adequacy and details of such filing and
specifying any re-filing to be effected in the future. |
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Section 3.15. Amendment to Section 6.01 of the Agreement. Section 6.01 of the Agreement is hereby amended to replace any reference to the "Corporation Note" with reference to "Corporation Obligation" throughout such Section 6.01. Section 6.01 of the Agreement is hereby further amended to replace any reference to "Section 10.01 of the Indenture" with reference to "Section 12.03 of the Amended and Restated Indenture" throughout such Section 6.01. Paragraph (b) of Section 6.01 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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(b) failure the Corporation to pay when due any amount required to be paid under Section 4.11 of this Participation Agreement, which failure causes an Event of Default to occur pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 12.01 of the Amended and Restated Indenture; or |
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Section 3.16. Addition of Section 6.04 to Article VI of the Agreement. Article VI of the Agreement is hereby amended to add the following Section 6.04:
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Section 6.04. Rights of the Credit Facility Issuer; Other rights of the
Trustee to enforce this Participation Agreement. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, any judicial proceedings of the Trustee under Section
6.03 may be instituted only with the written consent of the Credit Facility
Issuer and shall be instituted by the Trustee at the written direction of the
Credit Facility Issuer. |
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Nothing in this Participation Agreement shall limit any other rights of the
Trustee to enforce this Participation Agreement. |
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Section 3.17. Amendment to Section 7.02 of the Agreement. Section 7.02 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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Section 7.02. Notices. All notices, certificates, requests or other communications between the Authority, the Corporation and the Trustee required to be given under this Participation Agreement or under the Amended and Restated Indenture shall be sufficiently given and shall be deemed given when delivered by hand or first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: if to the Authority, at 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: President; if to the Corporation, at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Treasurer, with a copy to Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Assistant Treasurer; and if to the Trustee or the Registrar and Paying Agent, at The Bank of New York, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx - 00X, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. A duplicate copy of each notice, certificate, request or other communication given hereunder to the Authority, the Company or the Trustee shall also be given to the others. The Corporation, the Authority and the Trustee may, by notice given hereunder, designate any further or different addresses to which subsequent notices, certificates, requests or other communications shall be sent. |
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Section 3.18. Amendment to Section 7.04 of the Agreement. Section 7.04 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
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Section 7.04. Amendment of Participation Agreement. This Participation Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto and, if such amendment occurs after the issuance of the Bonds, upon compliance with the provisions of Article XIV of the Amended and Restated Indenture. |
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Section 3.19. Amendment to Exhibits B and C of the Agreement. Exhibits B and C of the Agreement are hereby deleted and replaced with Exhibit B to this Supplemental Agreement.
Section 4.01. Consent to Amended and Restated Indenture. The Corporation hereby consents to the execution and delivery of the Amended and Restated Indenture.
Section 4.02. Law and Place of Enforcement of this Supplemental Agreement. This Supplemental Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and all suits and actions arising out of this Supplemental Agreement shall be instituted in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York.
Section 4.03. Effective Date; Counterparts. This Supplemental Agreement may be simultaneously executed in counterparts. Each such counterpart so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and all together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. This Supplemental Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the Effective Date, for convenience and purposes of reference this Supplemental Agreement shall be dated as of May 1, 2003 and may be cited and referred to as the "First Supplemental Participation Agreement dated as of May 1, 2003."
None of the rights, covenants, interests, duties or obligations accruing to or required of any Bondholder, the Authority, the Corporation, the Trustee, or any Support Facility Issuer prior to the Effective Date shall be affected by the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Agreement.
[Signature Page of this
Supplemental Agreement Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first written
above.
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NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY By_________________________________________ Acting President |
(SEAL)
Attest:
______________________________
Assistant Secretary
Attest:
______________________________
Assistant Secretary
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NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER
CORPORATION
By_____________________________________ Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Title: Assistant Treasurer |
(SEAL)
Attest:
_______________________________
Attest:
_______________________________
[Signature Page of Supplemental Agreement relating to
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds
(Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Project), 1985 Series
B]
EXHIBIT B
Corporation Supplemental Indenture
[See Item Number 30 of this Record of Proceedings]