NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
(A MINNESOTA CORPORATION)
FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
To the Representatives named in Schedule I
hereto of the Underwriters named in
Schedule II hereto
Dear Sirs:
Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to sell to the underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the
"Underwriters"), for whom you are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives"), its First Mortgage Bonds of the designation, with the terms
and in the aggregate principal amount specified in Schedule I hereto (the
"Bonds") to be issued under its Trust Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1937,
from the Company to Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"),
as heretofore supplemented and amended by supplemental trust indentures and as
to be further supplemented and amended by a supplemental trust indenture
relating to the Bonds (such Trust Indenture as so supplemented and amended and
as to be so supplemented and amended being hereinafter referred to as the
"Indenture"). If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the
firm or firms listed in Schedule I hereto, then the terms "Underwriters" and
"Representatives," as used herein, shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or
firms.
Concurrently with the offering of the Bonds, the Company proposes to issue
and sell $100,000,000 of its 5 7/8% First Mortgage Bonds, Series due March 1,
2003 (the "Additional Bonds"). The Additional Bonds also will be issued under
the Indenture. The sale of the Bonds and the Additional Bonds are not contingent
upon each other.
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE COMPANY. The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:
(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") and has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration
statement on such Form, including a prospectus, for the registration under
the Act of the Bonds and the Additional Bonds, which registration statement
has become effective. Such registration statement and prospectus may have
been amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the date of this
Agreement (which date is set forth in Schedule I hereto). Any such amendment
or supplement was filed with the Commission and any such amendment has
become effective. The Company will file with the Commission a prospectus
supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") relating to the Bonds pursuant to
Rule 424 and/or Rule 434 under the Act. Copies of such registration
statement and prospectus, any such amendment or supplement and all documents
incorporated by reference therein which were filed with the Commission on or
prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered to you and copies of
the Prospectus Supplement will be delivered to you promptly after it is
filed with the Commission. Such registration statement, as amended prior to
the date of this Agreement, and such prospectus, as amended and supplemented
prior to the date of this Agreement and as supplemented by the Prospectus
Supplement, are hereinafter called the "Registration Statement" and the
"Prospectus", respectively. Any reference herein to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act
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of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") on or before the date of this
Agreement and, if the Company files any document pursuant to the Exchange
Act after the date of this Agreement and prior to the termination of the
offering of the Bonds by the Underwriters, which documents are deemed to be
incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, the term "Prospectus" shall
refer also to said prospectus as supplemented by the documents so filed from
and after the time said documents are filed with the Commission. There are
no contracts or documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are
required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or any
documents incorporated by reference therein by the Act, the Exchange Act or
the rules and regulations thereunder which have not been so filed.
(b) No order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or the
Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and the
Registration Statement, at the date of this Agreement, complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act") and the respective rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and did not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading;
and, at the time the Prospectus Supplement is filed with the Commission and
at the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the Prospectus will comply in
all material respects with the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; PROVIDED
that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (A) that part
of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of
Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (B)
the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus.
(c) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when they
were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the
requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and any documents so filed and incorporated by
reference subsequent to the date of this Agreement will, when they are filed
with the Commission, conform in all material respects to the requirements of
the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder; and none of such documents include or will include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit or will omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.
(d) Deloitte & Touche LLP and Price Waterhouse LLP which audited certain
of the financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, are each independent public accountants as required by the Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(e) The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries filed as a part of or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus fairly present the financial position
of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated
and the results of their operations and changes in financial position for
the periods specified, and have been prepared in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods involved, except as disclosed in the Prospectus Supplement.
(f) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota with
due corporate authority to carry on the business in which it is engaged and
to own and operate the properties used by it in such business, as described
in the Prospectus; the Company is qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the States of North
Dakota and South Dakota; and the Company is
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not required by the nature of its business to be licensed or qualified as a
foreign corporation in any other state or jurisdiction; and, except as set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company has all material licenses
and approvals required at the date hereof to conduct its business.
(g) Each subsidiary of the Company named in Exhibit 21.01 to the
Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Significant Subsidiary")
has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases substantial
properties or in which the conduct of its business requires such
qualification; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such
subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and
non-assessable; and the capital stock of each such subsidiary owned by the
Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free and clear of any
pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.
(h) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since
the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated
by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its
business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental
action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
Prospectus Supplement; and, since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
Supplement, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any
liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any
transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, which are material to
the Company and its subsidiaries, and there has not been any material change
in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a
prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth
or contemplated in the Prospectus Supplement.
(i) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Indenture, the issuance and delivery of the Bonds, the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated, the fulfillment of the terms hereof, nor
compliance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the Bonds and
the Indenture will conflict with, or result in the breach of, any of the
terms, provisions or conditions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation,
as amended, or by-laws of the Company, or of any contract, agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or in which the Company has a
beneficial interest or by which the Company is bound or of any order, rule
or regulation applicable to the Company of any court or of any federal or
state regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body
having jurisdiction over the Company or over its properties.
(j) The Bonds have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant
to this Agreement and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with
the Indenture and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly
issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company
enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency and other laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights, and
will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture which will be
substantially in the form heretofore delivered to you.
(k) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the Company
and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will
constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors'
rights.
(l) The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has issued its order
approving capital structure which order authorizes the issuance of the
Bonds, and no other approval of any regulatory public body, state or
federal, is, or will be at the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined),
necessary in
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connection with the issuance and sale of the Bonds pursuant to this
Agreement, other than approvals that may be required under state securities
laws.
(m) The Company has good and valid title to all real and fixed property
and leasehold rights described or enumerated in the Indenture (except such
properties as have been released from the lien thereof in accordance with
the terms thereof), subject only to taxes and assessments not yet
delinquent; the lien of the Indenture; as to parts of the Company's
property, certain easements, conditions, restrictions, leases, and similar
encumbrances which do not affect the Company's use of such property in the
usual course of its business, and certain minor defects in titles which are
not material, and defects in titles to certain properties which are not
essential to the Company's business; and mechanics' lien claims being
contested or not of record or for the satisfaction or discharge of which
adequate provision has been made by the Company pursuant to the Indenture;
and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company is held
by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as
are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be
made of such property and buildings by the Company.
(n) Other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as of the
date hereof, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the
consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by
governmental authorities or threatened by others.
(o) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity "controlled"
by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(p) Except as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company and
its subsidiaries (A) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal,
state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human
health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or
wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), (B) have received
all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable
Environmental Laws to conduct its respective business and (C) are in
compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permits, licenses or
approvals, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure
to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to
comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
2. PURCHASE AND SALE. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance
upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to
sell to the Representatives and each other Underwriter, and the Representatives
and each other Underwriter agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from
the Company, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto, the
respective principal amounts of the Bonds set forth opposite their respective
names in Schedule II hereto.
3. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT. Delivery of and payment for the Bonds shall be
made at the place, date and time specified in Schedule I hereto (or such other
place, date and time not later than eight full business days thereafter as the
Representatives and the Company shall designate), which date and time may be
postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company (such date
and time being herein called the "Closing Date"). Delivery of the Bonds shall be
made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the
Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Company by certified or official bank check or checks payable in New York
Clearing House (next day) funds or, if so indicated in Schedule I hereto, in
federal (same day) funds. The Bonds will be delivered in definitive registered
form except that, if for any reason the Company is unable to deliver the Bonds
in definitive form, the Company
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reserves the right, as provided in the Indenture, to make delivery in temporary
form. Any Bonds delivered in temporary form will be exchangeable without charge
for Bonds in definitive form. The Bonds will be registered in the names of the
Underwriters and in the principal amounts set forth in Schedule II hereto except
that if the Company receives a written request from the Representatives prior to
noon on the second business day preceding the Closing Date giving the names in
which the Bonds are to be registered and the principal amounts thereof (which
shall in each case be a multiple of $1,000) the Company will deliver the Bonds
so registered. The Bonds will be made available to the Representatives for
checking in New York, New York, not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the business day preceding the Close Date.
4. AGREEMENTS. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) With the consent of the Representatives, the Company will cause the
Prospectus Supplement to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (b) and/or Rule 434
under the Act and will notify the Representatives promptly of such filing.
During the period for which a prospectus relating to the Bonds is required
to be delivered under the Act, the Company will promptly advise the
Representatives (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement shall
have become effective, (ii) when any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus
(including documents deemed to be incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus) has been filed, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any
amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or for any additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceedings
for that purpose. The Company will not file any amendment of the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus (including documents
deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus) unless the
Company has furnished to the Representatives a copy for your review prior to
filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which
the Representatives reasonably object. The Company will use its best efforts
to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain as
soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Bonds is required
to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary at any time to
amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange
Act or the respective rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
the Company promptly, subject to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, will
prepare and file an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus with the
Commission or will make a filing with the Commission pursuant to Section 13
or 14 of the Exchange Act, which will correct such statement or omission or
will effect such compliance.
(c) The Company will make generally available to its security holders
and to the Representatives a consolidated earnings statement (which need not
be audited) of the Company, for a twelve-month period beginning after the
date of the Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) and/or Rule
434 under the Act, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of
such period, but in any event no later than eighteen months after the
"effective date of the Registration Statement" (as defined in Rule 158(c)
under the Act), which will satisfy the provision of Section 11(a) of the Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including at the
option of the Company, Rule 158).
(d) The Company will furnish to each of the Representatives a signed
copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, including the Form T-1 of the Trustee and all powers of attorney,
consents and exhibits filed therewith (other than exhibits incorporated by
reference), and will deliver to the Representatives conformed copies of the
Registration Statement,
5
the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein)
and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be
required by the Act, all amendments of and supplements to such documents, in
each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives
may reasonably request.
(e) The Company will furnish such information, execute such instruments
and take such action as may be required to qualify the Bonds for sale under
the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and will
maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the
distribution of the Bonds; PROVIDED that the Company shall not be required
to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general or
unlimited service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
subject.
(f) So long as the Bonds are outstanding, the Company will furnish (or
cause to be furnished) to each of the Representatives, upon request, copies
of (i) all reports to stockholders of the Company and (ii) all reports and
financial statements filed with the Commission or any national securities
exchange.
(g) During the period beginning from the date of this Agreement and
continuing to the Closing Date, the Company will not offer, sell, or
otherwise dispose of any first mortgage bonds of the Company (except the
Additional Bonds and except under prior contractual commitments which have
been disclosed to you), without the prior written consent of the
Representatives, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
5. EXPENSES. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay all costs and
expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company
hereunder, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all
costs, taxes and expenses incident to the issue and delivery of the Bonds to the
Underwriters, all fees and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants,
all costs and expenses incident to the preparing, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement (including all exhibits thereto), the Prospectus
(including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and any amendments
thereof or supplements thereto, all costs and expenses (including fees and
expenses of counsel) incurred in connection with "blue sky" qualifications, the
determination of the legality of the Bonds for investment by institutional
investors and the rating of the Bonds, and all costs and expenses of the
printing and distribution of all documents in connection with this underwriting.
Except as provided in this Section 5 and Section 8 hereof, the Underwriters will
pay all their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel and
any advertising expenses in connection with any offer they may make.
6. CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The obligations of
the Underwriters to purchase the Bonds shall be subject, in the discretion of
the Representatives, to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on
the part of the Company contained herein as of the date hereof and the Closing
Date, to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made in any
certificates given pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus Supplement relating to the Bonds shall have been
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and/or Rule 434 within the
applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and
regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall
have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for
additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been
complied with to the Representatives' reasonable satisfaction.
6
(b) The Representatives shall be furnished with opinions, dated the
Closing Date, of Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Vice President and General Counsel of the
Company, substantially in the form included as Exhibit A.
(c) The Representatives shall have received from Xxxxxxx, Carton &
Xxxxxxx, Chicago, Illinois, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or
opinions dated the Closing Date with respect to the incorporation of the
Company, this Agreement, the validity of the Indenture, the Bonds, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the
Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished
to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a
certificate of the President or any Vice President of the Company, dated the
Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in clause (a) and (h) of this
Section 6 and to the further effect that the signers of such certificate
have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this
Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the
same effect as if made on the Closing Date, and the Company has complied
with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to
be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date; and
(ii) there has been no material adverse change in the condition of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in
the ordinary course of business, from that set forth or contemplated by
the Registration Statement or Prospectus Supplement.
(e) The Representatives shall have received letters from the Company's
independent public accountants (dated the date of this Agreement and Closing
Date, respectively, and in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives) advising that (i) they are independent public accountants
as required by the Act and published rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, (ii) in their opinion, the consolidated financial statements and
supplemental schedules incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and covered by their opinion filed with the Commission under
Section 13 of the Exchange Act comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the
published rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) they
have performed limited procedures, not constituting an audit, including a
reading of the latest available interim financial statements of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries, a reading of the minutes of meetings of
the Board of Directors, committees thereof, and of the Shareholders, of the
Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the most recent audited
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Company and its subsidiaries
responsible for financial accounting matters and such other inquiries and
procedures as may be specified in such letter, and on the basis of such
limited review and procedures nothing came to their attention that caused
them to believe that: (a) any material modifications should be made to any
unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus for
them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles or
any unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus do not
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission applicable to Form 10-Q; (b) with respect to the period
subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and except as set forth in or
contemplated by the Registration Statement or Prospectus, there were any
changes, at a specified date not more than five business days prior to the
date of the letter, in the capital stock of the
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Company, increases in long-term debt or decreases in stockholders' equity or
net current assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as
compared with the amounts shown on the most recent consolidated balance
sheet included or incorporated in the Prospectus, or for the period from the
date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus to such specified date there were any decreases,
as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in
operating revenues, operating income, net income, or earnings per share of
Common Stock of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in all instances
for changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter
shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance
thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the
Representatives; and (iv) they have carried out specified procedures
performed for the purpose of comparing certain specified financial
information and percentages (which is limited to financial information
derived from general accounting records of the Company) included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus with
indicated amounts in the financial statements or accounting records of the
Company and (excluding any questions of legal interpretation) have found
such information and percentages to be in agreement with the relevant
accounting and financial information of the Company referred to in such
letter in the description of the procedures performed by them.
(f) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have been
any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in
paragraph (e) of this Section 6 which makes it impractical or inadvisable in
the judgment of the Representatives to proceed with the public offering or
the delivery of the Bonds on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(g) Subsequent to the date hereof, no downgrading shall have occurred,
nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential
downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate
the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Company's
debt securities or preferred stock by any "nationally recognized statistical
rating organization," as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes
of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act.
(h) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included
or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any loss or interference with
its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental
action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
Prospectus Supplement, and (ii) since the date of this Agreement, neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any liabilities
or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any transactions, not
in the ordinary course of business, which are material to the Company and
its subsidiaries, and there shall not have been any change in the capital
stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting
the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries otherwise than as
set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus Supplement, the effect of which,
in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii) is in the judgment of the
Underwriters so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Bonds
on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus.
(i) No Representative shall have advised the Company that the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact which in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters is material or omits to state a fact which in
the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters is material and is required to
be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
(j) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the
Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as they
may reasonably request.
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If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and
certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be
satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and their counsel,
this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be
cancelled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives.
Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing, or by
telephone or telegraph confirmed in writing.
7. CONDITIONS OF COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the Company to
sell and deliver the Bonds are subject to the following conditions:
(a) Prior to the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge
of the Company or the Representative, threatened.
(b) The order of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission referred to
in paragraph (1) of Section 1 shall be in full force and effect.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7 shall not have been
fulfilled, this Agreement and all obligations of the Company hereunder may be
cancelled on or at any time prior to the Closing Date by the Company. Notice of
such cancellation shall be given to the Underwriters in writing or by telephone
or facsimile transmission confirmed in writing.
8. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If the sale of the Bonds
provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations
of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied or because of
any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been
reasonably incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of
the Bonds.
9. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning
of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may
become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state
statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Bonds
as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Prospectus or in any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses
as reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damages, liability or action; PROVIDED that the Company will
not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use
therein and PROVIDED FURTHER that such indemnity with respect to a prospectus
included in the registration statement or any amendment thereto prior to the
supplementing thereof with the Prospectus Supplement shall not inure to the
benefit of any Underwriter (or any person controlling such Underwriter) from
whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased
the Bonds which are the subject thereof if such person was not sent or given a
copy of the Prospectus (but without the documents incorporated by reference
therein) at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Bonds to such
person in any case where such delivery is required by the Act and the untrue
statement or omission of a material fact contained in such prospectus was
corrected in the Prospectus, provided that the Company shall have delivered the
Prospectus, in a
9
timely manner and in sufficient quantities to permit such delivery by the
Underwriters. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriters but only with reference
to written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such
Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use in the documents
referred to in the foregoing indemnity, and agrees to reimburse each such
indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof;
but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under
this Section 9. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified
party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent
that it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly
after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; PROVIDED
THAT if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, the indemnified party, or parties shall have the right to
select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise
participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or
parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by
the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to
such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in
connection with the assertion of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso
to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel and one local counsel, approved by the Representatives in the
case of subparagraph (a), representing the indemnified parties under
subparagraphs (a) or (b), as the case may be, who are parties to such action),
(ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time
after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has
authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of
the indemnifying party; and except that, if clause (i) or (iii) is applicable,
such liability shall be only in respect of the counsel referred to in such
clause (i) or (iii).
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the
offering of the Bonds. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified
party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the
10
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before
deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set
forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus Supplement. The relative
fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this
subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result
of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the Bonds underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this subsection (d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 shall be in addition
to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the
same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under
this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective
Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.
10. DEFAULT BY AN UNDERWRITER. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its
obligation to purchase the Bonds which it has agreed to purchase hereunder (in
this Section called the "Unpurchased Bonds"), the Representatives may in their
discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase
such Unpurchased Bonds on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours
after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the
purchase of such Unpurchased Bonds, then the Company shall be entitled to a
further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or
other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Unpurchased
Bonds on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period,
the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the
purchase of such Unpurchased Bonds, or the Company notifies the Representatives
that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Unpurchased Bonds, the
Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date
for such Unpurchased Bonds for a period of not more than seven days, in order to
effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other
documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which
in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term
"Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted
under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a
party to this Agreement with respect to such Unpurchased Bonds.
11
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Unpurchased Bonds of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Unpurchased Bonds which remains unpurchased
does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds,
then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase the principal amount of Bonds which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Bonds which
such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Unpurchased Bonds of such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability
for its default.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Unpurchased Bonds of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of Unpurchased Bonds which remains unpurchased
exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds, as referred
to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right
described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to
purchase Unpurchased Bonds of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then
this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne
by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 5 hereof and the
indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein
shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
11. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the
absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior
to delivery of and payment for all Bonds, if prior to such time (i) trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange, (ii) if
a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal, Minnesota or
New York State authorities, (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company
shall have been suspended or halted, or (iv) if there shall have occurred any
outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the
declaration by the United States of a war or national emergency or any other
calamity or crisis the effect of which on the financial markets in the United
States is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives,
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery of
the Bonds on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
12. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of
their respective officers, directors or controlling persons within the meaning
of the Act, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Bonds. The
provisions of Sections 5, 8 and 9 hereof shall survive the termination or
cancellation of this Agreement.
13. NOTICES. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent
to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or transmitted and confirmed
to them at their address set forth for that purpose in Schedule 1 hereto or, if
sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or transmitted and confirmed to
it at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000, attention Secretary.
14. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof, and no other
person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
15. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.
12
16. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of
which, taken together, shall constitute a single agreement among the parties to
such counterparts.
17. REPRESENTATION OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The Representatives represent and
warrant to the Company that they are authorized to act as the representatives of
the Underwriters in connection with this financing and that the Representatives'
execution and delivery of this Agreement and any action under this Agreement
taken by such Representatives will be binding upon all Underwriters.
18. OTHER. Time shall be of the essence for all purposes of this
Agreement. As used herein, "business day" shall mean any day when the
Commission's office in Washington D.C. is open for business.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this
letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company
and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
By /s/
...........................................
Vice President
The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed
and accepted as of the date first
above written.
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
By /s/
...................................
FOR ITSELF OR THEMSELVES AND AS
REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS, IF ANY,
NAMED IN
SCHEDULE II TO THE FOREGOING
AGREEMENT.
13
SCHEDULE I
Underwriting Agreement dated March 11, 1998
Registration Statement No. 33-63243
Representatives and Addresses: Salomon Brothers Inc
Seven Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Bonds:
Designation: 6 1/2% First Mortgage Bonds, Series due March 1, 2028
Principal Amount: $150,000,000
Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 1998
Date of Maturity: March 1, 2028
Interest Rate: 6 1/2% per annum, payable March 1 and September 1 of each
year, commencing September 1, 1998
Purchase Price: 98.185% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
interest from
March 1, 1998 to the date of payment and delivery.
Public Offering Price: 98.826% of the principal amount thereof, plus
accrued interest from March 1, 1998 to the date of
payment and delivery.
Payment to be made in federal (same day) funds. _X_ Yes ___ No
Closing Date and Location: March 17, 1998
Northern States Power Company
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Office for Delivery of Bonds: The Depository Trust Company
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Office for Payment of Bonds: Northern States Power Company
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Office for Checking of Bonds: The Depository Trust Company
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
14
SCHEDULE II
NAME AMOUNT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
Salomon Brothers Inc.............................................................................. $ 25,000,000
ABN Amro.......................................................................................... 25,000,000
BancAmerica....................................................................................... 25,000,000
Bear Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc............................................................................ 25,000,000
Chase Securities Inc.............................................................................. 25,000,000
Nationsbanc....................................................................................... 25,000,000
--------------
Total..................................................................................... $ 150,000,000
--------------
--------------
15
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF OPINION OF XXXX X. XXXXXXX
RE: $ PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS, SERIES DUE
, %
OF NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY, A MINNESOTA CORPORATION.
Gentlemen:
For the purpose of rendering this opinion, I have examined the proceedings
taken by Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, herein called
the "Company," with respect to the issue and sale by the Company of $
principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series due , % herein
called the "Bonds." In connection therewith I have participated in the
preparation of the proceedings for the issuance and sale of the Bonds including
the Underwriting Agreement dated , between you and the Company
relating to your purchase of the Bonds, herein called the "Agreement," and have
either participated in the preparation of or examined the Trust Indenture dated
February 1, 1937, and the Supplemental Trust Indentures thereto and the
Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of , creating the Bonds,
all from the Company to Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank, as Trustee (which Trust
Indenture and Supplemental Trust Indentures are herein collectively called the
"Indenture"). I also have participated in the preparation of or examined the
registration statement and any amendments thereto and the accompanying
prospectuses and any supplements thereto, as filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), with respect to the Bonds. Whenever the terms
"Registration Statement" or "Prospectus" are used herein, they shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the Agreement. My examination has extended to
all statutes, records, instruments, and documents which I have deemed necessary
to examine for the purposes of this opinion.
I am of the opinion that:
1. The Company is a legally existing corporation under the laws of the
State of Minnesota; has corporate power, right, and authority to do business
and to own property in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South
Dakota in the manner and as set forth in the Prospectus; has corporate
power, right and authority to own securities of its subsidiaries; and has
corporate power, right, and authority to make the Indenture and issue and
sell the Bonds;
2. The authorized capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable;
3. Each Significant Subsidiary, as defined in the Agreement, of the
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases substantial
properties or in which the conduct of its business requires such
qualification; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and
non-assessable; and the capital stock of each such subsidiary owned by the
Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free and clear of any
pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity;
4. The Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by
the Company and is a valid and binding obligation of the Company, except to
the extent that the provisions for indemnities may be held to be
unenforceable as against public policy;
5. The Indenture has been duly authorized by appropriate corporate
proceedings on the part of the Company, has been duly executed and delivered
and constitutes a legal, valid, and binding instrument enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as the provisions of the United States
Bankruptcy Code may affect the validity of the lien thereof with respect to
proceeds, products, rents,
1
issues, or profits realized, and additional property acquired, after the
commencement of a case under said Code, and except as enforcement of the
provisions of the Indenture may be limited by the laws of the states of
Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota (where property covered thereby is
located) affecting the remedies for the enforcement of the security provided
for in the Indenture (which state laws do not in my opinion make such
remedies inadequate for realization of the benefits of such security) or
except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws or other
similar laws;
6. The issuance of the Bonds in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture and the sale and delivery thereof pursuant to the provisions of
the Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company; the statements made
under the captions "Description of New Bonds" and "Supplemental Description
of Offered Bonds" in the Prospectus, insofar as they purport to summarize
provisions of documents specifically referred to therein, fairly present the
information called for with respect thereto by Form S-3; the Bonds are in
due legal form, constitute legal, valid, and binding obligations of the
Company, and (subject to the qualifications expressed in paragraph 5 above
with respect to the validity and enforceability of certain of the provisions
of the Indenture) and enforceable in accordance with their terms;
7. The consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement
and the fulfillment of the terms thereof and compliance by the Company with
all the terms and provisions of the Indenture will not result in a breach of
any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument known to
me to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, or the Restated
Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or by-laws of the Company or, to the
best of my knowledge, any order, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company of any court or of any Federal or state regulatory body or
administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction over
the Company or its property;
8. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act. The
Prospectus Supplement (as defined in the Agreement) has been filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Act, and no proceedings for a stop order have been
instituted or to the knowledge of such counsel are pending or threatened
under Section 8(d) of the Act; the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has
issued its order approving the Company's capital structure which order
authorizes the issuance of the Bonds; the Indenture has been duly qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture
Act"); and no further approval of, authorization, consent, certificate or
order of any governmental body, federal, state or other, is required in
connection with the issuance and sale of the Bonds by the Company to you as
provided in the Agreement, except as may be required by state securities
laws;
9. At the time the Registration Statement became effective, the
Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and supporting
schedules included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which no
opinion is being expressed) complied as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, the
Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
10. I do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings required to
be described in the Prospectus which are not described as required nor of
any contracts or documents of a character required to be described in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement which are not described and filed as required;
11. The Indenture is in proper form, conforming to the laws of the
States of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, to give and create the
lien which it purports to create and has been and now is duly and properly
recorded or filed in all places necessary to effectuate the lien of the
Indenture;
12. The Company has good and valid title to all real and fixed property
and leasehold rights described or enumerated in the Indenture (except such
properties as have been released from the lien thereof in accordance with
the terms thereof), subject only to: (a) taxes and assessments not yet
2
delinquent; (b) the lien of the Indenture; (c) as to parts of the Company's
property, certain easements, conditions, restrictions, leases, and similar
encumbrances which do not affect the Company's use of such property in the
usual course of its business, certain minor defects in titles which are not
material, defects in titles to certain properties which are not essential to
the Company's business; and mechanics' lien claims being contested or not of
record or for the satisfaction or discharge of which adequate provision has
been made by the Company pursuant to the Indenture;
13. The Bonds are secured by and entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture equally and ratably, except as to sinking fund provisions, with
all other bonds duly issued and outstanding under the Indenture by a valid
and direct first mortgage lien of the Indenture on all of the real and fixed
properties, leasehold rights, franchises, and permits now owned by the
Company, subject only to the items set forth in the preceding paragraph 12
of this opinion;
14. The Bonds also are secured equally and ratably, except as to sinking
fund provisions, with all other bonds duly issued and outstanding under the
Indenture by a valid and direct first mortgage lien (subject to permitted
liens as defined in the Indenture) on all real and fixed property hereafter
acquired by the Company in conformity with the terms of the Indenture,
except as the United States Bankruptcy Code may affect the validity of the
lien of such Indenture on property acquired after the commencement of a case
under such Act, except as to the prior lien of the Trustee under the
Indenture in certain events specified therein, and except as otherwise
provided in the Indenture in the case of consolidation, merger, or transfer
of all the mortgaged and pledged property as an entirety;
15. The Company has all necessary power under statutory provisions,
franchises (which expire at various dates), or permits to serve the
customers in the jurisdictions where it provided electric and gas service,
except in certain instances that are not material to the Company; and
16. All statements contained in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus under the caption "Description of New Bonds" purporting to set
forth the opinion of counsel or purporting to be based upon the opinion of
counsel correctly set forth my opinion on said respective matters.
These opinions do not cover titles to easements for water flowage purposes
or rights of way for electric and gas transmission and distribution facilities,
steam mains, and telephone lines. However, the Company has the power of eminent
domain in the states in which it operates.
In the course of my participation in the preparation of the Registration
Statement and Prospectus I made investigations as to the accuracy of certain of
the statements of fact contained therein, I discussed other matters with
officers, employees, and representatives of the Company, and I examined various
corporate records and data. While I do not pass upon or assume responsibility
for, and shall not be deemed to have independently verified, the accuracy and
completeness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus (except as to matters set forth in paragraphs 9 and 16 above) nothing
has come to my attention that would lead me to believe that the Registration
Statement at the time it became effective contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
Prospectus as of the date of the Agreement or at the date hereof contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
In giving my opinion under paragraph 12 above, I have relied upon
examinations of abstracts of titles to properties of the Company, said abstracts
bearing various dates, and nothing has come to my attention which would lead me
to believe that anything has occurred since the dates of the abstracts which
would adversely affect the titles shown on the abstracts. In giving opinions as
to conformity to the laws of States other than Minnesota and as to the
franchises and titles to property of the Company, I have in certain instances
relied upon the opinion of other counsel employed or retained by the Company to
render opinions in respect thereto.
Respectfully submitted,
3
By
----------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Vice President and General Counsel
Northern States Power Company
4
