Exhibit 1-A
$
DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
FIRST AND REFUNDING MORTGAGE BONDS,
% SERIES DUE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Gentlemen:
1. Introductory. DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION, a North Carolina corporation
("Corporation"), proposes to issue and sell $ aggregate principal amount
of First and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, % Series Due ("Bonds"), to be
issued pursuant to the provisions of a First and Refunding Mortgage, dated as of
December 1, 1927 ("Original Indenture"), from the Corporation to The Chase
Manhattan Bank, successor Trustee, as amended and supplemented by various
supplemental indentures, including the supplemental indenture dated as of ,
(the Original Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, being hereinafter
called the "Mortgage"), and hereby agrees with the several Underwriters herein
after named ("Underwriters") as follows:
2. Representations and Warranties of the Corporation. The Corporation
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement (No. ), including a prospectus, relating
to the Bonds has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"). Such
registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in
the form heretofore delivered to you, and, excluding exhibits thereto but
including all documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus
contained therein, to you for each of the other Underwriters, have been
declared effective by the Commission in such form, and no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement has been issued
and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the
Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in such registration
statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules
and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act being hereinafter
called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts of such registration
statement, including all exhibits thereto and including the documents
incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration
statement at the time such part of the registration statement became
effective, each as amended at the time such part of the registration
statement became effective, being hereinafter called the "Registration
Statement"; and the final prospectus relating to the Bonds, in the form first
filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, being hereinafter called the
"Prospectus"; and any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated
by reference therein, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or
Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement
to any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or
Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act"), and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary
Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any
amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and
include any annual report of the Corporation filed pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the effective date of the Registration
Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement).
(b) The Registration Statement conforms and the Prospectus will conform
in all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder ("1933 Act Regulations"), and the Registration
Statement does not and the Prospectus will not include 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, except
that the foregoing does not apply to statements or omissions in any such
document based upon written information furnished to the Corporation by any
Underwriter specifically for use therein.
(c) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the
time they were filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects
with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together
with the other information in the Prospectus, do not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
any documents deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus will,
when they are filed with the Commission, comply in all material respects with
the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations, and will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading.
(d) The compliance by the Corporation with all of the provisions of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will
not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the
Corporation or any of its Principal Subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined) is a
party or by which any of them or their respective property is bound or to
which any of their property or assets is subject, nor will such action result
in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws of the Corporation or any statute or any order, rule
or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction
over the Corporation or its Principal Subsidiaries or any of their respective
property; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
required for the consummation by the Corporation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except for authorization by the North Carolina
Utilities Commission and The Public Service Commission of South Carolina and
the registration under the 1933 Act of the Bonds and such consents, approvals,
authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state
securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution
of the Bonds by the Underwriters.
(e) Each of Duke Capital Corporation, PanEnergy Corp, Panhandle Eastern
Pipe Line Company, Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation, Trunkline Gas
Company and Algonquin Gas Transmission Company, each a Delaware corporation
(and herein called a "Principal Subsidiary"), is a direct or indirect wholly-
owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Bonds. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Corporation agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Corporation, at a purchase price of % of the principal amount
of the Bonds, plus accrued interest from , to the Closing Date (as hereinafter
defined), the respective principal amount of Bonds set forth opposite the names
of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto plus the respective principal amount
of additional Bonds which each such Underwriter may become obligated to
purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 hereof.
Payment of the purchase price for the Bonds to be purchased by the
Underwriters shall be made at the offices of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP, 1301 Avenue
of the Americas, New York, N.Y., or at such other place as shall be mutually
agreed upon by you and the Corporation, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on
, (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section
8) or such other time not later than three full business days after such date as
shall be agreed upon by you and the Corporation (the "Closing Date"). Payment
shall be made to the Corporation by certified or official bank check or checks
in New York Clearing House or similar next day funds, payable to the order of
the Corporation, against delivery to you of the Bonds. The Bonds shall be in
such denominations and registered in such names as you may request in writing at
least two full business days before the Closing Date.
4. Offering by the Underwriters. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Bonds for sale to the public as set forth in
the Prospectus.
5. Covenants of the Corporation. The Corporation covenants and agrees with
the several Underwriters that:
(a) The Corporation will advise you promptly of any amendment or
supplementation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and of the
institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of
the Registration Statement, and will use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as soon as possible its
lifting, if issued.
(b) If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Bonds is required to
be delivered under the 1933 Act any event occurs as a result of which the
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an 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 is necessary at any time to
amend the Prospectus to comply with the 1933 Act, the Corporation promptly
will prepare and file with the Commission an amendment, supplement or an
appropriate document pursuant to Section 13 or 14 of the 1934 Act which
will correct such statement or omission or which will effect such
compliance.
(c) The Corporation, during the period when a prospectus relating to the
Bonds is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file promptly
all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section
13 or 14 of the 1934 Act.
(d) The Corporation will make generally available to its security
holders, in each case as soon as practicable but not later than 60 days
after the close of the period covered thereby, earnings statements (in form
complying with the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act, which need
not be certified by independent certified public accountants unless
required by the 1933 Act) covering (i) a twelve-month period beginning not
later than the first day of the Corporation's fiscal quarter next following
the effective date of the Registration Statement and (ii) a twelve-month
period beginning not later than the first day of the Corporation's fiscal
quarter next following the date of this Agreement.
(e) The Corporation will furnish to you, without charge, copies of the
Registration Statement ( of which will be signed and will include all
exhibits other than those incorporated by reference), the Prospectus, and
all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as
available and in such quantities as you reasonably request.
(f) The Corporation will arrange or cooperate in arrangements for the
qualification of the Bonds for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as
you designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as
required for the distribution; provided, however, that the Corporation
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file any
general consents to service of process under the laws of any state where it
is not now so subject.
(g) The Corporation will not, during the period beginning from the date
hereof and continuing to and including the date days after the date
hereof, sell, offer to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise
dispose of any Bonds, any security convertible into or exchangeable for the
Bonds or any debt security substantially similar to the Bonds (except for
the Bonds issued pursuant to this Agreement), without your prior written
consent.
(h) The Corporation will pay all expenses incident to the performance of
its obligations under this Agreement including (i) the printing and filing
of the Registration Statement and the printing of this Agreement and the
Blue Sky Survey, (ii) the issuance and delivery of the Bonds as specified
herein, (iii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with the qualification of the Bonds under the securities laws of
any jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(f) and in
connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey, such fees not to
exceed $5,000, (iv) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters, in
quantities as hereinabove referred to, of copies of the Registration
Statement and any amendments thereto, and of the Prospectus and any amendments
or supplements thereto, (v) any fees charged by independent rating agencies
for rating the Bonds, (vi) any fees and expenses in connection with the
listing of the Bonds on the New York Stock Exchange and (vii) any filing fee
required by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
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6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Bonds will be subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Corporation
herein, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Corporation made
pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Corporation of its
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:
(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
Corporation or you, shall be threatened by the Commission.
(b) Prior to the Closing Date, the rating assigned by Xxxxx'x Investors
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group to (i) any debt securities
or preferred stock of the Corporation or (ii) any trust preferred securities
of Duke Energy Capital Trust I as of the date of this Agreement shall not have
been lowered.
(c) Since the respective most recent dates as of which information is given
in the Prospectus and up to the Closing Date, there shall not have been any
material adverse change in the condition of the Corporation, financial or
otherwise, except as reflected in or contemplated by the Prospectus, and,
since such dates and up to the Closing Date, there shall not have been any
material transaction entered into by the Corporation other than transactions
contemplated by the Prospectus and transactions in the ordinary course of
business.
(d) You shall have received an opinion of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq., General
Counsel, Corporate and Energy Services, to the Corporation, dated the Closing
Date, to the effect that:
(i) The Corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of North
Carolina, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.
(ii) Each of the Corporation and the Principal Subsidiaries is duly
qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the ownership or
leasing of its property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except where the failure to so qualify, considering all such
cases in the aggregate, does not have a material adverse effect on the
business, properties, financial position or results of operations of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(iii) The Mortgage has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Corporation and is a legal, valid and enforceable instrument in
accordance with its terms, except (x) as the same may be limited by the
laws of the States of North Carolina and South Carolina (in which States
such counsel is advised all physical property of the Corporation subject to
the Mortgage is located except for certain interconnection lines) with
respect to or affecting the remedies to enforce the security provided by
the Mortgage, which laws do not, in the opinion of such counsel, make
inadequate the remedies necessary for the realization of the benefits of
such security, and by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights, and (y) that the provisions
of the Mortgage subjecting to the lien thereof the revenues and income from
the mortgaged property may not be effective prior to the
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delivery or taking of possession of such revenues or income or of the
mortgaged property by or on behalf of the bondholders.
(iv) The Bonds have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action and, when the same have been executed and authenticated as specified
in the Mortgage and delivered to the Underwriters against payment of the
consideration therefor specified in this Agreement, will be legal, valid and
binding obligations of the Corporation enforceable in accordance with their
terms, except, in each case, as the same may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights, and are entitled to the benefits and security afforded by
the Mortgage in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage and the Bonds,
except as set forth in paragraph (iii) above.
(v) The Corporation has good title to all properties owned by it, subject
only (a) to the lien of the Mortgage, (b) to permitted encumbrances as
defined in the Mortgage, (c) to minor exceptions and defects which do not,
in the aggregate, in the opinion of such counsel, materially interfere with
the use by the Corporation of such properties for the purposes for which
they are held, materially detract from the value of said properties or in
any material way impair the security afforded by the Mortgage, and (d) in
the case of the Corporation's existing hydroelectric plants, to provisions
of licenses issued by the Federal Power Commission or the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission and to the provisions of the Federal Power Act.
(vi) The Mortgage complies as to form with all applicable laws of the
States wherein the properties subjected or intended to be subjected to the
lien of the Mortgage are located, including all applicable recording laws,
and constitutes a valid, direct first mortgage lien on all properties and
franchises purported to be owned by the Corporation, except such property as
is specifically excepted from the lien thereof, subject only to the liens,
charges and encumbrances stated in paragraph (v) above; all fixed electric
properties hereafter acquired by the Corporation will, upon such
acquisition, become subject to the lien of the Mortgage, subject, however,
to liens or charges of the character permitted to exist by the Mortgage, and
to liens, if any, existing or placed on such property at the time of the
acquisition thereof by the Corporation, and the description of such property
and franchises in the Mortgage is adequate to constitute the same a lien on
such property and franchises of the Corporation except as aforesaid.
(vii) The Corporation holds valid and subsisting franchises, licenses and
permits in all communities wherein it operates its properties, which are
free from unduly burdensome restrictions, are individually satisfactory and
vest in the Corporation adequate authority to operate its public utility
system therein, except that in a few municipalities the Corporation is
operating either without franchises or with franchises the validity of which
might possibly be called into question; in the opinion of such counsel,
however, the Corporation's franchises, licenses and permits relating to its
public utility business, as a system, are satisfactory for the adequate
conduct of the business of the Corporation in the territory which it serves,
the rights of the Corporation to maintain transmission lines through
unincorporated communities and over public lands not located in incorporated
communities and over private rights of way are, as a system, satisfactory
for the adequate conduct of the business of the Corporation in the territory
which it serves, and, as a public utility corporation operating under the
laws of the States of North Carolina and South Carolina, the Corporation has
adequate rights to operate its system.
(viii) The Original Indenture and the supplemental indentures thereto,
other than the supplemental indenture dated as of , , have been duly
recorded or filed for recordation in all such offices as are necessary to
perfect and to preserve and protect the lien of the Mortgage upon the
property intended to be subjected to the lien thereof, and upon the filing
and recording of the supplemental indenture dated as of , , no other
recording or any periodic or other refiling or rerecording of the Mortgage
is or will be required in order to perfect and to preserve and protect the
lien of the Mortgage upon such property, and there are no mortgage,
recording or other
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taxes required to be paid in connection with such filing and recording or
in connection with the issuance of the Bonds other than customary filing
and recording fees.
(ix) The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933
Act, and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or
threatened under the 1933 Act.
(x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Corporation.
(xi) The North Carolina Utilities Commission and The Public Service
Commission of South Carolina have issued appropriate orders with respect to
the issuance and sale of the Bonds in accordance with this Agreement, and,
to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, such orders are still in
effect; the issuance and sale of the Bonds to the Underwriters are in
conformity with the terms of such orders; and no other authorization,
approval or consent of any other governmental body (other than in
connection or compliance with the provisions of the securities or Blue Sky
laws of any jurisdiction) is legally required for the issuance and sale of
the Bonds pursuant to this Agreement.
(xii) The performance by the Corporation of this Agreement will not
contravene any of the provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation
or By-Laws of the Corporation.
(xiii) The descriptions in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus of legal or governmental proceedings are accurate and fairly
present the information required to be shown, and such counsel does not
know of any litigation or any legal or governmental proceeding instituted
or threatened against the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties that would be required to be disclosed in the
Prospectus and is not so disclosed.
Such counsel shall also state that nothing has come to his attention that
has caused him to believe that the Registration Statement as of the date of
effectiveness under the 1933 Act and the Prospectus as of the date it was
filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission, contained any
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 it was filed with, or
transmitted for filing to, the Commission and at the Closing Date,
contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
omits 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. Such counsel may also state that, except as otherwise expressly
provided in such opinion, he does not assume any responsibility for the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and does not express any opinion
or belief as to the financial statements or other financial data contained
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or as to the statement of
the eligibility and qualification of the Trustee.
In rendering the foregoing opinion, such counsel may state that he
expresses no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than North
Carolina and may rely on the opinion of South Carolina counsel satisfactory
to you as to matters of South Carolina law. Such counsel may also state
that he has relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained
from public officials, officers of the Corporation and other sources
believed by him to be responsible.
(e) You shall have received an opinion or opinions of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx,
counsel to the Corporation, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the
matters set forth in (i), (iii), (iv) and (ix) through (xii) of Section 6(d)
and to the further effect that:
(i) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is
required for the issue and sale of the Bonds or the consummation by the
Corporation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
Mortgage, except for authorization by the North Carolina Utilities
Commission and The Public Service Commission of South Carolina and such as
have been obtained under the 1933 Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or
qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws
in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Bonds by the
Underwriters.
(ii) Each of the Principal Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
its jurisdiction of incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and
other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus.
(iii) The Mortgage is duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939.
(iv) The Registration Statement as of the date of effectiveness under
the 1933 Act and the Prospectus as of the date it was filed with, or
transmitted for filing to, the Commission complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations; and nothing has come to their attention that would lead them
to believe that the Registration Statement as of the date of effectiveness
under the 1933 Act (or if an amendment to such Registration Statement or an
annual report on Form 10-K has been filed by the Corporation with the
Commission subsequent to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
then at the time of the most recent such filing) 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 it was filed with, or
transmitted for filing to, the Commission and at the Closing Date contained
or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Such opinion may state that such counsel do not assume any responsibility
for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus except as otherwise expressly
provided in such opinion and do not express any opinion or belief as to the
financial statements or other financial data contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus or as to the statement of the eligibility and
qualification of the Trustee.
(v) The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of the New Bonds" and "Certain Terms of the Offered Bonds,"
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.
In rendering the foregoing opinion or opinions, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP may
state that such opinion or opinions are limited to the Federal laws of the
United States, the laws of the State of New York and the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and that they are relying on the
opinion of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. as to matters of North Carolina law and
on the opinion of South Carolina counsel satisfactory to you as to matters
of South Carolina law. In addition, such counsel may state that they have
relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials,
officers of the Corporation and other sources believed by them to be
responsible and that the signatures on all documents examined by them are
genuine, assumptions which such counsel have not independently verified.
(f) You shall have received the opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxxx,
counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the
matters set forth in (i), (iii), (iv) and (ix) through (xi) of Section 6(d)
and in (iii) through (v) of Section 6(e) and other related matters as you may
require, and the Corporation shall have furnished to such counsel such
documents as they request for the purpose of
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enabling them to pass upon such matters. In giving their opinion Xxxxxxx Xxxx
& Xxxxxxxxx may rely on the opinion of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. as to matters of
North Carolina law and on the opinion of South Carolina counsel satisfactory
to you as to matters of South Carolina law.
(g) On or after the date hereof, there shall not have occurred any of the
following: (i) a suspension in trading in securities generally or of the
securities of the Corporation or Duke Energy Capital Trust I on the New York
Stock Exchange; or (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities
in New York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iii)
the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by
the United States of a national emergency or war if the effect of any such
event specified in this clause (g) in your judgment makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Bonds
being delivered at the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus. In such event there shall be no liability on
the part of any party to any other party except for the expenses to be borne
by the Corporation as provided in Section 5(h) hereof.
(h) You shall have received a certificate of the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting
officer of the Corporation, dated the Closing Date, in which such officers, to
the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that
the representations and warranties of the Corporation in this Agreement are
true and correct, that the Corporation has complied with all agreements and
satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior
to the Closing Date, that the conditions specified in Section 6(b) and Section
6(c) have been satisfied, and that no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are threatened by the Commission.
(i) On the date of this Agreement, you shall have received letters dated the
date hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you, from the Corporation's
independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the
type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters
with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information
contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus.
(j) At the Closing Date you shall have received from the Corporation's
independent public accountants letters, dated the Closing Date, to the effect
that such accountants reaffirm the statements made in the letters furnished
pursuant to paragraph (i) of this Section 6, except that the specified date
referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the
Closing Date.
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The Corporation will furnish you with such conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents as you reasonably request.
7. Indemnification. (a) The Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary
Prospectus, the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration
Statement in the form in which it became effective or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, unless such statement or omission or such alleged statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Corporation by any Underwriter through you
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto)
or such Preliminary Prospectus, such prospectus, or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto);
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any
litigation, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon
any such untrue statement or omission or any such alleged untrue statement
or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Corporation; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent
that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above.
In no case shall the Corporation be liable under this indemnity agreement
with respect to any claim made against any Underwriter or any such controlling
person unless the Corporation shall be notified in writing of the nature of
the claim within a reasonable time after the assertion thereof, but failure so
to notify the Corporation shall not relieve it from any liability which it may
have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. The Corporation
shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it
so elects, within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, to assume
the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, but if it so elects
to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it
and approved by the Underwriter or Underwriters or controlling person or
persons, or defendant or defendants in any suit so brought, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld. In any such suit, any Underwriter or any
such controlling person shall have the right to employ its own counsel, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Underwriter or such controlling person unless (i) the Corporation and such
Underwriter shall have mutually agreed to the employment of such counsel, or
(ii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties)
include both such Underwriter or such controlling person and the Corporation
and such Underwriter or such controlling person shall have been advised by
such counsel that a conflict of interest between the Corporation and such
Underwriter or such controlling person may arise and for this reason it is not
desirable for the same counsel to represent both the indemnifying party and
also the indemnified party (it being understood, however, that the Corporation
shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but
substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable
fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for all such
Underwriters and all such controlling persons, which firm shall be designated
in writing by you). The Corporation agrees to notify you within a reasonable
time of the assertion of any claim against it, any of its officers or
directors or any person who controls the Corporation within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act, in connection with the sale of the Notes.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees that it will indemnify and hold
harmless the Corporation, its directors and each of the officers of the
Corporation who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who
controls the Corporation within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act to
the same extent as the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section,
but only with respect to statements or omissions made in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Preliminary Prospectus, such
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Corporation by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), such Preliminary Prospectus,
such prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). In
case any action shall be brought against the Corporation or any person so
indemnified based on the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or
such Preliminary Prospectus, such prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto) and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against
any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the
Corporation, and the Corporation and each person so indemnified shall have the
rights and duties given to the Underwriters, by the provisions of subsection (a)
of this Section.
8. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. (a) If any Underwriter shall
default in its obligation to purchase the Bonds which it has agreed to
purchase hereunder on the Closing Date, you may in your discretion arrange for
you or another party or other parties to purchase such Bonds on the terms
contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any
Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Bonds, then the
Corporation shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within
which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to
purchase such Bonds on such terms. In the event that, within the respective
prescribed periods, you notify the Corporation that you have so arranged for
the purchase of such Bonds, or the Corporation notifies you that it has so
arranged for the purchase of such Bonds, you or the Corporation shall have the
right to postpone such Closing Date 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, or in any other documents or
arrangements, and the Corporation agrees to file promptly any amendments to
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which may be required. 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 Bonds.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Bonds of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you or the Corporation as
provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate amount of such Bonds which
remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of
all the Bonds to be purchased at such Closing Date, then the Corporation shall
have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the
amount of Bonds which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such
Closing Date and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to
purchase its pro rata share (based on the amount of Bonds which such
Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the 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
Bonds of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you or the Corporation as
provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate amount of such Bonds which
remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of all the
Bonds to be purchased at such Closing Date, or if the Corporation shall not
exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting
Underwriters to purchase 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 Corporation, except for the expenses
to be borne by the Corporation as provided in Section 5(h) hereof and the
indemnity agreement in Section 7 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
9. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of
the Corporation or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in
or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made
by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Corporation, or any of its officers
or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and
payment for the Bonds.
7
10. Reliance on Your Acts. In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled
to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of
any Underwriter made or given by you.
11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to
the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telecopied and confirmed to you
as the representatives in care of at , attention of
or, if sent to the Corporation, will be mailed, delivered or telecopied and
confirmed to it at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000, telephone
number (000) 000-0000, attention of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer; provided, however, that any notice to
an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail or telecopy to such Underwriter at its address or telecopy number set
forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire or telex constituting such
Questionnaire, which address or telecopy number will be supplied to the
Corporation by you. Any such communications shall take effect upon receipt
thereof.
12. Business Day. As used herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day
when the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.
13. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Underwriters and the Corporation and their respective successors.
Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be
construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties
hereto and their respective successors and the controlling persons and the
officers and directors referred to in Section 7, and their respective
successors, heirs and legal representatives any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein
contained; this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being
intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and said controlling persons, officers
and directors and their respective successors, heirs and legal
representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation.
No purchaser of Notes from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor
or assign by reason merely of such purchase.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
15. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, kindly sign and
return to us two counterparts hereof, and upon your acceptance on behalf of
each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance will become a
binding agreement between the Corporation, on the one hand, and each of the
Underwriters, on the other hand, in accordance with its terms. It is
understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the
Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement
Among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Corporation
for examination, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the
signers thereof.
8
Very truly yours,
DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
By: ___________________________
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written.
By:____________________________________
9
SCHEDULE A
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
OF BONDS TO BE
UNDERWRITER PURCHASED
----------- ----------------
-----
Total.......................................................... $
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