-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Jb1CAR9S0X/CcJXKHA5e5d+z1MTfbNhUCr3v5o0+J9hS+Z94WTMyA4GnAU9IRo1g V8njmsk7HN66AQNF+6I14w== 0001047469-03-032340.txt : 20031003 0001047469-03-032340.hdr.sgml : 20031003 20031002175309 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-03-032340 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-A12B PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20031003 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SOUTHERN UNION CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000203248 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924] IRS NUMBER: 750571592 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-A12B SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-06407 FILM NUMBER: 03925255 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE PEI CENTER CITY: WILKES-BARRE STATE: PA ZIP: 18711 BUSINESS PHONE: (570) 820-2400 8-A12B 1 a2119689z8-a12b.htm FORM 8-A12B
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-A

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware   75-0571592

 
(State of Incorporation or Organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One PEI Center
Second Floor
Wilkes-Barre, PA
(570) 820-2400

 




18711

 
(Address of Principal Executive Office)   (Zip Code)

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), please check the following box: ý

 

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), please check the following box: o

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: 333-102388

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of Each Class to be so Registered

  Name of Each Exchange on Which
Each Class is to be Registered

Depositary Shares, each representing one-tenth of a share of 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A   New York Stock Exchange

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None



INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

        The class of securities to be registered hereby is the Depositary Shares, each representing a one-tenth interest in a share of 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A of Southern Union Company, a Delaware corporation.

        For a description of the Registrant's Depositary Shares being registered hereby, including the 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, which is represented by the Depositary Shares, reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement dated October 1, 2003 to the Prospectus, dated April 18, 2003, contained in the Registration Statement (SEC File No. 333-102388) on Form S-3 of Southern Union Company, Southern Union Financing II and Southern Union Financing III, filed with the Commission on January 7, 2003, as amended and supplemented, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2. Exhibits.

Exhibit
No.

  Description
3.1     Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Filed as Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).
3.2     Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, which was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware and became effective on October 26, 1999. (Filed as Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference.)
3.3     Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended. (Filed as Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference.)
4.1*   Form of Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights re: Southern Union Company 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A.
4.2*   Form of Deposit Agreement between the Registrant and the depositary named therein.
4.3     Form of Depositary Receipt is included as Exhibit A of the Deposit Agreement (Exhibit No. 4.2 of this Form 8-A).

*
Filed herewith


SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

    SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY

Dated: October 2, 2003

 

By:

/s/  
DENNIS K. MORGAN      
Dennis K. Morgan
Executive Vice President—Administration and General Counsel



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INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURE
EX-4.1 3 a2119689zex-4_1.htm EXHIBIT 4.1
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Exhibit No. 4.1


SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY

[FORM OF]

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS

Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A
(Without Par Value)

        In accordance with Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), the undersigned, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the Executive Vice President—Administration, General Counsel and Secretary, of Southern Union Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), hereby certify, on behalf of the Corporation, that:

        FIRST:    The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as amended, the "Certificate of Incorporation") fixes the total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue at 206,000,000, of which 6,000,000 shares shall be preferred stock, without par value, and of which 200,000,000 shares shall be common stock, with a par value of $1.00 per share.

        SECOND:    The Certificate of Incorporation expressly grants the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") authority to provide for the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series, with such voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and such qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as the Board shall designate.

        THIRD:    Pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board by the Certificate of Incorporation and by Sections 141(c) and 151 of the DGCL, the Board, on September 25, 2003, by unanimous written consent, (i) duly authorized and approved the issuance and sale by the Corporation of new shares of preferred stock of the Corporation and depositary shares representing such shares of preferred stock, and (ii) authorized and directed a committee, consisting of the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation (the "Offering Committee"), to act on behalf of the Board to finalize the terms and conditions of the 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (the "7.55% Preferred Stock") and the depositary shares, including, without limitation, the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights to be filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware and the pricing of the offering of such securities.

        FOURTH:    Pursuant to authority conferred by the Board and by Section 141(c) of the DGCL, the Offering Committee, on October 1, 2003, duly adopted the following resolutions providing for the terms and conditions of the 7.55% Preferred Stock, which resolutions are still in effect and are not in conflict with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or of the Bylaws of the Corporation:

            "RESOLVED, that the Offering Committee, pursuant to the authority vested in it by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Southern Union Company (the "Corporation") and by Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, hereby authorizes the designations and issuance of up to 920,000 shares of a series of preferred stock, without par value, of the Corporation (including the form of stock certificate representing such shares, substantially in the form previously presented to the Offering Committee), with such voting powers, designations,


    preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and such qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as follows:

        A. 7.55% Preferred Stock:

      1. Number of Shares and Designation. 920,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value, of the Corporation are hereby constituted as a series of preferred stock and designated as 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (hereinafter called the "7.55% Preferred Stock").

      2. Ranking. The 7.55% Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of the Corporation's assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, senior to the Corporation's common stock and any other series of stock authorized to be issued by the Corporation which ranks junior to the 7.55% Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and distributions of the Corporation's assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

      3. Dividends. Dividends on the stated value per share of the 7.55% Preferred Stock are noncumulative, accrue from the date of issuance, and are payable quarterly on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing January 15, 2004 to holders of record on the last business day of the preceding month, when, as and if declared by the Board, out of assets of the Corporation legally available therefor. The dividend rate on the 7.55% Preferred Stock is 7.55% per annum. Quarterly dividend periods will commence on the first days of January, April, July and October, except that the initial dividend period (October 8, 2003 through December 31, 2003) will commence on the date of original issue.

              If any date on which dividends would otherwise be payable is a national or New York State holiday, or if banking institutions in New York State are closed because of a banking moratorium or otherwise on such date, then the dividend payment date will be the next day on which banks in New York State are open.

              The amount of dividends payable for any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be computed on the basis of 30-day months, a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the period. The stated value per share of 7.55% Preferred Stock is $250.

              When dividends are not declared and paid in full upon the 7.55% Preferred Stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to payment of dividends with the 7.55% Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to payment of dividends shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on the 7.55% Preferred Stock and such other preferred stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the 7.55% Preferred Stock (without accumulation of accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods unless previously declared) and such other preferred stock bear to each other. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, unless full dividends for the three immediately preceding dividend periods and the then-current dividend period (or in the event there have been fewer than three full dividend periods, then for each dividend period since the date of original issuance of the 7.55% Preferred Stock) on the 7.55% Preferred Stock have been, or contemporaneously are, paid, or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, no dividends (whether cash, stock or other) may be declared or paid or set aside for payment, nor shall any other distributions be made on the common stock or any other security of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the 7.55% Preferred Stock as to payment of dividend or distributions of assets upon the Corporation's liquidation, dissolution or winding up, nor shall any common stock or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the 7.55% Preferred Stock as to payment of dividend or distribution of assets upon the Corporation's liquidation, dissolution or winding up be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (nor shall

2



      any moneys be paid to, or made available for, a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the 7.55% Preferred Stock as to payment of dividend and distribution of assets upon Corporation's liquidation, dissolution or winding up).

      4. Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the 7.55% Preferred Stock at the time outstanding will be entitled to receive out of assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to the 7.55% Preferred Stock as to distribution of assets upon the Corporation's liquidation, dissolution or winding up, liquidating distributions in the amount of $250 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the date of final distribution (without accumulation of accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods unless previously declared, in which case accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods shall be paid at liquidation).

              If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, its assets, or proceeds thereof, distributable among the holders of shares of 7.55% Preferred Stock or any stock ranking equally with the 7.55% Preferred Stock as to distribution of assets upon liquidation shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amounts to which such stock would be entitled, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributable among such holders ratably in accordance with the respective amounts which would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full.

              Neither a consolidation nor merger of the Corporation, nor a sale, lease, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, will be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up under the above liquidation provisions.

      5. Redemption. The 7.55% Preferred Stock will not be redeemable prior to October 8, 2008. The 7.55% Preferred Stock will be redeemable, at the option of the Corporation, in whole or in part from time to time on or after October 8, 2008, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at $250 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the redemption date (without accumulation of accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods unless previously declared, in which case accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods shall be paid at redemption). If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of 7.55% Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed shall be determined by the Board, and such shares shall be redeemed pro rata, by lot or by any other method which may be determined by the Board to be equitable. For any shares to be redeemed, dividends will cease to accrue and all rights of holders of such shares, except the right to receive the redemption price, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the redemption date (without accumulation of accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods unless previously declared, in which case accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods shall be redeemed at redemption), will cease as of the redemption date.

              In the event the Corporation shall redeem shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock, notice of such redemption shall be sent by first class mail (postage prepaid), overnight mail (expenses prepaid) or facsimile not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, to each holder of record of the shares to be redeemed, at such holder's address as the same appears on the stock register of the Corporation. Each such notice shall state: (1) the

3



      redemption date; (2) the number of shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; (4) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (5) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date. Any notice which is sent in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the stockholder receives such notice, and failure duly to give such notice, or any defect in such notice, to any holder of shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock.

              If notice pursuant to the second paragraph of this Section 5 shall have been duly given, and if, on or before the redemption date specified therein, all funds necessary for such redemption shall have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holder of the share called for redemption so as to be and continue to be available therefore, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for shares so called for redemption shall not have been surrendered for cancellation, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding for any purpose (including Section 6 below) on and after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on redemption thereof, without interest.

              If notice pursuant to the second paragraph of this Section 5 shall have been duly given, or if the Corporation shall have given to the bank or trust company hereinafter referred to irrevocable authorization promptly to give such notice, and if on or before the redemption date specified therein all funds necessary for such redemption shall have been deposited by the Corporation with such bank or trust company in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holder of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for shares so called for redemption shall not have been surrendered for cancellation, from and after the time of such deposit, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding for any purpose (including Section 6 below) and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive from such bank or trust company the amount payable on redemption thereof, without interest. The aforesaid bank or trust company shall be organized and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America or of the State of New York, shall be doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, shall have capital and surplus aggregating at least $50,000,000 according to its last published statement of condition and shall be identified in the notice of redemption. Any interest accrued on such funds shall be paid to the Corporation from time to time.

              If any dividends on the 7.55% Preferred Stock have been declared but are unpaid, until all such dividends have been paid or set apart for payment, the Corporation will not redeem any 7.55% Preferred Stock unless all outstanding 7.55% Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed and shall not purchase or otherwise acquire any 7.55% Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of 7.55% Preferred Stock by the Corporation pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of 7.55% Preferred Stock.

              The 7.55% Preferred Stock will not be entitled to the benefits of any sinking fund.

              Shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock reacquired by the Corporation (or any successor entity) upon redemption or otherwise will have the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation, undesignated as to series, and may, with any and all other

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      authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation, be designated and issued as part of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation.

      6. Voting Rights. Holders of the 7.55% Preferred Stock have no voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise provided by law. In the event that any six quarterly dividends (whether or not consecutive and whether or not earned or declared) have not been paid in full on the 7.55% Preferred Stock, the holders of the 7.55% Preferred Stock will have the right, voting separately as a class with holders of shares of any one or more other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity with the 7.55% Preferred Stock, either as to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon the Corporation's liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, at the next meeting of stockholders called for the election of directors, to elect two members of the Board (the "Preferred Directors") and the size of the Board will be increased accordingly to effect such election. The right of such holders of such shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock to elect (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of preferred stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) members of the Board will continue until such time as full dividends on the 7.55% Preferred Stock have been paid or declared and set apart regularly for at least one year (i.e., four consecutive full quarterly dividend periods), at which time such right will terminate, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent failure to pay dividends of the character described above. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of preferred stock, including the 7.55% Preferred Stock, to vote as a class for directors, the term of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class will terminate immediately.

              Holders of 7.55% Preferred Stock, together with holders of such other preferred stock entitled to elect Preferred Directors, voting together as a class, may remove and replace either of the directors they elected. If the office of either such director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal, the remaining director may choose a successor who will hold office for the unexpired term of the vacant office.

              Without the vote, whether voting in person or by proxy, or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock, the Corporation may not: (i) create or issue any class of stock ranking prior to the 7.55% Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon the Corporation's liquidation, dissolution or winding up or (ii) adopt, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, any amendment to the Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), which adversely alters the preferences, powers or special rights of the 7.55% Preferred Stock.

              On any item in which the holders of 7.55% Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, such holders will be entitled to one vote for each share of 7.55% Preferred Stock held.

      7. Conversion. The holders of the 7.55% Preferred Stock will not have any rights to convert shares of the 7.55% Preferred Stock into shares of any other class or series of capital stock (or any other security) of the Corporation.

5


    B. Depositary Shares and Depositary. The 7.55% Preferred Stock shall initially be represented by depositary shares (the "Depositary Shares"), as evidenced by depositary receipts, each Depositary Share representing ownership of one-tenth of a share of 7.55% Preferred Stock. The shares of 7.55% Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares will initially be deposited with Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as depositary (the "Depositary"), under a Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit Agreement") among the Corporation, the Depositary and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts issued by the Depositary. Subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share will be entitled, in proportion to the one-tenth of a share of the 7.55% Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Share, to all the rights and preferences of the 7.55% Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Share (including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights). Since each share of 7.55% Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote on matters on which the 7.55% Preferred Stock is entitled to vote, each Depositary Share will, in effect, be entitled to one-tenth of a vote, rather than one full vote, per Depositary Share.

            Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, is the transfer agent, registrar and depositary for the Depositary Shares and the 7.55% Preferred Stock.

    C. Notices. All notices or communications, unless otherwise specified in the By-Laws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or otherwise in these resolutions, shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or sent by first-class mail (postage prepaid), facsimile, or overnight delivery service. Notice shall be deemed given on the earlier of the date received or the date such notice is sent.

    D. Miscellaneous. The Board may interpret the provisions hereof to resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity that may arise or be revealed and if such inconsistency or ambiguity reflects an inaccurate provision hereof, the Board may, in appropriate circumstances, authorize the filing of a certificate of correction pursuant to Delaware law.

    E. Captions. The captions and headings set forth in these resolutions are for convenience or reference only and are not a part of, nor shall they affect the interpretation or construction of, these resolutions.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights to be signed by David J. Kvapil, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and attested by Dennis K. Morgan, Executive Vice President—Administration, General Counsel and Secretary, this    day of October, 2003.

6


    SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY

 

 

By:


Name: David J. Kvapil
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Attested to:

 

 

 

By:

 


Name:   Dennis K. Morgan
Title:   Executive Vice President—Administration,
General Counsel and Secretary

7




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SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY [FORM OF] CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
EX-4.2 4 a2119689zex-4_2.htm EXHIBIT 4.2
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(FORM OF)

SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY

WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Depositary

AND

THE HOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME OF THE DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
DESCRIBED HEREIN


DEPOSIT AGREEMENT





TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
PARTIES   1
RECITALS   1

ARTICLE I
Definitions

Certificate

 

1
Company   1
Deposit Agreement   1
Depositary   1
Depositary Shares   1
Depositary's Agent   1
Depositary's Office   2
Receipt   2
Record Holder   2
Registrar   2
Stock   2
Transfer Agent   2

ARTICLE II
Form of Receipts, Deposit of Stock, Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Redemption of Receipts

SECTION 2.01.

 

Form and Transfer of Receipts

 

2
SECTION 2.02.   Deposit of Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof.   3
SECTION 2.03.   Redemption of Stock 4    
SECTION 2.04.   Registration of Transfer of Receipts   6
SECTION 2.05.   Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Stock   6
SECTION 2.06.   Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts   7
SECTION 2.07.   Lost Receipts, etc.   7
SECTION 2.08.   Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts   7
SECTION 2.09.   Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding up of the Affairs of the Company   8

ARTICLE III
Certain Obligations of Holders of Receipts and the Company

SECTION 3.01.

 

Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information 8

 

 
SECTION 3.02.   Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges   8
SECTION 3.03.   Warranty as to Stock and Receipts   8

ARTICLE IV
The Deposited Securities; Notices

SECTION 4.01.

 

Cash Distributions

 

9
SECTION 4.02.   Distributions Other Than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges   9
SECTION 4.03.   Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges   10
SECTION 4.04.   Notice of Dividends; Fixing of Record Date for Holders of Receipts   10
SECTION 4.05.   Voting Rights   11
SECTION 4.06.   Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc.   11
         

i


SECTION 4.07.   Inspection of Reports   12
SECTION 4.08.   Lists of Receipt Holders   12

ARTICLE V The Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company

]SECTION 5.01.

 

Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar

 

12
SECTION 5.02.   Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar or the Company   13
SECTION 5.03.   Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company   13
SECTION 5.04.   Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary   14
SECTION 5.05.   Corporate Notices and Reports   15
SECTION 5.06.   Indemnification by the Company   15
SECTION 5.07.   Charges and Expenses   15

ARTICLE VI Amendment and Termination

SECTION 6.01.

 

Amendment

 

16
SECTION 6.02.   Termination   16

ARTICLE VII Miscellaneous

SECTION 7.01.

 

Counterparts

 

17
SECTION 7.02.   Exclusive Benefit of Parties   17
SECTION 7.03.   Invalidity of Provisions   17
SECTION 7.04.   Notices   17
SECTION 7.05.   Depositary's Agents 18    
SECTION 7.06.   Holders of Receipts Are Parties   18
SECTION 7.07.   Governing Law   18
SECTION 7.08.   Inspection of Deposit Agreement   18
SECTION 7.09.   Headings   18
SECTION 7.10.   Power and Authority   18

ii


        DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of October    , 2003 among SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, and the holders from time to time of the Receipts described herein.

        WHEREAS it is desired to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of shares of 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, without par value, of Southern Union Company with the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement and for the issuance hereunder of Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares in respect of the Stock so deposited; and

        WHEREAS the Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

        The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:

        "Certificate"shall mean the certificate of designations, preferences and rights filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware establishing the Stock as a series of preferred stock of the Company.

        "Company"shall mean Southern Union Company, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

        "Deposit Agreement" shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

        "Depositary"shall mean Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, and any successor as Depositary hereunder.

        "Depositary Shares"shall mean Depositary Shares, each representing one-tenth of a share of Stock and evidenced by a Receipt.

        "Depositary's Agent"shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary pursuant to Section 7.05.

        "Depositary's Office"shall mean the principal office of the Depositary in South St. Paul, Minnesota (with drop-box services in New York, New York), at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered.

        "Receipt"shall mean one of the Depositary Receipts (each evidencing one Depositary Share) issued hereunder, whether in definitive or temporary form.

        "Record Holder"as applied to a Depositary Share or Receipt shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.

        "Registrar"shall mean any entity, which shall be appointed to register ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.

        "Stock"shall mean shares of the Company's 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, without par value, having a liquidation preference of $250, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.06.

        "Transfer Agent"shall mean any entity, which shall be appointed to serve as transfer agent for the Depositary Shares.

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ARTICLE II

Form of Receipts, Deposit of Stock, Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Redemption of Receipts

        SECTION 2.01. Form and Transfer of Receipts. Definitive Receipts shall be engraved or printed or lithographed on steel-engraved borders and shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. Pending the preparation of definitive Receipts, the Depositary, upon the written order of the Company or any holder of Stock, as the case may be, delivered in compliance with Section 2.02, shall execute and deliver temporary Receipts which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise substantially of the tenor of the definitive Receipts in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the persons executing such Receipts may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Receipts. If temporary Receipts are issued, the Company will cause definitive Receipts to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Receipts, the temporary Receipts shall be exchangeable for definitive Receipts upon surrender of the temporary Receipts at an office described in the last paragraph of Section 2.02, without charge to the holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Receipts, the Depositary shall execute and deliver in exchange therefor definitive Receipts representing the same number of Depositary Shares as represented by the surrendered temporary Receipt or Receipts. Such exchange shall be made at the Company's expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Receipts shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Deposit Agreement, and with respect to the Stock, as definitive Receipts.

        Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary; provided, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed manually by a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned manually by a duly authorized officer of such Registrar. The Depositary or the Registrar, as applicable, shall record on its books each Receipt so signed and delivered as hereinafter provided.

        Receipts shall be in denominations of any number of whole Depositary Shares up to but not in excess of Depositary Shares for any particular Receipt.

        Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Company or the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject.

        Title to Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt which is properly endorsed, or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that until transfer of a Receipt shall be registered on the books of the Depositary as provided in Section 2.04, the Depositary shall, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the record holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.

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        SECTION 2.02. Deposit of Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Company or any holder of Stock may from time to time deposit shares of the Stock under this Deposit Agreement by delivery to the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for the Stock to be deposited, properly endorsed or accompanied, if required by the Depositary, by a duly executed instrument of transfer or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Depositary, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and together with a written order of the Company or such holder, as the case may be, directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares representing such deposited Stock.

        Upon receipt by the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for Stock deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section, together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon proper registration of the Stock on the books of the Company in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver, to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the written order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares representing the Stock so deposited and registered in such name or names as may be requested by such person or persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary's Office or such other offices, if any, as the Depositary may designate. Delivery at other offices shall be at the risk and expense of the person requesting such delivery.

        Other than in the case of splits, combinations or other reclassifications affecting the Stock, or in the case of dividends or other distributions of stock, if any, there shall be deposited hereunder not more than            shares of Stock.

        In accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.02 and concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, the Company is delivering to the Depositary a certificate or certificates, registered in the name of the Depositary and evidencing            shares of Stock, together with (i) all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and (ii) a written order of the Company directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts for the                        Depositary Shares. The certificate or certificates evidencing the Stock shall be held by the Depositary, at the Depositary's Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine. The Company hereby authorizes the Depositary, in its capacity as Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Stock, to reflect changes in the number of shares (including any fractional shares) of Stock from time to time held by the Depositary by notation, book entry or other appropriate method and the Depositary, in its capacity as aforesaid, agrees, upon request, to furnish the Company with regular reports as to the number of shares of Stock from time to time held under this Deposit Agreement.

        The Depositary hereby acknowledges receipt of                        shares of Stock together with the other documents required as above specified and, concurrently with such receipt, has caused to be delivered, to or upon the order of the Company, one or more Receipts evidencing                        Depositary Shares in such denominations and registered in such name or names as are specified in such Company order.

        SECTION 2.03. Redemption of Stock. Whenever the Company shall elect to redeem shares of Stock in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate, it shall (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Depositary) give the Depositary not less than 31 nor more than 61 days' notice of the date of such proposed redemption of Stock and of the number of shares held by the Depositary to be so redeemed, which notice shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Company stating that such

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redemption of Stock is in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate. Such notice, if given more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, shall be in addition to the notice required to be given for redemption pursuant to the Certificate. On the date of such redemption, provided that the Company shall then have paid in full to the Depositary the redemption price of the Stock to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared), together with any accrued and unpaid dividends declared for prior dividend periods, the Depositary shall redeem the number of Depositary Shares representing such Stock. The Depositary shall mail notice of such redemption and the proposed simultaneous redemption of the number of Depositary Shares representing the Stock to be redeemed, first-class postage prepaid, not less than 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption of such Stock and Depositary Shares (the "Redemption Date") to the record holders of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed, at the addresses of such holders as they appear on the records of the Depositary; but neither failure to mail any such notice to one or more such holders nor any defect in any notice to one or more such holders shall affect the sufficiency of the proceedings for redemption as to other holders. Each such notice shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of Depositary Shares to be redeemed and, if less than all the Depositary Shares held by any such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such Depositary Shares held by such holder to be so redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends in respect of the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such Redemption Date. In case less than all the outstanding Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed shall be selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the Depositary to be equitable.

        Notice having been mailed by the Depositary as aforesaid, from and after the Redemption Date (unless the Company shall have failed to redeem the shares of Stock to be redeemed by it as set forth in the Company's notice provided for in the preceding paragraph) all dividends in respect of the shares of Stock so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, the Depositary Shares being redeemed from such proceeds shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding, all rights of the holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid dividends from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared but without accumulation of any dividends for prior dividend periods unless previously declared, in which case accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods shall be paid at redemption)) shall, to the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate and, upon surrender in accordance with such notice of the Receipts evidencing any such Depositary Shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary shall so require), such Depositary Shares shall be redeemed by the Depositary at a redemption price per Depositary Share equal to one-tenth of the redemption price per share paid in respect of the shares of Stock plus all money and other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares, including all amounts paid by the Company in respect of dividends which on the Redemption Date have accrued on the shares of Stock to be so redeemed from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared) and have not theretofore been paid (without accumulation of any dividends for prior dividend periods unless previously declared, in which case accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods shall be paid at redemption).

        If less than all the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the holder of such Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the redemption payment, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called for redemption.

        SECTION 2.04. Registration of Transfer of Receipts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall register on its books from time to time transfers of Receipts

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upon any surrender thereof by the holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered and deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.

        SECTION 2.05. Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Stock. Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary's Office or at such other offices as it may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts in the authorized denomination or denominations requested, evidencing the aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.

        Any holder of a Receipt or Receipts representing any number of whole shares of Stock may withdraw the Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby by surrendering such Receipt or Receipts, at the Depositary's Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals.

        Thereafter, without unreasonable delay, the Depositary shall deliver to such holder, or to the person or persons designated by such holder as hereinafter provided, the number of whole shares of Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by the Receipt or Receipts for such whole shares of Stock so surrendered for withdrawal, but holders of such whole shares of Stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such Stock hereunder or to receive Depositary Shares therefor. In no event will fractional shares of Stock be delivered upon surrender of Receipts to the Depositary. If a Receipt delivered by the holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of Stock to be so withdrawn, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such number of whole shares of Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be so withdrawn, deliver to such holder, or (subject to Section 2.03) upon his order, a new Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares. Delivery of the Stock and money and other property being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate.

        If the Stock and the money and other property being withdrawn are to be delivered to a person or persons other than the record holder of the Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of Stock, such holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order so directing the Depositary and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or Receipts surrendered by such holder for withdrawal of such shares of Stock be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer.

        Delivery of the Stock and the money and other property, if any, represented by Receipts surrendered for withdrawal shall be made by the Depositary at the Depositary's Office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the account of the holder thereof, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designed by such holder.

        SECTION 2.06. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any Receipt, the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the Company may require payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Company shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any charges or expenses payable by the holder of a Receipt pursuant to Section 5.07, may require the production of evidence satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require

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compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

        The deposit of Stock may be refused, the delivery of Receipts against Stock may be suspended, the registration of transfer of Receipts may be refused and the registration of transfer, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts may be suspended (i) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Company is closed or (ii) if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any shares of Stock which are required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement under such Act is in effect as to such shares of Stock.

        SECTION 2.07. Lost Receipts, etc. In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary in its discretion may execute and deliver a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, upon (i) the filing by the holder thereof with the Depositary of evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction or loss or theft of such Receipt, of the authenticity thereof and of his or her ownership thereof and (ii) the furnishing of the Depositary with reasonable indemnification satisfactory to it. Every new Receipt issued pursuant to this Section 2.07 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt shall constitute an additional contractual obligation under this Deposit Agreement, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

        SECTION 2.08. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts. All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary's Agent shall be canceled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation, the Depositary is authorized to destroy all Receipts so canceled.

        SECTION 2.09. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding up of the Affairs of the Company. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, upon receipt by the Depositary of cash in an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the shares of Stock held by the Depositary, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the date of final distribution, together with any dividends that have been declared but have not been paid on or prior to the date of final distribution to the record holders of Stock, either in one distribution or as the final distribution in a series of liquidating distributions, the Depositary shall deliver the applicable number of certificates representing shares of Stock, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, to the Company. The Depositary shall distribute such cash to record holders of Receipts in proportion to the number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such record holders; provided, however, that as a condition to the distribution to the holders of Depositary Shares of such cash, the Depositary shall require the surrender of the Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares.

ARTICLE III

Certain Obligations of Holders of Receipts and the Company

        SECTION 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any holder of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file such proof of residence, or other matters or other information, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Company may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary or the Company may withhold the delivery, or delay the registration of transfer, redemption or exchange, of any Receipt or the withdrawal of the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by any Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other distribution or the sale of any rights or of the proceeds thereof until such proof or

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other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties are made.

        SECTION 3.02. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges. Holders of Receipts shall be obligated to make payments to the Depositary of certain charges and expenses, as provided in Section 5.07. Registration of transfer of any Receipt or any withdrawal of Stock and all money or other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be refused until any such payment due is made, and any dividends, interest payments or other distributions may be withheld or any part of or all the Stock or other property represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt and not theretofore sold may be sold for the account of the holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to notify such holder prior to such sale), and such dividends, interest payments or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such charges or expenses, the holder of such Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.

        SECTION 3.03. Warranty as to Stock and Receipts. The Company hereby represents and warrants that (i) the            shares of Stock deposited with the Depositary on the date of this Deposit Agreement have been validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and (ii) the Receipts, when issued, will represent legal and valid interests in the Stock. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of the Stock and the issuance of Receipts.

ARTICLE IV

The Deposited Securities; Notices

        SECTION 4.01. Cash Distributions. Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on or with respect to Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, distribute to record holders of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.04 such amounts of such dividend or distribution as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such holders; provided, however, that in case the Company or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall not be required to attribute to any holder of Depositary Shares a fraction of one cent. In such event, the Depositary will add the undistributed balance to and treat it as part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to holders of Receipts.

        SECTION 4.02. Distributions Other Than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges. Whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, preferences or privileges upon Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, distribute to record holders of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.04 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such holders, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such record holders, or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes) the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Company, such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Company, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, be distributed or made available for distribution, as the case may be, by the Depositary to record holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Company shall not make any distribution of such securities unless the Company shall have provided an opinion of counsel stating

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that such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or do not need to be registered.

        SECTION 4.03. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges. If the Company shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the persons in whose names Stock is recorded on the books of the Company any rights, preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences or privileges shall in each such instance be made available by the Depositary to the record holders of Receipts in such manner as the Depositary may determine, either by the issue to such record holders of warrants representing such rights, preferences or privileges or by such other method as may be approved by the Depositary in its discretion with the approval of the Company; provided, however, that (i) if at the time of issue or offer of any such rights, preferences or privileges the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or (after consultation with the Company) not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available to holders of Receipts by the issue of warrants or otherwise, or (ii) if and to the extent so instructed by holders of Receipts who do not desire to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges, then the Depositary, in its discretion (with the approval of the Company, in any case where the Depositary has determined that it is not feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available), may, if applicable laws or the terms of such rights, preferences or privileges permit such transfer, sell such rights, preferences or privileges at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, be distributed by the Depositary to the record holders of Receipts entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Company shall not make any distribution of any such rights, preferences or privileges unless the Company shall have provided an opinion of counsel stating that such rights, preferences or privileges have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or do not need to be registered.

        If in order for holders of Receipts to be offered or sold the securities to which any rights, preferences or privileges relate, registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of the securities to which such rights, preferences or privileges relate is required, the Company will promptly file a registration statement pursuant to such Act with respect to such rights, preferences or privileges and securities and use its best efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the holders of Receipts any right, preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless and until such a registration statement with respect thereto shall have become effective, or unless the offering and sale of such securities to such holders are exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act.

        If any other action under the laws of any jurisdiction or any governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to holders of Receipts, the Company will use its best efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges.

        SECTION 4.04. Notice of Dividends; Fixing of Record Date for Holders of Receipts. Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or if rights, preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to Stock, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of which holders of Stock are entitled to vote or any meeting of which holders of Stock are entitled to notice, or whenever the Depositary and the Company shall decide it is appropriate, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Company with respect to the Stock) for the determination of the holders of Receipts who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give

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instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or who shall be entitled to notice of such meeting or for any other appropriate reason.

        SECTION 4.05. Voting Rights. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the record holders of Receipts a notice which shall contain (i) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting and (ii) a statement that the holders may, subject to any applicable restrictions, instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Stock represented by their respective Depositary Shares (including an express indication that instructions may be given to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company) and a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. The Depositary shall also forward to record holders of Receipts any related proxy materials furnished by the Company concerning action to be taken at such meeting. Upon the written request of the holders of Receipts on the relevant record date, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum number of whole shares of Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by all Receipts as to which any particular voting instructions are received. To the extent any such instructions request the voting of a fraction of a share of Stock, the Depositary shall aggregate such fraction with all other fractions resulting from requests with the same voting instructions and shall vote the number of whole shares resulting from such aggregation in accordance with the instructions received in such request. The Company hereby agrees to take all reasonable action requested by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such Stock or cause such Stock to be voted. In the absence of specific instructions from the holder of a Receipt, the Depositary will abstain from voting (but, at its discretion, not from appearing at any meeting with respect to such Stock unless directed to the contrary by the holders of all the Receipts) to the extent of the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.

        SECTION 4.06. Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc. Upon any change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or any other reclassification of the Stock, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation affecting the Company or to which it is a party, the Depositary may in its discretion with the approval of, and shall upon the instructions of, the Company, and (in either case) in such manner as the Depositary may deem equitable, (i) make such adjustments as are certified by the Company in (x) the fraction of an interest represented by one Depositary Share in one share of Stock and (y) the ratio of the redemption price per Depositary Share to the redemption price of a share of Stock, in each case as may be necessary fully to reflect the effects of such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of Stock, or of such recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and (ii) treat any securities which shall be received by the Depositary in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of the Stock as new deposited securities under this Deposit Agreement, and Receipts then outstanding shall thenceforth represent the new deposited securities so received in exchange for or upon conversion or in respect of such Stock. In any such case the Depositary may in its discretion, with the approval of the Company, execute and deliver additional Receipts, or may call for the surrender of all outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new deposited securities. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, holders of Receipts shall have the right from and after the effective date of any such change in par or stated value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the Stock or any such recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation to surrender such Receipts to the Depositary with instructions to convert, exchange or surrender the Stock represented thereby only into or for, as the case may be, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property and cash into which the Stock represented by such Receipts might have been converted or for which such Stock might have been exchanged or surrendered immediately prior to the effective date of such transaction.

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        SECTION 4.07. Inspection of Reports. The Depositary shall make available for inspection by holders of Receipts at the Depositary's Office, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications received from the Company which are received by the Depositary as the holder of Stock.

        SECTION 4.08. Lists of Receipt Holders. Promptly upon request from time to time by the Company, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all persons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary.

ARTICLE V

The Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company

        SECTION 5.01. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Registrar. Upon execution of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall maintain at the Depositary's Office, or at the Registrar's office, at which the Depositary shall have complete access to all books and records maintained on the Company's behalf, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration and registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, and at the offices of the Depositary's Agents, if any, facilities for the delivery, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of Receipts, all in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

        The Depositary shall keep books at the Depositary's Office for the registration and registration of transfer of Receipts, which books at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the record holders of Receipts; provided, that any such holder requesting to exercise such right shall certify to the Depositary that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as an owner Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts.

        The Depositary may close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.

        The Depositary may, with the approval of the Company, appoint a Registrar for registration of the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby. If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the Stock represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Depositary will appoint a Registrar (acceptable to the Company) for registration of such Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such Exchange. Such Registrar (which may be the Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of such Exchange) may be removed and a substitute registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Company. If the Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such Stock are listed on one or more other stock exchanges, the Depositary will, at the request of the Company, arrange such facilities for the delivery, registration, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of such Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such Stock as may be required by law or applicable stock exchange regulation.

        SECTION 5.02. Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar or the Company. Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor the Company shall incur any liability to any holder of any Receipt if by reason of any provision of any present or future law, or regulation thereunder, of the United States of America or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent or the Registrar, by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (including the Certificate), or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent, the Registrar or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subject to any penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any Registrar or the Company

10



incur any liability to any holder of a Receipt (i) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall or may be done or performed, or (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement except, in case of any such exercise or failure to exercise discretion not caused as aforesaid, if caused by the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the party charged with such exercise or failure to exercise.

        SECTION 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company. Neither the Depositary nor its affiliates nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Company assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to holders of Receipts other than for its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

        Neither the Depositary nor its affiliates nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of the Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts which in its reasonable opinion may involve it in expense or liability unless indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against all reasonable expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.

        Neither the Depositary nor its affiliates nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Company shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in reliance upon the written advice of legal counsel or accountants, or information from any person presenting Stock for deposit, any holder of a Receipt or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such information. The Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any Registrar, any Transfer Agent and the Company may each rely and shall each be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

        The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote any of the shares of Stock or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Depositary.

        The Depositary undertakes, and any Registrar shall be required to undertake, to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Deposit Agreement against the Depositary or any Registrar.

        The Depositary will indemnify the Company against any liability which may directly arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its agents due to its or their negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

        The Depositary, its affiliates, the Depositary's Agents, and any Registrar or Transfer Agent may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts. The Depositary or its affiliates may also act as transfer agent or registrar of any of the securities of the Company and its affiliates.

        SECTION 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by having notice of its election to do so delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

        The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

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        In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall, within 90 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor Depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If no successor Depositary shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 90 days after delivery of such notice, the resigning or removed Depositary may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Depositary. Every successor Depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Stock and any moneys or property held hereunder to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the record holders of all outstanding Receipts. Any successor Depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the record holders of Receipts.

        Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged, consolidated or converted shall be the successor of such Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act, and notice thereof shall not be required hereunder. Such successor Depositary may authenticate the Receipts in the name of the predecessor Depositary or in the name of the successor Depositary.

        SECTION 5.05. Corporate Notices and Reports. The Company agrees that it will transmit to the record holders of Receipts, in each case at the addresses furnished to it pursuant to Section 4.08, all notices and reports (including without limitation financial statements) required by law, by the rules of any national securities exchange upon which the Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts are listed or by the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (including the Certificate), to be furnished by the Company to holders of Stock. Such transmission will be at the Company's expense and the Company will provide the Depositary with such number of copies of such documents as the Depositary may reasonably request. In addition, the Depositary will transmit to the record holders of Receipts such other documents as may be requested by the Company (at the expense of the Company).

        SECTION 5.06. Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify the Depositary, its affiliates, any of Depositary's Agents and any Registrar or Transfer Agent against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, liability, damage or expense (including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself) which may arise out of (a) acts performed or omitted in connection with this Deposit Agreement and the Receipts (i) by the Depositary, any Registrar or Transfer Agent or any of their respective agents (including any Depositary's Agent), except for any liability arising out of the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the respective parts of any such person or persons, or (ii) by the Company or any of its agents, or (b) the offer, sale or registration of the Receipts, Depositary Shares or the Stock pursuant to the provisions hereof. The obligations of the Company set forth in this Section 5.06 shall survive any succession of any Depositary, Depositary's Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent.

        SECTION 5.07. Charges and Expenses. The Company shall pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. The Company shall pay all charges of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the Stock and the initial issuance of the Depositary Shares, redemption of the Stock at the option of the Company and all withdrawals of shares of the Stock by owners of Depositary Shares. All other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges shall be at the expense of holders of Depositary Shares. If, at the request of a holder of Receipts, the Depositary incurs charges or expenses for which it is not otherwise liable hereunder, such holder will be liable for such charges and expenses. All other charges and expenses of

12



the Depositary and any Depositary's Agent hereunder and of any Registrar (including, in each case, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incident to the performance of their respective obligations hereunder will be paid upon consultation and agreement between the Depositary and the Company as to the amount and nature of such charges and expenses. The Depositary shall present its statement for charges and expenses to the Company once every three months or at such other intervals as the Company and the Depositary may agree.

ARTICLE VI

Amendment and Termination

        SECTION 6.01. Amendment. The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that no such amendment which shall impose any fees, taxes or charges payable by the holders of Receipts (other than any fees or charges of the Depositary provided for herein), or which shall materially and adversely affect any substantial existing rights of the holders of Receipts, shall be effective unless such amendment shall have been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the Depositary Shares then outstanding. Every holder of an outstanding Receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby.

        SECTION 6.02. Termination. This Deposit Agreement may be terminated (i) by the Company, upon mailing of written notice of termination to holders of Receipts at least 30 days prior to termination, or (ii) by the Depositary, if 90 days have elapsed after the Depositary delivered written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary is not appointed. In addition, this Deposit Agreement will automatically terminate if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares shall have been redeemed pursuant to Section 2.03 or (ii) there shall have been made a final distribution in respect of the Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution shall have been distributed to the holders of Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.01 or 4.02, as applicable.

        Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent and any Registrar or Transfer Agent under Sections 5.06 and 5.07.

ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous

        SECTION 7.01. Counterparts. This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

        SECTION 7.02. Exclusive Benefit of Parties. This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person whatsoever.

        SECTION 7.03. Invalidity of Provisions. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

13



        SECTION 7.04. Notices. Any and all notices to be given to the Company hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by first class mail (postage prepaid), overnight mail (expenses prepaid) or facsimile, addressed to the Company at One PEI Center, Second Floor, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18711 (fax: 570-829-8900), to the attention of the Secretary, or at any other address of which the Company shall have notified the Depositary in writing.

        Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by first class mail (postage prepaid), overnight mail (expenses prepaid) or facsimile, addressed to the Depositary at the Depositary's Office, at 161 N. Concord Exchange, South St. Paul, Minnesota 55075 (fax: 651-450-4078), to the attention of Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, or at any other address of which the Depositary shall have notified the Company in writing.

        Any and all notices to be given to any record holder of a Receipt hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by first class mail (postage prepaid), overnight mail (expenses prepaid) or facsimile, addressed to such record holder at the address of such record holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary, or if such holder shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such holder be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.

        A notice personally delivered shall be deemed to be effected when given against a written receipt, a notice sent by overnight mail shall be deemed to have been effected on the next business day at the place of delivery, a notice sent by mail shall be deemed to be effected five days after the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same is deposited, postage prepaid, in a United States post-office letter box and a notice sent by facsimile shall be deemed to be effected at the time the confirmation thereof is deemed to be effected; provided, however, that any notice or communication that is received other than during regular business hours of the recipient shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day of the recipient. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any facsimile or other electronic message received by it from any party or any holder of a Receipt, notwithstanding that such facsimile or electronic message shall not subsequently be confirmed as aforesaid.

        SECTION 7.05. Depositary's Agents. The Depositary may from time to time appoint, with the prior approval of the Company, Depositary's Agents to act in any respect for the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement and may at any time appoint additional Depositary's Agents and vary or terminate the appointment of such Depositary's Agents.

        SECTION 7.06. Holders of Receipts Are Parties. The holders of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance of delivery thereof.

        SECTION 7.07. Governing Law. This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, regardless of the choice of law principles thereof that might otherwise apply.

        SECTION 7.08. Inspection of Deposit Agreement. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Depositary's Agents and shall be open to inspection during business hours at the Depositary's Office and the respective offices of the Depositary's Agents, if any, by any holder of a Receipt.

        SECTION 7.09. Headings. The headings or articles and sections in this Deposit Agreement and in the form of the Receipt set forth in Exhibit A hereto have been inserted for convenience only and are

14


not to be regarded as a part of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts or to have any bearing upon the meaning or interpretation of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.

        SECTION 7.10. Power and Authority. The Company and the Depositary each represent to the other that it has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its respective obligations under this Deposit Agreement.

15


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Depositary have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and all holders of Receipts shall become parties hereto by and upon acceptance by them of delivery of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.

    SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY

 

 

By:

Title:
Attested by:WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Depositary By: Title:Attested by:      

Exhibt A

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL in as much as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

CUSIP NUMBER
844030601
  DEPOSITARY SHARES


DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES,
REPRESENTING 7.55% NONCUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A, WITHOUT PAR VALUE

SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY

SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE THIS DEPOSITARY RECEIPT IS TRANSFERABLE IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

        WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Depositary (the "Depositary"), hereby certifies that                        is the registered owner of                         Depositary Shares ("Depositary Shares"), each Depositary Share representing one-tenth (1/10) of one share of 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, without par value (stated value $250 per share), of Southern Union Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement dated as of October 8, 2003 (the "Deposit Agreement"), between the Corporation and the Depositary. By accepting this Depositary Receipt the holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement. This Depositary Receipt shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer or, if executed in facsimile by the Depositary, countersigned by a Registrar in respect of the Depositary Receipts by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer thereof.

Dated:

WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Depositary, Transfer Agent and Registrar

By:                                                 

Authorized Officer


(Reverse of Receipt)

SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY

        SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH RECEIPTHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND A STATEMENT OR SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF WHICH THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE AND OF THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. ANY SUCH REQUEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.


The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Depositary Receipt, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.

TEN COM     as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT     Custodian
TEN ENT     as tenants by the entireties           (Cust)(Minor)
JT TEN     as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common           under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

    

(State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list

For value received,                                          hereby sells; assigns and transfers unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF
ASSIGNEE



PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

Depositary Shares represented by the within Depositary Receipt, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said Depositary Shares on the books of the within-named Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated:            NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Depositary Receipt in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.




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DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES, REPRESENTING 7.55% NONCUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A, WITHOUT PAR VALUE
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