-----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, WAMDMPwucuHLy5M0N4j+tuUYtRZJ+IaGL1iCOBPztfIbiJydg0x9/I/4cEzzNe8e p9aQ/NjubKHZZ1wwGxfK7g== 0000041091-96-000016.txt : 19960819 0000041091-96-000016.hdr.sgml : 19960819 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000041091-96-000016 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 27 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960816 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GEORGIA POWER CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000041091 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 580257110 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-06037 FILM NUMBER: 96616880 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 PIEDMONT AVE NE CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 BUSINESS PHONE: 4045266526 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001016894 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-06037-01 FILM NUMBER: 96616881 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 PIEDMONT AVENUE N E CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 BUSINESS PHONE: 4045266526 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 PIEDMONT AVENUE N E CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001016897 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-06037-02 FILM NUMBER: 96616882 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 PIEDMONT AVENUE N E CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 BUSINESS PHONE: 4045266526 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 PIEDMONT AVENUE N E CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001016898 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-06037-03 FILM NUMBER: 96616883 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 PIEDMONT AVENUE N E CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 BUSINESS PHONE: 4045266526 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 PIEDMONT AVENUE N E CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 S-3/A 1 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 16, 1996. SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT. REGISTRATION NOS. 333-06037 333-06037-01 333-06037-02 333-06037-03 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 --------------------- AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 --------------------- GEORGIA POWER COMPANY GEORGIA 58-0257110 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I DELAWARE 51-6505000 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II DELAWARE 51-6505001 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III DELAWARE 51-6505002 (Exact name of registrant as specified in (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification its charter) incorporation or organization) No.)
333 PIEDMONT AVENUE, N.E. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308 (404) 526-6526 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of each registrant's principal executive offices) --------------------- JUDY M. ANDERSON VICE PRESIDENT AND CORPORATE SECRETARY GEORGIA POWER COMPANY 333 PIEDMONT AVENUE, N.E. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308 (404) 526-6526 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service of each registrant) --------------------- THE COMMISSION IS REQUESTED TO MAIL SIGNED COPIES OF ALL ORDERS, NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS TO: W . L . WESTBROOK JOHN D. MCLANAHAN, ESQ. FINANCIAL VICE PRESIDENT TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP THE SOUTHERN COMPANY 600 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. 270 PEACHTREE STREET, N.W. SUITE 5200 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308-2216
--------------------- APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement. If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. / / If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: /X/ If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / / __________ If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / / __________ If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. / / --------------------- CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM TITLE OF AMOUNT OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO BE PER OFFERING REGISTRATION TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED(1) UNIT(1)(2)(3) PRICE(1)(2)(3) FEE(1)(6) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Georgia Power Capital Trust I Preferred Securities........ - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Georgia Power Capital Trust II Preferred Securities....... - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Georgia Power Capital Trust III Preferred Securities...... - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Georgia Power Company Junior Subordinated Notes(4)........ - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Georgia Power Company Guarantees with respect to Preferred Securities of Georgia Power Capital Trust I, Georgia Power Capital Trust II and Georgia Power Capital Trust III(4)(5)................................................. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total..................................................... $400,000,000 100% $400,000,000 $137,932 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) There are being registered hereunder such presently indeterminate number of Preferred Securities of Georgia Power Capital Trust I, Georgia Power Capital Trust II and Georgia Power Capital Trust III with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $400,000,000, plus an indeterminate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes of Georgia Power Company with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $400,000,000 as may be distributed upon a dissolution of Georgia Power Capital Trust I, Georgia Power Capital Trust II or Georgia Power Capital Trust III and the distribution of the assets thereof, which would include such Junior Subordinated Notes for which no separate consideration will be received. Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum offering price of all the securities listed, the table does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered, proposed maximum offering price per unit or proposed maximum aggregate offering price. (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee. (3) Exclusive of accrued interest and distributions, if any. (4) No separate consideration will be received for the Georgia Power Company Junior Subordinates Notes or Guarantees. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) no separate fee is payable in respect of the Georgia Power Company Junior Subordinated Notes or Guarantees. (5) Includes the obligations of Georgia Power Company under the respective Trust Agreements, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the related series of Junior Subordinated Notes, the respective Guarantees and the respective Agreements as to Expenses and Liabilities, which include the Company's covenant to pay any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trusts (other than obligations pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or other similar interests), all as described in this registration statement. (6) Previously paid. --------------------- THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 16, 1996 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED AUGUST , 1996 9,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I % TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY) FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS SET FORTH HEREIN, BY GEORGIA POWER COMPANY A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SOUTHERN COMPANY --------------------------- The % Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") offered hereby evidence preferred undivided beneficial interests, representing 97% undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Georgia Power Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"). Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), will own all the common securities (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing the remaining 3% undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The Trust exists for the sole purpose of issuing the Preferred Securities and Common Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in an equivalent amount of the Company's Series A % junior subordinated deferrable interest notes due June 30, 2036 (the "Series A Junior Subordinated Notes"). The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be unsecured obligations of the Company and will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as described herein. See "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus. Holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions at the rate of % per annum (the "Securities Rate"), accruing from the date of original issuance and payable, unless deferred, quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each, a "Distribution Date"). --------------------------- (continued on page S-2) See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-7 for certain information relevant to an investment in the Preferred Securities, including the period and circumstances during and under which payments of distributions on the Preferred Securities may be deferred and the related United States federal income tax consequences of such deferral. --------------------------- Application has been made to list the Preferred Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE"). If approved, trading of the Preferred Securities on the NYSE is expected to commence within a 30-day period after the initial delivery of the Preferred Securities. See "Underwriting." --------------------------- THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Price to Underwriting Proceeds to Public(1) Discount(2)(3) Trust(2)(3)(4) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per Preferred Security...................... $ $ $ - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total....................................... $ $ $ - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Plus accrued distributions, if any, from the Issue Date. (2) The Company and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting." (3) Because the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities will be invested in Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Company has agreed to pay to the Underwriters, as compensation (the "Underwriters' Compensation") for arranging the investment therein of such proceeds, $ per Preferred Security, except for Preferred Securities sold to certain institutions, for which the Underwriters' Compensation will be $ per Preferred Security. Therefore, to the extent that Preferred Securities are sold to such institutions, the actual amount of Underwriters' Compensation will be less than and the Proceeds to Trust will be greater than the aggregate amounts specified above. See "Underwriting." (4) Expenses of the offering to be paid by the Company are estimated to be approximately $415,000. --------------------------- The Preferred Securities are offered severally by the Underwriters, as specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Preferred Securities will be made in book-entry only form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about August , 1996 (the "Issue Date"). --------------------------- LEHMAN BROTHERS DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC. A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. MERRILL LYNCH & CO. PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED THE ROBINSON-HUMPHREY COMPANY, INC. August , 1996 (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) The Securities Rate and the Distribution Dates for the Preferred Securities will correspond to the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, which will constitute substantially all the assets of the Trust. As a result, if principal or interest is not paid on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, no amounts will be paid on the Preferred Securities. THE COMPANY HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFER PAYMENTS OF INTEREST ON THE SERIES A JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES BY EXTENDING THE INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD ON THE SERIES A JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES, AT ANY TIME AND FROM TIME TO TIME, FOR UP TO 20 CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS (EACH, AN "EXTENSION PERIOD"). If interest payments are so deferred, distributions on the Preferred Securities also will be deferred and the Company will not be permitted to declare or pay any dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing, or make any payment on any debt securities issued by the Company which rank pari passu with or junior to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. During any Extension Period, holders of Preferred Securities will continue to accrue income for United States federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of the cash payments attributable to such deferred interest. See "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period," "Risk Factors -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period" and "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Original Issue Discount" and "-- Market Discount." Deferred installments of interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will bear interest, compounded quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to the Securities Rate. The payment of such deferred interest, together with interest thereon, will be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities as received at the end of any Extension Period. The Trust Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes at maturity or their earlier redemption. The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemable at the option of the Company (in whole or in part), from time to time, on or after August , 2001, or at any time in whole upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or Investment Company Act Event (either, a "Special Event"). The Company will have the right at any time to terminate the Trust and cause the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution." The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein) of the Company. See "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus. As of June 30, 1996, Senior Indebtedness of the Company aggregated approximately $3,825,000,000. If the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Company will use its best efforts to have the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the NYSE or on such other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution" and "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes." The payment of distributions on the Preferred Securities is guaranteed by the Company under the Guarantee Agreement, but only to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor (the "Guarantee"). If the Company fails to make required payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay such distributions, and the Guarantee does not cover the payment of distributions when the Trust does not have sufficient funds legally available therefor. In such event, the remedy of a holder of Preferred Securities is to enforce the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes" herein and "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Company's obligations under the Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of its other liabilities and will rank pari passu (equal in priority) with the most senior preferred stock of the Company. See "Description of the Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Company has, through the Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust Agreement and the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, fully and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to certain subordination provisions, all the Trust's obligations with respect to the Preferred Securities. In the event of the redemption of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes or the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, the holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive, for each Preferred Security, a liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (including interest thereon) to the date of payment (the "Redemption Price"), unless in connection with such dissolution, winding-up or termination, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." The Preferred Securities initially will be represented by a global certificate or certificates registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Preferred Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by Participants (as defined herein) in DTC. Except as described herein, Preferred Securities in certificated form will not be issued in exchange for the global certificates. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company." --------------------- IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NYSE, IN THE OVER THE COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME. S-2 SUMMARY OF OFFERING The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned in the Glossary. The Company................ The Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia on June 26, 1930. The Company has its principal office at 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, telephone (404) 526-6526. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Southern Company. The Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy within an approximately 57,200 square mile service area comprising most of the State of Georgia. The Trust.................. Georgia Power Capital Trust I is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law solely for the purpose of holding the Company's Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and issuing Preferred Securities and Common Securities evidencing the entire beneficial interest therein (and engaging in activities necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental thereto). The Trustees............... The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as property trustee (the "Property Trustee") of the Trust. Two officers of the Company also will act as trustees (the "Administrative Trustees") of the Trust. Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware will be an additional trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") of the Trust. The Chase Manhattan Bank also will act as trustee (the "Indenture Trustee") under the Subordinated Note Indenture pursuant to which the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued and will act as trustee under the Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee"). The Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee and Administrative Trustees are sometimes referred to as the "Securities Trustees." Preferred Securities Offered.................... The Trust will offer 9,000,000 Preferred Securities evidencing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. Holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions at the Securities Rate, accruing from the date of original issuance and payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on September 30, 1996 (each, a "Distribution Date"). The Securities Rate and the Distribution Dates for the Preferred Securities will correspond to the interest rate and payment dates on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, which will constitute substantially all the assets of the Trust. As a result, if principal or interest is not paid on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, no amounts will be paid on the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities" herein. Record Date................ The record date for each Distribution Date will be the close of business on the 15th calendar day prior to such Distribution Date. S-3 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes......... The Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities in an equivalent amount of Series A % junior subordinated deferrable interest notes due June 30, 2036. The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all indebtedness for borrowed money and other obligations of the Company included in the definition of Senior Indebtedness. See "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus. Guarantee.................. The payment of distributions on the Preferred Securities is guaranteed by the Company under the Guarantee, but only to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available to make such distributions. If the Company does not make principal or interest payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to make distributions on the Preferred Securities, in which event the Guarantee will not apply to such distributions until the Trust has sufficient funds legally available therefor. The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company and will rank pari passu with the most senior preferred stock issued by the Company. See "Risk Factors -- Ranking of and Rights Under the Guarantee" herein and "Description of the Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Company has, through the Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust Agreement and the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, fully and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to certain subordination provisions, all the Trust's obligations with respect to the Preferred Securities. Interest Deferral.......... The Company has the right to defer payments of interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the interest payment period on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, at any time and from time to time, for up to 20 consecutive quarters (each, an "Extension Period"). The only restrictions on the Company's ability to defer payments of interest are that during the Extension Period the Company may not (i) pay dividends on or redeem any of its capital stock or (ii) pay principal or interest on any debt securities ranking pari passu with or subordinate to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. There could be multiple Extension Periods of varying lengths throughout the term of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. If interest payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are deferred, distributions on the Preferred Securities will also be deferred. During an Extension Period, holders of Preferred Securities will continue to accrue income for federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of the cash payments attributable to such deferred interest. See "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period" and "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Original Issue Discount" and "-- Market Discount." Deferred interest will bear interest, compounded quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to the Securities Rate from the date of deferral to the date of payment. S-4 Redemption; Distribution... The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes at maturity or their earlier redemption. The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemable by the Company (in whole or in part), from time to time on or after August , 2001, or at any time in whole upon the occurrence of a Special Event. If a partial redemption of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, the Company may only redeem the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes in whole. Any partial redemption of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be effected by the redemption of an equivalent amount of Trust Securities, to be allocated approximately 97% to the Preferred Securities and 3% to the Common Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Redemption" and "-- Special Event Redemption or Distribution." The Company will have the right at any time to terminate the Trust and cause the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. This right is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Company. Circumstances under which the Company may determine to exercise such right could include the occurrence of an Investment Company Act Event or a Tax Event, adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Trust that are not within the definition of a Tax Event because they do not result from an amendment or change described in such definition, and changes in the accounting requirements applicable to the Preferred Securities as described under "Accounting Treatment." See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution." Special Event.............. A Special Event means a Tax Event or an Investment Company Act Event. A "Tax Event" means that the Administrative Trustees and the Company shall have received an opinion from independent tax counsel experienced in such matters (which may be counsel to the Company) to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (b) any amendment to, or change in, an interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust would be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) interest payable to the Trust on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes would not be deductible by the Company for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust would be subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the Issue Date. An "Investment Company Act Event" means that the Administrative Trustees and the Company shall have received an opinion of independent counsel (which may be counsel to the Company) to the effect that, as a result of a change in law or regulation or a written change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority after the Issue Date, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an investment S-5 company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). Redemption Price........... In the event of the redemption of the Trust Securities or other termination of the Trust without distribution of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, each Preferred Security shall be entitled to receive a liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (including interest thereon) to the date of payment. S-6 RISK FACTORS Prospective purchasers of Preferred Securities should carefully review the information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus and should consider particularly the following matters: RANKING OF AND RIGHTS UNDER THE SERIES A JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES No amounts will be available to make payments on the Preferred Securities except from payments made on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. The obligations of the Company under the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company. At June 30, 1996, Senior Indebtedness of the Company aggregated approximately $3,825,000,000. There are no terms in the Preferred Securities, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes or the Guarantee that limit the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks senior to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Description of the Guarantees" and "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus. RANKING OF AND RIGHTS UNDER THE GUARANTEE The Company's obligations under the Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all liabilities of the Company and will be pari passu with the most senior preferred stock issued by the Company. If the Company were to default in its obligation to pay amounts payable on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust would lack available funds for the payment of distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Preferred Securities or otherwise, and in such event holders of the Preferred Securities would not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for payment of such amounts. OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD The Company has the right under the Subordinated Note Indenture, and at any time, and from time to time, to defer payments of interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes for a period of up to 20 consecutive quarters (each, an "Extension Period"), but not beyond the stated maturity of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further defer payments of interest, provided that such Extension Period, together with all such previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may select a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. There could be multiple Extension Periods of varying lengths throughout the term of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. Deferred installments of interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will bear interest, compounded quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to the Securities Rate. The payment of such deferred interest, together with interest thereon, will be passed through to the holders of the Preferred Securities as received at the end of any Extension Period. The only restrictions on the Company's ability to defer payments of interest are that during any Extension Period the Company may not (i) pay dividends on or redeem any of its capital stock or (ii) pay principal or interest on any debt securities ranking pari passu with or subordinate to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Distributions" and "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period." Should the Company exercise its rights to defer payments of interest, each holder of Preferred Securities will continue to accrue income (as original issue discount -- OID) for United States federal income tax purposes in respect of the deferred interest allocable to its Preferred Securities. As a result, holders of Preferred Securities will recognize income for United States federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash and will not receive the cash from the Trust related to such income if such holders dispose of their Preferred Securities prior to the record date for the date on which distributions of such amounts are made. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sale of S-7 Preferred Securities." INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE PREFERRED SECURITIES. The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. However, should the Company determine to exercise such right in the future, the market price of the Preferred Securities is likely to be affected. A holder that disposes of its Preferred Securities during an Extension Period, therefore, might not receive the same return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold its Preferred Securities. In addition, as a result of the existence of the Company's right to defer interest payments, the market price of the Preferred Securities (which represent an undivided beneficial interest in the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes) may be more volatile than other securities on which OID accrues that do not have such rights. SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company will have the option to redeem the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes in cash (with the result that the Preferred Securities shall be redeemed). In addition, the Company will have the right at any time to terminate the Trust and cause the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution." There can be no assurance as to the market price for the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed in exchange for Preferred Securities if a termination or liquidation of the Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes that the investor may receive on termination and liquidation of the Trust may trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby. See "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes." POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill"), the revenue portion of President Clinton's budget proposal, was released. The Bill would, among other things, generally deny interest deductions for interest on an instrument, issued by a corporation, that has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other than a corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. The above-described provisions of the Bill were proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after December 7, 1995. If such provisions were to apply to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Company would be unable to deduct interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement to the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of the President's legislative proposals, if adopted, will be no earlier than the date of appropriate Congressional action. The Company believes that, under current law, it will be able to deduct interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. There can be no assurance, however, that current or future legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the Company to deduct interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. Such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which would permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Preferred Securities, as described more fully under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution." LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS Holders of Preferred Securities will have limited voting rights and, except for the rights of holders of Preferred Securities to appoint a Substitute Property Trustee upon the occurrence of certain events described herein, will not be entitled to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Securities Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the Common Securities. S-8 TRADING CHARACTERISTICS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES The Preferred Securities are expected to be listed on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities are expected to trade at a price that takes into account the value, if any, of accrued but unpaid distributions; thus, purchasers will not pay and sellers will not receive accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the Preferred Securities that is not included in the trading price thereof. Nonetheless, interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be included in the gross income of U.S. holders of Preferred Securities as it accrues rather than when it is paid. To the extent the selling price is less than the holder's adjusted tax basis (which will include, in the form of OID, all accrued but unpaid interest), a holder generally will recognize a capital loss. Subject to certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sale of Preferred Securities." The trading price of the Preferred Securities is likely to be sensitive to the level of interest rates generally. If interest rates rise in general, the trading price of the Preferred Securities may decline to reflect the additional yield requirements of the purchasers. Conversely, a decline in interest rates may increase the trading price of the Preferred Securities, although any increase will be moderated by the Company's ability to call the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes at any time on or after August , 2001 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest. In addition, because holders of Preferred Securities will be paid only from payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and may receive Series A Junior Subordinated Notes upon the termination of the Trust, prospective purchasers of Preferred Securities are making an investment decision with regard to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and should carefully review all the information regarding the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes contained herein. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution" and "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes." GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I The Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant to the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State on June 13, 1996. The Trust's business is defined in a trust agreement, executed by the Company, as Depositor, and the Delaware Trustee thereunder. This trust agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety on the Issue Date substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus form a part (the "Trust Agreement"). The Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental thereto. The Trust has a term of approximately 45 years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement. Upon issuance of the Preferred Securities, the purchasers thereof will own all of the Preferred Securities. The Company will acquire all of the Common Securities, which will have an aggregate liquidation amount equal to approximately 3% of the total capital of the Trust. The Common Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default, the rights of the holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by the Securities Trustees, which shall be appointed by the Company as the holder of the Common Securities. Two officers of the Company initially will serve as Administrative Trustees. The Chase Manhattan Bank will serve as Property Trustee and will hold legal title to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes issued by the Company on behalf of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities. Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware will serve as Delaware Trustee. In certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to appoint a Substitute Property Trustee. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights." S-9 The Property Trustee will hold legal title to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes for the benefit of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities and will have the power to exercise all rights, powers and privileges under the Subordinated Note Indenture as the holder of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. The Property Trustee will make payments of distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the holders of the Trust Securities. Subject to the right of the holders of the Preferred Securities to appoint a Substitute Property Trustee in certain instances, the Company, as the holder of all the Common Securities, will have the right to appoint, remove or replace all the Securities Trustees. The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will constitute substantially all of the assets of the Trust. Other assets that may constitute "Trust Property" (as that term is defined in the Trust Agreement) include any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the payment account as established under the Trust Agreement, as well as any other property or assets held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement. In addition, the Trust may, from time to time, receive cash pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities. The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic rights, rights to information and voting rights, are as set forth in the Trust Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act, and the 1939 Act. See "Description of the Preferred Securities." The Trust's registered office in the State of Delaware is c/o Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware, 1201 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The principal place of business of the Trust shall be c/o the Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, telephone (404) 526-6526, Attn: Corporate Secretary. CAPITALIZATION The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of June 30, 1996, and as adjusted to reflect the issuance of the $400,000,000 of Preferred Securities covered by the accompanying Prospectus, assuming application of a portion of the proceeds of such Preferred Securities to the redemption of $325,000,000 of outstanding preferred stock of the Company. The following data is qualified in its entirety by reference to and, therefore, should be read together with the detailed information and financial statements appearing in the documents incorporated herein by reference. See also "Selected Information" in the accompanying Prospectus.
AS OF JUNE 30, 1996 --------------------------- ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED ------ ---------------- (MILLIONS, EXCEPT PERCENTAGES) Common Stock Equity............................................... $4,324 $4,324 51.3% Cumulative Preferred Stock........................................ 618 293 3.5 Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Partnership Holding Company Junior Subordinated Notes........................................................... 100 100 1.2 Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trusts Holding Company Junior Subordinated Notes(1)........................................................ -- 400 4.7 Long-Term Debt.................................................... 3,311 3,311 39.3 ------ ------ ----- Total, excluding amounts due within one year of $576 million..................................................... $8,353 $8,428 100.0% ====== ====== =====
- --------------- (1) As described herein and in the accompanying Prospectus, substantially all of the assets of the respective Trusts will be Junior Subordinated Notes of the Company with an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $412,400,000, and upon redemption of such debt, the related Preferred Securities will be mandatorily redeemable. ACCOUNTING TREATMENT For financial reporting purposes, the Trust will be treated as a subsidiary of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of the Trust will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the S-10 Company. The Preferred Securities will be presented as a separate line item in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company, and appropriate disclosures concerning the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, the Company will record distributions payable on the Preferred Securities as an expense. USE OF PROCEEDS The Trust will invest the proceeds received from the sale of the Preferred Securities in Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds received by the Company from such investment (estimated to be approximately $217,500,000) will be used to repay a portion of its outstanding short-term debt which aggregated approximately $291,000,000 as of August 15, 1996, and of which approximately $75,000,000 was incurred in connection with the redemption in August 1996 of 750,000 shares ($75,000,000 aggregate stated value) of the Company's $7.80 Preferred Stock. The outstanding short-term debt of the Company was incurred for working capital purposes and currently consists of uncommitted bank loans and commercial paper evidenced by notes having maturities from one week to 20 days and bearing interest at rates ranging from 5.19% to 5.42%. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES The Preferred Securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the 1939 Act. The Property Trustee will act as the indenture trustee with respect to the Trust, as well as the Guarantee, for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the 1939 Act. The terms of the Preferred Securities will include those stated in the Trust Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act, and those made part of the Trust Agreement by the 1939 Act. The following summary of the principal terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Trust Agreement, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus are a part, as well as the 1939 Act. GENERAL The Trust Agreement authorizes the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, to issue the Preferred Securities, which represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, and the Common Securities, which represent common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. All of the Common Securities will be owned by the Company. The Common Securities rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon on a pro rata basis, with the Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence of a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to receive payment of periodic distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Trust Agreement does not permit the issuance by the Trust of any securities other than the Trust Securities or the incurrence of any indebtedness by the Trust. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee will own and hold the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes for the benefit of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities. The payment of distributions out of money held by the Trust, and payments upon redemption of the Preferred Securities or liquidation of the Trust, are guaranteed by the Company on a subordinated basis as and to the extent described under "Description of the Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Guarantee does not cover payment of distributions on the Preferred Securities when the Trust does not have legally and immediately available funds sufficient to make such distributions. In such event, the remedy of a holder of Preferred Securities is to direct the Property Trustee to enforce its rights under the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Series A Junior Subordinated S-11 Notes. The above mechanisms and obligations, together with the Company's obligations under the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of payments due on the Preferred Securities. See "-- Voting Rights" below. DISTRIBUTIONS Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be fixed at the Securities Rate and will accrue from the Issue Date and, except in the event of an Extension Period, will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. In the event that any date on which distributions are to be made on the Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the distributions payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. A "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, a day on which banks in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the principal corporate trust office of the Property Trustee or the Indenture Trustee is closed for business. Distributions payable on any Distribution Date will be payable to the holders of record on the Record Date for such Distribution Date, which is the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day preceding such Distribution Date. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the Trust Agreement, each such payment will be made as described under "-- Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" below. The amount of distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company has the right under the Subordinated Note Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the interest payment period from time to time on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes (each, an "Extension Period") which, if exercised, would defer quarterly distributions on the Preferred Securities during any such extended interest payment period. Deferred installments of interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will bear interest, compounded quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to the Securities Rate. If distributions are deferred, the deferred distributions and accrued interest thereon shall be paid, if funds are legally available therefor, to holders of record of the Preferred Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the Record Date next following the termination of such Extension Period. See "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes -- Interest" and "-- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period." Distributions on the Preferred Securities must be paid on the Distribution Dates to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available for the payment of such distributions. The Trust's funds available for distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities will be limited to payments received under the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes." REDEMPTION The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes at maturity or their earlier redemption. The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on June 30, 2036 and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at any time on or after August , 2001 or at any time in whole upon the occurrence of a Special Event. Upon the repayment of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, whether at maturity or upon redemption, the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall simultaneously be applied to redeem a like amount of Trust Securities upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the Redemption Price (as defined below). See "Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes -- Optional Redemption." If a partial redemption of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, the Company may only redeem the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes in whole. In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be selected as described under "-- Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" below. If the Preferred S-12 Securities are no longer in book-entry only form, the Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be selected by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or integral multiples thereof) of the aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25; provided, however, that before undertaking the redemption of the Preferred Securities on other than a pro rata basis, the Property Trustee shall have received an opinion of counsel that the status of the Trust as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes would not be adversely affected. The Redemption Price for each Preferred Security shall equal the stated liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the date of payment. SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION Upon the occurrence of a Special Event at any time, the Company will have the option to redeem the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes in whole (and thus cause the redemption of the Preferred Securities in whole). A Special Event is either an Investment Company Act Event or a Tax Event. An "Investment Company Act Event" means that the Administrative Trustees and the Company shall have received an opinion of independent counsel (which may be counsel to the Company) to the effect that, as a result of a change in law or regulation or a written change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority after the Issue Date, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an investment company under the 1940 Act. "Tax Event" means that the Administrative Trustees and the Company shall have received an opinion from independent tax counsel experienced in such matters (which may be counsel to the Company) to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (b) any amendment to, or change in, an interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust would be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) interest payable to the Trust on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes would not be deductible by the Company for United States federal income tax purposes or (iii) the Trust would be subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the Issue Date. See "Risk Factors -- Possible Tax Law Changes." The Company will have the right at any time to terminate the Trust and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, if any, cause the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See "-- Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution" below. This right is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Company. Circumstances under which the Company may determine to exercise such right could include the occurrence of an Investment Company Act Event or a Tax Event, adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Trust that are not within the definition of a Tax Event because they do not result from an amendment or change described in such definition, and changes in the accounting requirements applicable to the Preferred Securities as described under "Accounting Treatment." If Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Company will use its best efforts to have the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the NYSE or on such other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed. After the date for any distribution of Series A Junior Subordinated Notes upon termination of the Trust, (i) the Preferred Securities and the Guarantee will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the depositary or its nominee, as the record holder of the Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes to be delivered upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing Preferred Securities and the Guarantee not held by the depositary or its nominee will be deemed to represent Series A Junior Subordinated Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the Securities Rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to S-13 accrued and unpaid distributions on, such Preferred Securities, until such certificates are presented to the Company or its agent for transfer or reissuance. There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred Securities or the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed in exchange for the Preferred Securities if a termination and liquidation of the Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor may purchase, or the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes that the investor may receive on termination and liquidation of the Trust, may trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby. REDEMPTION PROCEDURES In the event that fewer than all of the Trust Securities are to be redeemed, then the aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated 97% to the Preferred Securities and 3% to the Common Securities. The Preferred Securities redeemed on each redemption date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. The Redemption Price of Preferred Securities shall be deemed payable on each redemption date only to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available for payment of such Redemption Price. If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of Preferred Securities (which notice will be irrevocable), then, by 2:00 P.M., New York City time, on the redemption date, subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the securities depositary, so long as the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form, sufficient funds to pay the applicable Redemption Price. See "-- Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" below. If the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry only form, the Property Trustee, subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, shall irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions to pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their Preferred Securities certificates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit, distributions will cease to accrue and all rights of holders of such Preferred Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of such Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Preferred Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Company pursuant to the Guarantee, distributions on such Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from such redemption date originally established by the Trust for such Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid. See "-- Events of Default" below, "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee" and "Description of the Guarantees -- Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus. Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Company or its affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. BOOK-ENTRY ONLY ISSUANCE -- THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") will act as the initial securities depositary for the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities will be issued only as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC's nominee. One or more fully registered global Preferred Securities certificates will be issued, representing in the aggregate the total number of Preferred Securities, and will be deposited with DTC. S-14 DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the 1934 Act. DTC holds securities that its participants ("Participants") deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations ("Direct Participants"). DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission. Purchases of Preferred Securities within the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Preferred Securities on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of Preferred Securities ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased Preferred Securities. Transfers of ownership interests in the Preferred Securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in Preferred Securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Preferred Securities is discontinued. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Preferred Securities. DTC's records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Preferred Securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers. Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Preferred Securities are being redeemed, DTC will reduce the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in the Preferred Securities in accordance with its procedures. Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities is limited, in those cases where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect to Preferred Securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an Omnibus Proxy to the Trust as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Preferred Securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy). Distribution payments on the Preferred Securities will be made to DTC. DTC's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such payment date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the Trust, any trustee or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions to DTC is the responsibility of the Trust, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of S-15 DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants. Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner in a global Preferred Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Preferred Securities. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the Preferred Securities. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global Preferred Security. DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the Preferred Securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained, Preferred Securities certificates will be printed and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, the Company may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect to the Preferred Securities. In that event, certificates for the Preferred Securities will be printed and delivered to the holders of record. The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system has been obtained from sources that the Company and the Trust believe to be reliable, but the Company and the Trust take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. The Trust has no responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations. LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust shall terminate on December 31, 2041, or earlier upon (i) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event (as defined in the Trust Agreement) in respect of the Company, dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or dissolution of the Trust pursuant to a judicial decree; (ii) the delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by the Company, as Depositor, at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Company, as Depositor) to terminate the Trust and distribute the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust (see "-- Special Event Redemption or Distribution" above); or (iii) the payment at maturity or redemption of all of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, and the consequent payment of the Trust Securities. If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i) or (ii) above, the Trust shall be liquidated, and the Property Trustee shall distribute to each holder of Preferred Securities and Common Securities a like amount of Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, unless in the case of an event described in clause (i) such distribution is determined by the Administrative Trustees not to be practical, in which event such holders will be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to holders after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal to the aggregate of the stated liquidation preference of $25 per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive distributions upon any such dissolution pro rata with the holders of the Preferred Securities, except that if a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the holders of Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the holders of Common Securities. EVENTS OF DEFAULT Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under the Trust Agreement ("Trust Agreement Event of Default") with respect to the Trust Securities issued thereunder (whatever the reason for such Event of Default, and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or S-16 pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (i) the occurrence of an "Event of Default" as defined in Section 501 of the Subordinated Note Indenture ("Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default") (see "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes -- Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus); or (ii) default by the Trust in the payment of any distribution when it becomes due and payable, and the continuation of such default for a period of 30 days; or (iii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Preferred Security or Common Security when it becomes due and payable; or (iv) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Securities Trustees in the Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above), and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to such Securities Trustees by the holders of at least 10% in liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" under the Trust Agreement; or (v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Trust. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Trust Agreement Event of Default, the Property Trustee shall transmit notice of any default known to the Property Trustee to the holders of Trust Securities and the Company, unless such Trust Agreement Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. If a Trust Agreement Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred Securities have the right to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, including the right to direct the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement to exercise the remedies available to it as holder of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, a holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce its rights under the Trust Agreement without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee" herein and "Description of the Guarantees -- Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus. Unless a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Securities Trustees may be removed at any time by act of the holder of the Common Securities. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Securities Trustee may be removed at such time by act of the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the appropriate Securities Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). No resignation or removal of any Securities Trustee and no appointment of a successor shall be effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the requirements of the Trust Agreement. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the holders of Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the holders of Common Securities upon dissolution of the Trust as described above. See "-- Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." S-17 VOTING RIGHTS Except as provided below and under "Description of the Guarantees -- Amendments and Assignment" in the accompanying Prospectus and as otherwise required by law and the Trust Agreement, the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights. If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the Securities Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the Trust Agreement, then the holders of outstanding Preferred Securities will be entitled to vote as a class on such amendment or proposal of the Securities Trustees, and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of such outstanding Preferred Securities. So long as any Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are held by the Property Trustee, the Securities Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee (as defined herein), or executing any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Section 513 of the Subordinated Note Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes shall be due and payable, or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Subordinated Note Indenture or the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, where such consent shall be required, or to any other action, as the holder of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, under the Subordinated Note Indenture, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the Subordinated Note Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Series A Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Securities Trustees without the prior consent of each holder of Preferred Securities. The Securities Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities, except pursuant to a subsequent vote of such holders. The Property Trustee shall notify all holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Securities Trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes on account of such action. Any required approval of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a separate meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant to written consent. The Administrative Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote to be given to each holder of record of Preferred Securities in the manner set forth in the Trust Agreement. Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred Securities that are owned by the Company, the Securities Trustees or any affiliate of the Company or any Securities Trustee, shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding. CO-PROPERTY TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the 1939 Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property (as defined in the Trust Agreement) may at the time be located, the holder of the Common Securities and the Property Trustee shall have power to appoint, and upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Company, as Depositor, shall for such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint, one or more persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as co-property trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or persons in such capacity, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or S-18 desirable, subject to the provisions of the Trust Agreement. If the Company, as Depositor, does not join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, or in case a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment. AMENDMENT OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT The Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Company and the Securities Trustees without the consent of the holders of the Trust Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision therein which may be inconsistent with any other provision therein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of the Trust Agreement, provided that the amendment does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of Trust Securities, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes. Except as provided in the succeeding paragraph, other amendments to the Trust Agreement may be made (i) upon approval of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Securities then outstanding and (ii) upon receipt by the Securities Trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust or the Trust's exemption from the 1940 Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each affected holder of Trust Securities, the Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, or (iii) change the consent required to amend the Trust Agreement. MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR AMALGAMATIONS The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described below. The Trust may at the request of the Company, with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (x) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Securities or (y) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Trust Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank in priority with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Company has received an opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and (viii) the Company guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the S-19 Trust shall not, except with the consent of holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes. Any corporation or other body into which any of the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other body resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which any such Securities Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or other body succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of any such Securities Trustee, shall be the successor of such Securities Trustee under the Trust Agreement, provided such corporation is otherwise qualified and eligible under the Trust Agreement. PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENT So long as DTC is acting as securities depositary for the Preferred Securities, payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made to DTC, which is to credit the relevant accounts at DTC on the applicable Distribution Dates. If the Preferred Securities are not held by DTC, such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register (as such term is defined in the Trust Agreement). The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee. The Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Company. In such event, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor to act as Paying Agent. REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT It is anticipated that the Property Trustee, or one of its affiliates, will act as registrar and transfer agent (the "Securities Registrar") for the Preferred Securities. Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment in respect of any tax or other governmental charges which may be imposed in relation to it. The Securities Registrar will not be required to register or cause to be registered any transfer of Preferred Securities after they have been called for redemption. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE The Property Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a Trust Agreement Event of Default with respect to the Trust Securities, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Trust Agreement and, after default, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Property Trustee, also serves as Indenture Trustee and Guarantee Trustee. The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan Bank serves as trustee under the Company's First Mortgage Bond Indenture and under another indenture pursuant to which first mortgage bonds of an affiliate of the Company are outstanding. S-20 GOVERNING LAW The Trust Agreement and the Trust Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware; provided that the immunities and standard of care of the Property Trustee shall be governed by New York law. MISCELLANEOUS The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the 1940 Act or taxed as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes and so that the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as indebtedness of the Company for federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Administrative Trustees and the Company are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Trust's certificate of trust or the Trust Agreement, that the Administrative Trustees and the Company determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Preferred Securities. DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES A JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the Junior Subordinated Notes set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the caption "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes." The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the description in the accompanying Prospectus and the Subordinated Note Indenture (as defined therein). GENERAL The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as a series of Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be limited in aggregate principal amount to $232,000,000, such amount being the approximate aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Securities. The entire principal amount of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, including Additional Interest, if any, on June 30, 2036. The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are not subject to any sinking fund provision. The terms of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes correspond to those of the Preferred Securities, as described herein. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION The Company shall have the right to redeem the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, without premium, from time to time, on or after August , 2001, or at any time in whole upon the occurrence of a Special Event as described under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution," upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. If a partial redemption of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, the Company may only redeem the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes in whole. INTEREST Each Series A Junior Subordinated Note shall bear interest at the Securities Rate from the Issue Date, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year to the person in whose name such Series A Junior Subordinated Note is registered at the close of business on the fifteenth S-21 calendar day prior to such payment date. The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD The Company shall have the right at any time, and from time to time, to defer payments of interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarters, but not beyond the stated maturity date. At the end of an Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (including any Additional Interest) (together with interest thereon at the Securities Rate compounded quarterly); provided, that if the Company shall have given notice of its election to select an Extension Period, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or distribution on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing, and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees other than the Guarantee) issued by the Company which rank pari passu with or junior to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period, provided that such Extension Period, together with all such previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may select a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. The Company has no present intention of exercising its rights to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. The Company shall give the holder or holders of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and the Indenture Trustee notice of its selection or extension of an Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the record date relating to the interest payment date on which the Extension Period is to commence or relating to the interest payment date on which an Extension Period that is being extended would otherwise terminate or (ii) the date the Company or the Trust is required to give notice to the NYSE or other applicable self-regulatory organization of the record date or the date such distributions are payable. BOOK-ENTRY AND ISSUANCE If distributed to holders of Trust Securities in connection with the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are expected to be issued in the form of one or more global certificates registered in the name of the securities depositary or its nominee. In such event, the procedures applicable to the transfer and payment of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are expected to be substantially similar to those described with respect to the Preferred Securities in "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company." RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE SERIES A JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND THE GUARANTEE As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, such payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and payments due on the Trust Securities primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount of Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be equal to the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Trust Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will match the distribution rate and distribution and other payment dates for the Preferred Securities; (iii) the Company shall pay for all costs and expenses of the Trust pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities; and (iv) the Trust S-22 Agreement provides that the Securities Trustees shall not cause or permit the Trust to, among other things, engage in any activity that is not consistent with the purposes of the Trust. Payments of distributions (to the extent funds therefor are legally and immediately available) and other payments due on the Preferred Securities (to the extent funds therefor are legally and immediately available) are guaranteed by the Company as and to the extent set forth under "Description of the Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. If the Company does not make interest payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, it is not expected that the Trust will have sufficient funds to pay distributions on the Preferred Securities. The Guarantee is a guarantee from the time of its issuance, but does not apply to any payment of distributions unless and until the Trust has sufficient funds legally and immediately available for the payment of such distributions. If the Company fails to make interest or other payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes when due (taking into account any Extension Period), the Trust Agreement provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities may appoint a substitute Property Trustee. Such holders may also direct the Property Trustee to enforce its rights under the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, including proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Company fails to make payments under the Guarantee, the Guarantee provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities may direct the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights thereunder. In addition, any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. The Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust Agreement and the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, as described above, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the payments due on the Preferred Securities. Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, unless the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed in connection therewith, the holders of Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive, out of assets legally available for distribution to holders, the Liquidation Distribution in cash. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company, the Property Trustee, as holder of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, would be a subordinated creditor of the Company, subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal and interest, before any stockholders of the Company receive payments or distributions. Because the Company is guarantor under the Guarantee and has agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trust (other than the Trust's obligations to holders of the Preferred Securities) pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, the positions of a holder of Preferred Securities and a holder of Series A Junior Subordinated Notes relative to other creditors and to stockholders of the Company in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company would be substantially the same. A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness would not constitute a default or Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Indebtedness, the subordination provisions of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes provide that no payments may be made in respect of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes until such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full or any payment default thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to S-23 make required payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture except that failure to make interest payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will not be an Event of Default during an Extension Period; provided, however, that any Extension Period may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the stated maturity of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS The following is a summary of certain material United States federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Preferred Securities and constitutes the opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP, counsel to the Company and the Trust, insofar as it relates to matters of law and legal conclusions. This summary deals only with Preferred Securities held as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof (the "Code"), by Holders (as defined herein). Moreover, it does not discuss all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a Holder in light of his particular circumstances or to Holders subject to special rules, such as certain financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in securities, individual retirement and certain tax deferred accounts, and persons who engage in a straddle or a hedge relating to a Preferred Security. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the application of the tax considerations discussed below to their particular situations as well as the application of any state, local or other tax laws. This summary is based on laws, existing and proposed regulations, and applicable judicial and administrative determinations, all of which are subject to change at any time, and any such changes may be retroactively applied in a manner that could adversely affect Holders. As used herein, the term "Holder" means a beneficial owner of a Preferred Security that for United States federal income tax purposes is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, or (iii) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source. Thus, the following summary does not address any tax consequences that apply specifically to nonresident aliens or foreign entities. TREATMENT OF THE TRUST AND PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES The Trust will be treated as a "grantor trust" and not as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Thus, for federal income tax purposes, each Holder will be treated as the beneficial owner of a pro rata undivided interest in the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and, consequently, will be required to include in income the Holder's pro rata share of the entire income from the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. Each Holder generally will determine its net income or loss with respect to the Trust in accordance with its own method of accounting, although income arising from original issue discount ("OID") must be taken into account under the accrual method of accounting even if the Holder otherwise would use the cash receipts and disbursements method. ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT The Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued with OID within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code. Because the Holders will be treated for federal income tax purposes as the owners of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Holders will be required to include in income their pro rata share of OID accruing on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes in advance of the receipt of some or all of the related cash payments on the Preferred Securities. Holders (including Holders who are cash basis taxpayers) will include such OID in income currently as interest as it accrues over the life of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes under a formula based upon the quarterly compounding of interest at a rate that provides for a constant yield to maturity. If (as expected) the issue price of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes equals the stated principal amount of such Notes, the amount of OID accruing during each quarterly interest period will be approximately the same as the amount of stated interest accruing during such period on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. S-24 The amount of OID on a Series A Junior Subordinated Note will equal the excess of the "stated redemption price at maturity" over the "issue price" of the Series A Junior Subordinated Note. The issue price of each Series A Junior Subordinated Note is expected to equal the stated principal amount of such Note. Because the terms of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes permit the Company to suspend payments of interest on the Notes for up to 20 consecutive quarters, the stated redemption price at maturity of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will equal the aggregate of all payments due on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, whether designated as principal or interest. Accordingly, the quarterly interest payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be included in the stated redemption price at maturity for purposes of determining the amount of OID with which a Series A Junior Subordinated Note is issued, and if (as expected) the issue price equals the stated principal amount of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the OID will equal the total amount of interest that will be payable (assuming no redemption before maturity) on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. In general, the amount of OID that must be included in a Holder's income for a taxable year is the sum of the "daily portions" of OID on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes for all days during the taxable year that the Holder owns a Preferred Security. Such daily portions are determined by allocating to each day in the accrual period a ratable portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. An accrual period is each successive quarterly period that ends on an Interest Payment Date. In the case of an initial Holder, the amount of OID allocable to each accrual period is determined by multiplying the "adjusted issue price" of the related Series A Junior Subordinated Notes at the beginning of the period by their yield to maturity (based on compounding at the close of each accrual period and taking into account the length of the accrual period). The adjusted issue price of a Series A Junior Subordinated Note at the beginning of any accrual period will be the sum of its issue price and the amount of OID allocable to all prior accrual periods, reduced by the amount of any payments actually made with respect to such Series A Junior Subordinated Note in all prior accrual periods (and thus will equal approximately the stated principal amount if the issue price is the stated principal amount and all accrued interest is paid on each Interest Payment Date). A subsequent Holder also will be required to include in gross income its pro rata daily portion of OID with respect to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. However, if a Holder acquires Preferred Securities for an amount greater than the adjusted issue price of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes (i.e., at an acquisition premium), such Holder's daily portion of OID with respect to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be reduced by an allocable portion of the acquisition premium. MARKET DISCOUNT A purchaser of a Preferred Security at a discount from the adjusted issue price of such purchaser's pro rata share of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes acquires such Preferred Security with "market discount." However, market discount with respect to a Preferred Security will be considered to be zero if it is de minimis. Market discount will be de minimis with respect to a Preferred Security if it is less than the product of (i) 0.25% of the adjusted issue price of the purchaser's pro rata share of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes multiplied by (ii) the number of complete years to maturity of such Series A Junior Subordinated Notes after the date of purchase. The purchaser of a Preferred Security with more than a de minimis amount of market discount generally will be required to treat any gain on the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of all or part of the Preferred Securities (or related Series A Junior Subordinated Notes) as ordinary income to the extent of accrued (but not previously taxed) market discount. Market discount generally will accrue ratably during the period from the date of purchase of such Preferred Security to the maturity date of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, unless the Holder irrevocably elects to accrue such market discount on the basis of a constant interest rate. A Holder who has acquired a Preferred Security at a market discount generally will be required to defer any deductions of interest expense attributable to any indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Preferred Security, to the extent such interest expense exceeds the related OID income. Any such deferred interest expense generally will be allowable as a deduction not later than the year in which the related market discount income is recognized. As an alternative to the inclusion of market discount in income upon disposition of all or a portion of a Preferred Security or the related Series A Junior Subordinated Notes (including redemptions thereof), a Holder may make an election (which may not be revoked without the S-25 Internal Revenue Service's consent) to include market discount in income as it accrues on all market discount instruments acquired by the Holder during or after the taxable year for which the election is made. In that case, the preceding deferral rule for interest expense will not apply. In lieu of the foregoing treatment of market discount and interest expense, a Holder may elect to treat any market discount (including a de minimis amount) as OID and accrue such discount on a constant-yield basis in the same manner as the Holder accrues OID. SALE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES Upon the sale, retirement (including redemption) or other taxable disposition of all or part of a Preferred Security, a Holder thereof will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale, retirement or other disposition and such Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Security or part thereof. Any recognized gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, except to the extent of any accrued market discount (see "Market Discount" above), and such capital gain or loss will be long-term if the holding period for the Preferred Security is more than one year at the time of sale, retirement or other disposition. A Holder's adjusted tax basis in a Preferred Security acquired by purchase will equal the cost of such Preferred Security to the Holder, increased by the amount of any related accrued OID and market discount included in taxable income by the Holder and reduced by any prior payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes distributed on the Preferred Security. The redemption of only part of a Preferred Security will require an allocation of the Holder's pro rata share of the adjusted issue price of the related Series A Junior Subordinated Notes between the portion of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed and retained by the Holder in order to determine gain or loss and future accruals of OID. RECEIPT OF SERIES A JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST As described under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution," Series A Junior Subordinated Notes may be distributed to Holders in exchange for the Preferred Securities and in liquidation of the Trust. Such a distribution would be treated as a non-taxable event to each Holder and each Holder would receive an aggregate tax basis in the Holder's Series A Junior Subordinated Notes equal to the Holder's aggregate tax basis in its Preferred Securities. A Holder's holding period with respect to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes so received in liquidation of the Trust would include the period for which the Preferred Securities were held by such Holder. INFORMATION REPORTING TO HOLDERS Income on the Preferred Securities will be reported to Holders on Form 1099, which form should be mailed to Holders of Preferred Securities by January 31 following each calendar year. BACKUP WITHHOLDING A Holder may be subject to "backup withholding" under certain circumstances. Backup withholding applies to a Holder if the Holder, among other things, (i) fails to furnish his social security number or other taxpayer identification number ("TIN") to the payor responsible for backup withholding (for example, the Holder's securities broker), (ii) furnishes such payor an incorrect TIN, (iii) fails to provide such payor with a certified statement, signed under penalties of perjury, that the TIN provided to the payor is correct and that the Holder is not subject to backup withholding, or (iv) fails to report properly interest and dividends on his tax return. Backup withholding, however, does not apply to payments made to certain exempt recipients, such as corporations and tax-exempt organizations. The backup withholding rate is 31% of "reportable payments," which generally will include distributions of interest and principal payments on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill"), the revenue portion of President Clinton's budget proposal, was released. The Bill would, among other things, generally deny interest S-26 deductions for interest on an instrument, issued by a corporation, that has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other than a corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. The above-described provisions of the Bill were proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after December 7, 1995. If such provisions were to apply to the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Company would be unable to deduct interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement to the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of the President's legislative proposals, if adopted, will be no earlier than the date of appropriate Congressional action. The Company believes that, under current law, it will be able to deduct interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. There can be no assurance, however, that current or future legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the Company to deduct interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. Such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which would permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Preferred Securities, as described more fully under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution." THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO A HOLDER, DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER'S PARTICULAR SITUATION, AND THEREFORE EACH HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT HIS TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAW. S-27 UNDERWRITING Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement"), the Trust has agreed to sell to the Underwriters named below, and the Underwriters, for whom Lehman Brothers Inc. is acting as representative (the "Representative"), have severally agreed to purchase the number of Preferred Securities set forth opposite their respective names below. In the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all of the Preferred Securities offered hereby if any of the Preferred Securities are purchased.
NUMBER OF NAME PREFERRED SECURITIES ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- Lehman Brothers Inc......................................... Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.................................... A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.................................... Goldman, Sachs & Co......................................... Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.......... Prudential Securities Incorporated.......................... The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc.......................... --------- Total............................................. 9,000,000 =========
The Underwriters have advised the Company and the Trust that they propose to offer the Preferred Securities in part directly to the public at the price to the public, as set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, and in part to certain securities dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of $ per Preferred Security. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $ per Preferred Security to certain other dealers. After the Preferred Securities are released for sale to the public, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the Underwriters. The Preferred Securities are expected to be approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance. Trading of the Preferred Securities on the NYSE is expected to commence within a 30-day period after the initial delivery of the Preferred Securities. The Representative has advised the Company and the Trust that it intends to make a market in the Preferred Securities prior to the commencement of trading on the NYSE. The Representative will have no obligation to make a market in the Preferred Securities, however, and may cease market making activities, if commenced, at any time. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Preferred Securities. In order to meet one of the requirements for listing the Preferred Securities on the NYSE, the Underwriters will undertake to sell lots of 100 or more Preferred Securities to a minimum of 400 beneficial holders. The Company and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act. Certain of the Underwriters engage in transactions with, and, from time to time, have performed services for, the Company and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business. LEGAL OPINIONS Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company and the Trust by Richards, Layton & Finger, Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel to the Company and the Trust. The validity of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes, the Guarantee and certain matters relating thereto, as well as certain matters relating to United States federal income tax considerations, will be passed upon on behalf of the Company by Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Dewey Ballantine, New York, New York. S-28 GLOSSARY 1933 Act................... The Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 1934 Act................... The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 1939 Act................... The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. 1940 Act................... The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Additional Interest........ Amounts payable by the Company as defined under "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes -- Additional Interest" in the accompanying Prospectus. Administrative Trustees.... Judy M. Anderson and Wayne Boston. Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities............ The agreement between the Company and the Trust pursuant to which the Company has agreed to pay all indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust, other than the Trust's obligations to pay to the holders of the Preferred Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms thereof. Code....................... The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Common Securities.......... The Trust Securities being sold to the Company. Company.................... Georgia Power Company Delaware Trustee........... Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware DTC........................ The Depository Trust Company, a "clearing corporation" that initially will hold (through its agents) a global certificate evidencing the Preferred Securities. Distribution Dates......... March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. Extension Period........... Any period during which interest is not paid on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes (and, consequently, on the Preferred Securities) at the election of the Company to the extent permitted under the terms of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. Guarantee.................. The guarantee by the Company of the payments by the Trust on the Preferred Securities from funds available in the Trust. Guarantee Payments......... Payments required to be made pursuant to the Guarantee as described in "Description of the Guarantees -- General" in the accompanying Prospectus. Guarantee Trustee.......... The trustee under the Guarantee; initially, The Chase Manhattan Bank. Indenture Trustee.......... The trustee under the Subordinated Note Indenture; initially, The Chase Manhattan Bank. Issue Date................. The date set forth on the cover page on which the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and Preferred Securities are scheduled to be issued. Investment Company Act Event................ An event of the type described in "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution." NYSE....................... New York Stock Exchange. S-29 Preferred Securities....... The Trust Securities being offered to investors pursuant to this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. Property Trustee........... A trustee under the Trust designated to hold the trust property; initially The Chase Manhattan Bank. Record Date................ The close of business on the 15th calendar day prior to a Distribution Date. Redemption Price........... The stated liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security, plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (and interest thereon) to the date of payment. Securities Rate............ The per annum interest rate expressed as a percentage of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security, and set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement. Securities Trustees........ The Property Trustee, Administrative Trustees and Delaware Trustee. Senior Indebtedness........ Indebtedness of the Company described hereunder under "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus. Series A Junior Subordinated Notes......... The Series A % junior subordinated deferrable interest notes of the Company due June 30, 2036. Special Event.............. A Tax Event or Investment Company Act Event. Subordinated Note Indenture.................. The indenture pursuant to which the Company's Series A Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued. Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default......... As described under "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes -- Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus. Tax Event.................. An event of the type described in "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or Distribution." Trust...................... Georgia Power Capital Trust I, a Delaware business trust that will issue the Trust Securities. Trust Agreement............ The agreement pursuant to which the Trust is organized as it may be amended and restated from time to time. Trust Agreement Event of Default.................. As described under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Events of Default." Trust Securities........... The Preferred Securities and the Common Securities. S-30 INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 16, 1996 PROSPECTUS $400,000,000 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS SET FORTH HEREIN, BY GEORGIA POWER COMPANY A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SOUTHERN COMPANY --------------------------- Georgia Power Capital Trust I, Georgia Power Capital Trust II and Georgia Power Capital Trust III, each a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (individually, a "Trust" and collectively, the "Trusts"), may offer, from time to time, trust preferred securities (collectively, the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the respective Trusts. Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), will own all the common securities (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the respective Trusts. The payment of periodic cash distributions on the Preferred Securities of each Trust and payments on liquidation or redemption with respect to such Preferred Securities, in each case to the extent such Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, will be guaranteed by the Company as described herein (individually, a "Guarantee" and collectively, the "Guarantees"). See "Description of the Guarantees." The Company's obligations under each Guarantee will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of its other liabilities and will rank pari passu (equal in priority) with the most senior preferred stock of the Company. Concurrently with the issuance by a Trust of its Preferred Securities, such Trust will invest the proceeds thereof and of the Company's purchase of the Common Securities of such Trust in a related series of junior subordinated deferrable interest notes (collectively, the "Junior Subordinated Notes") of the Company with terms corresponding to the terms of such Trust's Preferred Securities. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be unsecured obligations of the Company and will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein) of the Company. Junior Subordinated Notes may subsequently be distributed pro rata to holders of the Trust Securities of a Trust in connection with the termination of such Trust upon the occurrence of certain events as may be described in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. As described herein, the Company will, through each Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series, the related Trust Agreement and the related Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, fully and unconditionally guarantee all of each Trust's obligations with respect to its Preferred Securities. Specific terms of the Preferred Securities of any Trust in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement with respect to such Preferred Securities, which will describe, without limitation and where applicable, the following: the specific designation, number of Preferred Securities, liquidation amount per security, distribution rate (or the method of determining such rate), dates on which distributions will be payable, voting rights, any redemption, exchange or sinking fund provisions, and any other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions. The Preferred Securities may be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering; provided, however, that the aggregate initial public offering price of all Preferred Securities shall not exceed $400,000,000. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any series of Preferred Securities will contain information concerning certain United States federal income tax considerations, if applicable to such Preferred Securities. --------------------------- THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. --------------------------- The Preferred Securities may be sold directly, through agents, underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time, or through a combination of such methods. See "Plan of Distribution." If agents or any underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of Preferred Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents, underwriters or dealers and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in or may be calculated from the Prospectus Supplement with respect to such Preferred Securities. --------------------------- August , 1996 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company and the Trusts have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a combined registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement," which term encompasses any amendments thereof and exhibits thereto) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, to which reference is hereby made. The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Commission. Such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The Commission maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants including the Company that file electronically at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, reports and other material concerning the Company can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which Exchange certain of the Company's securities are listed. No separate financial statements of any Trust are included herein. The Company considers that such statements would not be material to holders of the Preferred Securities because each Trust has no independent operations and exists for the sole purpose of investing the proceeds of the sale of its Trust Securities in Junior Subordinated Notes. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents have been filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act and are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Prospectus: (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995; (b) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996; and (c) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 21, 1996. All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Prospectus from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all documents incorporated herein by reference (other than the exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference). Such requests should be directed to Judy M. Anderson, Vice President and Corporate Secretary, Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, telephone: (404) 526-6526. 2 SELECTED INFORMATION The following material, which is presented herein solely to furnish limited introductory information regarding the Company, has been selected from, or is based upon, the detailed information and financial statements appearing in the documents incorporated herein by reference or elsewhere in this Prospectus, is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto and, therefore, should be read together therewith. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY Business......................... Generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy Service Area..................... Approximately 57,200 square miles comprising most of the State of Georgia Service Area Population (1990 Census).......................... Approximately 6,200,000 Customers at December 31, 1995... 1,712,012 Generating Capacity at December 31, 1995 (kilowatts)............. 14,343,602 Sources of Generation during 1995 (kilowatt-hours)............... Coal (74%), Nuclear (22%), Hydro (3%), Oil and Gas (1%) Sources of Generation Estimated for 1996 (kilowatt-hours)........ Coal (76%), Nuclear (21%), Hydro (2%), Oil and Gas (1%) SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
12 MONTHS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ENDED ----------------------------------------------- JULY 31, 1991(1) 1992 1993 1994(2) 1995(2) 1996(2) ------- ------ ------ ------- ------- ---------- (MILLIONS, EXCEPT RATIOS) (UNAUDITED) Operating Revenues....................... $4,301 $4,297 $4,451 $4,162 $4,405 $4,514 Income Before Interest Charges........... $1,006 $1,003 $1,033 $925 $957 $932 Net Income After Dividends on Preferred Stock.................................. $475 $521 $570 $526 $609 $620 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(3).... 2.85 3.15 3.46 3.65 4.51 4.98 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred Dividend Requirements (Pre- Income Tax Basis)(4)................... 2.36 2.59 2.88 2.99 3.60 3.90
3
CAPITALIZATION AS OF JUNE 30, 1996 --------------------------- ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED(5) ------ ---------------- (MILLIONS, EXCEPT PERCENTAGES) Common Stock Equity............................................... $4,324 $4,324 51.3% Cumulative Preferred Stock........................................ 618 293 3.5 Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Partnership Holding Company Junior Subordinated Notes........................................................... 100 100 1.2 Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trusts Holding Company Junior Subordinated Notes(6)........................................................ -- 400 4.7 Long-Term Debt.................................................... 3,311 3,311 39.3 ------ ------ ----- Total, excluding amounts due within one year of $576 million.... $8,353 $8,428 100.0% ====== ====== =====
- --------------- (1) "Income Before Interest Charges" and "Net Income After Dividends on Preferred Stock" for the year ended December 31, 1991 reflect (i) an increase of approximately $89,000,000 as the result of the consummation of a settlement with Gulf States Utilities Company of litigation arising out of certain power sales contracts and (ii) a charge of approximately $33,000,000 after taxes relating to benefits provided pursuant to a voluntary work force reduction program announced in late 1991. (2) See "Recent Results of Operations" herein. "Income Before Interest Charges" and "Net Income After Dividends on Preferred Stock" for the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the twelve months ended July 31, 1996, reflect charges of approximately $55,000,000, $8,000,000 and $22,000,000, respectively, after taxes relating to benefits provided pursuant to work force reduction programs. (3) This ratio is computed as follows: (i) "Earnings" have been calculated by adding to "Income Before Interest Charges" all income taxes deducted therefrom and the debt portion of allowance for funds used during construction; and (ii) "Fixed Charges" consist of "Net Interest Charges" plus the debt portion of allowance for funds used during construction. (4) In computing this ratio, "Preferred Dividend Requirements" represent the before tax earnings necessary to pay such dividends, computed at the effective tax rates for the applicable periods. (5) Reflects the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Junior Subordinated Notes, and assumes application of a portion of the proceeds of the Preferred Securities to the redemption of $325,000,000 of outstanding preferred stock of the Company. (6) As described in this Prospectus, substantially all of the assets of the respective Trusts will be Junior Subordinated Notes of the Company with an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $412,400,000, and upon redemption of such debt, the related Preferred Securities will be mandatorily redeemable. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Southern Company, a holding company registered under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended. The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia on June 26, 1930. It is engaged in the generation and purchase of electric energy and the transmission, distribution and sale of such energy within the State of Georgia at retail in over 600 communities (including Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Rome and Valdosta), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale currently to 39 electric cooperative associations through Oglethorpe Power Corporation, a corporate cooperative of electric membership corporations in Georgia, and to 50 municipalities, 48 of which are served through the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, a public corporation and an instrumentality of the State of Georgia. The Company and one of its affiliates, Alabama Power Company, each owns 50% of the common stock of Southern Electric Generating Company ("SEGCO"). SEGCO owns electric generating units near Wilsonville, Alabama. The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, and the telephone number is (404) 526-6526. 4 THE TRUSTS Each Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant to the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State on June 13, 1996. Each Trust's business is defined in a trust agreement, executed by the Company, as Depositor, and the Delaware Trustee thereunder. This trust agreement of each Trust will be amended and restated in its entirety substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part (the "Trust Agreement"). Each Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). Each Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing its Trust Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of such Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds of its Trust Securities in a related series of Junior Subordinated Notes, and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental thereto. Each Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by its trustees, which shall be appointed by the Company as the holder of the Common Securities: two officers of the Company as Administrative Trustees; The Chase Manhattan Bank as Property Trustee; and Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware as Delaware Trustee. The Property Trustee of each Trust will act as the indenture trustee with respect to such Trust for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the 1939 Act. The principal place of business of each Trust shall be c/o the Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, telephone (404) 526-6526, Attn: Corporate Secretary. Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Preferred Securities of a Trust for further information concerning such Trust. ACCOUNTING TREATMENT For financial reporting purposes, the Trusts will be treated as subsidiaries of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of the Trusts will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The Preferred Securities will be presented as a separate line item in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company, and appropriate disclosures concerning the Preferred Securities, the Guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, the Company will record distributions payable on the Preferred Securities as an expense. USE OF PROCEEDS Each Trust will invest the proceeds received from the sale of its Preferred Securities in Junior Subordinated Notes. Except as may be otherwise described in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds received by the Company from such investment will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include the redemption or repurchase of its securities. RECENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS For the twelve months ended July 31, 1996, "Operating Revenues", "Income Before Interest Charges", and "Net Income After Dividends on Preferred Stock" were $4,514,000,000, $932,000,000 and $620,000,000, respectively. In the opinion of the management of the Company, the above amounts for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996 reflect all adjustments (which were only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results of operations for such period, subject to the effect of such adjustments, if any, as might have been required had the outcome of the uncertainty with respect to the actions of the regulators regarding the recoverability of the Company's investment in the Rocky Mountain hydoelectric project been known. The "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges" and the "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis)" for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996 were 4.98 and 3.90, respectively. 5 For information regarding the uncertainty referred to in the preceding paragraph, reference is made to "Item 1 -- Business -- Construction Programs" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, incorporated herein by reference. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES Each Trust may issue only one series of Preferred Securities having terms described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. The Trust Agreement of each Trust will authorize the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, to issue the Preferred Securities of such Trust. The Preferred Securities of each Trust will have such terms, including distributions, redemption, voting, liquidation rights and such other preferred, deferral or other special rights or such restrictions as shall be set forth in the Trust Agreement of such Trust. Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Preferred Securities of a Trust for specific terms, including (i) the distinctive designation of such Preferred Securities; (ii) the number of Preferred Securities issued by such Trust; (iii) the annual distribution rate (or method of determining such rate) for Preferred Securities of such Trust and the date or dates on which such distributions shall be payable; (iv) whether distributions on such Preferred Securities shall be cumulative and, in the case of Preferred Securities having cumulative distribution rights, the date or dates, or method of determining the date or dates, from which distributions on such Preferred Securities shall be cumulative; (v) the amount or amounts that shall be paid out of the assets of such Trust to the holders of the Preferred Securities of such Trust upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Trust; (vi) the obligation, if any, of such Trust to purchase or redeem such Preferred Securities and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which such Preferred Securities shall be purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; (vii) the voting rights, if any, of such Preferred Securities in addition to those required by law, including the number of votes per Preferred Security and any requirement for the approval by the holders of Preferred Securities as a condition to specified action or amendments to the Trust Agreement of such Trust; (viii) the rights, if any, to defer distributions on the Preferred Securities by extending the interest payment period on the related Junior Subordinated Notes; and (ix) any other relative rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or restrictions of such Preferred Securities not inconsistent with the Trust Agreement of such Trust or applicable law. All Preferred Securities offered hereby will be guaranteed by the Company to the extent set forth under "Description of the Guarantees." Any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to an offering of Preferred Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the Guarantees that will be executed and delivered by the Company for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of the respective Trusts from time to time. Each Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the 1939 Act. The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as indenture trustee under each Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee") for purposes of the 1939 Act. The terms of the respective Guarantees will be those set forth therein and those made part thereof by the 1939 Act. The following summary does not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Guarantees, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, and the 1939 Act. Each Guarantee will be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of holders of the Preferred Securities to which it relates. GENERAL Pursuant to each Guarantee, the Company will irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth therein, to pay in full, to the holders of the related Preferred Securities, the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein), to the extent not paid by, or on behalf of, the related Trust, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Company may have or assert against any person. The following payments or distributions with respect to the Preferred Securities of any Trust to the extent not paid or made by, or on 6 behalf of, such Trust will be subject to the Guarantee related thereto (without duplication): (i) any accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the Preferred Securities of such Trust but if and only if and to the extent that such Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by such Trust, but if and only to the extent such Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, and (iii) upon a dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities of such Trust or the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities of such Trust), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Securities of such Trust to the date of payment, to the extent such Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of such Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of Preferred Securities of such Trust in liquidation of such Trust (the "Guarantee Payments"). The Company's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Company to the holders of the related Preferred Securities or by causing the related Trust to pay such amounts to such holders. Each Guarantee will be a guarantee of the Guarantee Payments with respect to the related Preferred Securities from the time of issuance of such Preferred Securities, but will not apply to the payment of distributions and other payments on such Preferred Securities when the related Trust does not have sufficient funds legally and immediately available to make such distributions or other payments. IF THE COMPANY DOES NOT MAKE INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES HELD BY THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE UNDER ANY TRUST, SUCH TRUST WILL NOT MAKE DISTRIBUTIONS ON ITS PREFERRED SECURITIES. SUBORDINATION The Company's obligations under each Guarantee to make the Guarantee Payments will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Company and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company, including the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those obligations or liabilities made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Company and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Company in respect of any preferred or preference securities of any affiliate of the Company, and (iii) senior to all common stock of the Company. The terms of the Preferred Securities will provide that each holder of Preferred Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of the Guarantee related thereto. The Company has outstanding preferred stock that ranks pari passu to the Guarantees and common stock that ranks junior to the Guarantees. See "Selected Information -- Selected Financial Information." Each Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection (that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against the guarantor to enforce its rights under the guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT Except with respect to any changes that do not materially and adversely affect the rights of holders of the related Preferred Securities (in which case no consent will be required), each Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of such outstanding Preferred Securities. The manner of obtaining any such approval of holders of the Preferred Securities will be as set forth in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. All guarantees and agreements contained in each Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the related Preferred Securities then outstanding. TERMINATION Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect as to the related Preferred Securities upon full payment of the Redemption Price of all such Preferred Securities, upon distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of such Preferred Securities, or upon full payment of the amounts payable 7 upon liquidation of the related Trust. Each Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of the related Preferred Securities must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to such Preferred Securities or under such Guarantee. EVENTS OF DEFAULT An event of default under each Guarantee will occur upon the failure by the Company to perform any of its payment obligations thereunder. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities to which any Guarantee relates have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of such Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under such Guarantee. Any holder of the related Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce its rights under such Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities of any series may, by vote, on behalf of the holders of all the Preferred Securities of such series, waive any past event of default and its consequences. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE The Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of any event of default with respect to any Guarantee and after the curing or waiving of all events of default with respect to such Guarantee, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in such Guarantee and, in case an event of default has occurred, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by any Guarantee at the request of any holder of the related Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Guarantee Trustee, also serves as Property Trustee and as Indenture Trustee. The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan Bank serves as trustee under the Company's First Mortgage Bond Indenture and under another indenture pursuant to which first mortgage bonds of an affiliate of the Company are outstanding. GOVERNING LAW Each Guarantee will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York. THE AGREEMENTS AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES Pursuant to an Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities to be entered into by the Company under each Trust Agreement, the Company will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom each Trust becomes indebted or liable the full payment of any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of such Trust, other than obligations of such Trust to pay to the holders of the related Preferred Securities or other similar interests in such Trust the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of such Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be. DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1996, between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"), as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture thereto establishing the Junior Subordinated Notes of each series (the Subordinated Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the "Subordinated Note Indenture"), the forms of which are filed 8 as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes will include those stated in the Subordinated Note Indenture and those made a part of the Subordinated Note Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture. GENERAL The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as unsecured junior subordinated debt securities under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes that may be issued thereunder and provides that Junior Subordinated Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Subordinated Note Indenture. Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Junior Subordinated Notes relating to the Preferred Securities being offered thereby: (i) the title of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such Junior Subordinated Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; (v) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such Junior Subordinated Notes; (viii) the denominations in which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issuable; (ix) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof; (x) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Subordinated Note Indenture pertaining to such Junior Subordinated Notes; (xi) whether such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; (xii) the right, if any, of the Company to extend the interest payment periods of such Junior Subordinated Notes; and (xiii) any other terms of such Junior Subordinated Notes. The terms of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes will correspond to those of the related Preferred Securities as described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Preferred Securities. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company. SUBORDINATION The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company. No payment of principal of (including redemption payments, if any), or premium, if any, or interest on (including Additional Interest (as defined herein)) the Junior Subordinated Notes may be made if (a) any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has ended with such default not being cured or waived or otherwise ceasing to exist, or (b) the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default, or (c) notice has been given of the exercise of an option to require repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or otherwise. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshalling of assets or liabilities, or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive or retain any payment or distribution. Subject to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to 9 receive payments and distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Junior Subordinated Notes are paid in full. The term "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the Company, (i) any payment due in respect of indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture or thereafter incurred, created or assumed, (a) in respect of money borrowed (including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and (b) evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds, notes or other similar instruments issued by the Company that, by their terms, are senior or senior subordinated debt securities including, without limitation, all obligations under its indentures with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease obligations; (iii) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker's acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or pari passu with the Junior Subordinated Notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness between or among the Company or its affiliates. Such Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in the Subordinated Note Indenture irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness that may be issued by the Company. As of June 30, 1996, Senior Indebtedness of the Company aggregated approximately $3,825,000,000. ADDITIONAL INTEREST "Additional Interest" is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture as (i) such additional amounts as may be required so that the net amounts received and retained by a holder of Junior Subordinated Notes (if the holder is a Trust) after paying taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or any other taxing authority will not be less than the amounts the holder would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments, or other governmental charges been imposed; and (ii) any interest due and not paid on an interest payment date, together with interest thereon from such interest payment date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each interest payment date. CERTAIN COVENANTS The Company covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for the benefit of the holders of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes, that, (i) if at such time the Company shall have given notice of its election to extend an interest payment period for such series of Junior Subordinated Notes and such extension shall be continuing, (ii) if at such time the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment or other obligations under the Guarantee with respect to the Trust Securities, if any, related to such series of Junior Subordinated Notes, or (iii) if at such time an Event of Default thereunder with respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees other than the Guarantees) issued by the Company which rank pari passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. None of the foregoing, however, shall restrict (i) any of the actions described in the preceding sentence resulting from any reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's 10 capital stock, or (ii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged. The Subordinated Note Indenture further provides that, for so long as the Trust Securities of any Trust remain outstanding, the Company covenants (i) to directly or indirectly maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities of such Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company under the Subordinated Note Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities, and (ii) to use its reasonable efforts to cause such Trust (a) to remain a statutory business trust, except in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of such Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities of such Trust, or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the related Trust Agreement, and (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. EVENTS OF DEFAULT The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an "Event of Default" with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series: (a) failure for 10 days to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, including any Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition thereof in the Subordinated Note Indenture) in respect thereof, when due on an Interest Payment Date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or (b) failure for 10 days to pay Additional Interest (as defined in clause (i) of the definition thereof in the Subordinated Note Indenture); or (c) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest, including Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition thereof in the Subordinated Note Indenture), on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or (d) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a Junior Subordinated Note of such series; or (e) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Company in the Subordinated Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included therein solely for the benefit of one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes other than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; or (f) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of the Company. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, then the Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may declare the principal amount thereof due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Subordinated Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums 11 paid or advanced by the Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Indenture Trustee. A holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended thereunder without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note of such series affected thereby. REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Junior Subordinated Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series called for redemption, or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Junior Subordinated Note being redeemed in part. PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENT Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of any Junior Subordinated Notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Junior Subordinated Notes. Principal of and interest on Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Payment of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Junior Subordinated Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest payment (the fifteenth calendar day before such interest payment date). The Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts. All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Notes will thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof. MODIFICATION The Subordinated Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of each series affected thereby, to modify the Subordinated Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Note of such series; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected thereby, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (including Additional Interest) thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating 12 the rate of interest thereon, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture or certain defaults thereunder and their consequences) provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture, or (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected thereby, or (iv) modify the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Junior Subordinated Notes in a manner adverse to such holder. In addition, the Company and the Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of junior subordinated notes. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest) on all the Junior Subordinated Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Subordinated Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Indenture Trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent thereto have been complied with. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE The Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Subordinated Note Indenture at the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it. The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Indenture Trustee, also serves as Property Trustee and as Guarantee Trustee. The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan Bank also serves as trustee under the Company's First Mortgage Bond Indenture and under another indenture pursuant to which first mortgage bonds of an affiliate of the Company are outstanding. GOVERNING LAW The Subordinated Note Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York. 13 MISCELLANEOUS The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Subordinated Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on each series of Junior Subordinated Notes, such payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and payments due on the related Trust Securities primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes will be equal to the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the related Trust Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on each series of Junior Subordinated Notes will match the distribution rate and distribution and other payment dates for the related Preferred Securities; (iii) the Company shall pay for all costs and expenses of each Trust pursuant to the Agreements as to Expenses and Liabilities; and (iv) each Trust Agreement provides that the Securities Trustees thereunder shall not cause or permit the Trust to, among other things, engage in any activity that is not consistent with the purposes of the Trust. Payments of distributions (to the extent funds therefor are legally and immediately available) and other payments due on the Preferred Securities (to the extent funds therefor are legally and immediately available) will be guaranteed by the Company as and to the extent set forth under "Description of the Guarantees." If the Company does not make interest payments on any series of Junior Subordinated Notes, it is not expected that the related Trust will have sufficient funds to pay distributions on its Preferred Securities. Each Guarantee is a guarantee from the time of its issuance, but does not apply to any payment of distributions unless and until the related Trust has sufficient funds legally and immediately available for the payment of such distributions. If the Company fails to make interest or other payments on any series of Junior Subordinated Notes when due (taking into account any extension period as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), the Trust Agreement provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the related Preferred Securities may appoint a substitute Property Trustee. Such holders may also direct the Property Trustee to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, including proceeding directly against the Company to enforce such Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under any series of Junior Subordinated Notes, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any holder of related Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under such series of Junior Subordinated Notes without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series. If the Company fails to make payments under any Guarantee, such Guarantee provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities to which such Guarantee relates may direct the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights thereunder. In addition, any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under the related Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. 14 Each Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series, the related Trust Agreement and the related Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, as described above, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the payments due on the related series of Preferred Securities. Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of any Trust, unless Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series are distributed in connection therewith, the holders of Preferred Securities of such Trust will be entitled to receive, out of assets legally available for distribution to holders, a liquidation distribution in cash as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company, the Property Trustee, as holder of the related series of Junior Subordinated Notes, would be a subordinated creditor of the Company, subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal and interest, before any stockholders of the Company receive payments or distributions. Because the Company is guarantor under each Guarantee and has agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of each Trust (other than the Trust's obligations to holders of the Preferred Securities) pursuant to the related Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, the positions of a holder of Preferred Securities and a holder of Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series relative to other creditors and to stockholders of the Company in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company would be substantially the same. A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness would not constitute a default or Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Indebtedness, the subordination provisions of the Junior Subordinated Notes provide that no payments may be made in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes until such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full or any payment default thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make required payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series would constitute an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series except that failure to make interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series will not be an Event of Default during an extension period as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill"), the revenue portion of President Clinton's budget proposal, was released. The Bill would, among other things, generally deny interest deductions for interest on an instrument, issued by a corporation, that has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other than a corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. The above-described provisions of the Bill were proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after December 7, 1995. If such provisions were to apply to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the Company would be unable to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement to the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of the President's legislative proposals, if adopted, will be no earlier than the date of appropriate Congressional action. The Company believes that, under current law, it will be able to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes. There can be no assurance, however, that current or future legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the Company to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes. Such a change could give rise to certain events which may permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Preferred Securities or a determination by the Company to terminate a Trust and cause the Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities of such Trust in liquidation thereof, all as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement 15 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Trusts may sell the Preferred Securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time: (i) to underwriters for resale to the public or to institutional investors; (ii) directly to institutional investors; or (iii) through agents to the public or to institutional investors. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to each series of Preferred Securities will set forth the terms of the offering of such Preferred Securities, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price of such Preferred Securities and the proceeds to the applicable Trust from such sale, any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents' compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which such Preferred Securities may be listed. If underwriters participate in the sale, such Preferred Securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of Preferred Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of Preferred Securities, if any are purchased. Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with the Company and/or the applicable Trust to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act. Underwriters and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business. Each series of Preferred Securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom Preferred Securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Preferred Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The Preferred Securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. LEGAL MATTERS Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company and the Trusts by Richards, Layton & Finger, Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel to the Company and the Trusts. The validity of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Guarantees and certain matters relating thereto will be passed upon on behalf of the Company by Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Dewey Ballantine, New York, New York. EXPERTS The financial statements and schedules of the Company included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports. With respect to the Company's unaudited interim financial information for the periods ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 and June 30, 1996 and 1995, included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein, Arthur Andersen LLP has applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for review of such information. However, their separate reports thereon state that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on such interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures employed. In addition, the accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the 1933 Act for their reports on the unaudited interim financial information because these 16 reports are not "reports" or "parts" of the registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of said Act. Statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, relating to titles to property of the Company under "Item 2 -- Properties -- Titles to Property", and relating to the Company under "Item 1 -- Business -- Regulation", "Item 1 -- Business -- Rate Matters" and "Item 1 -- Business -- Competition", have been reviewed by Troutman Sanders LLP, general counsel for the Company, and such statements are made upon the authority of such firm as experts. 17 - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. --------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE ----- PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT Summary of Offering....................... S-3 Risk Factors.............................. S-7 Georgia Power Capital Trust I............. S-9 Capitalization............................ S-10 Accounting Treatment...................... S-10 Use of Proceeds........................... S-11 Description of the Preferred Securities... S-11 Description of the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes...................... S-21 Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee.... S-22 Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations.......................... S-24 Underwriting.............................. S-28 Legal Opinions............................ S-28 Glossary.................................. S-29 PROSPECTUS Available Information..................... 2 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................... 2 Selected Information...................... 3 Georgia Power Company..................... 4 The Trusts................................ 5 Accounting Treatment...................... 5 Use of Proceeds........................... 5 Recent Results of Operations.............. 5 Description of the Preferred Securities... 6 Description of the Guarantees............. 6 Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes................................... 8 Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantees................ 14 Possible Tax Law Changes.................. 15 Plan of Distribution...................... 16 Legal Matters............................. 16 Experts................................... 16
- ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ 9,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I % TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY) FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS SET FORTH HEREIN, BY GEORGIA POWER COMPANY A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SOUTHERN COMPANY --------------------------- PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT August , 1996 --------------------------- LEHMAN BROTHERS DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC. A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. MERRILL LYNCH & CO. PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED THE ROBINSON-HUMPHREY COMPANY, INC. - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION. The estimated expenses of issuance and distribution, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be borne by the Company are as follows:
PREFERRED SECURITIES ----------------------- EACH INITIAL ADDITIONAL SALE SALE -------- ---------- *Filing Fees -- Securities and Exchange Commission -- registration statement......................... $137,932 $ -- Charges of trustees (including counsel)........................ 9,500 9,500 *Listing fees of New York Stock Exchange....................... 86,300 -- Printing and preparation of registration statement, prospectus, etc.......................................................... 30,000 10,000 Rating fees -- Moody's Investors Service, Inc............................... 40,000 40,000 Standard & Poor's Corporation................................ 42,000 -- Duff and Phelps, Inc......................................... 25,000 25,000 Services of Southern Company Services, Inc..................... 30,000 15,000 Fees and expenses of counsel................................... 40,000 25,000 Blue sky fees and expenses..................................... 3,500 3,500 Fees of accountants, Arthur Andersen LLP....................... 42,000 24,000 Miscellaneous, including telephone charges and traveling expenses..................................................... 14,000 8,000 -------- ---------- Total................................................ $500,232 $ 160,000 ======== ========
- --------------- * The Prospectus Supplement will reflect actual filing and listing fees based upon the amount of the related offering. ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The applicable statutes of the State of Georgia provide that a corporation may indemnify or obligate itself to indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because he is or was a director of the corporation or is or was serving at the corporation's request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or another enterprise against liability incurred in the proceeding if he acted in a manner he believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation and, in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. However, a corporation generally may not indemnify a director in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation, or in connection with any other proceeding in which he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him. In addition, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, to the extent that a director has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, because he is or was a director of the corporation, the corporation shall indemnify the director against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection therewith. Also, unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide otherwise, an officer of the corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification to the same extent as a director, and a corporation may also indemnify an officer, employee or agent who is not a director to the extent, consistent with public policy, that may be provided by its articles of incorporation, by-laws, general or specific action of its board of directors, or contract. II-1 Section 41 of the By-laws of the Company provides in pertinent part as follows: Each person who is or was a director or officer of the Company or is or was an employee of the Company holding one or more positions of management through and inclusive of department managers (but not positions below the level of department managers) (such positions being hereinafter referred to as "Management Positions") and who was or is a party or was or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Company or is or was an employee of the Company holding one or more Management Positions, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be indemnified by the Company as a matter of right against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him and against any and all claims, judgments, fines, penalties, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement actually incurred by him in defense of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, to the full extent permitted by applicable law. The indemnification provided by this Section shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person. Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a director or officer of the Company or employee of the Company holding one or more Management Positions with respect to the defense of any such claim, action, suit or proceeding may be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, as authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by the Company under this Section or otherwise; provided, however, that the advancement of such expenses shall not be deemed to be indemnification unless and until it shall ultimately be determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by the Company. The Company may purchase and maintain insurance at the expense of the Company on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as director (or the equivalent), officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any liability or expense (including attorneys' fees) asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability or expense under this Section or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions, no present or future director or officer of the Company, or his heirs, executors, or administrators, shall be liable for any act, omission, step, or conduct taken or had in good faith, which is required, authorized, or approved by any order or orders issued pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, or any federal or state statute or municipal ordinance regulating the Company or its parent by reason of their being holding or investment companies, public utility companies, public utility holding companies, or subsidiaries of public utility holding companies. In any action, suit, or proceeding based on any act, omission, step, or conduct, as in this paragraph described, the provisions hereof shall be brought to the attention of the court. In the event that the foregoing provisions of this paragraph are found by the court not to constitute a valid defense on the grounds of not being applicable to the particular class of plaintiff, each such director and officer, and his heirs, executors and administrators, shall be reimbursed for, or indemnified against, all expenses and liabilities incurred by him or imposed on him, in connection with, or arising out of, any such action, suit, or proceeding based on any act, omission, step, or conduct taken or had in good faith as in this paragraph described. Such expenses and liabilities shall include, but shall not be limited to, judgments, court costs, and attorneys' fees. The foregoing rights shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which any such director or officer or employee may otherwise be entitled and shall be available whether or not the director or officer or employee continues to be a director or officer or employee at the time of incurring any such expenses and liabilities. II-2 The Company has an insurance policy covering its liabilities and expenses which might arise in connection with its lawful indemnification of its directors and officers for certain of their liabilities and expenses and also covering its officers and directors against certain other liabilities and expenses. ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT NUMBER - --------- 1.1 -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.* 4.1 -- Form of Subordinated Note Indenture between Georgia Power Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee.* 4.2 -- Form of Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Note Indenture to be used in connection with the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes.* 4.3-A -- Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust I.** 4.3-B -- Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust II.** 4.3-C -- Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust III.** 4.3-A(1) -- Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 4.3-B(1) -- Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 4.3-C(1) -- Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 4.4-A -- Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust I.** 4.4-B -- Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust II.** 4.4-C -- Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust III.** 4.5-A -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 4.5-B -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 4.5-C -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 4.6-A -- Form of Preferred Security of Georgia Power Capital Trust I (included in Exhibit 4.5-A above). 4.6-B -- Form of Preferred Security of Georgia Power Capital Trust II (included in Exhibit 4.5-B above). 4.6-C -- Form of Preferred Security of Georgia Power Capital Trust III (included in Exhibit 4.5-C above). 4.7 -- Form of Junior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 above). 4.8-A -- Form of Guarantee relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 4.8-B -- Form of Guarantee relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 4.8-C -- Form of Guarantee relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 4.9-A -- Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I (included in Exhibit 4.5-A above). 4.9-B -- Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II (included in Exhibit 4.5-B above). 4.9-C -- Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III (included in Exhibit 4.5-C above). 5.1-A -- Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 5.1-B -- Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 5.1-C -- Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 5.2-A -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 5.2-B -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 5.2-C -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 8.1 -- Tax Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP. 12.1 -- Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges. 12.2 -- Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred dividend requirements (pre-income tax basis). 15.1 -- Letter re unaudited interim financial information. 23.1 -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.** 23.2 -- Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1-A, 5.1-B and 5.1-C above). 23.3 -- Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1 above). 23.4 -- Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger (included in Exhibit 5.2-A, 5.2-B and 5.2-C above).
II-3
EXHIBIT NUMBER - --------- 24.1 -- Powers of Attorney and Resolution.** 25.1 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Indenture Trustee. 25.2 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 25.3 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 25.4 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 25.5 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 25.6 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 25.7 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III.
- --------------- * To be subsequently filed or incorporated by reference. ** Previously filed. ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS. (a) Undertaking related to Rule 415 offering: The undersigned registrants hereby undertake: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement. (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, S-8 or F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the II-4 securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) Undertaking related to filings incorporating subsequent Securities Exchange Act of 1934 documents by reference: The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) Undertaking related to acceleration of effectiveness: Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of their counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. (d) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that: (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or 497(h) under the Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. II-5 SIGNATURES PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, GEORGIA POWER COMPANY CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, STATE OF GEORGIA, ON THE 16TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1996. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY By: H. ALLEN FRANKLIN President and Chief Executive Officer By:WAYNE BOSTON, Attorney-in-fact PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, STATE OF GEORGIA, ON THE 16TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1996. GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I By: GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, Depositor By: WAYNE BOSTON, Assistant Secretary PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, STATE OF GEORGIA, ON THE 16TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1996. GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II By: GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, Depositor By: WAYNE BOSTON, Assistant Secretary II-6 PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, STATE OF GEORGIA, ON THE 16TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1996. GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III By: GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, Depositor By: WAYNE BOSTON, Assistant Secretary II-7 PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF GEORGIA POWER COMPANY IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATE INDICATED.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE - --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- ---------------- H. ALLEN FRANKLIN President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) WARREN Y. JOBE Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and Director (Principal Financial Officer) CLIFF S. THRASHER Vice President and Comptroller (Principal Accounting Officer) BENNETT A. BROWN A. W. DAHLBERG, III WILLIAM A. FICKLING, JR. L. G. HARDMAN III JAMES R. LIENTZ, JR. WILLIAM A. PARKER, JR. G. JOSEPH PRENDERGAST Directors HERMAN J. RUSSELL GLORIA M. SHATTO WILLIAM JERRY VEREEN CARL WARE THOMAS R. WILLIAMS BY WAYNE BOSTON August 16, 1996 (WAYNE BOSTON, ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)
II-8 EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NUMBER - --------- 1.1 -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.* 4.1 -- Form of Subordinated Note Indenture between Georgia Power Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee.* 4.2 -- Form of Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Note Indenture to be used in connection with the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes.* 4.3-A -- Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust I.** 4.3-B -- Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust II.** 4.3-C -- Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust III.** 4.3-A(1) -- Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 4.3-B(1) -- Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 4.3-C(1) -- Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 4.4-A -- Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust I.** 4.4-B -- Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust II.** 4.4-C -- Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust III.** 4.5-A -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 4.5-B -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 4.5-C -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 4.6-A -- Form of Preferred Security of Georgia Power Capital Trust I (included in Exhibit 4.5-A above). 4.6-B -- Form of Preferred Security of Georgia Power Capital Trust II (included in Exhibit 4.5-B above). 4.6-C -- Form of Preferred Security of Georgia Power Capital Trust III (included in Exhibit 4.5-C above). 4.7 -- Form of Junior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 above). 4.8-A -- Form of Guarantee relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 4.8-B -- Form of Guarantee relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 4.8-C -- Form of Guarantee relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 4.9-A -- Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I (included in Exhibit 4.5-A above). 4.9-B -- Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II (included in Exhibit 4.5-B above). 4.9-C -- Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III (included in Exhibit 4.5-C above). 5.1-A -- Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 5.1-B -- Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 5.1-C -- Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 5.2-A -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 5.2-B -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 5.2-C -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 8.1 -- Tax Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP. 12.1 -- Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges. 12.2 -- Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred dividend requirements (pre-income tax basis). 15.1 -- Letter re unaudited interim financial information. 23.1 -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.** 23.2 -- Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1-A, 5.1-B and 5.1-C above). 23.3 -- Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1 above). 23.4 -- Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger (included in Exhibit 5.2-A, 5.2-B and 5.2-C above).
1
EXHIBIT NUMBER - --------- 24.1 -- Powers of Attorney and Resolution.** 25.1 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Indenture Trustee. 25.2 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 25.3 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 25.4 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 25.5 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 25.6 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 25.7 -- Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, relating to Georgia Power Capital Trust III.
- --------------- * To be subsequently filed or incorporated by reference. ** Previously filed. 2 EX-4.3A1 2 Exhibit 4.3-A(1) CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I THIS Certificate of Amendment of Georgia Power Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), dated July 23, 1996, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned trustee to amend a Certificate of Trust of a business trust created under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801, et seq.). 1. Name. The name of the business trust is Georgia Power Capital Trust I. 2. Amendment to Certificate of Trust. The Certificate of Trust of the Trust is hereby amended by changing the name and address of the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware to: Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware 1201 Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19801 3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Amendment shall be effective as of its filing. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Amendment as of the date and year first above written. CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Trustee By: /s/ John J. Cashin Name: John J. Cashin Title: Senior Trust Officer EX-4.3B1 3 Exhibit 4.3-B(1) CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II THIS Certificate of Amendment of Georgia Power Capital Trust II (the "Trust"), dated July 23, 1996, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned trustee to amend a Certificate of Trust of a business trust created under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801, et seq.). 1. Name. The name of the business trust is Georgia Power Capital Trust II. 2. Amendment to Certificate of Trust. The Certificate of Trust of the Trust is hereby amended by changing the name and address of the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware to: Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware 1201 Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19801 3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Amendment shall be effective as of its filing. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Amendment as of the date and year first above written. CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Trustee By: /s/ John J. Cashin Name: John J. Cashin Title: Senior Trust Officer EX-4.3C1 4 Exhibit 4.3-C(1) CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III THIS Certificate of Amendment of Georgia Power Capital Trust III (the "Trust"), dated July 23, 1996, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned trustee to amend a Certificate of Trust of a business trust created under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801, et seq.). 1. Name. The name of the business trust is Georgia Power Capital Trust III. 2. Amendment to Certificate of Trust. The Certificate of Trust of the Trust is hereby amended by changing the name and address of the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware to: Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware 1201 Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19801 3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Amendment shall be effective as of its filing. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Amendment as of the date and year first above written. CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Trustee By: /s/ John J. Cashin Name: John J. Cashin Title: Senior Trust Officer EX-4.5-A 5 Exhibit 4.5-A REVISED DRAFT 8/14/96 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT among GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, as Depositor, THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee, CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Delaware Trustee, and JUDY M. ANDERSON and WAYNE BOSTON, as Administrative Trustees Dated as of _______ __, 1996 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating to Sections 310 through 318 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939: Trust Indenture Trust Agreement Act Section Section Section 310(a)(1)....................................8.07 (a)(2)......................................8.07 (a)(3)......................................8.09 (a)(4)............................Not Applicable (b).........................................8.08 Section 311(a).......................................8.13 (b).........................................8.13 Section 312(a).......................................5.07 (b).........................................5.07 (c).........................................5.07 Section 313(a)....................................8.14(a) (a)(4)...................................8.14(b) (b)......................................8.14(b) (c)......................................8.14(a) (d).............................8.14(a), 8.14(b) Section 314(a).......................................8.15 (b)...............................Not Applicable (c)(1)................................8.15, 8.16 (c)(2)......................................8.16 (c)(3)......................................8.16 (d)...............................Not Applicable (e).........................................8.16 Section 315(a).......................................8.01 (b)................................8.02, 8.14(b) (c)......................................8.01(a) (d)...................................8.01, 8.03 (e)...............................Not Applicable Section 316(a).............................Not Applicable (a)(1)(A)...................................8.19 (a)(1)(B)...................................8.19 (a)(2)............................Not Applicable (b)...............................Not Applicable (c)...............................Not Applicable Section 317(a)(1)..........................Not Applicable (a)(2)............................Not Applicable (b).........................................5.09 Section 318(a)......................................10.10 Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Trust Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I Defined Terms.................... 2 Section 1.01 Definitions.............................................. 2 ----------- ARTICLE II Establishment of the Trust.............. 10 Section 2.01 Name..................................................... 10 ---- Section 2.02 Offices of the Trustees; Principal Place of ------------------------------------------- Business................................................. 11 Section 2.03 Initial Contribution of Trust Property; --------------------------------------- Organizational Expenses.................................. 11 Section 2.04 Issuance of the Preferred Securities..................... 11 ------------------------------------ Section 2.05 Subscription and Purchase of Junior ----------------------------------- Subordinated Notes; Issuance of the Common Securities............................................... 11 Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust..................................... 12 -------------------- Section 2.07 Authorization to Enter into Certain ----------------------------------- Transactions............................................. 12 Section 2.08 Assets of Trust.......................................... 17 --------------- Section 2.09 Title to Trust Property.................................. 17 ----------------------- Section 2.10 Mergers and Consolidations of the Trust.................. 18 --------------------------------------- ARTICLE III Payment Account................... 19 Section 3.01 Payment Account.......................................... 19 --------------- ARTICLE IV Distributions; Redemption.............. 19 Section 4.01 Distributions............................................ 19 ------------- Section 4.02 Redemption............................................... 20 ---------- i Section 4.03 Subordination of Common Securities....................... 23 ---------------------------------- Section 4.04 Payment Procedures....................................... 23 ------------------ Section 4.05 Tax Returns and Reports.................................. 23 ----------------------- ARTICLE V Trust Securities Certificates............ 24 Section 5.01 Initial Ownership........................................ 24 ----------------- Section 5.02 The Trust Securities Certificates........................ 24 --------------------------------- Section 5.03 Authentication of Trust Securities Certificates............................................. 24 Section 5.04 Registration of Transfer and Exchange of ---------------------------------------- Preferred Securities Certificates........................ 25 Section 5.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust ------------------------------------------ Securities Certificates.................................. 25 Section 5.06 Persons Deemed Securityholders........................... 26 ------------------------------ Section 5.07 Access to List of Securityholders' Names and -------------------------------------------- Addresses................................................ 26 Section 5.08 Maintenance of Office or Agency.......................... 27 ------------------------------- Section 5.09 Appointment of Paying Agent.............................. 27 --------------------------- Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.............. 28 ------------------------------------------- Section 5.11 Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common Securities Certificate............................ 28 Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency............................... 29 -------------------------- Section 5.13 Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates............. 29 -------------------------------------------- Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders................................ 30 ------------------------- ARTICLE VI Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting...... 30 Section 6.01 Limitations on Voting Rights............................. 30 ---------------------------- Section 6.02 Notice of Meetings....................................... 31 ------------------ Section 6.03 Meetings of Preferred Securityholders.................... 32 ------------------------------------- ii Section 6.04 Voting Rights............................................ 32 ------------- Section 6.05 Proxies, etc............................................. 32 ------------- Section 6.06 Securityholder Action by Written Consent................. 33 ---------------------------------------- Section 6.07 Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes................ 33 ----------------------------------------- Section 6.08 Acts of Securityholders.................................. 33 ----------------------- Section 6.09 Inspection of Records.................................... 34 --------------------- ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties of the Trustees.... 34 Section 7.01 Representations and Warranties of the ------------------------------------- Trustees................................................. 34 ARTICLE VIII The Trustees..................... 36 Section 8.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities...................... 36 ----------------------------------- Section 8.02 Notice of Defaults....................................... 36 ------------------ Section 8.03 Certain Rights of Property Trustee....................... 36 ---------------------------------- Section 8.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of ------------------------------------------- Securities............................................... 38 Section 8.05 May Hold Securities...................................... 38 ------------------- Section 8.06 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity............................ 38 ----------------------------- Section 8.07 Trustees Required; Eligibility........................... 39 ------------------------------ Section 8.08 Conflicting Interests.................................... 39 --------------------- Section 8.09 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee......................... 40 -------------------------------- Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of --------------------------------------- Successor................................................ 41 Section 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor................... 42 -------------------------------------- Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession ----------------------------------------------- to Business.............................................. 43 Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against ----------------------------------------- Depositor or Trust....................................... 43 iii Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee.............................. 44 --------------------------- Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee.......................... 44 ------------------------------- Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions -------------------------------------- Precedent................................................ 44 Section 8.17 Number of Trustees....................................... 45 ------------------ Section 8.18 Delegation of Power...................................... 45 ------------------- Section 8.19 Enforcement of Rights of Property Trustee by -------------------------------------------- Securityholders.......................................... 45 ARTICLE IX Termination and Liquidation............. 46 Section 9.01 Termination Upon Expiration Date......................... 46 -------------------------------- Section 9.02 Early Termination........................................ 46 ----------------- Section 9.03 Termination.............................................. 47 ----------- Section 9.04 Liquidation.............................................. 47 ----------- Section 9.05 Bankruptcy............................................... 48 ---------- ARTICLE X Miscellaneous Provisions............... 49 Section 10.01 Guarantee by the Depositor............................... 49 -------------------------- Section 10.02 Limitation of Rights of Securityholders.................. 49 --------------------------------------- Section 10.03 Amendment................................................ 49 --------- Section 10.04 Separability............................................. 51 ------------ Section 10.05 Governing Law............................................ 51 ------------- Section 10.06 Successors............................................... 51 ---------- Section 10.07 Headings................................................. 51 -------- Section 10.08 Notice and Demand........................................ 51 ----------------- Section 10.09 Agreement Not to Petition................................ 52 ------------------------- Section 10.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act........................ 52 --------------------------------- iv
EXHIBIT A [INTENTIONALLY RESERVED] EXHIBIT B Form of Certificate Depository Agreement EXHIBIT C Form of Common Securities Certificate EXHIBIT D Form of Expense Agreement EXHIBIT E Form of Preferred Securities Certificate v AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT is made as of _______ __, 1996, by and among (i) Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Depositor" or the "Company"), (ii) The Chase Manhattan Bank, a banking corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of New York, as trustee (the "Property Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Trustee, the "Bank"), (iii) Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware, a banking corporation duly organized under the laws of Delaware, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Delaware Trustee, the "Delaware Bank"), (iv) Judy M. Anderson, an individual, and Wayne Boston, an individual, as administrative trustees (each an "Administrative Trustee" and together the "Administrative Trustees") (the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees referred to collectively as the "Trustees") and (v) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Delaware Trustee have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by the entering into that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of June 13, 1996 (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing by the Delaware Trustee with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, dated June 13, 1996, as amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment, dated July 23, 1996; and WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the addition of the Bank, Judy M. Anderson and Wayne Boston as trustees of the Trust, (ii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, and (iv) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows: 1 ARTICLE I Defined Terms Section 1.01 Definitions. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular; (b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein; (c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement; and (d) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. "Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.08. "Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, an amount equal to the Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition of "Additional Interest" in the Subordinated Indenture) paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes for such period. "Administrative Trustee" means each of the individuals identified as an "Administrative Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in their capacities as Administrative Trustees of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in their individual capacities, or such trustee's successor(s) in interest in such capacity, or any successor "Administrative Trustee" appointed as herein provided. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. 2 "Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement. "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person: (i) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under federal bankruptcy law or any other applicable federal or state law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (ii) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under federal bankruptcy law or any other applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of action by such Person in furtherance of any such action. "Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.09. "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted by the Depositor's Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustees. "Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" means certificates representing Preferred Securities issued in global, fully registered form to the Clearing Agency as described in Section 5.11. "Business Day" means a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office or the Indenture Trustee's principal corporate trust office is closed for business. 3 "Certificate Depository Agreement" means the agreement among the Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the Issue Date, relating to the Preferred Securities Certificates, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time. "Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing Agency. "Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time. "Common Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein. "Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of a Common Security or Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C. "Company" means Georgia Power Company. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Property Trustee at which its corporate trust business shall be principally administered. "Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means either or both (as the context requires) of (i) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.11(a) and (ii) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.13. "Delaware Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement. 4 "Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time. "Delaware Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company or any other Person identified as the "Delaware Trustee" and has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided. "Depositor" means Georgia Power Company, in its capacity as "Depositor" under this Trust Agreement. "Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a). "Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.01. "Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (i) the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; or (ii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of 30 days; or (iii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or (iv) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or breach is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Trustees by the Holders of at least 10% in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or (v) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Trust. 5 "Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities between the Company and the Trust, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D, as amended from time to time. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time. "Indenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the Subordinated Indenture. "Indenture Redemption Date" means "Redemption Date," as defined in the Subordinated Indenture. "Indenture Trustee" means the trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. "Issue Date" means the date of the delivery of the Trust Securities. "Junior Subordinated Notes" means the $___________ aggregate principal amount of the Depositor's Series A _____% Junior Subordinated Notes, due June 30, 2036, issued pursuant to the Subordinated Indenture. "Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever. "Like Amount" means (i) Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Subordinated Indenture and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities and (ii) Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed. "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security. "Liquidation Date" means the date on which Junior Subordinated Notes are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.04. 6 "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.05. "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 8.16 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Depositor. An Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary, in such officer's opinion, to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Trust, the Trustees or the Depositor, but not an employee of the Trust or the Trustees, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee. Any Opinion of Counsel pertaining to federal income tax matters may rely on published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service. "Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Trust Agreement. "Outstanding", when used with respect to Preferred Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Preferred Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except: (i) Preferred Securities theretofore cancelled by the Administrative Trustees or delivered to the Administrative Trustees for cancellation; 7 (ii) Preferred Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred Securities; provided that if such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and (iii) Preferred Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, the Holder of the Common Securities, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Preferred Securities which such Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the outstanding Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, the Holder of the Common Securities, one or more Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor. "Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency). "Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 5.09 and shall initially be the Property Trustee. "Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be held and from which the Property Trustee shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Section 4.01. 8 "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein. "Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of a Preferred Security or Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E. "Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor "Property Trustee" as herein provided. "Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided that each Indenture Redemption Date shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities. "Redemption Price" means, with respect to any date fixed for redemption of any Trust Security, the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to such date. "Relevant Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.10. "Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" are described in Section 5.04. "Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any such Person is a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust Act. "Subordinated Indenture" means the Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1996, between the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture. "Supplemental Indenture" means the __________ Supplemental Indenture, dated as of _______ __, 1996, by and between the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee. 9 "Trust" means the Delaware business trust continued hereby and identified on the cover page to this Trust Agreement. "Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes of this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and any modification, amendment or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, respectively. "Trustees" means the Persons identified as "Trustees" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in their capacities as Trustees of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in their individual capacities, or their successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended. "Trust Property" means (i) the Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account, and (iii) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement. "Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates. "Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred Securities. "Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of _______ __, 1996, among the Trust, the Depositor and the underwriters named therein. ARTICLE II Establishment of the Trust Section 2.01 Name. The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "Georgia Power Capital Trust I", in which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and 10 be sued. The Administrative Trustees may change the name of the Trust from time to time following written notice to the Holders. Section 2.02 Offices of the Trustees; Principal Place of Business. The address of the Property Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, or at such other address as the Property Trustee may designate by written notice to the Securityholders and the Depositor. The principal place of business of the Delaware Trustee is 1201 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, or at such other address in Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by notice to the Depositor. The address of the Administrative Trustees is c/o Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The principal place of business of the Trust is c/o Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308. The Depositor may change the principal place of business of the Trust at any time by giving notice thereof to the Trustees. Section 2.03 Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses. The Delaware Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which constituted the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay organizational expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of the Trustees, promptly reimburse the Trustees for any such expenses paid by the Trustees. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses. Section 2.04 Issuance of the Preferred Securities. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, in an aggregate amount of _________ Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $__________, against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $__________, which amount the Administrative Trustees shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee. Section 2.05 Subscription and Purchase of Junior Subordinated Notes; Issuance of the Common Securities. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the Depositor Common Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of ________ Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $______, against payment by the Depositor of such amount. Contemporaneously therewith, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor Junior Subordinated Notes, registered in the 11 name of the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust and the Holders, and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $___________, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Junior Subordinated Notes, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $___________. Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust. The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (i) to issue and sell the Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Junior Subordinated Notes, and (ii) to engage in those activities necessary, incidental, appropriate or convenient thereto. The Depositor hereby appoints each of the Bank, the Delaware Bank, Judy M. Anderson and Wayne Boston as trustees of the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein. The Property Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders. The Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the Trustees for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of the Delaware Business Trust Act. Section 2.07 Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions. The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph C of this Section, and in accordance with the following paragraphs A and B, the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following: A. As among the Trustees, the Administrative Trustees, acting singly or jointly, shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (i) to acquire the Junior Subordinated Notes with the proceeds of the sale of the Trust Securities; provided, however, the Administrative Trustees shall cause legal title to all of the Junior Subordinated Notes to be vested in, and the Junior Subordinated Notes to be held of record in the name of, the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and Holders of the Trust Securities; 12 (ii) to give the Depositor and the Property Trustee prompt written notice of the occurrence of any Special Event (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture) and to take any ministerial actions in connection therewith; provided, that the Administrative Trustees shall consult with the Depositor and the Property Trustee before taking or refraining to take any ministerial action in relation to a Special Event; (iii) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including for the purposes of ss. 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act and with respect to Distributions, voting rights, redemptions, and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to Holders of the Trust Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; (iv) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section 2.07(B)(v), the Property Trustee has the power to bring such Legal Action; (v) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors, advisors, and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services; (vi) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the Trust Indenture Act; (vii) to give the certificate to the Property Trustee required by ss. 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act, which certificate may be executed by any Administrative Trustee; (viii) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement; (ix) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Trust Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust has been created; (x) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust; 13 (xi) to issue and sell the Trust Securities; (xii) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Expense Agreement and the Certificate Depository Agreement and such other agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the consummation hereof; (xiii) to assist in the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under state securities or blue sky laws, and the qualification of this Trust Agreement as a trust indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; (xiv) to assist in the listing of the Preferred Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor and the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Exchange Act, and the preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing; (xv) to send notices (other than notices of default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xvi) to appoint a Paying Agent (subject to Section 5.09), authenticating agent and Securities Registrar in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xvii) to register transfers of the Trust Securities in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xviii) to assist in, to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and termination of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and (xix) to take any action incidental to the foregoing as the Administrative Trustees may from time to time determine is necessary, appropriate, convenient or advisable to protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder). B. As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (i) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect promptly the redemption 14 of the Trust Securities to the extent the Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemed or mature; (ii) upon notice of distribution issued by the Administrative Trustees in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect promptly the distribution pursuant to terms of this Trust Agreement of Junior Subordinated Notes to Holders of Trust Securities; (iii) subject to the terms hereof, exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, shall enforce for the benefit of, and subject to the rights of, the Holders of the Trust Securities, its rights as holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Indenture; (iv) take all actions and perform such duties as may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement; (v) take any Legal Action specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default or the Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act or the Trust Indenture Act; (vi) the establishment and maintenance of the Payment Account; (vii) the receipt of and holding of legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes as described herein; (viii) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes in the Payment Account; (ix) the distribution of amounts owed to the Securityholders in respect of the Trust Securities; (x) the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xi) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement; (xii) as provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and termination of the Trust and 15 the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of Delaware; and (xiii) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary, appropriate, convenient or advisable to protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder). C. So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Trustees shall not (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money, (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property, (vi) issue any securities other than the Trust Securities, or (vii) have any power to, or agree to any action by the Depositor that would, vary the investment (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-4(c)) of the Trust or of the Securityholders. The Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders. D. In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects): (i) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any amendments thereto; (ii) to determine the states in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and advise the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf 16 of the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States; (iii) to prepare for filing by the Trust an application to the New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the NASDAQ National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities; (iv) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto; (v) to negotiate the terms of the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities and to execute, deliver and perform the Underwriting Agreement on behalf of the Trust; and (vi) any other actions necessary, incidental, appropriate or convenient to carry out any of the foregoing activities. E. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or taxed as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust Agreement, that each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees determines in its discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Section 2.08 Assets of Trust. The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property. Section 2.09 Title to Trust Property. Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders and the Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement. The right, title and interest of the Property Trustee to the Junior Subordinated Notes shall vest automatically in each Person who may thereafter be appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered. 17 Section 2.10 Mergers and Consolidations of the Trust. The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described below or otherwise provided in this Trust Agreement. The Trust may at the request of the Company, with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (x) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Securities or (y) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Trust Securities (herein referred to as the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank in priority with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, or replacement, the Company has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (viii) the Company guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes. 18 ARTICLE III Payment Account Section 3.01 Payment Account. (a) On or prior to the Issue Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and an agent of the Property Trustee shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Securityholders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein. (b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal or interest on, and any other payments or proceeds with respect to, the Junior Subordinated Notes. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof. ARTICLE IV Distributions; Redemption Section 4.01 Distributions. (a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative and accrue from the Issue Date and, except in the event that the Depositor exercises its right to extend the interest payment period for the Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to Section 104 of the Supplemental Indenture, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on _____ __, 1996. If any date on which Distributions are otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each such date, a "Distribution Date"). (b) Distributions payable on the Trust Securities shall be fixed at a rate of _____% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of 19 the Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any full quarterly period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30- day months and a 360-day year. If the interest payment period for the Junior Subordinated Notes is extended pursuant to Section 104 of the Supplemental Indenture (an "Extension Period"), then the rate per annum at which Distributions on the Trust Securities accumulate shall be increased by an amount such that the aggregate amount of Distributions that accumulate on all Trust Securities during any such Extension Period is equal to the aggregate amount of interest (including interest payable on unpaid interest at the percentage rate per annum set forth above, compounded quarterly) that accrues during any such Extension Period on the Junior Subordinated Notes. The payment of such deferred interest, together with interest thereon, will be distributed to the Holders of the Trust Securities as received at the end of any Extension Period. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include the Additional Amounts, if any. (c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made and shall be deemed payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has legally and immediately available funds in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions. (d) Distributions, including Additional Amounts, if any, on the Trust Securities on each Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to the relevant Distribution Date. Each Trust Security upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Trust Security shall carry the rights of Distributions accrued (including Additional Amounts, if any) and unpaid, and to accrue (including Additional Amounts, if any), which were carried by such other Trust Security. Section 4.02 Redemption. (a) On each Redemption Date with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price. (b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of redemption shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the Redemption Price; 20 (iii) the CUSIP number; (iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the total Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities to be redeemed; and (v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that Distributions thereon will cease to accrue on and after such date. (c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of Junior Subordinated Notes. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be deemed payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price. (d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Preferred Securities, then, by 2:00 p.m. New York time, on the Redemption Date, subject to Section 4.02(c), the Property Trustee will, so long as the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form, irrevocably deposit with the Clearing Agency for the Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price. If the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry only form, the Property Trustee, subject to Section 4.02(c), shall irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders thereof upon surrender of their Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest, and such Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Redemption Price shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Trust Securities 21 is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from such Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid. (e) Payment of the Redemption Price on the Trust Securities shall be made to the recordholders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to the Redemption Date. (f) If less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated 3% to the Common Securities and 97% to the Preferred Securities, with such adjustments that each amount so allocated shall be divisible by $25. The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for a redemption of portions (equal to $25 or integral multiple thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25; provided, however, that before undertaking redemption of the Preferred Securities on other than a pro rata basis, the Property Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel that the status of the Trust as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes would not be adversely affected. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or is to be redeemed. (g) Subject to the foregoing provisions of Section 4.02 and to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Company or its Affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. Section 4.03 Subordination of Common Securities. (a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, and the Redemption Price of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the 22 Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, Preferred Securities then due and payable. (b) In the case of the occurrence of any Indenture Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and not the Holder of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf. Section 4.04 Payment Procedures. Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency, which shall credit the relevant Persons' accounts at such Clearing Agency on the applicable distribution dates. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities. Section 4.05 Tax Returns and Reports. The Administrative Trustee(s) shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the Depositor's expense, and file all United States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. The Administrative Trustee(s) shall provide or cause to be provided on a timely basis to each Holder any Internal Revenue Service form required to be so provided in respect of the Trust Securities. 23 ARTICLE V Trust Securities Certificates Section 5.01 Initial Ownership. Upon the creation of the Trust by the contribution by the Depositor pursuant to Section 2.03 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust. Section 5.02 The Trust Securities Certificates. Each of the Preferred and Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples in excess thereof. The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the authentication and delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of authentication and delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 5.04. Section 5.03 Authentication of Trust Securities Certificates. On the Issue Date, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 2.04 and 2.05, to be executed on behalf of the Trust, authenticated and delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor signed by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations. No Trust Securities Certificate shall entitle its holder to any benefit under this Trust Agreement, or shall be valid for any purpose, unless there shall appear on such Trust Securities Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit E or Exhibit C, as applicable, executed by at least one Administrative Trustee by manual signature; such authentication shall constitute conclusive evidence that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Trust Securities Certificates shall be dated the date of their authentication. Section 5.04 Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates. 24 The Securities Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, a Securities Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Securities Registrar shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and the Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Property Trustee shall be the initial Securities Registrar. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, the Administrative Trustees shall execute, authenticate and deliver in the name of the designated transferee or transferees one or more new Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount dated the date of authentication by the Administrative Trustee or Trustees. The Securities Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. At the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the same class and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08. Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Trustees and the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently disposed of by the Securities Registrar in accordance with its customary practice. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar or the Administrative Trustees may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates. Section 5.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates. If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the 25 Administrative Trustees or any one of them on behalf of the Trust shall execute and authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this Section, the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time. Section 5.06 Persons Deemed Securityholders. Prior to due presentation of a Trust Securities Certificate for registration of transfer, the Trustees or the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving Distributions (subject to Section 4.01(d)) and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary. Section 5.07 Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses. The Administrative Trustees shall furnish or cause to be furnished to (i) the Depositor and the Property Trustee semi-annually, not later than June 1 and December 1 in each year, and (ii) the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, within 15 days after receipt by any Administrative Trustee of a request therefor from the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, in writing, a list, in such form as the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished. If three or more Securityholders or one or more Holders of Trust Securities Certificates evidencing not less than 25% of the outstanding Liquidation Amount apply in writing to the Administrative Trustees, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Trust Agreement or under the Trust Securities Certificates and such application is accompanied by a copy of the communication that such applicants propose to transmit, then the Administrative Trustees shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, afford such applicants access during normal business hours to the current list of Securityholders. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a Trust Securities Certificate, shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold either the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which such information was derived. 26 Section 5.08 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Administrative Trustees shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served. The Administrative Trustees initially designate The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, as its principal agency for such purposes. The Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency. Section 5.09 Appointment of Paying Agent. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions and other payments provided hereby to Securityholders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions and payments to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the purpose of making the Distributions and payments provided hereby. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee, and it may choose any co-paying agent that is acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. In the event that a Paying Agent shall resign or be removed, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is acceptable to the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company). The Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees to execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Securityholders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.01, 8.03 and 8.06 shall apply to the Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise. 27 Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor. On the Issue Date, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter retain, beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. Any attempted transfer of the Common Securities, except for transfers by operation of law, shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE". Section 5.11 Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common Securities Certificate. (a) The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon original issuance, will be issued in the form of a typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, to be delivered to The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates shall initially be registered on the Securities Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, and no Owner will receive a definitive Preferred Securities Certificate representing such beneficial owner's interest in such Preferred Securities, except as provided in Section 5.13. Unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13: (i) the provisions of this Section 5.11(a) shall be in full force and effect; (ii) the Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates (including the payment of principal of and interest on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities and the giving of instructions or directions to Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities) as the sole Holder of Book-Entry Preferred Securities and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof; (iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall control; and (iv) the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants. Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 5.13, the Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and 28 receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities to such Clearing Agency Participants. (b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common Securities Certificate. Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency. To the extent a notice or other communication to the Owners is required under this Trust Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to the Owners. Section 5.13 Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates. If (i) the Depositor advises the Trustees in writing that the Clearing Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Preferred Securities Certificates, and the Depositor is unable to locate a qualified successor, or (ii) the Depositor at its option advises the Trustees in writing that it elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing Agency, then the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Clearing Agency and Holders of the Preferred Securities. Upon surrender to the Administrative Trustees of the typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and authenticate the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Securityholders. The Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by the execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of them. Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders. The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.09, and the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights 29 specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or other similar rights and when issued and delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor, except as otherwise provided in the Expense Agreement and Section 10.01 hereof, will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Except as otherwise provided in the Expense Agreement and Section 10.01 hereof, the Holders of the Trust Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. ARTICLE VI Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting Section 6.01 Limitations on Voting Rights. (a) Except as provided in this Section, in Section 8.10 or Section 10.03 of this Trust Agreement, in the Subordinated Indenture, and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of an association. (b) So long as any Junior Subordinated Notes are held by the Property Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee with respect to such Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Section 513 of the Subordinated Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Subordinated Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Notes, where such consent shall be required, or to any other action, as holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, under the Subordinated Indenture, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the Subordinated Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Trustees without the prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities, except pursuant to a subsequent vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall 30 notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action. (c) If any proposed amendment to this Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to this Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action. Section 6.02 Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of the Preferred Securityholders, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Administrative Trustees pursuant to Section 10.08 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at his registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Section 6.03 Meetings of Preferred Securityholders. No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matter upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of record of 25% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of Preferred Securityholders to vote on any matters as to which Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote. 31 Preferred Securityholders of record of 50% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount), present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders. If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding more than 66-2/3% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) held by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders, unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes. Section 6.04 Voting Rights. Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $25 of Liquidation Amount represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote. Section 6.05 Proxies, etc. At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder entitled to vote may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Securityholders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of execution. Section 6.06 Securityholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if Securityholders holding at least 66-2/3% of all outstanding Trust Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such other proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing (based upon their Liquidation Amount). Section 6.07 Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes. For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any Distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Trust 32 Agreement, or for the purpose of any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or the payment of Distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for such purposes. Section 6.08 Acts of Securityholders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made or taken by Securityholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Administrative Trustees. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Securityholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 8.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgements of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustees deem sufficient. The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security. Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any part 33 of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount. If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders of Trust Securities and the Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter. Section 6.09 Inspection of Records. Upon reasonable notice to the Trustees, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder. ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties of the Trustees Section 7.01 Representations and Warranties of the Trustees. The Bank, the Delaware Bank, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Securityholders that: (a) the Bank is a banking corporation or trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, and the Delaware Trustee is a banking corporation or trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform their obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement; (c) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; 34 (d) the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank of this Trust Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank and the Delaware Trustee and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Bank or the Delaware Bank and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Bank's or the Delaware Bank's Charter or By-laws, or (ii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of New York or Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking or trust powers of the Bank and the Property Trustee or the Delaware Bank and the Delaware Trustee, or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank or the Delaware Trustee; and (e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Bank or the Delaware Bank of this Trust Agreement, nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank or the Delaware Trustee (as appropriate in context) contemplated herein or therein, nor the issuance of the Trust Securities Certificates pursuant to this Trust Agreement require the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing federal, New York or Delaware law governing the banking or trust powers of the Bank or the Delaware Bank. ARTICLE VIII The Trustees Section 8.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (a) The rights, duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to them. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section. (b) All payments made by the Property Trustee in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the income and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient income or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee to make payments in accordance with the 35 terms hereof. Each Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the income and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 8.01(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.02 Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.08, notice of any default known to the Property Trustee to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless such default shall have been cured or waived. For the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default. Section 8.03 Certain Rights of Property Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 and except as provided by law: (i) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; (ii) if (A) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, or (B) in construing any of the provisions in this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein, or (C) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which the Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor requesting written instructions of the Depositor as to the course of action to be taken. The Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that if the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten Business Days after it has delivered 36 such notice, or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent practicable shall not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct; (iii) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon; (iv) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; (v) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond or other document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Securityholders; and (vi) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible for its own negligence or recklessness with respect to selection of any agent or attorney appointed by it hereunder. Section 8.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be taken as the statements of the Trust, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Trust of the proceeds of the Trust Securities in accordance with Section 2.05. The Property Trustee may conclusively assume that any funds held by it hereunder are legally available unless an officer of the Property Trustee assigned to its Corporate Trustee Administrative 37 Department shall have received written notice from the Company, any Holder or any other Trustee that such funds are not legally available. Section 8.05 May Hold Securities. Except as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article I, any Trustee or any other agent of the Trustees or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent. Section 8.06 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity. The Depositor agrees: (1) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustees hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith; and (3) to indemnify the Trustees for, and to hold the Trustees harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Trust Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder. The provisions of this Section 8.06 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement. Section 8.07 Trustees Required; Eligibility. (a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the 38 Property Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. (b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. (c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity authorized to conduct a trust business and with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. Section 8.08 Conflicting Interests. If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust Agreement. Section 8.09 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee. At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property may at the time be located, the Holder of the Common Securities and the Property Trustee shall have power to appoint, and upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall for such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate trustee of any such Trust Property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. If the Depositor does not join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, or in case an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment. Any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this Section shall satisfy the requirements of Section 8.07. 39 Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged, and delivered by the Depositor. Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms, namely: (i) The Trust Securities shall be executed, authenticated and delivered and all rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Trustees hereunder, shall be exercised, solely by the Trustees. (ii) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby conferred or imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by such appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co-trustee or separate trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event such rights, powers, duties, and obligations shall be exercised and performed by such co-trustee or separate trustee. (iii) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may accept the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this Section, and, in case an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any such co-trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence of the Depositor. Upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery, and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section. (iv) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee, or any other such trustee hereunder. 40 (v) The Trustees shall not be liable by reason of any act of a co-trustee or separate trustee. (vi) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee. Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and no appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Relevant Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. The Relevant Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Securityholders. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Relevant Trustee required by Section 8.11 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Relevant Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Unless an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Relevant Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities. If an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Relevant Trustee may be removed at such time by Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities Certificates, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). If the Relevant Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as Trustee at a time when no Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities, by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and the retiring Relevant Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If the Relevant Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as the Relevant Trustee at a time when an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of Preferred Securities, by Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and the Relevant Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed in accordance with this Section 8.10 and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11, any Securityholder who has been a Securityholder of Trust Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any 41 court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. The retiring Relevant Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Relevant Trustee, and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 10.08 and shall give notice to the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by (i) the act of the remaining Administrative Trustee or (ii) otherwise by the Depositor (with the successor in each case being an individual who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 8.07). Additionally, notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event the Depositor believes that any Administrative Trustee has become incompetent or incapacitated, the Depositor, by notice to the remaining Trustees, may terminate the status of such Person as an Administrative Trustee (in which case the vacancy so created will be filled in accordance with the preceding sentence). Section 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, every such successor Relevant Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Trust and to the retiring Relevant Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective and such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on the request of the Depositor or the successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Relevant Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder. Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the preceding paragraph. 42 No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article. Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any Person into which the Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee which is not a natural person may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust. If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such other obligor). For purposes of Section 311(b)(4) and (6) of the Trust Indenture Act: (a) "cash transaction" means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand; and (b) "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Depositor or the Trust (or any such obligor) for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Property Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Depositor or the Trust (or any such obligor) arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation. Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee. (a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with May 15, 1997, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall transmit a brief report dated as of 43 such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in such Section 313(a) that may have occurred since the later of the date of this Trust Agreement or the preceding May 15. (b) The Property Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders the reports required by Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein. (c) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and (d) of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee. The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor, the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall comply with Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.17 Number of Trustees. (a) The number of Trustees shall initially be four, provided that the Depositor by written instrument may increase or decrease the number of Administrative Trustees. (b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 8.17(a), or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 8.17(a), a vacancy shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 8.10. (c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.10, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement), shall have all powers granted 44 to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement. Section 8.18 Delegation of Power. (a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.07(A), including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and (b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein. Section 8.19 Enforcement of Rights of Property Trustee by Securityholders. If (i) the Trust fails to pay Distributions in full on the Preferred Securities for more than 20 consecutive quarterly distribution periods, or (ii) an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Holders of Preferred Securities will rely on the enforcement by the Property Trustee of its rights against the Company as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition, the Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement, including the right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise the remedies available to it as a holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Trust Agreement, and could not involve the Property Trustee in personal liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be adequate. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes, a Holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, institute a legal proceeding against the Company to enforce its rights under this Trust Agreement without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other Person, including the Trust; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Trust Agreement to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Trust Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a 45 holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Series A Junior Subordinated Notes. ARTICLE IX Termination and Liquidation Section 9.01 Termination Upon Expiration Date. The Trust shall automatically terminate on _____ __, ____ (the "Expiration Date") or earlier pursuant to Section 9.02. Section 9.02 Early Termination. Upon the first to occur of any of the following events (such first occurrence, an "Early Termination Event"), the Trust shall be dissolved and terminated in accordance with the terms hereof: (i) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of the Depositor, dissolution or liquidation of the Depositor, or the dissolution of the Trust pursuant to judicial decree; (ii) the delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by the Depositor at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Depositor) to terminate the Trust and distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to Securityholders as provided in Section 9.04; and (iii) the payment at maturity or redemption of all of the Junior Subordinated Notes, and the consequent payment of the Preferred Securities. Section 9.03 Termination. The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trust and the Trustees created hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.04, or upon the redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.02, of all amounts or instruments required to be distributed hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust Securities; (b) the payment of any expenses owed by the Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the Securityholders. 46 Section 9.04 Liquidation. (a) If any Early Termination Event specified in clause (ii) of Section 9.02 occurs, the Trust shall be liquidated and the Property trustee shall distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders as provided in this Section 9.04. (b) In connection with a distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes, each Holder of Trust Securities shall be entitled to receive, after the satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (as evidenced by a certificate of the Administrative Trustees), a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes. Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Trustees by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not later than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall: (i) state the Liquidation Date; (ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes; and (iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for Junior Subordinated Notes as the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate. (c) In order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes to Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates. (d) After the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such certificates to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for exchange, (iii) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes, accruing interest at the rate provided for in the Junior Subordinated Notes from the last Distribution Date on which a Distribution was made on such Trust 47 Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates with respect to such Junior Subordinated Notes) and (iv) all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive Junior Subordinated Notes upon surrender of Trust Securities Certificates. (e) The Depositor will use its best efforts to have the Junior Subordinated Notes that are distributed in exchange for the Preferred Securities to be listed on such securities exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed. The Depositor may elect to have the Junior Subordinated Notes issued in book-entry form to the Clearing Agency or its nominee pursuant to a Certificate Depository Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B. Section 9.05 Bankruptcy. If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (i) of Section 9.02 has occurred, the Trust shall be liquidated. The Property Trustee shall distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders as provided in Section 9.04, unless such distribution is determined by the Administrative Trustees not to be practical, in which event the Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities. ARTICLE X Miscellaneous Provisions Section 10.01 Guarantee by the Depositor. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Depositor irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Person to whom the Trust is now or hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of 48 the Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to pay to Holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be. This guarantee is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof. Section 10.02 Limitation of Rights of Securityholders. The death or incapacity of any Person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in a Trust Security shall not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any Securityholder for such Person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in and for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them. Section 10.03 Amendment. (a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of any Securityholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, provided, however, that any such amendment shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes at any time that any Trust Securities are outstanding; provided, however, that, except in the case of clause (ii), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder and, in the case of clause (i), any amendments of this Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the Securityholders. (b) Except as provided in Section 10.03(c) hereof, any provision in this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trust or the Trustees with (i) the consent of Trust Securityholders representing not less than 66-2/3% (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then Outstanding and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. 49 (c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.03 or 6.06 hereof), this Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, or (iii) change the consent required pursuant to Section 10.03. (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, afforded by Rule 3a-5 thereunder. (e) Without the consent of the Depositor, this Trust Agreement may not be amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor. In executing any amendment permitted by this Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Trust Agreement. Any Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects such Trustee's own rights, duties, immunities or liabilities under this Trust Agreement or otherwise. (f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such amendment. Section 10.04 Separability. In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Section 10.05 Governing Law. THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE SECURITYHOLDERS, THE TRUST AND THE TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE; PROVIDED THAT THE IMMUNITIES AND STANDARD OF CARE OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY NEW YORK LAW. Section 10.06 Successors. This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to both the Trust and the Trustees, including any successor by operation of law. 50 Section 10.07 Headings. The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement. Section 10.08 Notice and Demand. Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (i) in the case of a Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as such Securityholder's name and address appear on the Securities Register and (ii) in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, Attention: Corporate Secretary, Facsimile No. (404) 526-2945, with a copy to Southern Company Services, Inc., 64 Perimeter Center East, Atlanta, Georgia 30346, Attention: Corporate Finance Department, Facsimile No. (770) 821-4460. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission. Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Trust or the Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as follows: (i) with respect to the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York, 10001, Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department; Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware, 1201 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attention: Corporate Trust Department, as the case may be; and (ii) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked Attention: Administrative Trustees of Georgia Power Capital Trust I c/o Corporate Secretary. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the Trustees shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the applicable Trustee. Section 10.09 Agreement Not to Petition. Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agrees for the benefit of the Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article IX, it shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, liquidation or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.09, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Securityholders, that 51 it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Trustees or the Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.09 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement. Section 10.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. (a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trustee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. (b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a Trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act. (c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust Agreement by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. (d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement shall not affect the nature of the Trust Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE AND THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THOSE TERMS AND PROVISIONS SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS. 52 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Trust Agreement or have caused this Trust Agreement to be executed on their behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, as Depositor By: Title: THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee By: Title: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Delaware Trustee By: Title: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee 53 EXHIBIT A [INTENTIONALLY RESERVED] Exhibit A - Page 1 EXHIBIT B _______________, 1996 The Depository Trust Company 55 Water Street, 49th Floor New York, New York 10041-0099 Attention: General Counsel's Office Re: Georgia Power Capital Trust I _____% Trust Preferred Securities Ladies and Gentlemen: The purpose of this letter is to set out certain matters relating to the above-referenced Preferred Securities (CUSIP No. _________ (the "Securities") of Georgia Power Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust"). The Securities are guaranteed to the extent set forth in the Prospectus relating to the Securities dated __________, 1996, and the accompanying Prospectus Supplement dated __________, 1996, by Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation. The Trust is selling the Securities to certain underwriters (the "Underwriters") pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated _________, 1996, and the Underwriters wish to take delivery of the Securities through The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). The Trust is acting as transfer agent and registrar with respect to the Securities. The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust, will act as paying agent in relation to the Securities (the "Property Trustee"). To induce DTC to accept the Securities as eligible for deposit at DTC, and to act in accordance with its rules with respect to the Securities, the Trust and the Property Trustee severally, as set forth below, each make the following representations to DTC. 1. Before the closing of the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters, which is expected to occur on or about ______________, 1996, there shall be deposited with DTC one or more global certificates (the "Global Certificate") registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co., for _________ Securities. 2. The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of __________, 1996 provides for the voting by holders of the Securities under certain circumstances. The Trust shall establish a record date for such purposes and shall, to the extent possible, give DTC notice of such record date not less than 15 calendar days in advance of such record date. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph by telecopy shall be sent to DTC's Reorganization Department at (212) 709-6896 or (212) 709-6897, and receipt of such Exhibit B - Page 1 notices shall be confirmed by telephoning (212) 709-6870. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph by mail or by other means shall be sent to DTC's Reorganization Department as indicated in paragraph 6. 3. In the event of a stock split, conversion, recapitaliza- tion, reorganization or any other similar transaction resulting in the cancellation of all or any part of the Securities outstanding, the Trust shall send DTC a notice of such event at least 5 business days prior to the effective date of such event. 4. In the event of a distribution with respect to the Securities outstanding, the Property Trustee shall send DTC a notice specifying the amount of and conditions, if any, applicable to such payment or distribution. Such notice shall be sent to DTC by a secure means (e.g., legible telecopy, registered or certified mail, overnight delivery) in a timely manner designed to assure that such notice is in DTC's possession no later than the close of business on the business day before the record date for such distribution. (The Property Trustee shall have a method to verify subsequently the use of such means and the timeliness of such notice.) After establishing the amount of payment to be made on the Securities, the Property Trustee will notify DTC's Dividend Department of such payment at least 5 business days prior to payment date. 5. In the event of a redemption by the Trust of the Securities, notice to holders of the Securities by the Trust specifying the terms of the redemption shall be sent to DTC not less than 30 days prior to such event by a secure means in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph. Such redemption notice shall be sent to DTC's Call Notification Department at (516) 227-4039 or 4190, and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by telephoning (516) 227-4070. Notice by mail or by any other means shall be sent to: Call Notification Department The Depository Trust Company 711 Stewart Avenue Garden City, New York 11530-4719 6. In the event of any invitation to tender the Securities, notice by the Trust to holders of the Securities specifying the terms of the tender shall be sent to DTC by the Trust by a secure means by the close of business on the Business Day before such notice is given to such Holders. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph and notices of other corporate actions (including mandatory tenders, exchanges and capital changes), shall be sent by telecopy to DTC's Reorganization Department at (212) 709-1093 or (212) 709-1094, and receipt of such notices shall be confirmed by telephoning (212) 709-6884, or by mail or any other means to: Exhibit B - Page 2 Manager, Reorganization Department Reorganization Window The Depository Trust Company 7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor New York, New York 10004-2695 7. All notices and payment advices sent to DTC shall contain the CUSIP number of the Securities and the accompanying description of the Securities, which, as of the date of this letter, is "Georgia Power Capital Trust I, _____% Trust Preferred Securities." 8. Notices to DTC's Dividend Department by telecopy shall be sent to (212) 709-1723. Such notices by mail or by any other means shall be sent to: Manager, Announcements Dividend Department The Depository Trust Company 7 Hanover Square, 22nd Floor New York, New York 10004 The Trust shall confirm DTC's receipt of such telecopy by telephoning the Dividend Department at (212) 709-1270. 9. Payments of cash distributions, including payments on redemption, with respect to the Securities evidenced by the Global Certificate shall be received by Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, or its registered assigns in same day funds on each payment date (or in accordance with existing arrangements between the Property Trustee and DTC). Such payments shall be made payable to the order of Cede & Co. 10. Other cash payments shall be received by Cede & Co., as a nominee of DTC, or its registered assigns in next day funds on each payment date (or in accordance with existing arrangements between the Property Trustee and DTC). Such payments shall be made payable to the order of Cede & Co., and shall be addressed as follows: NFDS Redemption Department The Depository Trust Department 7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor New York, New York 10004-2695 11. DTC may by written notice direct the Trust and the Property Trustee to use any other telecopy number or address of DTC as the number or address to which notices or payments may be sent. 12. In the event of a conversion, redemption, or any other similar transaction (e.g., tender made and accepted in response to the Trust's invitation) necessitating a reduction in the aggregate number of Securities outstanding, DTC, in its discretion: (a) may Exhibit B - Page 3 request the Trust to issue and authenticate a new Security certificate; or (b) may make an appropriate notation on the Security certificate indicating the date and amount of such reduction. 13. DTC may discontinue its services as a securities depositary with respect to the Global Certificate at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust (at which time DTC will confirm with the Trust the aggregate number of Securities deposited with it) and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, at DTC's request the Trust shall cooperate fully with DTC by taking prompt appropriate action to make alternative arrangements for book-entry settlement for the Securities or to make available one or more separate certificates evidencing Securities, to any participant having Securities credited to its DTC account. 14. In the event that the Trust determines that beneficial owners of Securities shall be able to obtain certificated Securities, the Trust shall notify DTC of the availability of certificates. In such event, the Trust shall issue, transfer and exchange certificates in appropriate amounts, as required by DTC and others. 15. Nothing herein shall require the Trustees to advance their own funds for any purposes. This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Very truly yours, Georgia Power Capital Trust I By: Name: Wayne Boston Title: Administrative Trustee THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee of Georgia Power Capital Trust I By: Name: Title: Exhibit B - Page 4 RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED: THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY By: Authorized Officer Exhibit B - Page 5 EXHIBIT C THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE Certificate Number Number of Common Securities C-1 Certificate Evidencing Common Securities of Georgia Power Capital Trust I Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) Georgia Power Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Georgia Power Company (the "Holder") is the registered owner of ___________________________ (_______) common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and designated the Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). In accordance with Section 5.10 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below) the Common Securities are not transferable, except by operation of law, and any attempted transfer hereof shall be void. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. Exhibit C - Page 1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have executed this certificate this ____ day of _______, 1996. Georgia Power Capital Trust I By: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Common Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement. as Administrative Trustee Exhibit C - Page 2 EXHIBIT D AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES THIS AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES (this "Agreement") is made as of ___________ ___, 1996, between Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Georgia Power Capital Trust I, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"). WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its Common Securities (the "Common Securities") to and receive Junior Subordinated Notes from the Company and to issue and sell Georgia Power Capital Trust I _____% Trust Preferred Securities, Series A (the "Preferred Securities") with such powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions as are set forth in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of _______ __, 1996 as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"); and WHEREAS, the Company is the issuer of the Junior Subordinated Notes. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of the Preferred Securities, which purchase the Company hereby agrees shall benefit the Company and which purchase the Company acknowledges will be made in reliance upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company and the Trust hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I Section 1.01. Guarantee by the Company. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to pay to holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be. This Agreement is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof. Section 1.02. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the date on which there are no Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however, that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of Preferred Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities, under any Obligation, Exhibit D - Page 1 under the Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as guarantee trustee, or under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever. This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute. Section 1.03. Waiver of Notice. The Company hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of any Obligation to which it applies or may apply, and the Company hereby waives presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. Section 1.04. No Impairment. The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Company under this Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Obligations; (b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind; or (c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the Trust. There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or obtain the consent of, the Company with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. Section 1.05. Enforcement. A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement directly against the Company and the Company waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Company. ARTICLE II Section 2.01. Binding Effect. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiaries. Exhibit D - Page 2 Section 2.02. Amendment. So long as there remains any Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of any series are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended in any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the Preferred Securities. Section 2.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be given in writing by delivering the same against receipt therefor by facsimile transmission (confirmed by mail), telex or by registered or certified mail, addressed as follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon receipt of an answer-back, if sent by telex), to-wit: Georgia Power Capital Trust I c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank 450 West 33rd Street New York, New York 10001 Facsimile No.: Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Facsimile No.: (404) 526-2945 Attention: Corporate Secretary Section 2.04. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the date and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY By: Name: Title: GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee Exhibit D - Page 3 EXHIBIT E Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to Georgia Power Capital Trust I 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 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 inasmuch as the registered owner thereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein. Certificate Number P-1 Number of Preferred Securities --------- CUSIP NO. _________ Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities of Georgia Power Capital Trust I _____% Trust Preferred Securities, (Liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) Georgia Power Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of ___________________________________________ (_________) preferred securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the Georgia Power Capital Trust I _____% Trust Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.04 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), including the designation of the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth therein. The holder of this certificate is entitled to the benefits of a guarantee by Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement Exhibit E - Page 1 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as guarantee trustee, dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee to the holder of this certificate without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the holder of this certificate is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. Exhibit E - Page 2 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have executed this certificate this ____ day of _______, 1996. GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I By: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement. as Administrative Trustee Exhibit E - Page 3 ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Security to: (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints agent to transfer this Preferred Securities Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: Signature: (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Securities Certificate) EX-4.5-B 6 Exhibit 4.5-B REVISED DRAFT 8/14/96 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT among GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, as Depositor, THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee, CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Delaware Trustee, and JUDY M. ANDERSON and WAYNE BOSTON, as Administrative Trustees Dated as of _______ __, 1996 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating to Sections 310 through 318 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939: Trust Indenture Trust Agreement Act Section Section Section 310(a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.07 (a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.07 (a)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.09 (a)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.08 Section 311(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.13 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.13 Section 312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.07 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.07 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.07 Section 313(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(a) (a)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(b) (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(b) (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(a) (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(a), 8.14(b) Section 314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.15 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (c)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.15, 8.16 (c)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.16 (c)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.16 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.16 Section 315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.01 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.02, 8.14(b) (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.01(a) (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.01, 8.03 (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable Section 316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (a)(1)(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.19 (a)(1)(B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.19 (a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable Section 317(a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.09 Section 318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.10 Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Trust Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions. TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I Defined Terms . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Section 1.01 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ARTICLE II Establishment of the Trust . . . . . . . 10 Section 2.01 Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Section 2.02 Offices of the Trustees; Principal Place of Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.03 Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.04 Issuance of the Preferred Securities . . . . . 11 Section 2.05 Subscription and Purchase of Junior Subordinated Notes; Issuance of the Common Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Section 2.07 Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Section 2.08 Assets of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Section 2.09 Title to Trust Property . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Section 2.10 Mergers and Consolidations of the Trust . . . 18 ARTICLE III Payment Account . . . . . . . . . . 19 Section 3.01 Payment Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ARTICLE IV Distributions; Redemption . . . . . . . . 19 Section 4.01 Distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Section 4.02 Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 i Section 4.03 Subordination of Common Securities . . . . . . 23 Section 4.04 Payment Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Section 4.05 Tax Returns and Reports . . . . . . . . . . . 23 ARTICLE V Trust Securities Certificates . . . . . . . 24 Section 5.01 Initial Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Section 5.02 The Trust Securities Certificates . . . . . . 24 Section 5.03 Authentication of Trust Securities Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Section 5.04 Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates . . . . . . 25 Section 5.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Section 5.06 Persons Deemed Securityholders . . . . . . . . 26 Section 5.07 Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Section 5.08 Maintenance of Office or Agency . . . . . . . 27 Section 5.09 Appointment of Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor . 28 Section 5.11 Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common Securities Certificate . . . . . . . . 28 Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency . . . . . . . . . . 29 Section 5.13 Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates . 29 Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . 30 ARTICLE VI Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting . . . . 30 Section 6.01 Limitations on Voting Rights . . . . . . . . . 30 Section 6.02 Notice of Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Section 6.03 Meetings of Preferred Securityholders . . . . 32 ii Section 6.04 Voting Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Section 6.05 Proxies, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Section 6.06 Securityholder Action by Written Consent . . . 33 Section 6.07 Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes . . 33 Section 6.08 Acts of Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Section 6.09 Inspection of Records . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties of the Trustees . . 34 Section 7.01 Representations and Warranties of the Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ARTICLE VIII The Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Section 8.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities . . . . . 36 Section 8.02 Notice of Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Section 8.03 Certain Rights of Property Trustee . . . . . . 36 Section 8.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Section 8.05 May Hold Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Section 8.06 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity . . . . . . . . 38 Section 8.07 Trustees Required; Eligibility . . . . . . . . 39 Section 8.08 Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Section 8.09 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee . . . . . . . 40 Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Section 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor . . . . 42 Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against iii Depositor or Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . 44 Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee . . . . . . . 44 Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Section 8.17 Number of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Section 8.18 Delegation of Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Section 8.19 Enforcement of Rights of Property Trustee by Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 ARTICLE IX Termination and Liquidation . . . . . . . 46 Section 9.01 Termination Upon Expiration Date . . . . . . . 46 Section 9.02 Early Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Section 9.03 Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Section 9.04 Liquidation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Section 9.05 Bankruptcy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 ARTICLE X Miscellaneous Provisions . . . . . . . . 49 Section 10.01 Guarantee by the Depositor . . . . . . . . . . 49 Section 10.02 Limitation of Rights of Securityholders . . . 49 Section 10.03 Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Section 10.04 Separability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.05 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.06 Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.07 Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.08 Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.09 Agreement Not to Petition . . . . . . . . . . 52 iv Section 10.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . 52 EXHIBIT A [INTENTIONALLY RESERVED] EXHIBIT B Form of Certificate Depository Agreement EXHIBIT C Form of Common Securities Certificate EXHIBIT D Form of Expense Agreement EXHIBIT E Form of Preferred Securities Certificate v AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT is made as of _______ __, 1996, by and among (i) Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Depositor" or the "Company"), (ii) The Chase Manhattan Bank, a banking corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of New York, as trustee (the "Property Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Trustee, the "Bank"), (iii) Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware, a banking corporation duly organized under the laws of Delaware, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Delaware Trustee, the "Delaware Bank"), (iv) Judy M. Anderson, an individual, and Wayne Boston, an individual, as administrative trustees (each an "Administrative Trustee" and together the "Administrative Trustees") (the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees referred to collectively as the "Trustees") and (v) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Delaware Trustee have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by the entering into that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of June 13, 1996 (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing by the Delaware Trustee with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, dated June 13, 1996, as amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment, dated July 23, 1996; and WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the addition of the Bank, Judy M. Anderson and Wayne Boston as trustees of the Trust, (ii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, and (iv) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows: 1 2 ARTICLE I Defined Terms Section 1.01 Definitions. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular; (b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein; (c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement; and (d) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. "Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.08. "Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, an amount equal to the Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition of "Additional Interest" in the Subordinated Indenture) paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes for such period. "Administrative Trustee" means each of the individuals identified as an "Administrative Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in their capacities as Administrative Trustees of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in their individual capacities, or such trustee's successor(s) in interest in such capacity, or any successor "Administrative Trustee" appointed as herein provided. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. 3 "Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement. "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person: (i) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under federal bankruptcy law or any other applicable federal or state law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (ii) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under federal bankruptcy law or any other applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of action by such Person in furtherance of any such action. "Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.09. "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted by the Depositor's Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustees. "Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" means certificates representing Preferred Securities issued in global, fully registered form to the Clearing Agency as described in Section 5.11. "Business Day" means a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office or the 4 Indenture Trustee's principal corporate trust office is closed for business. "Certificate Depository Agreement" means the agreement among the Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the Issue Date, relating to the Preferred Securities Certificates, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time. "Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing Agency. "Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time. "Common Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein. "Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of a Common Security or Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C. "Company" means Georgia Power Company. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Property Trustee at which its corporate trust business shall be principally administered. "Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means either or both (as the context requires) of (i) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.11(a) and (ii) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.13. 5 "Delaware Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement. "Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time. "Delaware Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company or any other Person identified as the "Delaware Trustee" and has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided. "Depositor" means Georgia Power Company, in its capacity as "Depositor" under this Trust Agreement. "Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a). "Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.01. "Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (i) the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; or (ii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of 30 days; or (iii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or (iv) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or breach is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Trustees by the Holders of at least 10% in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such default or 6 breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or (v) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Trust. "Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities between the Company and the Trust, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D, as amended from time to time. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time. "Indenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the Subordinated Indenture. "Indenture Redemption Date" means "Redemption Date," as defined in the Subordinated Indenture. "Indenture Trustee" means the trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. "Issue Date" means the date of the delivery of the Trust Securities. "Junior Subordinated Notes" means the $___________ aggregate principal amount of the Depositor's Series __ _____% Junior Subordinated Notes, due _____ __, ____, issued pursuant to the Subordinated Indenture. "Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever. "Like Amount" means (i) Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Subordinated Indenture and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities and (ii) Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed. 7 "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security. "Liquidation Date" means the date on which Junior Subordinated Notes are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.04. "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.05. "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 8.16 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Depositor. An Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary, in such officer's opinion, to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Trust, the Trustees or the Depositor, but not an employee of the Trust or the Trustees, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee. Any Opinion of Counsel pertaining to federal income tax matters may rely on published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service. "Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Trust Agreement. "Outstanding", when used with respect to Preferred Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Preferred 8 Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except: (i) Preferred Securities theretofore cancelled by the Administrative Trustees or delivered to the Administrative Trustees for cancellation; (ii) Preferred Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred Securities; provided that if such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and (iii) Preferred Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, the Holder of the Common Securities, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Preferred Securities which such Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the outstanding Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, the Holder of the Common Securities, one or more Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor. "Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency). "Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 5.09 and shall initially be the Property Trustee. 9 "Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be held and from which the Property Trustee shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Section 4.01. "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein. "Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of a Preferred Security or Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E. "Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor "Property Trustee" as herein provided. "Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided that each Indenture Redemption Date shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities. "Redemption Price" means, with respect to any date fixed for redemption of any Trust Security, the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to such date. "Relevant Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.10. "Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" are described in Section 5.04. "Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any such Person is a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust Act. 10 "Subordinated Indenture" means the Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1996, between the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture. "Supplemental Indenture" means the __________ Supplemental Indenture, dated as of _______ __, 1996, by and between the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee. "Trust" means the Delaware business trust continued hereby and identified on the cover page to this Trust Agreement. "Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes of this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and any modification, amendment or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, respectively. "Trustees" means the Persons identified as "Trustees" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in their capacities as Trustees of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in their individual capacities, or their successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended. "Trust Property" means (i) the Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account, and (iii) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement. "Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates. "Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred Securities. "Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of _______ __, 1996, among the Trust, the Depositor and the underwriters named therein. 11 ARTICLE II Establishment of the Trust Section 2.01 Name. The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "Georgia Power Capital Trust II", in which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued. The Administrative Trustees may change the name of the Trust from time to time following written notice to the Holders. Section 2.02 Offices of the Trustees; Principal Place of Business. The address of the Property Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, or at such other address as the Property Trustee may designate by written notice to the Securityholders and the Depositor. The principal place of business of the Delaware Trustee is 1201 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, or at such other address in Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by notice to the Depositor. The address of the Administrative Trustees is c/o Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The principal place of business of the Trust is c/o Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308. The Depositor may change the principal place of business of the Trust at any time by giving notice thereof to the Trustees. Section 2.03 Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses. The Delaware Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which constituted the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay organizational expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of the Trustees, promptly reimburse the Trustees for any such expenses paid by the Trustees. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses. Section 2.04 Issuance of the Preferred Securities. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, in an aggregate amount of _________ Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $__________, against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $__________, which amount the Administrative Trustees shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee. 12 Section 2.05 Subscription and Purchase of Junior Subordinated Notes; Issuance of the Common Securities. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the Depositor Common Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of ________ Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $______, against payment by the Depositor of such amount. Contemporaneously therewith, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor Junior Subordinated Notes, registered in the name of the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust and the Holders, and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $___________, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Junior Subordinated Notes, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $___________. Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust. The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (i) to issue and sell the Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Junior Subordinated Notes, and (ii) to engage in those activities necessary, incidental, appropriate or convenient thereto. The Depositor hereby appoints each of the Bank, the Delaware Bank, Judy M. Anderson and Wayne Boston as trustees of the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein. The Property Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders. The Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the Trustees for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of the Delaware Business Trust Act. Section 2.07 Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions. The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph C of this Section, and in accordance with the following paragraphs A and B, the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following: 13 A. As among the Trustees, the Administrative Trustees, acting singly or jointly, shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (i) to acquire the Junior Subordinated Notes with the proceeds of the sale of the Trust Securities; provided, however, the Administrative Trustees shall cause legal title to all of the Junior Subordinated Notes to be vested in, and the Junior Subordinated Notes to be held of record in the name of, the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and Holders of the Trust Securities; (ii) to give the Depositor and the Property Trustee prompt written notice of the occurrence of any Special Event (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture) and to take any ministerial actions in connection therewith; provided, that the Administrative Trustees shall consult with the Depositor and the Property Trustee before taking or refraining to take any ministerial action in relation to a Special Event; (iii) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including for the purposes of Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act and with respect to Distributions, voting rights, redemptions, and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to Holders of the Trust Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; (iv) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section 2.07(B)(v), the Property Trustee has the power to bring such Legal Action; (v) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors, advisors, and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services; (vi) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the Trust Indenture Act; (vii) to give the certificate to the Property Trustee required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act, which certificate may be executed by any Administrative Trustee; (viii) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement; 14 (ix) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Trust Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust has been created; (x) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust; (xi) to issue and sell the Trust Securities; (xii) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Expense Agreement and the Certificate Depository Agreement and such other agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the consummation hereof; (xiii) to assist in the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under state securities or blue sky laws, and the qualification of this Trust Agreement as a trust indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; (xiv) to assist in the listing of the Preferred Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor and the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Exchange Act, and the preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing; (xv) to send notices (other than notices of default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xvi) to appoint a Paying Agent (subject to Section 5.09), authenticating agent and Securities Registrar in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xvii) to register transfers of the Trust Securities in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xviii) to assist in, to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and termination of the Trust and the preparation, execution and 15 filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and (xix) to take any action incidental to the foregoing as the Administrative Trustees may from time to time determine is necessary, appropriate, convenient or advisable to protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder). B. As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (i) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect promptly the redemption of the Trust Securities to the extent the Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemed or mature; (ii) upon notice of distribution issued by the Administrative Trustees in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect promptly the distribution pursuant to terms of this Trust Agreement of Junior Subordinated Notes to Holders of Trust Securities; (iii) subject to the terms hereof, exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, shall enforce for the benefit of, and subject to the rights of, the Holders of the Trust Securities, its rights as holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Indenture; (iv) take all actions and perform such duties as may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement; (v) take any Legal Action specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default or the Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act or the Trust Indenture Act; (vi) the establishment and maintenance of the Payment Account; (vii) the receipt of and holding of legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes as described herein; 16 (viii) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes in the Payment Account; (ix) the distribution of amounts owed to the Securityholders in respect of the Trust Securities; (x) the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xi) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement; (xii) as provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and termination of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of Delaware; and (xiii) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary, appropriate, convenient or advisable to protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder). C. So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Trustees shall not (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money, (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property, (vi) issue any securities other than the Trust Securities, or (vii) have any power to, or agree to any action by the Depositor that would, vary the investment (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-4(c)) of the Trust or of the Securityholders. The Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders. D. In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility 17 to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects): (i) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any amendments thereto; (ii) to determine the states in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and advise the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States; (iii) to prepare for filing by the Trust an application to the New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the NASDAQ National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities; (iv) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto; (v) to negotiate the terms of the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities and to execute, deliver and perform the Underwriting Agreement on behalf of the Trust; and (vi) any other actions necessary, incidental, appropriate or convenient to carry out any of the foregoing activities. E. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or taxed as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust Agreement, that each of the Depositor and 18 the Administrative Trustees determines in its discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Section 2.08 Assets of Trust. The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property. Section 2.09 Title to Trust Property. Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders and the Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement. The right, title and interest of the Property Trustee to the Junior Subordinated Notes shall vest automatically in each Person who may thereafter be appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered. Section 2.10 Mergers and Consolidations of the Trust. The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described below or otherwise provided in this Trust Agreement. The Trust may at the request of the Company, with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (x) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Securities or (y) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Trust Securities (herein referred to as the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank in priority with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, 19 (vi) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, or replacement, the Company has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (viii) the Company guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes. ARTICLE III Payment Account Section 3.01 Payment Account. (a) On or prior to the Issue Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and an agent of the Property Trustee shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Securityholders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein. (b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal or interest on, and any other payments or proceeds with respect to, the Junior Subordinated Notes. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof. ARTICLE IV Distributions; Redemption 20 Section 4.01 Distributions. (a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative and accrue from the Issue Date and, except in the event that the Depositor exercises its right to extend the interest payment period for the Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to Section 104 of the Supplemental Indenture, shall be payable _________ in arrears on _________________________________________ of each year, commencing on _____ __, 1996. If any date on which Distributions are otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each such date, a "Distribution Date"). (b) Distributions payable on the Trust Securities shall be fixed at a rate of _____% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any full _________ period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. If the interest payment period for the Junior Subordinated Notes is extended pursuant to Section 104 of the Supplemental Indenture (an "Extension Period"), then the rate per annum at which Distributions on the Trust Securities accumulate shall be increased by an amount such that the aggregate amount of Distributions that accumulate on all Trust Securities during any such Extension Period is equal to the aggregate amount of interest (including interest payable on unpaid interest at the percentage rate per annum set forth above, compounded _________) that accrues during any such Extension Period on the Junior Subordinated Notes. The payment of such deferred interest, together with interest thereon, will be distributed to the Holders of the Trust Securities as received at the end of any Extension Period. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include the Additional Amounts, if any. (c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made and shall be deemed payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has legally and immediately available funds in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions. (d) Distributions, including Additional Amounts, if any, on the Trust Securities on each Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to the relevant Distribution Date. 21 Each Trust Security upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Trust Security shall carry the rights of Distributions accrued (including Additional Amounts, if any) and unpaid, and to accrue (including Additional Amounts, if any), which were carried by such other Trust Security. Section 4.02 Redemption. (a) On each Redemption Date with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price. (b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of redemption shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the Redemption Price; (iii) the CUSIP number; (iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the total Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities to be redeemed; and (v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that Distributions thereon will cease to accrue on and after such date. (c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of Junior Subordinated Notes. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be deemed payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price. (d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Preferred Securities, then, by 2:00 p.m. New York time, on the Redemption Date, subject to Section 4.02(c), the Property Trustee will, so long as the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form, irrevocably deposit with the Clearing Agency for the Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price. If the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry only form, the Property Trustee, subject to 22 Section 4.02(c), shall irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders thereof upon surrender of their Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest, and such Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Redemption Price shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Trust Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from such Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid. (e) Payment of the Redemption Price on the Trust Securities shall be made to the recordholders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to the Redemption Date. (f) If less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated 3% to the Common Securities and 97% to the Preferred Securities, with such adjustments that each amount so allocated shall be divisible by $25. The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for a redemption of portions (equal to $25 or integral multiple thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25; provided, however, that before 23 undertaking redemption of the Preferred Securities on other than a pro rata basis, the Property Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel that the status of the Trust as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes would not be adversely affected. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or is to be redeemed. (g) Subject to the foregoing provisions of Section 4.02 and to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Company or its Affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. Section 4.03 Subordination of Common Securities. (a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, and the Redemption Price of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, Preferred Securities then due and payable. (b) In the case of the occurrence of any Indenture Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities have been so 24 cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and not the Holder of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf. Section 4.04 Payment Procedures. Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency, which shall credit the relevant Persons' accounts at such Clearing Agency on the applicable distribution dates. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities. Section 4.05 Tax Returns and Reports. The Administrative Trustee(s) shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the Depositor's expense, and file all United States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. The Administrative Trustee(s) shall provide or cause to be provided on a timely basis to each Holder any Internal Revenue Service form required to be so provided in respect of the Trust Securities. ARTICLE V Trust Securities Certificates Section 5.01 Initial Ownership. Upon the creation of the Trust by the contribution by the Depositor pursuant to Section 2.03 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust. Section 5.02 The Trust Securities Certificates. Each of the Preferred and Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples in excess thereof. The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the authentication and delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of authentication and delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust 25 Securities Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 5.04. Section 5.03 Authentication of Trust Securities Certificates. On the Issue Date, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 2.04 and 2.05, to be executed on behalf of the Trust, authenticated and delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor signed by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations. No Trust Securities Certificate shall entitle its holder to any benefit under this Trust Agreement, or shall be valid for any purpose, unless there shall appear on such Trust Securities Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit E or Exhibit C, as applicable, executed by at least one Administrative Trustee by manual signature; such authentication shall constitute conclusive evidence that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Trust Securities Certificates shall be dated the date of their authentication. Section 5.04 Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates. The Securities Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, a Securities Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Securities Registrar shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and the Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Property Trustee shall be the initial Securities Registrar. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, the Administrative Trustees shall execute, authenticate and deliver in the name of the designated transferee or transferees one or more new Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount dated the date of authentication by the Administrative Trustee or Trustees. The Securities Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. At the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the same class and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities 26 Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08. Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Trustees and the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently disposed of by the Securities Registrar in accordance with its customary practice. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar or the Administrative Trustees may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates. Section 5.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates. If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them on behalf of the Trust shall execute and authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this Section, the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time. Section 5.06 Persons Deemed Securityholders. Prior to due presentation of a Trust Securities Certificate for registration of transfer, the Trustees or the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving 27 Distributions (subject to Section 4.01(d)) and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary. Section 5.07 Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses. The Administrative Trustees shall furnish or cause to be furnished to (i) the Depositor and the Property Trustee semi- annually, not later than June 1 and December 1 in each year, and (ii) the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, within 15 days after receipt by any Administrative Trustee of a request therefor from the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, in writing, a list, in such form as the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished. If three or more Securityholders or one or more Holders of Trust Securities Certificates evidencing not less than 25% of the outstanding Liquidation Amount apply in writing to the Administrative Trustees, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Trust Agreement or under the Trust Securities Certificates and such application is accompanied by a copy of the communication that such applicants propose to transmit, then the Administrative Trustees shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, afford such applicants access during normal business hours to the current list of Securityholders. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a Trust Securities Certificate, shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold either the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which such information was derived. Section 5.08 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Administrative Trustees shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served. The Administrative Trustees initially designate The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, as its principal agency for such purposes. The Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency. Section 5.09 Appointment of Paying Agent. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions and other payments provided hereby to Securityholders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions and payments to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall 28 have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the purpose of making the Distributions and payments provided hereby. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee, and it may choose any co-paying agent that is acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. In the event that a Paying Agent shall resign or be removed, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is acceptable to the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company). The Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees to execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Securityholders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.01, 8.03 and 8.06 shall apply to the Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise. Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor. On the Issue Date, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter retain, beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. Any attempted transfer of the Common Securities, except for transfers by operation of law, shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE". Section 5.11 Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common Securities Certificate. (a) The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon original issuance, will be issued in the form of a typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, to be delivered to The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency, by, or on 29 behalf of, the Trust. Such Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates shall initially be registered on the Securities Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, and no Owner will receive a definitive Preferred Securities Certificate representing such beneficial owner's interest in such Preferred Securities, except as provided in Section 5.13. Unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13: (i) the provisions of this Section 5.11(a) shall be in full force and effect; (ii) the Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates (including the payment of principal of and interest on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities and the giving of instructions or directions to Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities) as the sole Holder of Book-Entry Preferred Securities and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof; (iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall control; and (iv) the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants. Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 5.13, the Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities to such Clearing Agency Participants. (b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common Securities Certificate. Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency. To the extent a notice or other communication to the Owners is required under this Trust Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to the Owners. Section 5.13 Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates. If (i) the Depositor advises the Trustees in writing that the 30 Clearing Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Preferred Securities Certificates, and the Depositor is unable to locate a qualified successor, or (ii) the Depositor at its option advises the Trustees in writing that it elects to terminate the book- entry system through the Clearing Agency, then the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Clearing Agency and Holders of the Preferred Securities. Upon surrender to the Administrative Trustees of the typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and authenticate the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Securityholders. The Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by the execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of them. Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders. The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.09, and the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or other similar rights and when issued and delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor, except as otherwise provided in the Expense Agreement and Section 10.01 hereof, will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Except as otherwise provided in the Expense Agreement and Section 10.01 hereof, the Holders of the Trust Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. ARTICLE VI Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting 31 Section 6.01 Limitations on Voting Rights. (a) Except as provided in this Section, in Section 8.10 or Section 10.03 of this Trust Agreement, in the Subordinated Indenture, and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of an association. (b) So long as any Junior Subordinated Notes are held by the Property Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee with respect to such Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Section 513 of the Subordinated Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Subordinated Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Notes, where such consent shall be required, or to any other action, as holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, under the Subordinated Indenture, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the Subordinated Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Trustees without the prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities, except pursuant to a subsequent vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action. (c) If any proposed amendment to this Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to this Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the 32 dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action. Section 6.02 Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of the Preferred Securityholders, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Administrative Trustees pursuant to Section 10.08 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at his registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Section 6.03 Meetings of Preferred Securityholders. No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matter upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of record of 25% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of Preferred Securityholders to vote on any matters as to which Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote. Preferred Securityholders of record of 50% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount), present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders. If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding more than 66-2/3% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) held by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders, unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes. Section 6.04 Voting Rights. Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $25 of Liquidation Amount 33 represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote. Section 6.05 Proxies, etc. At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder entitled to vote may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Securityholders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of execution. Section 6.06 Securityholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if Securityholders holding at least 66-2/3% of all outstanding Trust Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such other proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing (based upon their Liquidation Amount). Section 6.07 Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes. For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any Distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or the payment of Distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for such purposes. Section 6.08 Acts of Securityholders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made or taken by Securityholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar 34 tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Administrative Trustees. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Securityholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 8.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgements of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustees deem sufficient. The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security. Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount. If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders of Trust Securities and the Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or 35 Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter. Section 6.09 Inspection of Records. Upon reasonable notice to the Trustees, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder. ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties of the Trustees Section 7.01 Representations and Warranties of the Trustees. The Bank, the Delaware Bank, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Securityholders that: (a) the Bank is a banking corporation or trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, and the Delaware Trustee is a banking corporation or trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform their obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement; (c) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; (d) the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank of this Trust Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank and the Delaware Trustee and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Bank or the Delaware Bank and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Bank's or the Delaware Bank's Charter or By-laws, or (ii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of New York or Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking or trust 36 powers of the Bank and the Property Trustee or the Delaware Bank and the Delaware Trustee, or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank or the Delaware Trustee; and (e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Bank or the Delaware Bank of this Trust Agreement, nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank or the Delaware Trustee (as appropriate in context) contemplated herein or therein, nor the issuance of the Trust Securities Certificates pursuant to this Trust Agreement require the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing federal, New York or Delaware law governing the banking or trust powers of the Bank or the Delaware Bank. ARTICLE VIII The Trustees Section 8.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (a) The rights, duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to them. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section. (b) All payments made by the Property Trustee in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the income and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient income or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the income and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 8.01(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth 37 elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.02 Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.08, notice of any default known to the Property Trustee to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless such default shall have been cured or waived. For the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default. Section 8.03 Certain Rights of Property Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 and except as provided by law: (i) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; (ii) if (A) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, or (B) in construing any of the provisions in this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein, or (C) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which the Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor requesting written instructions of the Depositor as to the course of action to be taken. The Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that if the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent practicable shall not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the 38 Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct; (iii) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon; (iv) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; (v) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond or other document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Securityholders; and (vi) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible for its own negligence or recklessness with respect to selection of any agent or attorney appointed by it hereunder. Section 8.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be taken as the statements of the Trust, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Trust of the proceeds of the Trust Securities in accordance with Section 2.05. The Property Trustee may conclusively assume that any funds held by it hereunder are legally available unless an officer of the Property Trustee assigned to its Corporate Trustee Administrative Department shall have received written notice from the Company, any Holder or any other Trustee that such funds are not legally available. 39 Section 8.05 May Hold Securities. Except as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article I, any Trustee or any other agent of the Trustees or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent. Section 8.06 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity. The Depositor agrees: (1) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustees hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith; and (3) to indemnify the Trustees for, and to hold the Trustees harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Trust Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder. The provisions of this Section 8.06 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement. Section 8.07 Trustees Required; Eligibility. (a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately 40 in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. (b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. (c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity authorized to conduct a trust business and with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. Section 8.08 Conflicting Interests. If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust Agreement. Section 8.09 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee. At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property may at the time be located, the Holder of the Common Securities and the Property Trustee shall have power to appoint, and upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall for such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate trustee of any such Trust Property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. If the Depositor does not join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, or in case an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment. Any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this Section shall satisfy the requirements of Section 8.07. Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully 41 confirming to such co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged, and delivered by the Depositor. Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms, namely: (i) The Trust Securities shall be executed, authenticated and delivered and all rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Trustees hereunder, shall be exercised, solely by the Trustees. (ii) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby conferred or imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by such appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co- trustee or separate trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event such rights, powers, duties, and obligations shall be exercised and performed by such co-trustee or separate trustee. (iii) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may accept the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this Section, and, in case an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any such co- trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence of the Depositor. Upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery, and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section. (iv) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee, or any other such trustee hereunder. 42 (v) The Trustees shall not be liable by reason of any act of a co-trustee or separate trustee. (vi) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee. Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and no appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Relevant Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. The Relevant Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Securityholders. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Relevant Trustee required by Section 8.11 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Relevant Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Unless an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Relevant Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities. If an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Relevant Trustee may be removed at such time by Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities Certificates, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). If the Relevant Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as Trustee at a time when no Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities, by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and the retiring Relevant Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If the Relevant Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as the Relevant Trustee at a time when an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of Preferred Securities, by Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and the Relevant Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed in accordance with this Section 8.10 and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11, any Securityholder who has been a Securityholder of Trust Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and 43 all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. The retiring Relevant Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Relevant Trustee, and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 10.08 and shall give notice to the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by (i) the act of the remaining Administrative Trustee or (ii) otherwise by the Depositor (with the successor in each case being an individual who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 8.07). Additionally, notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event the Depositor believes that any Administrative Trustee has become incompetent or incapacitated, the Depositor, by notice to the remaining Trustees, may terminate the status of such Person as an Administrative Trustee (in which case the vacancy so created will be filled in accordance with the preceding sentence). Section 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, every such successor Relevant Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Trust and to the retiring Relevant Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective and such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on the request of the Depositor or the successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Relevant Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder. Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the preceding paragraph. 44 No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article. Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any Person into which the Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee which is not a natural person may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust. If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such other obligor). For purposes of Section 311(b)(4) and (6) of the Trust Indenture Act: (a) "cash transaction" means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand; and (b) "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Depositor or the Trust (or any such obligor) for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Property Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Depositor or the Trust (or any such obligor) arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation. Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee. 45 (a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with May 15, 1997, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall transmit a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in such Section 313(a) that may have occurred since the later of the date of this Trust Agreement or the preceding May 15. (b) The Property Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders the reports required by Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein. (c) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and (d) of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee. The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor, the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall comply with Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.17 Number of Trustees. (a) The number of Trustees shall initially be four, provided that the Depositor by written instrument may increase or decrease the number of Administrative Trustees. (b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 8.17(a), or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 8.17(a), a vacancy shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 8.10. (c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such 46 vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.10, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement), shall have all powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement. Section 8.18 Delegation of Power. (a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.07(A), including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and (b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein. Section 8.19 Enforcement of Rights of Property Trustee by Securityholders. If (i) the Trust fails to pay Distributions in full on the Preferred Securities for more than __ consecutive _________ distribution periods, or (ii) an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Holders of Preferred Securities will rely on the enforcement by the Property Trustee of its rights against the Company as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition, the Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement, including the right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise the remedies available to it as a holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Trust Agreement, and could not involve the Property Trustee in personal liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be adequate. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes, a Holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, institute a legal proceeding against the Company to enforce its rights under this Trust Agreement without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other Person, including the Trust; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this 47 Trust Agreement to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Trust Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series __ Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Series __ Junior Subordinated Notes. ARTICLE IX Termination and Liquidation Section 9.01 Termination Upon Expiration Date. The Trust shall automatically terminate on _____ __, ____ (the "Expiration Date") or earlier pursuant to Section 9.02. Section 9.02 Early Termination. Upon the first to occur of any of the following events (such first occurrence, an "Early Termination Event"), the Trust shall be dissolved and terminated in accordance with the terms hereof: (i) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of the Depositor, dissolution or liquidation of the Depositor, or the dissolution of the Trust pursuant to judicial decree; (ii) the delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by the Depositor at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Depositor) to terminate the Trust and distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to Securityholders as provided in Section 9.04; and (iii) the payment at maturity or redemption of all of the Junior Subordinated Notes, and the consequent payment of the Preferred Securities. Section 9.03 Termination. The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trust and the Trustees created hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.04, or upon the redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.02, of all amounts or instruments required to be distributed 48 hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust Securities; (b) the payment of any expenses owed by the Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the Securityholders. Section 9.04 Liquidation. (a) If any Early Termination Event specified in clause (ii) of Section 9.02 occurs, the Trust shall be liquidated and the Property trustee shall distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders as provided in this Section 9.04. (b) In connection with a distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes, each Holder of Trust Securities shall be entitled to receive, after the satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (as evidenced by a certificate of the Administrative Trustees), a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes. Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Trustees by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not later than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall: (i) state the Liquidation Date; (ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes; and (iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for Junior Subordinated Notes as the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate. (c) In order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes to Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates. (d) After the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon 49 surrender of such certificates to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for exchange, (iii) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes, accruing interest at the rate provided for in the Junior Subordinated Notes from the last Distribution Date on which a Distribution was made on such Trust Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates with respect to such Junior Subordinated Notes) and (iv) all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive Junior Subordinated Notes upon surrender of Trust Securities Certificates. (e) The Depositor will use its best efforts to have the Junior Subordinated Notes that are distributed in exchange for the Preferred Securities to be listed on such securities exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed. The Depositor may elect to have the Junior Subordinated Notes issued in book-entry form to the Clearing Agency or its nominee pursuant to a Certificate Depository Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B. Section 9.05 Bankruptcy. If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (i) of Section 9.02 has occurred, the Trust shall be liquidated. The Property Trustee shall distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders as provided in Section 9.04, unless such distribution is determined by the Administrative Trustees not to be practical, in which event the Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities. ARTICLE X 50 Miscellaneous Provisions Section 10.01 Guarantee by the Depositor. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Depositor irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Person to whom the Trust is now or hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to pay to Holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be. This guarantee is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof. Section 10.02 Limitation of Rights of Securityholders. The death or incapacity of any Person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in a Trust Security shall not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any Securityholder for such Person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in and for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them. Section 10.03 Amendment. (a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of any Securityholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, provided, however, that any such amendment shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes at any time that any Trust Securities are outstanding; provided, however, that, except in the case of clause (ii), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder and, in the case of clause (i), any amendments of this Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the Securityholders. (b) Except as provided in Section 10.03(c) hereof, any provision in this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trust or the Trustees with (i) the consent of Trust Securityholders 51 representing not less than 66-2/3% (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then Outstanding and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. (c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.03 or 6.06 hereof), this Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, or (iii) change the consent required pursuant to Section 10.03. (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, afforded by Rule 3a-5 thereunder. (e) Without the consent of the Depositor, this Trust Agreement may not be amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor. In executing any amendment permitted by this Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Trust Agreement. Any Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects such Trustee's own rights, duties, immunities or liabilities under this Trust Agreement or otherwise. (f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such amendment. Section 10.04 Separability. In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 52 Section 10.05 Governing Law. THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE SECURITYHOLDERS, THE TRUST AND THE TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE; PROVIDED THAT THE IMMUNITIES AND STANDARD OF CARE OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY NEW YORK LAW. Section 10.06 Successors. This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to both the Trust and the Trustees, including any successor by operation of law. Section 10.07 Headings. The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement. Section 10.08 Notice and Demand. Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (i) in the case of a Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as such Securityholder's name and address appear on the Securities Register and (ii) in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, Attention: Corporate Secretary, Facsimile No. (404) 526-2945, with a copy to Southern Company Services, Inc., 64 Perimeter Center East, Atlanta, Georgia 30346, Attention: Corporate Finance Department, Facsimile No. (770) 821- 4460. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission. Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Trust or the Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as follows: (i) with respect to the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York, 10001, Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department; Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware, 1201 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attention: Corporate Trust Department, as the case may be; and (ii) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked Attention: Administrative Trustees of Georgia Power Capital Trust II c/o Corporate Secretary. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the Trustees shall be deemed to have been 53 sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the applicable Trustee. Section 10.09 Agreement Not to Petition. Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agrees for the benefit of the Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article IX, it shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, liquidation or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.09, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Securityholders, that it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Trustees or the Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.09 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement. Section 10.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. (a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trustee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. (b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a Trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act. (c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust Agreement by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. (d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement shall not affect the nature of the Trust Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER 54 TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE AND THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THOSE TERMS AND PROVISIONS SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS. 55 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Trust Agreement or have caused this Trust Agreement to be executed on their behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, as Depositor By: Title: THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee By: Title: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Delaware Trustee By: Title: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee 56 EXHIBIT A [INTENTIONALLY RESERVED] Exhibit A - Page 1 EXHIBIT B _______________, 1996 The Depository Trust Company 55 Water Street, 49th Floor New York, New York 10041-0099 Attention: General Counsel's Office Re: Georgia Power Capital Trust II _____% Trust Preferred Securities Ladies and Gentlemen: The purpose of this letter is to set out certain matters relating to the above-referenced Preferred Securities (CUSIP No. _________ (the "Securities") of Georgia Power Capital Trust II, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust"). The Securities are guaranteed to the extent set forth in the Prospectus relating to the Securities dated __________, 1996, and the accompanying Prospectus Supplement dated __________, 1996, by Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation. The Trust is selling the Securities to certain underwriters (the "Underwriters") pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated _________, 1996, and the Underwriters wish to take delivery of the Securities through The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). The Trust is acting as transfer agent and registrar with respect to the Securities. The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust, will act as paying agent in relation to the Securities (the "Property Trustee"). To induce DTC to accept the Securities as eligible for deposit at DTC, and to act in accordance with its rules with respect to the Securities, the Trust and the Property Trustee severally, as set forth below, each make the following representations to DTC. 1. Before the closing of the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters, which is expected to occur on or about ______________, 1996, there shall be deposited with DTC one or more global certificates (the "Global Certificate") registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co., for _________ Securities. 2. The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of __________, 1996 provides for the voting by holders of the Securities under certain circumstances. The Trust shall establish a record date for such purposes and shall, to the extent possible, give DTC notice of such record date not less than 15 calendar days in advance of such record date. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph by telecopy shall be sent to DTC's Exhibit B - Page 1 Reorganization Department at (212) 709-6896 or (212) 709-6897, and receipt of such notices shall be confirmed by telephoning (212) 709-6870. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph by mail or by other means shall be sent to DTC's Reorganization Department as indicated in paragraph 6. 3. In the event of a stock split, conversion, recapitalization, reorganization or any other similar transaction resulting in the cancellation of all or any part of the Securities outstanding, the Trust shall send DTC a notice of such event at least 5 business days prior to the effective date of such event. 4. In the event of a distribution with respect to the Securities outstanding, the Property Trustee shall send DTC a notice specifying the amount of and conditions, if any, applicable to such payment or distribution. Such notice shall be sent to DTC by a secure means (e.g., legible telecopy, registered or certified mail, overnight delivery) in a timely manner designed to assure that such notice is in DTC's possession no later than the close of business on the business day before the record date for such distribution. (The Property Trustee shall have a method to verify subsequently the use of such means and the timeliness of such notice.) After establishing the amount of payment to be made on the Securities, the Property Trustee will notify DTC's Dividend Department of such payment at least 5 business days prior to payment date. 5. In the event of a redemption by the Trust of the Securities, notice to holders of the Securities by the Trust specifying the terms of the redemption shall be sent to DTC not less than 30 days prior to such event by a secure means in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph. Such redemption notice shall be sent to DTC's Call Notification Department at (516) 227-4039 or 4190, and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by telephoning (516) 227-4070. Notice by mail or by any other means shall be sent to: Call Notification Department The Depository Trust Company 711 Stewart Avenue Garden City, New York 11530-4719 6. In the event of any invitation to tender the Securities, notice by the Trust to holders of the Securities specifying the terms of the tender shall be sent to DTC by the Trust by a secure means by the close of business on the Business Day before such notice is given to such Holders. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph and notices of other corporate actions (including mandatory tenders, exchanges and capital changes), shall be sent by telecopy to DTC's Reorganization Department at (212) 709-1093 or (212) 709-1094, and receipt of such notices Exhibit B - Page 2 shall be confirmed by telephoning (212) 709-6884, or by mail or any other means to: Manager, Reorganization Department Reorganization Window The Depository Trust Company 7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor New York, New York 10004-2695 7. All notices and payment advices sent to DTC shall contain the CUSIP number of the Securities and the accompanying description of the Securities, which, as of the date of this letter, is "Georgia Power Capital Trust II, _____% Trust Preferred Securities." 8. Notices to DTC's Dividend Department by telecopy shall be sent to (212) 709-1723. Such notices by mail or by any other means shall be sent to: Manager, Announcements Dividend Department The Depository Trust Company 7 Hanover Square, 22nd Floor New York, New York 10004 The Trust shall confirm DTC's receipt of such telecopy by telephoning the Dividend Department at (212) 709-1270. 9. Payments of cash distributions, including payments on redemption, with respect to the Securities evidenced by the Global Certificate shall be received by Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, or its registered assigns in same day funds on each payment date (or in accordance with existing arrangements between the Property Trustee and DTC). Such payments shall be made payable to the order of Cede & Co. 10. Other cash payments shall be received by Cede & Co., as a nominee of DTC, or its registered assigns in next day funds on each payment date (or in accordance with existing arrangements between the Property Trustee and DTC). Such payments shall be made payable to the order of Cede & Co., and shall be addressed as follows: NFDS Redemption Department The Depository Trust Department 7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor New York, New York 10004-2695 11. DTC may by written notice direct the Trust and the Property Trustee to use any other telecopy number or address of DTC as the number or address to which notices or payments may be sent. Exhibit B - Page 3 12. In the event of a conversion, redemption, or any other similar transaction (e.g., tender made and accepted in response to the Trust's invitation) necessitating a reduction in the aggregate number of Securities outstanding, DTC, in its discretion: (a) may request the Trust to issue and authenticate a new Security certificate; or (b) may make an appropriate notation on the Security certificate indicating the date and amount of such reduction. 13. DTC may discontinue its services as a securities depositary with respect to the Global Certificate at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust (at which time DTC will confirm with the Trust the aggregate number of Securities deposited with it) and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, at DTC's request the Trust shall cooperate fully with DTC by taking prompt appropriate action to make alternative arrangements for book-entry settlement for the Securities or to make available one or more separate certificates evidencing Securities, to any participant having Securities credited to its DTC account. 14. In the event that the Trust determines that beneficial owners of Securities shall be able to obtain certificated Securities, the Trust shall notify DTC of the availability of certificates. In such event, the Trust shall issue, transfer and exchange certificates in appropriate amounts, as required by DTC and others. 15. Nothing herein shall require the Trustees to advance their own funds for any purposes. This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Very truly yours, Georgia Power Capital Trust II By: Name: Wayne Boston Title: Administrative Trustee THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee of Georgia Power Capital Trust II Exhibit B - Page 4 By: Name: Title: RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED: THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY By: Authorized Officer Exhibit B - Page 5 EXHIBIT C THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE Certificate Number Number of Common Securities C-1 Certificate Evidencing Common Securities of Georgia Power Capital Trust II Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) Georgia Power Capital Trust II, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Georgia Power Company (the "Holder") is the registered owner of ___________________________ (_______) common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and designated the Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). In accordance with Section 5.10 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below) the Common Securities are not transferable, except by operation of law, and any attempted transfer hereof shall be void. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. Exhibit C - Page 1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have executed this certificate this ____ day of _______, 1996. Georgia Power Capital Trust II By: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Common Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement. as Administrative Trustee Exhibit C - Page 2 EXHIBIT D AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES THIS AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES (this "Agree- ment") is made as of ___________ ___, 1996, between Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Georgia Power Capital Trust II, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"). WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its Common Securities (the "Common Securities") to and receive Junior Subordinated Notes from the Company and to issue and sell Georgia Power Capital Trust II _____% Trust Preferred Securities, Series __ (the "Preferred Securities") with such powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions as are set forth in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of _______ __, 1996 as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"); and WHEREAS, the Company is the issuer of the Junior Subordinated Notes. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of the Preferred Securities, which purchase the Company hereby agrees shall benefit the Company and which purchase the Company acknowledges will be made in reliance upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company and the Trust hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I Section 1.01. Guarantee by the Company. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to pay to holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be. This Agreement is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof. Section 1.02. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the date on which there are no Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however, that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of Exhibit D - Page 1 Preferred Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities, under any Obligation, under the Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as guarantee trustee, or under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever. This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute. Section 1.03. Waiver of Notice. The Company hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of any Obligation to which it applies or may apply, and the Company hereby waives presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. Section 1.04. No Impairment. The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Company under this Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Obligations; (b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind; or (c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the Trust. There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or obtain the consent of, the Company with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. Section 1.05. Enforcement. A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement directly against the Company and the Company waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Company. ARTICLE II Section 2.01. Binding Effect. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind the successors, Exhibit D - Page 2 assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiaries. Section 2.02. Amendment. So long as there remains any Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of any series are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended in any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the Preferred Securities. Section 2.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be given in writing by delivering the same against receipt therefor by facsimile transmission (confirmed by mail), telex or by registered or certified mail, addressed as follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon receipt of an answer-back, if sent by telex), to-wit: Georgia Power Capital Trust II c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank 450 West 33rd Street New York, New York 10001 Facsimile No.: Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Facsimile No.: (404) 526-2945 Attention: Corporate Secretary Section 2.04. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the date and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY By: Name: Title: GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee Exhibit D - Page 3 EXHIBIT E Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to Georgia Power Capital Trust II 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 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 inasmuch as the registered owner thereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein. Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities _________ P-1 CUSIP NO. _________ Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities of Georgia Power Capital Trust II _____% Trust Preferred Securities, (Liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) Georgia Power Capital Trust II, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of ___________________________________________ (_________) preferred securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the Georgia Power Capital Trust II _____% Trust Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.04 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), including the designation of the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth therein. The holder of this certificate is entitled to the benefits of a guarantee by Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement Exhibit E - Page 1 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as guarantee trustee, dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee to the holder of this certificate without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the holder of this certificate is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. Exhibit E - Page 2 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have executed this certificate this ____ day of _______, 1996. GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II By: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement. as Administrative Trustee Exhibit E - Page 3 ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Security to: (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints agent to transfer this Preferred Securities Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: Signature: (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Securities Certificate) EX-4.5-C 7 Exhibit 4.5-C REVISED DRAFT 8/14/96 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT among GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, as Depositor, THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee, CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Delaware Trustee, and JUDY M. ANDERSON and WAYNE BOSTON, as Administrative Trustees Dated as of _______ __, 1996 GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating to Sections 310 through 318 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939: Trust Indenture Trust Agreement Act Section Section Section 310(a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.07 (a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.07 (a)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.09 (a)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.08 Section 311(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.13 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.13 Section 312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.07 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.07 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.07 Section 313(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(a) (a)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(b) (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(b) (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(a) (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.14(a), 8.14(b) Section 314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.15 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (c)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.15, 8.16 (c)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.16 (c)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.16 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.16 Section 315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.01 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.02, 8.14(b) (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.01(a) (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.01, 8.03 (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable Section 316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (a)(1)(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.19 (a)(1)(B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.19 (a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable Section 317(a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.09 Section 318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.10 Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Trust Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions. TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I Defined Terms . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Section 1.01 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ARTICLE II Establishment of the Trust . . . . . . . 10 Section 2.01 Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Section 2.02 Offices of the Trustees; Principal Place of Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.03 Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.04 Issuance of the Preferred Securities . . . . . 11 Section 2.05 Subscription and Purchase of Junior Subordinated Notes; Issuance of the Common Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Section 2.07 Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Section 2.08 Assets of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Section 2.09 Title to Trust Property . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Section 2.10 Mergers and Consolidations of the Trust . . . 18 ARTICLE III Payment Account . . . . . . . . . . 19 Section 3.01 Payment Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 ARTICLE IV Distributions; Redemption . . . . . . . . 19 Section 4.01 Distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Section 4.02 Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 i Section 4.03 Subordination of Common Securities . . . . . . 23 Section 4.04 Payment Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Section 4.05 Tax Returns and Reports . . . . . . . . . . . 23 ARTICLE V Trust Securities Certificates . . . . . . . 24 Section 5.01 Initial Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Section 5.02 The Trust Securities Certificates . . . . . . 24 Section 5.03 Authentication of Trust Securities Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Section 5.04 Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates . . . . . . 25 Section 5.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Section 5.06 Persons Deemed Securityholders . . . . . . . . 26 Section 5.07 Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Section 5.08 Maintenance of Office or Agency . . . . . . . 27 Section 5.09 Appointment of Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . 27 Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor . 28 Section 5.11 Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common Securities Certificate . . . . . . . . 28 Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency . . . . . . . . . . 29 Section 5.13 Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates . 29 Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . 30 ARTICLE VI Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting . . . . 30 Section 6.01 Limitations on Voting Rights . . . . . . . . . 30 Section 6.02 Notice of Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Section 6.03 Meetings of Preferred Securityholders . . . . 32 ii Section 6.04 Voting Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Section 6.05 Proxies, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Section 6.06 Securityholder Action by Written Consent . . . 33 Section 6.07 Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes . . 33 Section 6.08 Acts of Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Section 6.09 Inspection of Records . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties of the Trustees . . 34 Section 7.01 Representations and Warranties of the Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ARTICLE VIII The Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Section 8.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities . . . . . 36 Section 8.02 Notice of Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Section 8.03 Certain Rights of Property Trustee . . . . . . 36 Section 8.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Section 8.05 May Hold Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Section 8.06 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity . . . . . . . . 38 Section 8.07 Trustees Required; Eligibility . . . . . . . . 39 Section 8.08 Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Section 8.09 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee . . . . . . . 40 Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Section 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor . . . . 42 Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against iii Depositor or Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . 44 Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee . . . . . . . 44 Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Section 8.17 Number of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Section 8.18 Delegation of Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Section 8.19 Enforcement of Rights of Property Trustee by Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 ARTICLE IX Termination and Liquidation . . . . . . . 46 Section 9.01 Termination Upon Expiration Date . . . . . . . 46 Section 9.02 Early Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Section 9.03 Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Section 9.04 Liquidation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Section 9.05 Bankruptcy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 ARTICLE X Miscellaneous Provisions . . . . . . . . 49 Section 10.01 Guarantee by the Depositor . . . . . . . . . . 49 Section 10.02 Limitation of Rights of Securityholders . . . 49 Section 10.03 Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Section 10.04 Separability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.05 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.06 Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.07 Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.08 Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Section 10.09 Agreement Not to Petition . . . . . . . . . . 52 iv Section 10.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . 52 EXHIBIT A [INTENTIONALLY RESERVED] EXHIBIT B Form of Certificate Depository Agreement EXHIBIT C Form of Common Securities Certificate EXHIBIT D Form of Expense Agreement EXHIBIT E Form of Preferred Securities Certificate v AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT is made as of _______ __, 1996, by and among (i) Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Depositor" or the "Company"), (ii) The Chase Manhattan Bank, a banking corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of New York, as trustee (the "Property Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Trustee, the "Bank"), (iii) Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware, a banking corporation duly organized under the laws of Delaware, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Delaware Trustee, the "Delaware Bank"), (iv) Judy M. Anderson, an individual, and Wayne Boston, an individual, as administrative trustees (each an "Administrative Trustee" and together the "Administrative Trustees") (the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees referred to collectively as the "Trustees") and (v) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Delaware Trustee have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by the entering into that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of June 13, 1996 (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing by the Delaware Trustee with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, dated June 13, 1996, as amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment, dated July 23, 1996; and WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the addition of the Bank, Judy M. Anderson and Wayne Boston as trustees of the Trust, (ii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, and (iv) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows: 1 2 ARTICLE I Defined Terms Section 1.01 Definitions. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular; (b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein; (c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement; and (d) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. "Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.08. "Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, an amount equal to the Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition of "Additional Interest" in the Subordinated Indenture) paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes for such period. "Administrative Trustee" means each of the individuals identified as an "Administrative Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in their capacities as Administrative Trustees of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in their individual capacities, or such trustee's successor(s) in interest in such capacity, or any successor "Administrative Trustee" appointed as herein provided. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. 3 "Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement. "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person: (i) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under federal bankruptcy law or any other applicable federal or state law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (ii) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under federal bankruptcy law or any other applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of action by such Person in furtherance of any such action. "Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.09. "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted by the Depositor's Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustees. "Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" means certificates representing Preferred Securities issued in global, fully registered form to the Clearing Agency as described in Section 5.11. "Business Day" means a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office or the 4 Indenture Trustee's principal corporate trust office is closed for business. "Certificate Depository Agreement" means the agreement among the Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the Issue Date, relating to the Preferred Securities Certificates, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time. "Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing Agency. "Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time. "Common Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein. "Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of a Common Security or Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C. "Company" means Georgia Power Company. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Property Trustee at which its corporate trust business shall be principally administered. "Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means either or both (as the context requires) of (i) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.11(a) and (ii) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.13. 5 "Delaware Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement. "Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time. "Delaware Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company or any other Person identified as the "Delaware Trustee" and has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided. "Depositor" means Georgia Power Company, in its capacity as "Depositor" under this Trust Agreement. "Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a). "Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.01. "Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (i) the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; or (ii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of 30 days; or (iii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or (iv) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or breach is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Trustees by the Holders of at least 10% in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such default or 6 breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or (v) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Trust. "Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities between the Company and the Trust, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D, as amended from time to time. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time. "Indenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the Subordinated Indenture. "Indenture Redemption Date" means "Redemption Date," as defined in the Subordinated Indenture. "Indenture Trustee" means the trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. "Issue Date" means the date of the delivery of the Trust Securities. "Junior Subordinated Notes" means the $___________ aggregate principal amount of the Depositor's Series __ _____% Junior Subordinated Notes, due _____ __, ____, issued pursuant to the Subordinated Indenture. "Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever. "Like Amount" means (i) Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Subordinated Indenture and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities and (ii) Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed. 7 "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security. "Liquidation Date" means the date on which Junior Subordinated Notes are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.04. "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.05. "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 8.16 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Depositor. An Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as is necessary, in such officer's opinion, to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Trust, the Trustees or the Depositor, but not an employee of the Trust or the Trustees, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee. Any Opinion of Counsel pertaining to federal income tax matters may rely on published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service. "Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Trust Agreement. "Outstanding", when used with respect to Preferred Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Preferred 8 Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except: (i) Preferred Securities theretofore cancelled by the Administrative Trustees or delivered to the Administrative Trustees for cancellation; (ii) Preferred Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred Securities; provided that if such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and (iii) Preferred Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, the Holder of the Common Securities, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Preferred Securities which such Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the outstanding Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, the Holder of the Common Securities, one or more Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor. "Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency). "Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 5.09 and shall initially be the Property Trustee. 9 "Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be held and from which the Property Trustee shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Section 4.01. "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein. "Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of a Preferred Security or Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E. "Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor "Property Trustee" as herein provided. "Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided that each Indenture Redemption Date shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities. "Redemption Price" means, with respect to any date fixed for redemption of any Trust Security, the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to such date. "Relevant Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.10. "Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" are described in Section 5.04. "Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any such Person is a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust Act. 10 "Subordinated Indenture" means the Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1996, between the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture. "Supplemental Indenture" means the __________ Supplemental Indenture, dated as of _______ __, 1996, by and between the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee. "Trust" means the Delaware business trust continued hereby and identified on the cover page to this Trust Agreement. "Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes of this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and any modification, amendment or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, respectively. "Trustees" means the Persons identified as "Trustees" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in their capacities as Trustees of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in their individual capacities, or their successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended. "Trust Property" means (i) the Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account, and (iii) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement. "Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates. "Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred Securities. "Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of _______ __, 1996, among the Trust, the Depositor and the underwriters named therein. 11 ARTICLE II Establishment of the Trust Section 2.01 Name. The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "Georgia Power Capital Trust III", in which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued. The Administrative Trustees may change the name of the Trust from time to time following written notice to the Holders. Section 2.02 Offices of the Trustees; Principal Place of Business. The address of the Property Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, or at such other address as the Property Trustee may designate by written notice to the Securityholders and the Depositor. The principal place of business of the Delaware Trustee is 1201 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, or at such other address in Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by notice to the Depositor. The address of the Administrative Trustees is c/o Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The principal place of business of the Trust is c/o Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308. The Depositor may change the principal place of business of the Trust at any time by giving notice thereof to the Trustees. Section 2.03 Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses. The Delaware Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which constituted the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay organizational expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of the Trustees, promptly reimburse the Trustees for any such expenses paid by the Trustees. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses. Section 2.04 Issuance of the Preferred Securities. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, in an aggregate amount of _________ Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $__________, against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $__________, which amount the Administrative Trustees shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee. 12 Section 2.05 Subscription and Purchase of Junior Subordinated Notes; Issuance of the Common Securities. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the Depositor Common Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of ________ Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $______, against payment by the Depositor of such amount. Contemporaneously therewith, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor Junior Subordinated Notes, registered in the name of the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust and the Holders, and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $___________, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Junior Subordinated Notes, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $___________. Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust. The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (i) to issue and sell the Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Junior Subordinated Notes, and (ii) to engage in those activities necessary, incidental, appropriate or convenient thereto. The Depositor hereby appoints each of the Bank, the Delaware Bank, Judy M. Anderson and Wayne Boston as trustees of the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein. The Property Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders. The Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the Trustees for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of the Delaware Business Trust Act. Section 2.07 Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions. The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph C of this Section, and in accordance with the following paragraphs A and B, the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following: 13 A. As among the Trustees, the Administrative Trustees, acting singly or jointly, shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (i) to acquire the Junior Subordinated Notes with the proceeds of the sale of the Trust Securities; provided, however, the Administrative Trustees shall cause legal title to all of the Junior Subordinated Notes to be vested in, and the Junior Subordinated Notes to be held of record in the name of, the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and Holders of the Trust Securities; (ii) to give the Depositor and the Property Trustee prompt written notice of the occurrence of any Special Event (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture) and to take any ministerial actions in connection therewith; provided, that the Administrative Trustees shall consult with the Depositor and the Property Trustee before taking or refraining to take any ministerial action in relation to a Special Event; (iii) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including for the purposes of Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act and with respect to Distributions, voting rights, redemptions, and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to Holders of the Trust Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; (iv) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section 2.07(B)(v), the Property Trustee has the power to bring such Legal Action; (v) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors, advisors, and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services; (vi) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the Trust Indenture Act; (vii) to give the certificate to the Property Trustee required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act, which certificate may be executed by any Administrative Trustee; (viii) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement; 14 (ix) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Trust Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust has been created; (x) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust; (xi) to issue and sell the Trust Securities; (xii) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Expense Agreement and the Certificate Depository Agreement and such other agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the consummation hereof; (xiii) to assist in the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under state securities or blue sky laws, and the qualification of this Trust Agreement as a trust indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; (xiv) to assist in the listing of the Preferred Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor and the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Exchange Act, and the preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing; (xv) to send notices (other than notices of default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xvi) to appoint a Paying Agent (subject to Section 5.09), authenticating agent and Securities Registrar in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xvii) to register transfers of the Trust Securities in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xviii) to assist in, to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and termination of the Trust and the preparation, execution and 15 filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and (xix) to take any action incidental to the foregoing as the Administrative Trustees may from time to time determine is necessary, appropriate, convenient or advisable to protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder). B. As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (i) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect promptly the redemption of the Trust Securities to the extent the Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemed or mature; (ii) upon notice of distribution issued by the Administrative Trustees in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect promptly the distribution pursuant to terms of this Trust Agreement of Junior Subordinated Notes to Holders of Trust Securities; (iii) subject to the terms hereof, exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, shall enforce for the benefit of, and subject to the rights of, the Holders of the Trust Securities, its rights as holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Indenture; (iv) take all actions and perform such duties as may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement; (v) take any Legal Action specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default or the Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act or the Trust Indenture Act; (vi) the establishment and maintenance of the Payment Account; (vii) the receipt of and holding of legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes as described herein; 16 (viii) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes in the Payment Account; (ix) the distribution of amounts owed to the Securityholders in respect of the Trust Securities; (x) the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement; (xi) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement; (xii) as provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and termination of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of Delaware; and (xiii) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary, appropriate, convenient or advisable to protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder). C. So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Trustees shall not (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money, (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property, (vi) issue any securities other than the Trust Securities, or (vii) have any power to, or agree to any action by the Depositor that would, vary the investment (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-4(c)) of the Trust or of the Securityholders. The Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders. D. In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility 17 to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects): (i) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any amendments thereto; (ii) to determine the states in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and advise the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States; (iii) to prepare for filing by the Trust an application to the New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the NASDAQ National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities; (iv) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto; (v) to negotiate the terms of the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities and to execute, deliver and perform the Underwriting Agreement on behalf of the Trust; and (vi) any other actions necessary, incidental, appropriate or convenient to carry out any of the foregoing activities. E. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or taxed as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust Agreement, that each of the Depositor and 18 the Administrative Trustees determines in its discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Section 2.08 Assets of Trust. The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property. Section 2.09 Title to Trust Property. Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders and the Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement. The right, title and interest of the Property Trustee to the Junior Subordinated Notes shall vest automatically in each Person who may thereafter be appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered. Section 2.10 Mergers and Consolidations of the Trust. The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described below or otherwise provided in this Trust Agreement. The Trust may at the request of the Company, with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (x) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Securities or (y) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Trust Securities (herein referred to as the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank in priority with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, 19 (vi) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, or replacement, the Company has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (viii) the Company guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes. ARTICLE III Payment Account Section 3.01 Payment Account. (a) On or prior to the Issue Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and an agent of the Property Trustee shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Securityholders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein. (b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal or interest on, and any other payments or proceeds with respect to, the Junior Subordinated Notes. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof. ARTICLE IV Distributions; Redemption 20 Section 4.01 Distributions. (a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative and accrue from the Issue Date and, except in the event that the Depositor exercises its right to extend the interest payment period for the Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to Section 104 of the Supplemental Indenture, shall be payable _________ in arrears on _________________________________________ of each year, commencing on _____ __, 1996. If any date on which Distributions are otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each such date, a "Distribution Date"). (b) Distributions payable on the Trust Securities shall be fixed at a rate of _____% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any full _________ period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. If the interest payment period for the Junior Subordinated Notes is extended pursuant to Section 104 of the Supplemental Indenture (an "Extension Period"), then the rate per annum at which Distributions on the Trust Securities accumulate shall be increased by an amount such that the aggregate amount of Distributions that accumulate on all Trust Securities during any such Extension Period is equal to the aggregate amount of interest (including interest payable on unpaid interest at the percentage rate per annum set forth above, compounded _________) that accrues during any such Extension Period on the Junior Subordinated Notes. The payment of such deferred interest, together with interest thereon, will be distributed to the Holders of the Trust Securities as received at the end of any Extension Period. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include the Additional Amounts, if any. (c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made and shall be deemed payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has legally and immediately available funds in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions. (d) Distributions, including Additional Amounts, if any, on the Trust Securities on each Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to the relevant Distribution Date. 21 Each Trust Security upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Trust Security shall carry the rights of Distributions accrued (including Additional Amounts, if any) and unpaid, and to accrue (including Additional Amounts, if any), which were carried by such other Trust Security. Section 4.02 Redemption. (a) On each Redemption Date with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price. (b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of redemption shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the Redemption Price; (iii) the CUSIP number; (iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the total Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities to be redeemed; and (v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that Distributions thereon will cease to accrue on and after such date. (c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of Junior Subordinated Notes. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be deemed payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price. (d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Preferred Securities, then, by 2:00 p.m. New York time, on the Redemption Date, subject to Section 4.02(c), the Property Trustee will, so long as the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form, irrevocably deposit with the Clearing Agency for the Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price. If the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry only form, the Property Trustee, subject to 22 Section 4.02(c), shall irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders thereof upon surrender of their Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest, and such Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Redemption Price shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Trust Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from such Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid. (e) Payment of the Redemption Price on the Trust Securities shall be made to the recordholders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to the Redemption Date. (f) If less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated 3% to the Common Securities and 97% to the Preferred Securities, with such adjustments that each amount so allocated shall be divisible by $25. The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for a redemption of portions (equal to $25 or integral multiple thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25; provided, however, that before 23 undertaking redemption of the Preferred Securities on other than a pro rata basis, the Property Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel that the status of the Trust as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes would not be adversely affected. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or is to be redeemed. (g) Subject to the foregoing provisions of Section 4.02 and to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Company or its Affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. Section 4.03 Subordination of Common Securities. (a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, and the Redemption Price of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, Preferred Securities then due and payable. (b) In the case of the occurrence of any Indenture Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities have been so 24 cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and not the Holder of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf. Section 4.04 Payment Procedures. Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency, which shall credit the relevant Persons' accounts at such Clearing Agency on the applicable distribution dates. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities. Section 4.05 Tax Returns and Reports. The Administrative Trustee(s) shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the Depositor's expense, and file all United States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. The Administrative Trustee(s) shall provide or cause to be provided on a timely basis to each Holder any Internal Revenue Service form required to be so provided in respect of the Trust Securities. ARTICLE V Trust Securities Certificates Section 5.01 Initial Ownership. Upon the creation of the Trust by the contribution by the Depositor pursuant to Section 2.03 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust. Section 5.02 The Trust Securities Certificates. Each of the Preferred and Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples in excess thereof. The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the authentication and delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of authentication and delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust 25 Securities Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 5.04. Section 5.03 Authentication of Trust Securities Certificates. On the Issue Date, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 2.04 and 2.05, to be executed on behalf of the Trust, authenticated and delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor signed by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations. No Trust Securities Certificate shall entitle its holder to any benefit under this Trust Agreement, or shall be valid for any purpose, unless there shall appear on such Trust Securities Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit E or Exhibit C, as applicable, executed by at least one Administrative Trustee by manual signature; such authentication shall constitute conclusive evidence that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Trust Securities Certificates shall be dated the date of their authentication. Section 5.04 Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates. The Securities Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, a Securities Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Securities Registrar shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and the Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Property Trustee shall be the initial Securities Registrar. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, the Administrative Trustees shall execute, authenticate and deliver in the name of the designated transferee or transferees one or more new Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount dated the date of authentication by the Administrative Trustee or Trustees. The Securities Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. At the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the same class and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities 26 Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08. Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Trustees and the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently disposed of by the Securities Registrar in accordance with its customary practice. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar or the Administrative Trustees may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates. Section 5.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates. If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them on behalf of the Trust shall execute and authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this Section, the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time. Section 5.06 Persons Deemed Securityholders. Prior to due presentation of a Trust Securities Certificate for registration of transfer, the Trustees or the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving 27 Distributions (subject to Section 4.01(d)) and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary. Section 5.07 Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses. The Administrative Trustees shall furnish or cause to be furnished to (i) the Depositor and the Property Trustee semi- annually, not later than June 1 and December 1 in each year, and (ii) the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, within 15 days after receipt by any Administrative Trustee of a request therefor from the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, in writing, a list, in such form as the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished. If three or more Securityholders or one or more Holders of Trust Securities Certificates evidencing not less than 25% of the outstanding Liquidation Amount apply in writing to the Administrative Trustees, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Trust Agreement or under the Trust Securities Certificates and such application is accompanied by a copy of the communication that such applicants propose to transmit, then the Administrative Trustees shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, afford such applicants access during normal business hours to the current list of Securityholders. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a Trust Securities Certificate, shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold either the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which such information was derived. Section 5.08 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Administrative Trustees shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served. The Administrative Trustees initially designate The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, as its principal agency for such purposes. The Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency. Section 5.09 Appointment of Paying Agent. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions and other payments provided hereby to Securityholders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions and payments to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall 28 have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the purpose of making the Distributions and payments provided hereby. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee, and it may choose any co-paying agent that is acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. In the event that a Paying Agent shall resign or be removed, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is acceptable to the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company). The Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees to execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Securityholders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.01, 8.03 and 8.06 shall apply to the Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise. Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor. On the Issue Date, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter retain, beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. Any attempted transfer of the Common Securities, except for transfers by operation of law, shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE". Section 5.11 Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common Securities Certificate. (a) The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon original issuance, will be issued in the form of a typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, to be delivered to The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency, by, or on 29 behalf of, the Trust. Such Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates shall initially be registered on the Securities Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, and no Owner will receive a definitive Preferred Securities Certificate representing such beneficial owner's interest in such Preferred Securities, except as provided in Section 5.13. Unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13: (i) the provisions of this Section 5.11(a) shall be in full force and effect; (ii) the Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates (including the payment of principal of and interest on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities and the giving of instructions or directions to Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities) as the sole Holder of Book-Entry Preferred Securities and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof; (iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall control; and (iv) the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants. Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 5.13, the Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities to such Clearing Agency Participants. (b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common Securities Certificate. Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency. To the extent a notice or other communication to the Owners is required under this Trust Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to the Owners. Section 5.13 Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates. If (i) the Depositor advises the Trustees in writing that the 30 Clearing Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Preferred Securities Certificates, and the Depositor is unable to locate a qualified successor, or (ii) the Depositor at its option advises the Trustees in writing that it elects to terminate the book- entry system through the Clearing Agency, then the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Clearing Agency and Holders of the Preferred Securities. Upon surrender to the Administrative Trustees of the typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and authenticate the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Securityholders. The Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by the execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of them. Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders. The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.09, and the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or other similar rights and when issued and delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor, except as otherwise provided in the Expense Agreement and Section 10.01 hereof, will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Except as otherwise provided in the Expense Agreement and Section 10.01 hereof, the Holders of the Trust Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. ARTICLE VI Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting 31 Section 6.01 Limitations on Voting Rights. (a) Except as provided in this Section, in Section 8.10 or Section 10.03 of this Trust Agreement, in the Subordinated Indenture, and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of an association. (b) So long as any Junior Subordinated Notes are held by the Property Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee with respect to such Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Section 513 of the Subordinated Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Subordinated Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Notes, where such consent shall be required, or to any other action, as holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, under the Subordinated Indenture, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the Subordinated Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Trustees without the prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities, except pursuant to a subsequent vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action. (c) If any proposed amendment to this Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to this Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the 32 dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action. Section 6.02 Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of the Preferred Securityholders, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Administrative Trustees pursuant to Section 10.08 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at his registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Section 6.03 Meetings of Preferred Securityholders. No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matter upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of record of 25% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of Preferred Securityholders to vote on any matters as to which Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote. Preferred Securityholders of record of 50% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount), present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders. If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding more than 66-2/3% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) held by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders, unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes. Section 6.04 Voting Rights. Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $25 of Liquidation Amount 33 represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote. Section 6.05 Proxies, etc. At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder entitled to vote may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Securityholders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of execution. Section 6.06 Securityholder Action by Written Consent. Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if Securityholders holding at least 66-2/3% of all outstanding Trust Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such other proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing (based upon their Liquidation Amount). Section 6.07 Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes. For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any Distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or the payment of Distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for such purposes. Section 6.08 Acts of Securityholders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made or taken by Securityholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar 34 tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Administrative Trustees. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Securityholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 8.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgements of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustees deem sufficient. The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security. Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount. If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders of Trust Securities and the Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or 35 Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter. Section 6.09 Inspection of Records. Upon reasonable notice to the Trustees, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder. ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties of the Trustees Section 7.01 Representations and Warranties of the Trustees. The Bank, the Delaware Bank, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Securityholders that: (a) the Bank is a banking corporation or trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, and the Delaware Trustee is a banking corporation or trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform their obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement; (c) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; (d) the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Bank and the Delaware Bank of this Trust Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank and the Delaware Trustee and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Bank or the Delaware Bank and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Bank's or the Delaware Bank's Charter or By-laws, or (ii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of New York or Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking or trust 36 powers of the Bank and the Property Trustee or the Delaware Bank and the Delaware Trustee, or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank or the Delaware Trustee; and (e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Bank or the Delaware Bank of this Trust Agreement, nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Bank, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Bank or the Delaware Trustee (as appropriate in context) contemplated herein or therein, nor the issuance of the Trust Securities Certificates pursuant to this Trust Agreement require the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing federal, New York or Delaware law governing the banking or trust powers of the Bank or the Delaware Bank. ARTICLE VIII The Trustees Section 8.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (a) The rights, duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to them. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section. (b) All payments made by the Property Trustee in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the income and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient income or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the income and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 8.01(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth 37 elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.02 Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.08, notice of any default known to the Property Trustee to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless such default shall have been cured or waived. For the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default. Section 8.03 Certain Rights of Property Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 and except as provided by law: (i) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; (ii) if (A) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, or (B) in construing any of the provisions in this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein, or (C) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which the Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor requesting written instructions of the Depositor as to the course of action to be taken. The Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that if the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent practicable shall not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the 38 Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct; (iii) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon; (iv) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; (v) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond or other document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Securityholders; and (vi) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible for its own negligence or recklessness with respect to selection of any agent or attorney appointed by it hereunder. Section 8.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be taken as the statements of the Trust, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Trust of the proceeds of the Trust Securities in accordance with Section 2.05. The Property Trustee may conclusively assume that any funds held by it hereunder are legally available unless an officer of the Property Trustee assigned to its Corporate Trustee Administrative Department shall have received written notice from the Company, any Holder or any other Trustee that such funds are not legally available. 39 Section 8.05 May Hold Securities. Except as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article I, any Trustee or any other agent of the Trustees or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent. Section 8.06 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity. The Depositor agrees: (1) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustees hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith; and (3) to indemnify the Trustees for, and to hold the Trustees harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Trust Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder. The provisions of this Section 8.06 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement. Section 8.07 Trustees Required; Eligibility. (a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately 40 in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. (b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. (c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity authorized to conduct a trust business and with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. Section 8.08 Conflicting Interests. If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust Agreement. Section 8.09 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee. At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property may at the time be located, the Holder of the Common Securities and the Property Trustee shall have power to appoint, and upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall for such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate trustee of any such Trust Property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. If the Depositor does not join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, or in case an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment. Any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this Section shall satisfy the requirements of Section 8.07. Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully 41 confirming to such co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged, and delivered by the Depositor. Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms, namely: (i) The Trust Securities shall be executed, authenticated and delivered and all rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Trustees hereunder, shall be exercised, solely by the Trustees. (ii) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby conferred or imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by such appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co- trustee or separate trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event such rights, powers, duties, and obligations shall be exercised and performed by such co-trustee or separate trustee. (iii) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may accept the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this Section, and, in case an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any such co- trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence of the Depositor. Upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery, and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section. (iv) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee, or any other such trustee hereunder. 42 (v) The Trustees shall not be liable by reason of any act of a co-trustee or separate trustee. (vi) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee. Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and no appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Relevant Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. The Relevant Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Securityholders. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Relevant Trustee required by Section 8.11 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Relevant Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Unless an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Relevant Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities. If an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Relevant Trustee may be removed at such time by Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities Certificates, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). If the Relevant Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as Trustee at a time when no Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities, by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and the retiring Relevant Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If the Relevant Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as the Relevant Trustee at a time when an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of Preferred Securities, by Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and the Relevant Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed in accordance with this Section 8.10 and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11, any Securityholder who has been a Securityholder of Trust Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and 43 all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. The retiring Relevant Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Relevant Trustee, and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 10.08 and shall give notice to the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by (i) the act of the remaining Administrative Trustee or (ii) otherwise by the Depositor (with the successor in each case being an individual who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 8.07). Additionally, notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event the Depositor believes that any Administrative Trustee has become incompetent or incapacitated, the Depositor, by notice to the remaining Trustees, may terminate the status of such Person as an Administrative Trustee (in which case the vacancy so created will be filled in accordance with the preceding sentence). Section 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, every such successor Relevant Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Trust and to the retiring Relevant Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective and such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on the request of the Depositor or the successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Relevant Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder. Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the preceding paragraph. 44 No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article. Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any Person into which the Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee which is not a natural person may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust. If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such other obligor). For purposes of Section 311(b)(4) and (6) of the Trust Indenture Act: (a) "cash transaction" means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand; and (b) "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Depositor or the Trust (or any such obligor) for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Property Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Depositor or the Trust (or any such obligor) arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation. Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee. 45 (a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with May 15, 1997, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall transmit a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in such Section 313(a) that may have occurred since the later of the date of this Trust Agreement or the preceding May 15. (b) The Property Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders the reports required by Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein. (c) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and (d) of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee. The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor, the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall comply with Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act. Section 8.17 Number of Trustees. (a) The number of Trustees shall initially be four, provided that the Depositor by written instrument may increase or decrease the number of Administrative Trustees. (b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 8.17(a), or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 8.17(a), a vacancy shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 8.10. (c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such 46 vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.10, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement), shall have all powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement. Section 8.18 Delegation of Power. (a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.07(A), including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and (b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein. Section 8.19 Enforcement of Rights of Property Trustee by Securityholders. If (i) the Trust fails to pay Distributions in full on the Preferred Securities for more than __ consecutive _________ distribution periods, or (ii) an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Holders of Preferred Securities will rely on the enforcement by the Property Trustee of its rights against the Company as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition, the Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement, including the right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise the remedies available to it as a holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Trust Agreement, and could not involve the Property Trustee in personal liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be adequate. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes, a Holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, institute a legal proceeding against the Company to enforce its rights under this Trust Agreement without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other Person, including the Trust; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this 47 Trust Agreement to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Trust Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series __ Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Series __ Junior Subordinated Notes. ARTICLE IX Termination and Liquidation Section 9.01 Termination Upon Expiration Date. The Trust shall automatically terminate on _____ __, ____ (the "Expiration Date") or earlier pursuant to Section 9.02. Section 9.02 Early Termination. Upon the first to occur of any of the following events (such first occurrence, an "Early Termination Event"), the Trust shall be dissolved and terminated in accordance with the terms hereof: (i) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of the Depositor, dissolution or liquidation of the Depositor, or the dissolution of the Trust pursuant to judicial decree; (ii) the delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by the Depositor at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Depositor) to terminate the Trust and distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to Securityholders as provided in Section 9.04; and (iii) the payment at maturity or redemption of all of the Junior Subordinated Notes, and the consequent payment of the Preferred Securities. Section 9.03 Termination. The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trust and the Trustees created hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.04, or upon the redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.02, of all amounts or instruments required to be distributed 48 hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust Securities; (b) the payment of any expenses owed by the Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the Securityholders. Section 9.04 Liquidation. (a) If any Early Termination Event specified in clause (ii) of Section 9.02 occurs, the Trust shall be liquidated and the Property trustee shall distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders as provided in this Section 9.04. (b) In connection with a distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes, each Holder of Trust Securities shall be entitled to receive, after the satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (as evidenced by a certificate of the Administrative Trustees), a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes. Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Trustees by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not later than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall: (i) state the Liquidation Date; (ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes; and (iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for Junior Subordinated Notes as the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate. (c) In order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes to Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates. (d) After the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon 49 surrender of such certificates to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for exchange, (iii) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Notes, accruing interest at the rate provided for in the Junior Subordinated Notes from the last Distribution Date on which a Distribution was made on such Trust Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates with respect to such Junior Subordinated Notes) and (iv) all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive Junior Subordinated Notes upon surrender of Trust Securities Certificates. (e) The Depositor will use its best efforts to have the Junior Subordinated Notes that are distributed in exchange for the Preferred Securities to be listed on such securities exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed. The Depositor may elect to have the Junior Subordinated Notes issued in book-entry form to the Clearing Agency or its nominee pursuant to a Certificate Depository Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B. Section 9.05 Bankruptcy. If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (i) of Section 9.02 has occurred, the Trust shall be liquidated. The Property Trustee shall distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders as provided in Section 9.04, unless such distribution is determined by the Administrative Trustees not to be practical, in which event the Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities. ARTICLE X 50 Miscellaneous Provisions Section 10.01 Guarantee by the Depositor. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Depositor irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Person to whom the Trust is now or hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to pay to Holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be. This guarantee is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof. Section 10.02 Limitation of Rights of Securityholders. The death or incapacity of any Person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in a Trust Security shall not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any Securityholder for such Person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in and for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them. Section 10.03 Amendment. (a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of any Securityholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, provided, however, that any such amendment shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes at any time that any Trust Securities are outstanding; provided, however, that, except in the case of clause (ii), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder and, in the case of clause (i), any amendments of this Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the Securityholders. (b) Except as provided in Section 10.03(c) hereof, any provision in this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trust or the Trustees with (i) the consent of Trust Securityholders 51 representing not less than 66-2/3% (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then Outstanding and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. (c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.03 or 6.06 hereof), this Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, or (iii) change the consent required pursuant to Section 10.03. (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, afforded by Rule 3a-5 thereunder. (e) Without the consent of the Depositor, this Trust Agreement may not be amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor. In executing any amendment permitted by this Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Trust Agreement. Any Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects such Trustee's own rights, duties, immunities or liabilities under this Trust Agreement or otherwise. (f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such amendment. Section 10.04 Separability. In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 52 Section 10.05 Governing Law. THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE SECURITYHOLDERS, THE TRUST AND THE TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE; PROVIDED THAT THE IMMUNITIES AND STANDARD OF CARE OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY NEW YORK LAW. Section 10.06 Successors. This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to both the Trust and the Trustees, including any successor by operation of law. Section 10.07 Headings. The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement. Section 10.08 Notice and Demand. Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (i) in the case of a Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as such Securityholder's name and address appear on the Securities Register and (ii) in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Georgia Power Company, 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, Attention: Corporate Secretary, Facsimile No. (404) 526-2945, with a copy to Southern Company Services, Inc., 64 Perimeter Center East, Atlanta, Georgia 30346, Attention: Corporate Finance Department, Facsimile No. (770) 821- 4460. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission. Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Trust or the Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as follows: (i) with respect to the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York, 10001, Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department; Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware, 1201 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attention: Corporate Trust Department, as the case may be; and (ii) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked Attention: Administrative Trustees of Georgia Power Capital Trust III c/o Corporate Secretary. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the Trustees shall be deemed to have been 53 sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the applicable Trustee. Section 10.09 Agreement Not to Petition. Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agrees for the benefit of the Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article IX, it shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, liquidation or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.09, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Securityholders, that it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Trustees or the Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.09 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement. Section 10.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. (a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trustee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. (b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a Trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act. (c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust Agreement by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. (d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement shall not affect the nature of the Trust Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER 54 TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE AND THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THOSE TERMS AND PROVISIONS SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS. 55 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Trust Agreement or have caused this Trust Agreement to be executed on their behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, as Depositor By: Title: THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee By: Title: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, as Delaware Trustee By: Title: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee 56 EXHIBIT A [INTENTIONALLY RESERVED] Exhibit A - Page 1 EXHIBIT B _______________, 1996 The Depository Trust Company 55 Water Street, 49th Floor New York, New York 10041-0099 Attention: General Counsel's Office Re: Georgia Power Capital Trust III _____% Trust Preferred Securities Ladies and Gentlemen: The purpose of this letter is to set out certain matters relating to the above-referenced Preferred Securities (CUSIP No. _________ (the "Securities") of Georgia Power Capital Trust III, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust"). The Securities are guaranteed to the extent set forth in the Prospectus relating to the Securities dated __________, 1996, and the accompanying Prospectus Supplement dated __________, 1996, by Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation. The Trust is selling the Securities to certain underwriters (the "Underwriters") pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated _________, 1996, and the Underwriters wish to take delivery of the Securities through The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). The Trust is acting as transfer agent and registrar with respect to the Securities. The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust, will act as paying agent in relation to the Securities (the "Property Trustee"). To induce DTC to accept the Securities as eligible for deposit at DTC, and to act in accordance with its rules with respect to the Securities, the Trust and the Property Trustee severally, as set forth below, each make the following representations to DTC. 1. Before the closing of the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters, which is expected to occur on or about ______________, 1996, there shall be deposited with DTC one or more global certificates (the "Global Certificate") registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co., for _________ Securities. 2. The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of __________, 1996 provides for the voting by holders of the Securities under certain circumstances. The Trust shall establish a record date for such purposes and shall, to the extent possible, give DTC notice of such record date not less than 15 calendar days in advance of such record date. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph by telecopy shall be sent to DTC's Exhibit B - Page 1 Reorganization Department at (212) 709-6896 or (212) 709-6897, and receipt of such notices shall be confirmed by telephoning (212) 709-6870. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph by mail or by other means shall be sent to DTC's Reorganization Department as indicated in paragraph 6. 3. In the event of a stock split, conversion, recapitalization, reorganization or any other similar transaction resulting in the cancellation of all or any part of the Securities outstanding, the Trust shall send DTC a notice of such event at least 5 business days prior to the effective date of such event. 4. In the event of a distribution with respect to the Securities outstanding, the Property Trustee shall send DTC a notice specifying the amount of and conditions, if any, applicable to such payment or distribution. Such notice shall be sent to DTC by a secure means (e.g., legible telecopy, registered or certified mail, overnight delivery) in a timely manner designed to assure that such notice is in DTC's possession no later than the close of business on the business day before the record date for such distribution. (The Property Trustee shall have a method to verify subsequently the use of such means and the timeliness of such notice.) After establishing the amount of payment to be made on the Securities, the Property Trustee will notify DTC's Dividend Department of such payment at least 5 business days prior to payment date. 5. In the event of a redemption by the Trust of the Securities, notice to holders of the Securities by the Trust specifying the terms of the redemption shall be sent to DTC not less than 30 days prior to such event by a secure means in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph. Such redemption notice shall be sent to DTC's Call Notification Department at (516) 227-4039 or 4190, and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by telephoning (516) 227-4070. Notice by mail or by any other means shall be sent to: Call Notification Department The Depository Trust Company 711 Stewart Avenue Garden City, New York 11530-4719 6. In the event of any invitation to tender the Securities, notice by the Trust to holders of the Securities specifying the terms of the tender shall be sent to DTC by the Trust by a secure means by the close of business on the Business Day before such notice is given to such Holders. Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph and notices of other corporate actions (including mandatory tenders, exchanges and capital changes), shall be sent by telecopy to DTC's Reorganization Department at (212) 709-1093 or (212) 709-1094, and receipt of such notices Exhibit B - Page 2 shall be confirmed by telephoning (212) 709-6884, or by mail or any other means to: Manager, Reorganization Department Reorganization Window The Depository Trust Company 7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor New York, New York 10004-2695 7. All notices and payment advices sent to DTC shall contain the CUSIP number of the Securities and the accompanying description of the Securities, which, as of the date of this letter, is "Georgia Power Capital Trust III, _____% Trust Preferred Securities." 8. Notices to DTC's Dividend Department by telecopy shall be sent to (212) 709-1723. Such notices by mail or by any other means shall be sent to: Manager, Announcements Dividend Department The Depository Trust Company 7 Hanover Square, 22nd Floor New York, New York 10004 The Trust shall confirm DTC's receipt of such telecopy by telephoning the Dividend Department at (212) 709-1270. 9. Payments of cash distributions, including payments on redemption, with respect to the Securities evidenced by the Global Certificate shall be received by Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, or its registered assigns in same day funds on each payment date (or in accordance with existing arrangements between the Property Trustee and DTC). Such payments shall be made payable to the order of Cede & Co. 10. Other cash payments shall be received by Cede & Co., as a nominee of DTC, or its registered assigns in next day funds on each payment date (or in accordance with existing arrangements between the Property Trustee and DTC). Such payments shall be made payable to the order of Cede & Co., and shall be addressed as follows: NFDS Redemption Department The Depository Trust Department 7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor New York, New York 10004-2695 11. DTC may by written notice direct the Trust and the Property Trustee to use any other telecopy number or address of DTC as the number or address to which notices or payments may be sent. Exhibit B - Page 3 12. In the event of a conversion, redemption, or any other similar transaction (e.g., tender made and accepted in response to the Trust's invitation) necessitating a reduction in the aggregate number of Securities outstanding, DTC, in its discretion: (a) may request the Trust to issue and authenticate a new Security certificate; or (b) may make an appropriate notation on the Security certificate indicating the date and amount of such reduction. 13. DTC may discontinue its services as a securities depositary with respect to the Global Certificate at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust (at which time DTC will confirm with the Trust the aggregate number of Securities deposited with it) and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, at DTC's request the Trust shall cooperate fully with DTC by taking prompt appropriate action to make alternative arrangements for book-entry settlement for the Securities or to make available one or more separate certificates evidencing Securities, to any participant having Securities credited to its DTC account. 14. In the event that the Trust determines that beneficial owners of Securities shall be able to obtain certificated Securities, the Trust shall notify DTC of the availability of certificates. In such event, the Trust shall issue, transfer and exchange certificates in appropriate amounts, as required by DTC and others. 15. Nothing herein shall require the Trustees to advance their own funds for any purposes. This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Very truly yours, Georgia Power Capital Trust III By: Name: Wayne Boston Title: Administrative Trustee THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Property Trustee of Georgia Power Capital Trust III Exhibit B - Page 4 By: Name: Title: RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED: THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY By: Authorized Officer Exhibit B - Page 5 EXHIBIT C THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE Certificate Number Number of Common Securities C-1 Certificate Evidencing Common Securities of Georgia Power Capital Trust III Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) Georgia Power Capital Trust III, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Georgia Power Company (the "Holder") is the registered owner of ___________________________ (_______) common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and designated the Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). In accordance with Section 5.10 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below) the Common Securities are not transferable, except by operation of law, and any attempted transfer hereof shall be void. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. Exhibit C - Page 1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have executed this certificate this ____ day of _______, 1996. Georgia Power Capital Trust III By: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Common Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement. as Administrative Trustee Exhibit C - Page 2 EXHIBIT D AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES THIS AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES (this "Agree- ment") is made as of ___________ ___, 1996, between Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Georgia Power Capital Trust III, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"). WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its Common Securities (the "Common Securities") to and receive Junior Subordinated Notes from the Company and to issue and sell Georgia Power Capital Trust III _____% Trust Preferred Securities, Series __ (the "Preferred Securities") with such powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions as are set forth in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of _______ __, 1996 as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"); and WHEREAS, the Company is the issuer of the Junior Subordinated Notes. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of the Preferred Securities, which purchase the Company hereby agrees shall benefit the Company and which purchase the Company acknowledges will be made in reliance upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company and the Trust hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I Section 1.01. Guarantee by the Company. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to pay to holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be. This Agreement is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof. Section 1.02. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the date on which there are no Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however, that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of Exhibit D - Page 1 Preferred Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities, under any Obligation, under the Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as guarantee trustee, or under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever. This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute. Section 1.03. Waiver of Notice. The Company hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of any Obligation to which it applies or may apply, and the Company hereby waives presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. Section 1.04. No Impairment. The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Company under this Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Obligations; (b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind; or (c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the Trust. There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or obtain the consent of, the Company with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. Section 1.05. Enforcement. A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement directly against the Company and the Company waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Company. ARTICLE II Section 2.01. Binding Effect. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind the successors, Exhibit D - Page 2 assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiaries. Section 2.02. Amendment. So long as there remains any Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of any series are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended in any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the Preferred Securities. Section 2.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be given in writing by delivering the same against receipt therefor by facsimile transmission (confirmed by mail), telex or by registered or certified mail, addressed as follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon receipt of an answer-back, if sent by telex), to-wit: Georgia Power Capital Trust III c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank 450 West 33rd Street New York, New York 10001 Facsimile No.: Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Facsimile No.: (404) 526-2945 Attention: Corporate Secretary Section 2.04. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the date and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY By: Name: Title: GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee Exhibit D - Page 3 EXHIBIT E Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to Georgia Power Capital Trust III 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 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 inasmuch as the registered owner thereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein. Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities _________ P-1 CUSIP NO. _________ Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities of Georgia Power Capital Trust III _____% Trust Preferred Securities, (Liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) Georgia Power Capital Trust III, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of ___________________________________________ (_________) preferred securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the Georgia Power Capital Trust III _____% Trust Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.04 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), including the designation of the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth therein. The holder of this certificate is entitled to the benefits of a guarantee by Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement Exhibit E - Page 1 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as guarantee trustee, dated as of _______ __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee to the holder of this certificate without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the holder of this certificate is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. Exhibit E - Page 2 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have executed this certificate this ____ day of _______, 1996. GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III By: Judy M. Anderson, as Administrative Trustee By: Wayne Boston, as Administrative Trustee CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement. as Administrative Trustee Exhibit E - Page 3 ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Security to: (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints agent to transfer this Preferred Securities Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: Signature: (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Securities Certificate) EX-4.8-A 8 Exhibit 4.8-A Draft 8/14/96 GUARANTEE AGREEMENT Between Georgia Power Company (as Guarantor) and The Chase Manhattan Bank (as Trustee) dated as of ________ __, 1996 CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE1 Section of Section of Trust Indenture Act Guarantee of 1939, as amended Agreement 310(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.01(a) 310(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.01(c), 2.08 310(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 311(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 311(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 311(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(a) 312(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.04 314(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 314(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.05 314(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 314(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.01, 2.05, 3.02 314(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01, 3.02 315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01(d) 315(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.07 315(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01 315(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01(d) 315(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.04(i), 2.06 316(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.03 316(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02 317(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 317(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01(b) 318(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01 318(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01(a) 1This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions. i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . 1 SECTION 1.01. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Trustee . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE . . . . . 5 SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Trustee . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . 7 SECTION 3.03. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity . . . . . . . . 9 ARTICLE IV TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SECTION 4.01. Trustee; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ii ARTICLE V GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.01. Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 5.06. Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VI SUBORDINATION . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 6.01. Subordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VII TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 7.01. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.02. Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.03. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.04. Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 8.05. Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 8.06. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 iii GUARANTEE AGREEMENT This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of ________ __, 1996, is executed and delivered by GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, a Georgia corporation (the "Guarantor"), and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust"). WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated as of ________ __, 1996, among the Trustee, the other Trustees named therein, Georgia Power Company, as Depositor, and the holders of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust is issuing as of the date hereof $__________ aggregate liquidation amount of its _____% Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement; WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Trust and the proceeds thereof will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Notes (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor, which will be held by the Trust as trust assets; and WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires to irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the payment for Preferred Securities by each Holder (as defined herein) thereof, which payment the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities. ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.01. Definitions. As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. "Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. "Event of Default" means a failure by the Guarantor to perform any of its payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement. "Guarantee Payments" shall mean the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Trust: (i) any accrued and unpaid distributions that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities but if and only if and to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor to make such payment; (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), with respect to the Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Trust but if and only if and to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor sufficient to make such payment; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities or the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Trust (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). "Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Trust, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. "Indenture" means the Subordinated Note Indenture dated as of August 1, 1996, among the Guarantor, as Subordinated Note Issuer, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of ________ __, 1996, by 2 and between the Guarantor and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee. "Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities" means a vote by Holder(s) of Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation amount of all Preferred Securities outstanding at the time of determination. "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any vice president, any assistant vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any senior trust officer, trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. 3 "Successor Trustee" means a successor Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Trustee under Section 4.01. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. "Trustee" means The Chase Manhattan Bank until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Trustee. ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application. (a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions; and (b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control. SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities. (a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) semiannually, not later than June 1 and December 1 in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided that, the Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Trustee by the Guarantor. The Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders. (b) The Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Trustee. Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing May 15, 1997, the Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if 4 any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall also comply with the other requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Trustee. The Guarantor shall provide to the Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, and shall provide, within 120 days after the end of each of its fiscal years, the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner required by such Section. SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. The Guarantor shall provide to the Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate. SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice. (a) The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all Events of Default known to the Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided that the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders. (b) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Trustee shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of the Trust Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default. 5 SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests. The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Trustee. (a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any Person except the Trustee shall assign rights hereunder to a Holder to the extent such assignment is necessary to exercise such Holder's rights pursuant to Section 5.04 or to a Successor Trustee upon acceptance by such Successor Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Trustee. (b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders. (c) The Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred: (A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of 6 this Guarantee Agreement, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement; and (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and (iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Trustee. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01: (i) the Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, 7 debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties; (ii) any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate; (iii) whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor; (iv) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice, and the written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion; such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees; the Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction; (v) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Trustee such adequate security and indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Trustee; provided that nothing contained in this Section 3.02(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement; (vi) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may 8 make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; (vii) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; and (viii) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions. (b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. SECTION 3.03. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity. The Guarantor agrees: (a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and (c) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs 9 and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The provisions of this Section 3.03 shall survive the termination of this Guarantee Agreement. ARTICLE IV TRUSTEE SECTION 4.01. Trustee; Eligibility. (a) There shall at all times be a Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.01(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.01(a), the Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.02(c). (c) If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the rights of the Trustee under the penultimate paragraph thereof. 10 SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee. (a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), the Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor. (b) The Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. (c) The Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Trustee. (d) If no Successor Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60 days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Trustee. ARTICLE V GUARANTEE SECTION 5.01. Guarantee. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Guarantor may have or assert against any Person. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders. SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand. The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. 11 SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected. The obligation of the Guarantor to make the Guarantee Payments under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Trust; (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Junior Subordinated Notes permitted by the Indenture); (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind; (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the Trust; (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred Securities; (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or (g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 5.03 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. 12 SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders. The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Guarantee Agreement, and could not involve the Trustee in personal liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be adequate; and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trustee or any other Person; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Guarantee Agreement to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Guarantee Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders. SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment. This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication) or upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities. SECTION 5.06. Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts of Guarantee Payments are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred 13 Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.03 hereof. ARTICLE VI SUBORDINATION SECTION 6.01. Subordination. This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, including the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those obligations or liabilities made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference securities of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to all common stock of the Guarantor. ARTICLE VII TERMINATION SECTION 7.01. Termination. This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon: (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities, or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or under this Guarantee Agreement. ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, or lease involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article Eight of the Indenture, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder. 14 SECTION 8.02. Amendments. Except with respect to any changes which do not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than 66-2/3% in liquidation amount of all the outstanding Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article Six of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings of Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval. SECTION 8.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows: (a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Trustee and the Holders: Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Facsimile No.: (404) 526-2945 Attn: Corporate Secretary with copy to: Southern Company Services, Inc. 64 Perimeter Center East Atlanta, Georgia 30346 Facsimile No.: (770) 821-4460 Attention: Corporate Finance Department (b) if given to the Trust, in care of the Trustee, or to the Trustee at the Trust's (and the Trustee's) address set forth below or such other address as the Trustee on behalf of the Trust may give notice to the Holders: Georgia Power Capital Trust II c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank 450 W. 33rd Street New York, New York 10001 Attn: Corporate Trustee Administration Department (c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust. All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was 15 given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. SECTION 8.04. Benefit. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and, subject to Section 3.01(a), is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities. SECTION 8.05. Interpretation. In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 1.01; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified; (e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires; (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and (g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders. SECTION 8.06. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND ANY COURT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST IT AND RELATED TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A DEFENSE OR OTHERWISE IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, THAT THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, THAT THE VENUE OF THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER, OR THAT THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR ANY INSTRUMENT 16 REFERRED TO HEREIN OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF MAY NOT BE LITIGATED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE GUARANTOR AGREES NOT TO SEEK AND HEREBY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO ANY REVIEW OF THE JUDGMENT OF ANY SUCH COURT BY ANY COURT OF ANY OTHER NATION OR JURISDICTION WHICH MAY BE CALLED UPON TO GRANT AN ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH JUDGMENT. THE GUARANTOR AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL TO THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET FORTH IN THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY METHOD AUTHORIZED BY THE LAWS OF NEW YORK. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY By: Name: Title: THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By: Name: Title: 17 EX-4.8-B 9 Exhibit 4.8-B Draft 8/14/96 GUARANTEE AGREEMENT Between Georgia Power Company (as Guarantor) and The Chase Manhattan Bank (as Trustee) dated as of ________ __, 1996 CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE1 Section of Section of Trust Indenture Act Guarantee of 1939, as amended Agreement 310(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.01(a) 310(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.01(c), 2.08 310(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 311(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 311(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 311(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(a) 312(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.04 314(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 314(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.05 314(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 314(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.01, 2.05, 3.02 314(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01, 3.02 315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01(d) 315(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.07 315(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01 315(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01(d) 315(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.04(i), 2.06 316(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.03 316(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02 317(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 317(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01(b) 318(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01 318(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01(a) 1This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions. i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . 1 SECTION 1.01. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Trustee . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE . . . . . 5 SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Trustee . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . 7 SECTION 3.03. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity . . . . . . . . 9 ARTICLE IV TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SECTION 4.01. Trustee; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ii ARTICLE V GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.01. Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 5.06. Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VI SUBORDINATION . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 6.01. Subordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VII TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 7.01. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.02. Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.03. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.04. Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 8.05. Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 8.06. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 iii GUARANTEE AGREEMENT This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of ________ __, 1996, is executed and delivered by GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, a Georgia corporation (the "Guarantor"), and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust"). WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated as of ________ __, 1996, among the Trustee, the other Trustees named therein, Georgia Power Company, as Depositor, and the holders of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust is issuing as of the date hereof $__________ aggregate liquidation amount of its _____% Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement; WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Trust and the proceeds thereof will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Notes (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor, which will be held by the Trust as trust assets; and WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires to irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the payment for Preferred Securities by each Holder (as defined herein) thereof, which payment the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities. ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.01. Definitions. As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. "Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. "Event of Default" means a failure by the Guarantor to perform any of its payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement. "Guarantee Payments" shall mean the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Trust: (i) any accrued and unpaid distributions that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities but if and only if and to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor to make such payment; (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), with respect to the Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Trust but if and only if and to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor sufficient to make such payment; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities or the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Trust (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). "Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Trust, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. "Indenture" means the Subordinated Note Indenture dated as of August 1, 1996, among the Guarantor, as Subordinated Note Issuer, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of ________ __, 1996, by 2 and between the Guarantor and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee. "Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities" means a vote by Holder(s) of Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation amount of all Preferred Securities outstanding at the time of determination. "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any vice president, any assistant vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any senior trust officer, trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. 3 "Successor Trustee" means a successor Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Trustee under Section 4.01. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. "Trustee" means The Chase Manhattan Bank until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Trustee. ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application. (a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions; and (b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control. SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities. (a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) semiannually, not later than June 1 and December 1 in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided that, the Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Trustee by the Guarantor. The Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders. (b) The Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Trustee. Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing May 15, 1997, the Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if 4 any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall also comply with the other requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Trustee. The Guarantor shall provide to the Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, and shall provide, within 120 days after the end of each of its fiscal years, the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner required by such Section. SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. The Guarantor shall provide to the Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate. SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice. (a) The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all Events of Default known to the Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided that the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders. (b) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Trustee shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of the Trust Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default. 5 SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests. The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Trustee. (a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any Person except the Trustee shall assign rights hereunder to a Holder to the extent such assignment is necessary to exercise such Holder's rights pursuant to Section 5.04 or to a Successor Trustee upon acceptance by such Successor Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Trustee. (b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders. (c) The Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred: (A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of 6 this Guarantee Agreement, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement; and (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and (iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Trustee. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01: (i) the Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, 7 debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties; (ii) any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate; (iii) whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor; (iv) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice, and the written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion; such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees; the Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction; (v) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Trustee such adequate security and indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Trustee; provided that nothing contained in this Section 3.02(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement; (vi) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may 8 make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; (vii) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; and (viii) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions. (b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. SECTION 3.03. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity. The Guarantor agrees: (a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and (c) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs 9 and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The provisions of this Section 3.03 shall survive the termination of this Guarantee Agreement. ARTICLE IV TRUSTEE SECTION 4.01. Trustee; Eligibility. (a) There shall at all times be a Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.01(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.01(a), the Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.02(c). (c) If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the rights of the Trustee under the penultimate paragraph thereof. 10 SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee. (a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), the Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor. (b) The Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. (c) The Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Trustee. (d) If no Successor Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60 days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Trustee. ARTICLE V GUARANTEE SECTION 5.01. Guarantee. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Guarantor may have or assert against any Person. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders. SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand. The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. 11 SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected. The obligation of the Guarantor to make the Guarantee Payments under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Trust; (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Junior Subordinated Notes permitted by the Indenture); (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind; (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the Trust; (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred Securities; (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or (g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 5.03 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. 12 SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders. The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Guarantee Agreement, and could not involve the Trustee in personal liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be adequate; and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trustee or any other Person; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Guarantee Agreement to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Guarantee Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders. SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment. This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication) or upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities. SECTION 5.06. Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts of Guarantee Payments are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred 13 Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.03 hereof. ARTICLE VI SUBORDINATION SECTION 6.01. Subordination. This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, including the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those obligations or liabilities made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference securities of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to all common stock of the Guarantor. ARTICLE VII TERMINATION SECTION 7.01. Termination. This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon: (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities, or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or under this Guarantee Agreement. ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, or lease involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article Eight of the Indenture, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder. 14 SECTION 8.02. Amendments. Except with respect to any changes which do not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than 66-2/3% in liquidation amount of all the outstanding Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article Six of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings of Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval. SECTION 8.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows: (a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Trustee and the Holders: Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Facsimile No.: (404) 526-2945 Attn: Corporate Secretary with copy to: Southern Company Services, Inc. 64 Perimeter Center East Atlanta, Georgia 30346 Facsimile No.: (770) 821-4460 Attention: Corporate Finance Department (b) if given to the Trust, in care of the Trustee, or to the Trustee at the Trust's (and the Trustee's) address set forth below or such other address as the Trustee on behalf of the Trust may give notice to the Holders: Georgia Power Capital Trust I c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank 450 W. 33rd Street New York, New York 10001 Attn: Corporate Trustee Administration Department (c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust. All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was 15 given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. SECTION 8.04. Benefit. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and, subject to Section 3.01(a), is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities. SECTION 8.05. Interpretation. In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 1.01; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified; (e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires; (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and (g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders. SECTION 8.06. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND ANY COURT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST IT AND RELATED TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A DEFENSE OR OTHERWISE IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, THAT THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, THAT THE VENUE OF THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER, OR THAT THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR ANY INSTRUMENT 16 REFERRED TO HEREIN OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF MAY NOT BE LITIGATED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE GUARANTOR AGREES NOT TO SEEK AND HEREBY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO ANY REVIEW OF THE JUDGMENT OF ANY SUCH COURT BY ANY COURT OF ANY OTHER NATION OR JURISDICTION WHICH MAY BE CALLED UPON TO GRANT AN ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH JUDGMENT. THE GUARANTOR AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL TO THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET FORTH IN THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY METHOD AUTHORIZED BY THE LAWS OF NEW YORK. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY By: Name: Title: THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By: Name: Title: 17 EX-4.8-C 10 Exhibit 4.8-C Draft 8/14/96 GUARANTEE AGREEMENT Between Georgia Power Company (as Guarantor) and The Chase Manhattan Bank (as Trustee) dated as of ________ __, 1996 CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE1 Section of Section of Trust Indenture Act Guarantee of 1939, as amended Agreement 310(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.01(a) 310(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.01(c), 2.08 310(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 311(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 311(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 311(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(a) 312(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02(b) 313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.04 314(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 314(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.05 314(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 314(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.01, 2.05, 3.02 314(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01, 3.02 315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01(d) 315(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.07 315(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01 315(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.01(d) 315(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 316(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.04(i), 2.06 316(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.03 316(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.02 317(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 317(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable 318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01(b) 318(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01 318(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.01(a) 1This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions. i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . 1 SECTION 1.01. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Trustee . . . . . . . . . 4 SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE . . . . . 5 SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Trustee . . . . . . . 5 SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . 7 SECTION 3.03. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity . . . . . . . . 9 ARTICLE IV TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SECTION 4.01. Trustee; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ii ARTICLE V GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.01. Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 5.06. Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VI SUBORDINATION . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 6.01. Subordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VII TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SECTION 7.01. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.02. Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.03. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SECTION 8.04. Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 8.05. Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION 8.06. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 iii GUARANTEE AGREEMENT This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of ________ __, 1996, is executed and delivered by GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, a Georgia corporation (the "Guarantor"), and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust"). WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated as of ________ __, 1996, among the Trustee, the other Trustees named therein, Georgia Power Company, as Depositor, and the holders of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust is issuing as of the date hereof $__________ aggregate liquidation amount of its _____% Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement; WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Trust and the proceeds thereof will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Notes (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor, which will be held by the Trust as trust assets; and WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires to irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the payment for Preferred Securities by each Holder (as defined herein) thereof, which payment the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities. ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.01. Definitions. As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof. "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. "Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. "Event of Default" means a failure by the Guarantor to perform any of its payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement. "Guarantee Payments" shall mean the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Trust: (i) any accrued and unpaid distributions that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities but if and only if and to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor to make such payment; (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), with respect to the Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Trust but if and only if and to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor sufficient to make such payment; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities or the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Trust (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). "Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Trust, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. "Indenture" means the Subordinated Note Indenture dated as of August 1, 1996, among the Guarantor, as Subordinated Note Issuer, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of ________ __, 1996, by 2 and between the Guarantor and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee. "Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities" means a vote by Holder(s) of Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation amount of all Preferred Securities outstanding at the time of determination. "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Guarantor, and delivered to the Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any vice president, any assistant vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any senior trust officer, trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. 3 "Successor Trustee" means a successor Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Trustee under Section 4.01. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. "Trustee" means The Chase Manhattan Bank until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Trustee. ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application. (a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions; and (b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control. SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities. (a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) semiannually, not later than June 1 and December 1 in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided that, the Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the Trustee by the Guarantor. The Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders. (b) The Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Trustee. Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing May 15, 1997, the Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as are required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if 4 any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall also comply with the other requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Trustee. The Guarantor shall provide to the Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, and shall provide, within 120 days after the end of each of its fiscal years, the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner required by such Section. SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. The Guarantor shall provide to the Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate. SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver. The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice. (a) The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all Events of Default known to the Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided that the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders. (b) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Trustee shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of the Trust Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default. 5 SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests. The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Trustee. (a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any Person except the Trustee shall assign rights hereunder to a Holder to the extent such assignment is necessary to exercise such Holder's rights pursuant to Section 5.04 or to a Successor Trustee upon acceptance by such Successor Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Trustee. (b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders. (c) The Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee Agreement against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred: (A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of 6 this Guarantee Agreement, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement; and (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and (iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Trustee. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01: (i) the Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, 7 debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties; (ii) any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate; (iii) whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor; (iv) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice, and the written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion; such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees; the Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction; (v) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Trustee such adequate security and indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Trustee; provided that nothing contained in this Section 3.02(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement; (vi) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may 8 make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; (vii) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; and (viii) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions. (b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. SECTION 3.03. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity. The Guarantor agrees: (a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and (c) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs 9 and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The provisions of this Section 3.03 shall survive the termination of this Guarantee Agreement. ARTICLE IV TRUSTEE SECTION 4.01. Trustee; Eligibility. (a) There shall at all times be a Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.01(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.01(a), the Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.02(c). (c) If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the rights of the Trustee under the penultimate paragraph thereof. 10 SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee. (a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), the Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor. (b) The Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. (c) The Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Trustee. (d) If no Successor Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60 days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Trustee. ARTICLE V GUARANTEE SECTION 5.01. Guarantee. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Guarantor may have or assert against any Person. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders. SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand. The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. 11 SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected. The obligation of the Guarantor to make the Guarantee Payments under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Trust; (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Junior Subordinated Notes permitted by the Indenture); (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind; (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the Trust; (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred Securities; (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or (g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 5.03 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. 12 SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders. The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Guarantee Agreement, and could not involve the Trustee in personal liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be adequate; and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trustee or any other Person; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Guarantee Agreement to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Guarantee Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders. SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment. This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication) or upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities. SECTION 5.06. Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts of Guarantee Payments are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred 13 Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.03 hereof. ARTICLE VI SUBORDINATION SECTION 6.01. Subordination. This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, including the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those obligations or liabilities made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference securities of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to all common stock of the Guarantor. ARTICLE VII TERMINATION SECTION 7.01. Termination. This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon: (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities, or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or under this Guarantee Agreement. ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, or lease involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article Eight of the Indenture, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder. 14 SECTION 8.02. Amendments. Except with respect to any changes which do not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than 66-2/3% in liquidation amount of all the outstanding Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article Six of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings of Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval. SECTION 8.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows: (a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Trustee and the Holders: Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Facsimile No.: (404) 526-2945 Attn: Corporate Secretary with copy to: Southern Company Services, Inc. 64 Perimeter Center East Atlanta, Georgia 30346 Facsimile No.: (770) 821-4460 Attention: Corporate Finance Department (b) if given to the Trust, in care of the Trustee, or to the Trustee at the Trust's (and the Trustee's) address set forth below or such other address as the Trustee on behalf of the Trust may give notice to the Holders: Georgia Power Capital Trust III c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank 450 W. 33rd Street New York, New York 10001 Attn: Corporate Trustee Administration Department (c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust. All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was 15 given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. SECTION 8.04. Benefit. This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and, subject to Section 3.01(a), is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities. SECTION 8.05. Interpretation. In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 1.01; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified; (e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires; (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and (g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders. SECTION 8.06. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND ANY COURT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST IT AND RELATED TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A DEFENSE OR OTHERWISE IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, THAT THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, THAT THE VENUE OF THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER, OR THAT THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR ANY INSTRUMENT 16 REFERRED TO HEREIN OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF MAY NOT BE LITIGATED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE GUARANTOR AGREES NOT TO SEEK AND HEREBY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO ANY REVIEW OF THE JUDGMENT OF ANY SUCH COURT BY ANY COURT OF ANY OTHER NATION OR JURISDICTION WHICH MAY BE CALLED UPON TO GRANT AN ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH JUDGMENT. THE GUARANTOR AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL TO THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET FORTH IN THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY METHOD AUTHORIZED BY THE LAWS OF NEW YORK. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY By: Name: Title: THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By: Name: Title: 17 EX-5.1A 11 EXHIBIT 5.1-A TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP NATIONSBANK PLAZA 600 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. - SUITE 5200 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308-2216 TELEPHONE: 404-885-3000 August 16, 1996 Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to Georgia Power Company (the "Company") in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus and preliminary prospectus supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 14, 1996 (File Nos. 333-06037, 333-06037-01, 333-06037-02 and 333-06037-03) and amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the Commission on August 16, 1996 (as so amended, the "Registration Statement"), for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of (1) Junior Subordinated Notes (the "Junior Subordinated Notes") to be issued by the Company to Georgia Power Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), (2) Trust Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Trust Preferred Security) to be issued by the Trust, and (3) the Company's Guarantee (as defined in the Registration Statement) with respect to such Trust Preferred Securities. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to a subordinated note indenture, as supplemented, between the Company and the trustee named therein (the "Subordinated Note Indenture") and the Guarantee will be issued pursuant to a guarantee agreement between the Company and the trustee named therein (the "Guarantee Agreement"), in each case in the respective forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. We are of the opinion that, upon compliance with the pertinent provisions of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, upon compliance with applicable securities or blue sky laws of various jurisdictions, upon the adoption of appropriate resolutions by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof, when the Subordinated Note Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the proper officers of the Company and the trustees named therein, and when the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee have been executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Note Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement, as the case may be, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee will be valid, Georgia Power Company August 16, 1996 Page 2 binding and legal obligations of the Company (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). We also advise you that we have reviewed certain statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, as indicated under the caption "Experts" in the prospectus, as to matters of law and legal conclusions and, in our opinion, such statements are correct in all material respects. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the statements with respect to our firm under the captions "Legal Opinions," "Legal Matters" and "Experts" in the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, /s/Troutman Sanders LLP TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP EX-5.1B 12 EXHIBIT 5.1-B TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP NATIONSBANK PLAZA 600 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. - SUITE 5200 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308-2216 TELEPHONE: 404-885-3000 August 16, 1996 Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to Georgia Power Company (the "Company") in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus and preliminary prospectus supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 14, 1996 (File Nos. 333-06037, 333-06037-01, 333-06037-02 and 333-06037-03) and amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the Commission on August 16, 1996 (as so amended, the "Registration Statement"), for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of (1) Junior Subordinated Notes (the "Junior Subordinated Notes") to be issued by the Company to Georgia Power Capital Trust II (the "Trust"), (2) Trust Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Trust Preferred Security) to be issued by the Trust, and (3) the Company's Guarantee (as defined in the Registration Statement) with respect to such Trust Preferred Securities. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to a subordinated note indenture, as supplemented, between the Company and the trustee named therein (the "Subordinated Note Indenture") and the Guarantee will be issued pursuant to a guarantee agreement between the Company and the trustee named therein (the "Guarantee Agreement"), in each case in the respective forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. We are of the opinion that, upon compliance with the pertinent provisions of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, upon compliance with applicable securities or blue sky laws of various jurisdictions, upon the adoption of appropriate resolutions by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof, when the Subordinated Note Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the proper officers of the Company and the trustees named therein, and when the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee have been executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Note Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement, as the case may be, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee will be valid, Georgia Power Company August 16, 1996 Page 2 binding and legal obligations of the Company (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). We also advise you that we have reviewed certain statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, as indicated under the caption "Experts" in the prospectus, as to matters of law and legal conclusions and, in our opinion, such statements are correct in all material respects. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the statements with respect to our firm under the captions "Legal Opinions," "Legal Matters" and "Experts" in the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, /s/Troutman Sanders LLP TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP EX-5.1C 13 EXHIBIT 5.1-C TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP NATIONSBANK PLAZA 600 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. - SUITE 5200 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308-2216 TELEPHONE: 404-885-3000 August 16, 1996 Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to Georgia Power Company (the "Company") in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus and preliminary prospectus supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 14, 1996 (File Nos. 333-06037, 333-06037-01, 333-06037-02 and 333-06037-03) and amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the Commission on August 16, 1996 (as so amended, the "Registration Statement"), for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of (1) Junior Subordinated Notes (the "Junior Subordinated Notes") to be issued by the Company to Georgia Power Capital Trust III (the "Trust"), (2) Trust Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Trust Preferred Security) to be issued by the Trust, and (3) the Company's Guarantee (as defined in the Registration Statement) with respect to such Trust Preferred Securities. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to a subordinated note indenture, as supplemented, between the Company and the trustee named therein (the "Subordinated Note Indenture") and the Guarantee will be issued pursuant to a guarantee agreement between the Company and the trustee named therein (the "Guarantee Agreement"), in each case in the respective forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. We are of the opinion that, upon compliance with the pertinent provisions of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, upon compliance with applicable securities or blue sky laws of various jurisdictions, upon the adoption of appropriate resolutions by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof, when the Subordinated Note Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the proper officers of the Company and the trustees named therein, and when the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee have been executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Note Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement, as the case may be, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee will be valid, Georgia Power Company August 16, 1996 Page 2 binding and legal obligations of the Company (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). We also advise you that we have reviewed certain statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, as indicated under the caption "Experts" in the prospectus, as to matters of law and legal conclusions and, in our opinion, such statements are correct in all material respects. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the statements with respect to our firm under the captions "Legal Opinions," "Legal Matters" and "Experts" in the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, /s/Troutman Sanders LLP TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP EX-5.2A 14 Exhibit 5.2-A Richards, Layton & Finger One Rodney Square P.O. Box 551 Wilmington, Delaware 19899 (303) 658-6541 August 16, 1996 Georgia Power Capital Trust I c/o Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Re: Georgia Power Capital Trust I Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Georgia Power Capital Trust I, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you. For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the following: (a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust, dated June 13, 1996 (the "Original Certificate"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on June 13, 1996; (b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of June 13, 1996, between the Company, as Depositor, and the trustee of the Trust named therein; (c) The Certificate of Amendment to the Original Certificate, dated July 23, 1996 (the "Certificate of Amendment"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State on July 23, 1996 (the Original Certificate as amended by the Certificate of Amendment being hereinafter referred to as the "Certificate"); Georgia Power Capital Trust I August 16, 1996 Page 2 (d) Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus (the "Prospectus") and preliminary prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement"), relating to the __% Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (each, a "Preferred Security" and collectively, the "Preferred Securities"), as proposed to be filed by the Company, the Trust and others as set forth therein with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about August 16, 1996; (e) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, to be entered into among the Company, as Depositor, the trustees of the Trust named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (including Exhibits C and E thereto) (the "Trust Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and (f) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated August 16, 1996, obtained from the Secretary of State. Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Trust Agreement. For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (f) above. In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (f) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects. With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures. For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust Agreement and the Certificate are in full force and effect and have not been amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due creation or due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its creation, Georgia Power Capital Trust I August 16, 1996 Page 3 organization or formation, (iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each Person to whom a Preferred Security is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the "Preferred Security Holders") of a Preferred Securities Certificate for such Preferred Security and the payment for the Preferred Security acquired by it, in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement, and (vii) that the Preferred Securities are issued and sold to the Preferred Security Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement. We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents. This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder which are currently in effect. Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that: 1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act. 2. The Preferred Securities will represent valid and, subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph 3 below, fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. 3. The Preferred Security Holders, as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Preferred Security Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement. We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In addition, we hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus and under the heading "Legal Opinions" in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving the foregoing consents, Georgia Power Capital Trust I August 16, 1996 Page 4 we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of Persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose. Very truly yours, /s/ Richards, Layton & Finger Richards, Layton & Finger EX-5.2B 15 Exhibit 5.2-B Richards, Layton & Finger One Rodney Square P.O. Box 551 Wilmington, Delaware 19899 (302) 658-6541 August 16, 1996 Georgia Power Capital Trust II c/o Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Re: Georgia Power Capital Trust II Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Georgia Power Capital Trust II, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you. For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the following: (a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust, dated June 13, 1996 (the "Original Certificate"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on June 13, 1996; (b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of June 13, 1996, between the Company, as Depositor, and the trustee of the Trust named therein; (c) The Certificate of Amendment to the Original Certificate, dated July 23, 1996 (the "Certificate of Amendment"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State on July 23, 1996 (the Original Certificate as amended by the Certificate of Amendment being hereinafter referred to as the "Certificate"); Georgia Power Capital Trust II August 16, 1996 Page 2 (d) Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus (the "Prospectus"), relating to the __% Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (each, a "Preferred Security" and collectively, the "Preferred Securities"), as proposed to be filed by the Company, the Trust and others as set forth therein with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about August 16, 1996; (e) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, to be entered into among the Company, as Depositor, the trustees of the Trust named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (including Exhibits C and E thereto) (the "Trust Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and (f) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated August 16, 1996, obtained from the Secretary of State. Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Trust Agreement. For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (f) above. In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (f) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects. With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures. For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust Agreement and the Certificate are in full force and effect and have not been amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due creation or due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its creation, Georgia Power Capital Trust II August 16, 1996 Page 3 organization or formation, (iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each Person to whom a Preferred Security is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the "Preferred Security Holders") of a Preferred Securities Certificate for such Preferred Security and the payment for the Preferred Security acquired by it, in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement, and (vii) that the Preferred Securities are issued and sold to the Preferred Security Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement. We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents. This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder which are currently in effect. Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that: 1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act. 2. The Preferred Securities will represent valid and, subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph 3 below, fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. 3. The Preferred Security Holders, as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Preferred Security Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement. We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In addition, we hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of Persons Georgia Power Capital Trust II August 16, 1996 Page 4 whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose. Very truly yours, /s/ Richards, Layton & Finger Richards, Layton & Finger EX-5.2C 16 Exhibit 5.2-C Richards, Layton & Finger One Rodney Square P.O. Box 551 Wilmington, Delaware 19899 (302) 658-6541 August 16, 1996 Georgia Power Capital Trust III c/o Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Re: Georgia Power Capital Trust III Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Georgia Power Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Georgia Power Capital Trust III, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you. For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the following: (a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust, dated June 13, 1996 (the "Original Certificate"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on June 13, 1996; (b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of June 13, 1996, between the Company, as Depositor, and the trustee of the Trust named therein; (c) The Certificate of Amendment to the Original Certificate, dated July 23, 1996 (the "Certificate of Amendment"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State on July 23, 1996 (the Original Certificate as amended by the Certificate of Amendment being hereinafter referred to as the "Certificate"); Georgia Power Capital Trust III August 16, 1996 Page 2 (d) Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus (the "Prospectus"), relating to the __% Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (each, a "Preferred Security" and collectively, the "Preferred Securities"), as proposed to be filed by the Company, the Trust and others as set forth therein with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about August 16, 1996; (e) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, to be entered into among the Company, as Depositor, the trustees of the Trust named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (including Exhibits C and E thereto) (the "Trust Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and (f) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated August 16, 1996, obtained from the Secretary of State. Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Trust Agreement. For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (f) above. In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (f) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects. With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures. For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust Agreement and the Certificate are in full force and effect and have not been amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due creation or due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its creation, Georgia Power Capital Trust III August 16, 1996 Page 3 organization or formation, (iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each Person to whom a Preferred Security is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the "Preferred Security Holders") of a Preferred Securities Certificate for such Preferred Security and the payment for the Preferred Security acquired by it, in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement, and (vii) that the Preferred Securities are issued and sold to the Preferred Security Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement. We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents. This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder which are currently in effect. Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that: 1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act. 2. The Preferred Securities will represent valid and, subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph 3 below, fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. 3. The Preferred Security Holders, as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Preferred Security Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement. We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In addition, we hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of Persons Georgia Power Capital Trust III August 16, 1996 Page 4 whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose. Very truly yours, /s/ Richards, Layton & Finger Richards, Layton, & Finger EX-8.1 17 EXHIBIT 8.1 TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP NATIONSBANK PLAZA 600 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. - SUITE 5200 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308-2216 TELEPHONE: 404-885-3000 August 16, 1996 Georgia Power Company 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30328 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to Georgia Power Company in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus and form of preliminary prospectus supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 14, 1996 (File Nos. 333-06037, 333-06037-01, 333-06037-02 and 333-06037-03) and amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the Commission on August 16, 1996 (as so amended, the "Registration Statement"). We hereby confirm our opinion that the statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions set forth under the caption "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations" in the form of preliminary prospectus supplement included in the Registration Statement are correct in all material respects. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the heading "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations" in the form of preliminary prospectus supplement forming part of the Registration Statement. In giving the forgoing consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Very truly yours, /s/Troutman Sanders LLP TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP EX-12.1 18
Exhibit 12.1 8/15/96 GEORGIA POWER COMPANY Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the the five years ended December 31, 1995 and the twelve months ended July 31, 1996 Twelve Months Ended Year ended December 31, July 31, ================================================================ 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 ----------------------------Thousands of Dollars----------------------------- EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Income Before Interest Charges $1,009,019 $1,004,886 $1,034,795 $ 927,336 $ 959,692 $ 934,811 Federal and state income taxes 315,507 165,667 266,771 360,380 411,675 391,982 Deferred income taxes, net 52,941 194,748 168,372 34,130 35,367 52,078 Deferred investment tax credits (9,524) (5,704) (18,274) (489) 1,127 1,127 AFUDC - Debt funds 10,584 8,459 8,294 11,613 12,123 11,992 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Earnings as defined $1,378,527 $1,368,056 $1,459,958 $1,332,970 $1,419,984 $1,391,990 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Interest on long-term debt $ 462,415 404,854 $ 345,552 $ 308,611 $ 257,092 $ 221,808 Interest on interim obligations 4,906 9,694 15,530 17,529 21,463 20,094 Amort of debt disc, premium and expense, net 5,784 7,891 14,087 15,776 15,846 15,151 Other interest charges 9,941 12,426 47,393 23,483 20,400 22,718 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Fixed charges as defined $ 483,046 434,865 $ 422,562 $ 365,399 $ 314,801 $ 279,771 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 2.85 3.15 3.46 3.65 4.51 4.98 ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== Note: The above figures have been adjusted to give effect to Georgia Power Company's 50% ownership of Southern Electric Generating Company.
EX-12.2 19
Exhibit 12.2 8/15/96 GEORGIA POWER COMPANY Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred dividend requirements for the five years ended December 31, 1995 and the twelve months ended July 31, 1996 Twelve Months Ended Year ended December 31, July 31, ========================================================================== 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 -----------------------------------------Thousands of Dollars------------- EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Income Before Interest Charges $1,009,019 $1,004,886 $1,034,795 $ 927,336 $ 959,692 $ 934,811 Federal and state income taxes 15,507 165,667 266,771 360,380 411,675 391,982 Deferred income taxes, net 52,941 194,748 168,372 34,130 35,367 52,078 Deferred investment tax credits (9,524) (5,704) (18,274) (489) 1,127 1,127 AFUDC - Debt funds 10,584 8,459 8,294 11,613 12,123 11,992 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Earnings as defined $1,378,527 $1,368,056 $1,459,958 $1,332,970 $1,419,984 $1,391,990 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Interest on long-term debt $ 462,415 404,854 $ 345,552 $ 308,611 $ 257,092 $ 221,808 Interest on interim obligations 4,906 9,694 15,530 17,529 21,463 20,094 Amort of debt disc, premium and expense, net 5,784 7,891 14,087 15,776 15,846 15,151 Other interest charges 9,941 12,426 47,393 23,483 20,400 22,718 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Fixed charges as defined 483,046 434,865 422,562 365,399 314,801 279,771 Tax deductible preferred dividends 1,804 1,804 1,753 1,753 1,753 1,753 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 484,850 436,669 424,315 367,152 316,554 281,524 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- --------- Non-tax deductible preferred dividends 59,897 56,138 48,921 46,253 46,399 45,469 Ratio of net income before taxes to net income x 1.669 x 1.613 x 1.672 x 1.687 x 1.682 x 1.667 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- ---------- Pref dividend requirements before income taxes 99,968 90,551 81,796 78,029 78,043 75,797 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Fixed charges plus pref dividend requirements $ 584,818 527,220 $ 506,111 $ 445,181 $ 394,597 $ 357,321 ========== ========== =========== ========== ========== ========== RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES PLUS PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS 2.36 2.59 2.88 2.99 3.60 3.90 ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== Note: The above figures have been adjusted to give effect to Georgia Power Company's 50% ownership of Southern Electric Generating Company.
EX-15.1 20 EXHIBIT 15.1 ARTHUR ANDERSEN ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO, SC ------------------------- August 16, 1996 Arthur Andersen LLP ------------------------- Georgia Power Company Suite 2500 333 Piedmont Avenue, NE 133 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30308 Atlanta GA 30303-1846 404 658 1776 Ladies and Gentlemen: We are aware that Georgia Power Company has incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1996, and June 30, 1996, which include our reports on Georgia Power Company dated May 9, 1996, and August 8, 1996, respectively, covering its unaudited interim financial information contained therein. Pursuant to Regulation C of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), such reports are not considered a part of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by our firm or reports prepared or certified by our firm within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act. Very truly yours, /s/Arthur Andersen LLP EX-25.1 21 Exhibit 25.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 ------------------------- FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE ------------------------------------------- CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________ ---------------------------------------- THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) New York 13-4994650 (State of incorporation (I.R.S. employer if not a national bank) identification No.) 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) William H. McDavid General Counsel 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 Tel: (212) 270-2611 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) -------------------------------------------------------- GEORGIA POWER COMPANY (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) Georgia 58-0257110 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer incorporation or organization) identification No.) 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) --------------------------------------------------- Junior Subordinated Notes (Title of the indenture securities) ----------------------------------------------------- GENERAL Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551 Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429. (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes. Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. None. - 2 - Item 16. List of Exhibits List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility. 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991, and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2. 4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is incorporated by reference). 5. Not applicable. 6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. 8. Not applicable. 9. Not applicable. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 12th day of August, 1996. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By /s/ P. Kelly P. Kelly Vice President - 3 - Exhibit 7 to Form T-1 Bank Call Notice RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF The Chase Manhattan Bank of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1996, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act. Dollar Amounts ASSETS in Millions Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ............................................. $ 3,391 Interest-bearing balances ..................................... 2,075 Securities: Held to maturity securities......................................... 3,607 Available for sale securities....................................... 29,029 Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's: Federal funds sold ............................................ 1,264 Securities purchased under agreements to resell .............. 354 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income........ $73,216 Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses....... 1,854 Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve........... 104 --- Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve ....................................... 71,258 Trading Assets..................................................... 25,919 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases........................................................ 1,337 Other real estate owned............................................ 30 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies.......................................... 187 Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding .................................................. 1,082 Intangible assets.................................................. 419 Other assets....................................................... 7,406 ----- TOTAL ASSETS....................................................... $147,358 ======== - 4 - LIABILITIES Deposits In domestic offices........................................... $45,786 Noninterest-bearing.............................. $14,972 Interest-bearing................................. 30,814 ------ In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBF's .................................................... 36,550 Noninterest-bearing........................................... $ 202 Interest-bearing.............................................. 36,348 ------ Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's Federal funds purchased ..................................... 11,412 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase .............. 2,444 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury.......................... 699 Trading liabilities............................................... 19,998 Other Borrowed money: With a remaining maturity of one year or less................ 11,305 With a remaining maturity of more than one year.............. 130 Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalizedleases...... 13 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding........... 1,089 Subordinated notes and debentures.................................. 3,411 Other liabilities.................................................. 6,778 TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................................. 139,615 ------- EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock....................................................... 620 Surplus............................................................ 4,664 Undivided profits and capital reserves............................. 3,058 Net unrealized holding gains (Losses) on available-for-sale securities................................... (607) Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments................ 8 TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL............................................... 7,743 ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL...................................... $147,358 ======== I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct. WALTER V. SHIPLEY ) EDWARD D. MILLER )DIRECTORS THOMAS G. LABRECQUE ) - 5 - EX-25.2 22 Exhibit 25.2 - ------------------------------------------------------------------ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 ------------------------- FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE ------------------------------------------- CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________ ---------------------------------------- THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) New York 13-4994650 (State of incorporation (I.R.S. employer if not a national bank) identification No.) 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) William H. McDavid General Counsel 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 Tel: (212) 270-2611 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) --------------------------------------------------------- GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST I (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) Delaware Applied For (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer incorporation or organization) identification No.) 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) ------------------------------------------- Trust Preferred Securities (Title of the indenture securities) ---------------------------------------------------- GENERAL Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551 Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429. (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes. Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. None. - 2 - Item 16. List of Exhibits List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility. 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991, and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2. 4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-06249, which is incorporated by reference). 5. Not applicable. 6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. 8. Not applicable. 9. Not applicable. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 12th day of August, 1996. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By /s/ P. Kelly P. Kelly Vice President - 3 - Exhibit 7 to Form T-1 Bank Call Notice RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF The Chase Manhattan Bank of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1996, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act. Dollar Amounts ASSETS in Millions Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin........................................ $ 3,391 Interest-bearing balances................................ 2,075 Securities:................................................... Held to maturity securities................................... 3,607 Available for sale securities................................. 29,029 Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's: Federal funds sold ...................................... 1,264 Securities purchased under agreements to resell.......... 354 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income $73,216 Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses 1,854 Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve 104 ------ Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve................................... 71,258 Trading Assets................................................ 25,919 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases).................................................. 1,337 Other real estate owned ...................................... 30 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies..................................... 187 Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding.............................................. 1,082 Intangible assets............................................. 419 Other assets.................................................. 7,406 ----- TOTAL ASSETS.................................................. $147,358 ======== - 4 - LIABILITIES Deposits In domestic offices...................................... $45,786 Noninterest-bearing......................... $14,972 Interest-bearing............................ 30,814 ------ In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBF's ............................................... 36,550 Noninterest-bearing ...............................$ 202 Interest-bearing ................................. 36,348 ------ Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's Federal funds purchased.................................. 11,412 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase........... 2,444 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury...................... 699 Trading liabilities........................................... 19,998 Other Borrowed money: With a remaining maturity of one year or less............ 11,305 With a remaining maturity of more than one year.......... 130 Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases................................................... 13 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding...... 1,089 Subordinated notes and debentures............................. 3,411 Other liabilities............................................. 6,778 TOTAL LIABILITIES............................................. 139,615 ------- EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock.................................................. 620 Surplus....................................................... 4,664 Undivided profits and capital reserves........................ 3,058 Net unrealized holding gains (Losses) on available-for-sale securities.............................. (607) Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments........... 8 TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL.......................................... 7,743 ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL................................. $147,358 ======== I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct. WALTER V. SHIPLEY ) EDWARD D. MILLER )DIRECTORS THOMAS G. LABRECQUE ) - 5 - EX-25.3 23 Exhibit 25.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 ------------------------- FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE ------------------------------------------- CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________ ---------------------------------------- THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) New York 13-4994650 (State of incorporation (I.R.S. employer if not a national bank) identification No.) 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) William H. McDavid General Counsel 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 Tel: (212) 270-2611 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) -------------------------------------------------------- GEORGIA POWER COMPANY (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) Georgia 58-0257110 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer incorporation or organization) identification No.) 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) ------------------------------------------- Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee (Georgia Power Capital Trust I) (Title of the indenture securities) ----------------------------------------------------- GENERAL Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551 Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429. (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes. Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. None. - 2 - Item 16. List of Exhibits List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility. 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2. 4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is incorporated by reference). 5. Not applicable. 6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. 8. Not applicable. 9. Not applicable. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 12th day of August, 1996. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By /s/P.Kelly . P. Kelly Vice President - 3 - Exhibit 7 to Form T-1 Bank Call Notice RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF The Chase Manhattan Bank of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1996, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act. Dollar Amounts ASSETS in Millions Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin........................................ 3,391 Interest-bearing balances................................ 075 Securities:................................................... Held to maturity securities................................... 3,607 Available for sale securities................................. 29,029 Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's: Federal funds sold....................................... 1,264 Securities purchased under agreements to resell............... l354 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income $73,216 Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses 1,854 Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve 104 ------- Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve................................... 71,258 Trading Assets................................................ 25,919 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases................................................... 1,337 Other real estate owned ...................................... 30 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies...................................... 187 Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding .............................................. 1,082 Intangible assets ............................................. 419 Other assets .................................................. 7,406 ----- TOTAL ASSETS .................................................. $147,358 ======== - 4 - LIABILITIES Deposits In domestic offices........................................... $45,786 Noninterest-bearing................... $14,972 Interest-bearing ..................... 30,814 ------ In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBF's .................................................... 36,550 Noninterest-bearing.................. $ 202 Interest-bearing..................... 36,348 ------- Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's Federal funds purchased....................................... 11,412 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase................ 2,444 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury........................... 699 Trading liabilities................................................ 19,998 Other Borrowed money: With a remaining maturity of one year or less ................ 11,305 With a remaining maturity of more than one year .............. 130 Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases .... 13 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding........... 1,089 Subordinated notes and debentures.................................. 3,411 Other liabilities.................................................. 6,778 TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................................. 139,615 ------- EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock....................................................... 620 Surplus............................................................ 4,664 Undivided profits and capital reserves ............................ 3,058 Net unrealized holding gains (Losses) on available-for-sale securities................................... (607) Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments................ 8 TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL............................................... 7,743 ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL...................................... $147,358 ======== I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct. WALTER V. SHIPLEY ) EDWARD D. MILLER )DIRECTORS THOMAS G. LABRECQUE ) - 5 - EX-25.4 24 Exhibit 25.4 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 ------------------------- FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE ------------------------------------------- CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________ ---------------------------------------- THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) New York 13-4994650 (State of incorporation (I.R.S. employer if not a national bank) identification No.) 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) William H. McDavid General Counsel 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 Tel: (212) 270-2611 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) --------------------------------------------- GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST II (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) Delaware Applied For (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer incorporation or organization) identification No.) 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) ------------------------------------------- Trust Preferred Securities (Title of the indenture securities) ---------------------------------------------------- GENERAL Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551 Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429. (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes. Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. None. - 2 - Item 16. List of Exhibits List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility. 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991, and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2. 4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is incorporated by reference). 5. Not applicable. 6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. 8. Not applicable. 9. Not applicable. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 12th day of August, 1996. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By /s/P. Kelly Vice President - 3 - Exhibit 7 to Form T-1 Bank Call Notice RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF The Chase Manhattan Bank of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1996, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act. Dollar Amounts ASSETS in Millions Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ............................................... $ 3,391 Interest-bearing balances........................................ 2,075 Securities: Held to maturity securities........................................... 3,607 Available for sale securities......................................... 29,029 Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's: Federal funds sold .............................................. 1,264 Securities purchased under agreements to resell ................. 354 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income........ $73,216 Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses....... 1,854 Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve........... 104 --------- Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve .......................................... 71,258 Trading Assets ....................................................... 25,919 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases).......................................................... 1,337 Other real estate owned .............................................. 30 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies............................................. 187 Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ..................................................... 1,082 Intangible assets .................................................... 419 Other assets ......................................................... 7,406 ----- TOTAL ASSETS ......................................................... $147,358 ======== - 4 - LIABILITIES Deposits In domestic offices ............................................. $45,786 Noninterest-bearing ..................................$14,972 Interest-bearing ..................................... 30,814 ------ In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBF's ....................................................... 36,550 Noninterest-bearing ..................................$ 202 Interest-bearing ..................................... 36,348 ------ Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's Federal funds purchased ......................................... 11,412 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase .................. 2,444 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ............................. 699 Trading liabilities .................................................. 19,998 Other Borrowed money: With a remaining maturity of one year or less ................... 11,305 With a remaining maturity of more than one year ................. 130 Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases........ 13 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding.............. 1,089 Subordinated notes and debentures .................................... 3,411 Other liabilities .................................................... 6,778 TOTAL LIABILITIES .................................................... 139,615 ------- EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock ......................................................... 620 Surplus .............................................................. 4,664 Undivided profits and capital reserves ............................... 3,058 Net unrealized holding gains (Losses) on available-for-sale securities ..................................... (607) Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments .................. 8 TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL ................................................. 7,743 ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL ........................................$147,358 ======== I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct. WALTER V. SHIPLEY ) EDWARD D. MILLER )DIRECTORS THOMAS G. LABRECQUE ) - 5 - EX-25.5 25 Exhibit 25.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 ------------------------- FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE ------------------------------------------- CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________ ---------------------------------------- THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) New York 13-4994650 (State of incorporation (I.R.S. employer if not a national bank) identification No.) 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) William H. McDavid General Counsel 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 Tel: (212) 270-2611 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) --------------------------------------------- GEORGIA POWER COMPANY (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) Georgia 58-0257110 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer incorporation or organization) identification No.) 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) ------------------------------------------- Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee (Georgia Power Capital Trust II) (Title of the indenture securities) ----------------------------------------------------- GENERAL Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551 Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429. (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes. Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. None. - 2 - Item 16. List of Exhibits List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility. 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2. 4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249 which is incorporated by reference). 5. Not applicable. 6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. 8. Not applicable. 9. Not applicable. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 12th day of August, 1996. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By /s/ P. Kelly P. Kelly Vice President - 3 - Exhibit 7 to Form T-1 Bank Call Notice RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF The Chase Manhattan Bank of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1996, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act. Dollar Amounts ASSETS in Millions Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin....................................... $ 3,391 Interest-bearing balances............................... 2,075 Securities: Held to maturity securities.................................. 3,607 Available for sale securities................................ 29,029 Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's: Federal funds sold ..................................... 1,264 Securities purchased under agreements to resell......... 354 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income...... $73,216 Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses..... 1,854 Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve ........ 104 --- Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve ................................. 71,258 Trading Assets .............................................. 25,919 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)................................................. 1,337 Other real estate owned ..................................... 30 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies.................................... 187 Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding............................................. 1,082 Intangible assets............................................ 419 Other assets ................................................ 7,406 ----- TOTAL ASSETS................................................. $147,358 ======== - 4 - LIABILITIES Deposits In domestic offices ......................................... $45,786 Noninterest-bearing.................... $14,972 Interest-bearing ...................... 30,814 In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBF's ................................................... 36,550 Noninterest-bearing.................... $ 202 Interest-bearing....................... 36,348 ------ Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's Federal funds purchased....................................... 11,412 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase................ 2,444 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury........................... 699 Trading liabilities................................................ 19,998 Other Borrowed money: With a remaining maturity of one year or less................. 11,305 With a remaining maturity of more than one year............... 130 Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases...... 13 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding............ 1,089 Subordinated notes and debentures................................... 3,411 Other liabilities................................................... 6,778 TOTAL LIABILITIES................................................... 139,615 ------- EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock........................................................ 620 Surplus ............................................................ 4,664 Undivided profits and capital reserves.............................. 3,058 Net unrealized holding gains (Losses) on available-for-sale securities.................................... (607) Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ................ 8 TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL................................................ 7,743 ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL....................................... $147,358 ======== I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct. WALTER V. SHIPLEY ) EDWARD D. MILLER )DIRECTORS THOMAS G. LABRECQUE ) - 5 - EX-25.6 26 Exhibit 25.6 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 ------------------------- FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE ------------------------------------------- CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________ ---------------------------------------- THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) New York 13-4994650 (State of incorporation (I.R.S. employer if not a national bank) identification No.) 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) William H. McDavid General Counsel 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 Tel: (212) 270-2611 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) --------------------------------------------- GEORGIA POWER CAPITAL TRUST III (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) Delaware Applied For (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer incorporation or organization) identification No.) 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) ------------------------------------------- Trust Preferred Securities (Title of the indenture securities) ---------------------------------------------------- GENERAL Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551 Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429. (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes. Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. None. - 2 - Item 16. List of Exhibits List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility. 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991, and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2. 4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is incorporated by reference). 5. Not applicable. 6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. 8. Not applicable. 9. Not applicable. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 12th day of August, 1996. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By /s/P. Kelly . P. Kelly Vice President - 3 - Exhibit 7 to Form T-1 Bank Call Notice RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF The Chase Manhattan Bank of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1996, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act. Dollar Amounts ASSETS in Millions Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin...................................... $ 3,391 Interest-bearing balances2,075 Securities: Held to maturity securities................................. 3,607 Available for sale securities............................... 29,029 Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's: Federal funds sold .................................... 1,264 Securities purchased under agreements to resell........ 354 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income $73,216 Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses 1,854 Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve ..... 104 ------ Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve .................................. 71,258 Trading Assets ............................................... 25,919 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases).................................................. 1,337 Other real estate owned ...................................... 30 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies..................................... 187 Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding.............................................. 1,082 Intangible assets............................................. 419 Other assets ................................................. 7,406 ----- TOTAL ASSETS.................................................. $147,358 ======== - 4 - LIABILITIES Deposits In domestic offices .......................................... $45,786 Noninterest-bearing.................... $14,972 Interest-bearing ...................... 30,814 In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBF's .................................................... 36,550 Noninterest-bearing.................... $ 202 Interest-bearing....................... 36,348 ------ Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's Federal funds purchased....................................... 11,412 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase................ 2,444 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury........................... 699 Trading liabilities................................................ 19,998 Other Borrowed money: With a remaining maturity of one year or less................. 11,305 With a remaining maturity of more than one year............... 130 Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases..... 13 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding........... 1,089 Subordinated notes and debentures.................................. 3,411 Other liabilities.................................................. 6,778 TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................................. 139,615 ------- EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock....................................................... 620 Surplus ........................................................... 4,664 Undivided profits and capital reserves............................. 3,058 Net unrealized holding gains (Losses) on available-for-sale securities................................... (607) Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ............... 8 TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL............................................... 7,743 ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL...................................... $147,358 ======== I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct. WALTER V. SHIPLEY ) EDWARD D. MILLER )DIRECTORS THOMAS G. LABRECQUE ) - 5 - EX-25.7 27 Exhibit 25.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 ------------------------- FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE ------------------------------------------- CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________ ---------------------------------------- THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) New York 13-4994650 (State of incorporation (I.R.S. employer if not a national bank) identification No.) 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) William H. McDavid General Counsel 270 Park Avenue New York, New York 10017 Tel: (212) 270-2611 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) --------------------------------------------- GEORGIA POWER COMPANY (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) Georgia 58-0257110 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer incorporation or organization) identification No.) 333 Piedmont Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) ------------------------------------------- Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee (Georgia Power Capital Trust III) (Title of the indenture securities) ----------------------------------------------------- GENERAL Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee: (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551 Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429. (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. Yes. Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. None. - 2 - Item 16. List of Exhibits List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility. 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2. 4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is incorporated by reference). 5. Not applicable. 6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. 8. Not applicable. 9. Not applicable. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 12th day of August, 1996. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By /s/P. Kelly . P. Kelly Vice President - 3 - Exhibit 7 to Form T-1 Bank Call Notice RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF The Chase Manhattan Bank of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1996, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act. Dollar Amounts ASSETS in Millions Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ......................................... $ 3,391 Interest-bearing balances ................................. 2,075 Securities: ................................................... Held to maturity securities..................................... 3,607 Available for sale securities................................... 29,029 Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's: Federal funds sold ........................................ 1,264 Securities purchased under agreements to resell ........... 354 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income........$73,216 Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses....... 1,854 Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve........... 104 ------ Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve .................................... 71,258 Trading Assets ................................................. 25,919 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases).................................................... 1,337 Other real estate owned ........................................ 30 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies....................................... 187 Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ............................................... 1,082 Intangible assets .............................................. 419 Other assets ................................................... 7,406 ----- TOTAL ASSETS ................................................... $147,358 ======== - 4 - LIABILITIES Deposits In domestic offices........................................ $45,786 Noninterest-bearing.................... $14,972 Interest-bearing ...................... 30,814 In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBF's ................................................. 36,550 Noninterest-bearing.................... $ 202 Interest-bearing....................... 36,348 ------ Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's Federal funds purchased.................................... 11,412 Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ............ 2,444 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ....................... 699 Trading liabilities ............................................ 19,998 Other Borrowed money: With a remaining maturity of one year or less ............. 11,305 With a remaining maturity of more than one year ................ 130 Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases.. 13 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding........ 1,089 Subordinated notes and debentures .............................. 3,411 Other liabilities .............................................. 6,778 TOTAL LIABILITIES .............................................. 139,615 ------- EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock ................................................... 620 Surplus ........................................................ 4,664 Undivided profits and capital reserves ......................... 3,058 Net unrealized holding gains (Losses) on available-for-sale securities ............................... (607) Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ............ 8 TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL ........................................... 7,743 ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL .................................. $147,358 ======== I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct. WALTER V. SHIPLEY ) EDWARD D. MILLER )DIRECTORS THOMAS G. LABRECQUE ) - 5 - -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----