-----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, GgERflnB01Dy7tA6SSzLtn2sr6ecRr16ztCWoMU6FCkSCfKUzJ4kv27xe8GOoLzN kwFsNwm2LB23qVMhKkCCXw== 0000044545-96-000004.txt : 19960220 0000044545-96-000004.hdr.sgml : 19960220 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000044545-96-000004 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: POS AMC PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960216 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GULF POWER CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000044545 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 590276810 STATE OF INCORPORATION: ME FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: POS AMC SEC ACT: 1935 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 070-08229 FILM NUMBER: 96522156 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 BAYFRONT PKWY CITY: PENSACOLA STATE: FL ZIP: 32501 BUSINESS PHONE: 9044446111 POS AMC 1 AMENDMENT NO. 9 (POST-EFFECTIVE NO. 7) File No. 70-8229 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Amendment No. 9 (Post-Effective No. 7) to Form U-1 APPLICATION OR DECLARATION under The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 GULF POWER COMPANY 500 Bayfront Parkway Pensacola, Florida 32501 (Name of company or companies filing this statement and addresses of principal executive offices) THE SOUTHERN COMPANY (Name of top registered holding company parent of each applicant or declarant) Warren E. Tate, Secretary and Treasurer GULF POWER COMPANY 500 Bayfront Parkway Pensacola, Florida 32501 (Names and addresses of agents for service) 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. 64 Perimeter Center East Suite 5200 Atlanta, Georgia 30346 Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216 Item 1. Description of Proposed Transactions. Item 1 is hereby amended by adding thereto the following: "Gulf has determined not to deliver the Letter of Credit or cause insurance policies to be issued in connection with the proposed issuance and sale by the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation (the "Issuer") of $21,200,000 aggregate principal amount of its Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project) (the "Revenue Bonds"). The proceeds of the Revenue Bonds will be applied to the redemption of $21,200,000 principal amount of Jackson County, Mississippi, 7 1/8% Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Gulf Power Company) Series 1991, due April 1, 2021 (the "Prior Bonds"). Gulf caused the issuance of the Prior Bonds pursuant to authority granted by the Commission in HCAR No. 35-25301 (April 22, 1991). Gulf will issue Collateral Bonds to the Trustee to secure its payment obligations with respect to the Revenue Bonds, pursuant to a Supplemental Indenture substantially in the form filed as Exhibit A-2 hereto. The Collateral Bonds will be issued in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Revenue Bonds and will bear interest at the rate of interest borne by such series of Revenue Bonds. The Issuer has, pursuant to competitive bidding, entered into underwriting arrangements with J. C. Bradford & Co., as representative of the underwriters, for the sale of the Revenue Bonds bearing interest at the rate of 5 1/2% per annum and maturing (subject to prior redemption) on February 1, 2026. Such arrangements will result in a true interest cost to Gulf of 5.6144% per annum. Such underwriters will purchase the Revenue Bonds from the Issuer at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof (plus accrued interest from February 1, 1996 to the delivery date) and Gulf will pay the underwriting fee of $349,800 (1.65% of the aggregate principal amount) for such underwriters' services. The record is now complete with respect to the issuance of the Revenue Bonds. Gulf hereby requests that the Commission issue its order with respect to such $21,200,000 of Revenue Bonds and reserve jurisdiction over the sale of the remaining $128,925,000 of Revenue Bonds pending completion of the record. Gulf also requests that the Commission continue to reserve jurisdiction over $134,500,000 in principal amount or par value, as the case maybe, of the Bonds and Preferred Stock pursuant to these proceedings." Item 2. Fees, Commissions and Expenses. Item 2 is hereby amended as follows: "The fees and expenses to be paid or incurred by Gulf, directly or indirectly, in connection with the proposed issuance of the Collateral Bonds with respect to the Revenue Bonds (as distinguished from and excluding fees, commissions and expenses incurred or to be incurred in connection with the sale of the Revenue Bonds by the Issuer and in connection with the determination of the tax status of the Revenue Bonds) are as follows: Fee of Counsel for Gulf................................ $25,000 Fee of accountants, Arthur Andersen LLP................ 25,000 Fee of First Mortgage Bond Trustee..................... 20,000 Services of Southern Company Services, Inc............. 10,000 Miscellaneous, including telephone charges and traveling expenses.................................... 5,000 --------- $85,000 Item 3. Applicable Statutory Provisions. Item 3 is hereby amended by adding thereto the following: "Rule 54 Analysis. Under Rule 54, in determining whether to approve the issue or sale of a security by a registered holding company for purposes other than the acquisition of an "exempt wholesale generator" or "foreign utility company", or other transactions by such registered holding company or its subsidiaries other than with respect to "exempt wholesale generators" or "foreign utility companies", the Commission shall not consider the effect of the capitalization or earnings of any subsidiary which is an "exempt wholesale generator" or a "foreign utility company" upon the registered holding company system if the "safe harbor" conditions of Rule 53 are satisfied. Southern currently meets all of the "safe harbor" conditions of Rule 53. Southern's "aggregate investment" in "exempt wholesale generators" and "foreign utility companies" at January 31, 1996 was approximately $1,231,236,316, representing approximately 37.4% of Southern's "consolidated retained earnings," as defined in Rule 53(a)(1)(ii) ,for the four quarters ended September 30, 1995. Furthermore, Southern has complied and will continue to comply with the record keeping requirements of Rule 53(a)(2) concerning affiliated "exempt wholesale generators" and "foreign utility companies." In addition, as required by Rule 53(a)(3), no more than 2% of the employees of Southern's operating utility subsidiaries will, at any one time, directly or indirectly, render services to "exempt wholesale generators" and "foreign utility companies." Finally, since none of the circumstances described in Rule 53(b) exists, the provisions of Rule 53(a) are not made inapplicable by Rule 53(b)." Item 6. Exhibits and Financial Statements. (a) Exhibits. A-2 -- Draft of proposed Supplemental Indenture between Gulf and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee, relating to the Collateral Bonds. B-1 -- Draft of Loan Agreement between Gulf and the Issuer relating to the Revenue Bonds. B-2 -- Draft of Trust Indenture between the Issuer and the Trustee relating to the Revenue Bonds. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the undersigned company has duly caused this amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Dated: February 15, 1996 GULF POWER COMPANY By /s/Wayne Boston Wayne Boston Assistant Secretary EX-99 2 EXHIBIT A-2 Exhibit A-2 GULF POWER COMPANY TO THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (National Association) (Formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank, Successor by Merger to The Chase National Bank of the City of New York) As Trustee. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE providing among other things for FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS ____% Pollution Control Series due February 1, 2026 Dated as of February 1, 1996 This instrument was prepared by G. Edison Holland, Jr., Seventh Floor, Blount Building, 3 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida 32501, and Thomas J. Hartland, Jr., 600 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 5200, Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of February 1, 1996, made and entered into by and between GULF POWER COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maine (hereinafter commonly referred to as the "Company"), and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (National Association), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, with its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank, successor by merger to The Chase National Bank of the City of New York, as trustee (hereinafter commonly referred to as the "Trustee"), as Trustee under the Indenture dated as of September 1, 1941 between the Company and The Chase National Bank of the City of New York, as trustee, and The Citizens & Peoples National Bank of Pensacola, as trustee (hereinafter commonly referred to as the "Co-Trustee"), the Trustee and the Co-Trustee being hereinafter commonly referred to as the "Trustees", securing bonds issued and to be issued as provided therein (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Indenture"). WHEREAS the Company and the Trustees have executed and delivered the Indenture for the purpose of securing an issue of bonds of the 1996 Series described therein and such additional bonds as may from time to time be issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the aggregate principal amount of the bonds to be secured thereby being not limited, and the Indenture fully describes and sets forth the property conveyed thereby and is of record in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit, Superior or Chancery Court of each county in the States of Florida, Georgia and Mississippi in which this Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded and is on file at the principal office of the Trustee, above referred to; and WHEREAS the Company and the Trustees, or the Trustee, as the case may be, have executed and delivered various supplemental indentures for the purpose, among others, of further securing said bonds and of setting forth the terms and provisions relating to the bonds of other series described therein, which supplemental indentures describe and set forth additional property conveyed thereby and are also of record in the Offices of the Clerks of the Circuit, Superior or Chancery Courts of some or all of the counties in the States of Florida, Georgia and Mississippi in which this Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded and are on file at the principal office of the Trustee, above referred to; and -1- WHEREAS effective December 9, 1993, the Company and the Trustee have accepted the resignation of the Co-Trustee pursuant to Section 16.20 of the Indenture; and WHEREAS the Indenture provides for the issuance of bonds thereunder in one or more series and the Company, by appropriate corporate action in conformity with the terms of the Indenture, has duly determined to create a series of bonds under the Indenture to be designated as "____% Pollution Control Series due February 1, 2026" (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Forty-fifth Series"), each of which bonds shall bear the descriptive title of "First Mortgage Bond", the bonds of such series to bear interest at the annual rate designated in the title thereof and to mature February 1, 2026; and WHEREAS each of the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series is to be substantially in the following form, with appropriate insertions and deletions, to-wit: [FORM OF BOND OF THE FORTY-FIFTH SERIES] GULF POWER COMPANY First Mortgage Bond, ____% Pollution Control Series Due February 1, 2026 No.......... $.............. Gulf Power Company, a Maine corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi (as trustee under the Trust Indenture dated as of February 1, 1996 of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, relating to the Revenue Bonds (hereinafter mentioned)) or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars on February 1, 2026, and to pay to the registered holder hereof interest on said sum from the latest semi-annual interest payment date to which interest has been paid on the bonds of this series preceding the date hereof, unless the date hereof be an interest payment date to which interest is being paid, in which case from the date hereof, or unless the date hereof is prior to August 1, 1996, in which case from February 1, 1996, at the rate per annum, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, specified in the title of this bond, payable on -2- February 1 and August 1 in each year commencing August 1, 1996. The obligation of the Company to make payments with respect to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on bonds of this series shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that, at any time that any such payment shall be due, the Company shall have made payments as required by the Company's Note dated February 29, 1996 issued pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Loan Agreement dated as of February 1, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement") between the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation and the Company, sufficient to pay fully or partially the then due principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project) (hereinafter referred to as the "Revenue Bonds") or there shall be in the Bond Fund established pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Trust Indenture dated as of February 1, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the "Revenue Bond Indenture") of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation to Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi, trustee (hereinafter, together with any successor trustee under the Revenue Bond Indenture, referred to as the "Revenue Bond Trustee"), sufficient available funds to pay fully or partially the then due principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Revenue Bonds. The Trustee (hereinafter mentioned) may conclusively presume that the obligation of the Company to make payments with respect to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on bonds of this series shall have been fully satisfied and discharged unless and until the Trustee shall have received a written notice from the Revenue Bond Trustee stating (i) that timely payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Revenue Bonds has not been made, (ii) that there are not sufficient available funds in such Bond Fund to make such payment and (iii) the amount of funds required to make such payment. This bond is one of the bonds issued and to be issued from time to time under and in accordance with and all secured by an indenture of mortgage or deed of trust dated as of September 1, 1941, between the Company and The Chase National Bank of the City of New York to which The Chase Manhattan Bank (now The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association)) is successor by merger (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Trustee"), and The Citizens & Peoples National Bank of Pensacola, as Trustees, and -3- indentures supplemental thereto, to which indenture and indentures supplemental thereto (hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Indenture") reference is hereby made for a description of the property mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security and the rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee and the rights of the holders of said bonds and of the Trustee and of the Company in respect of such security, and the limitations on such rights. By the terms of the Indenture the bonds to be secured thereby are issuable in series which may vary as to date, amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as in the Indenture provided. Upon notice given by mailing the same, by first class mail postage prepaid, not less than thirty nor more than forty-five days prior to the date fixed for redemption to each registered holder of a bond to be redeemed (in whole or in part) at the last address of such holder appearing on the registry books, any or all of the bonds of this series may be redeemed by the Company at any time and from time to time by the payment of the principal amount thereof and accrued interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption, if redeemed by the operation of the improvement fund or the replacement provisions of the Indenture or by the use of proceeds of released property, as more fully set forth in the Indenture. In the manner provided in the Indenture, the bonds of this series are also redeemable in whole, by payment of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption, upon receipt by the Trustee of a written demand from the Revenue Bond Trustee stating that the principal amount of all the Revenue Bonds then outstanding under the Revenue Bond Indenture has been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 8.02 of the Revenue Bond Indenture. As provided in the Indenture, the date fixed for such redemption shall be not more than 180 days after receipt by the Trustee of the aforesaid written demand and shall be specified in a notice of redemption to be given not more than 10 nor less than 5 days prior to the date so fixed for such redemption. As in the Indenture provided, such notice of redemption shall be rescinded and become null and void for all purposes under the Indenture upon rescission of the aforesaid written demand under the Revenue Bond Indenture, and thereupon no redemption of the bonds of this series and no payments in respect thereof as specified in such notice of redemption shall be effected or required. -4- In the manner and to the extent provided in the Indenture, the bonds of this series are also redeemable in whole at any time or in part from time to time upon receipt by the Trustee of a written demand from the Revenue Bond Trustee specifying a principal amount of Revenue Bonds which have been called for redemption pursuant to the second or third paragraph of Section 3.01 of the Revenue Bond Indenture. As and to the extent provided in the Indenture, bonds of this series equal in principal amount to the principal amount of such Revenue Bonds to be redeemed will be redeemed on the date fixed for redemption of the Revenue Bonds at the principal amount of such bonds of this series and accrued interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption, together (in the case of a redemption coincident with a redemption of Revenue Bonds pursuant to the third paragraph of Section 3.01 of the Revenue Bond Indenture) with a premium equal to a percentage of the principal amount thereof determined as set forth in the following tabulation: If Redeemed During the Twelve Months' Period Ending the Last Day of January, Regular Redemption Year Premium 2002 2% 2003 1% and without premium if redeemed on or after February 1, 2003. In case of certain defaults as specified in the Indenture, the principal of this bond may be declared or may become due and payable on the conditions, at the time, in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on this bond, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof or of the Indenture, to or against any incorporator, stockholder, director or officer, past, present or future, as such, of the Company, or of any predecessor or successor company, either directly or through the Company, or such predecessor or successor company, under any constitution or statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty, or otherwise, all such liability of -5- incorporators, stockholders, directors and officers, as such, being waived and released by the holder and owner hereof by the acceptance of this bond and being likewise waived and released by the terms of the Indenture. Every bond of this series shall be dated as of the date of authentication. This bond is transferable by the registered owner hereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, at the principal office of the Trustee, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but only in the manner prescribed in the Indenture, upon the surrender and cancellation of this bond and the payment of charges for transfer, and upon any such transfer a new bond or bonds of the same series and maturity date and for the same aggregate principal amount, in authorized denominations, will be issued to the transferee in exchange herefor. The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name this bond is registered as the absolute owner for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes. Bonds of this series shall be exchangeable for bonds of other authorized denominations having the same aggregate principal amount, in the manner and upon the conditions prescribed in the Indenture. However, notwithstanding the provisions of the Indenture, no charge shall be made upon any transfer or exchange of bonds of this series other than for any tax or taxes or other governmental charge required to be paid by the Company. This bond shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose unless and until it shall have been authenticated by the execution by the Trustee or its successor in trust under the Indenture of the certificate endorsed hereon. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Gulf Power Company has caused this bond to be executed in its name by its President or one of its Vice Presidents by his signature or a facsimile thereof, and its corporate seal or facsimile thereof to be affixed hereto or imprinted hereon and attested by its -6- Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries by his signature or a facsimile thereof. Dated GULF POWER COMPANY, By: President Attest: Secretary [FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE] TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE This bond is one of the bonds, of the series designated therein, described in the within-mentioned Indenture. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (National Association), As Trustee, By: Authorized Officer AND WHEREAS all acts and things necessary to make the bonds, when authenticated by the Trustee and issued as in the Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended, and in this Supplemental Indenture provided, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to constitute the Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended, and this Supplemental Indenture valid, binding and legal instruments for the security thereof, have been done and performed, and the creation, execution and delivery of the Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended, and this Supplemental Indenture and the creation, execution and issue of bonds subject to the terms hereof and of the Indenture, have in all respects been duly authorized; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the acceptance and purchase by the holders thereof of the bonds issued and to be issued under the Indenture, and of the sum of One Dollar duly paid by the Trustee to the Company, and of other good and valuable considerations, the -7- receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and for the purpose of securing the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the bonds now outstanding under the Indenture, or the Indenture as supplemented and amended, and the $21,200,000 principal amount of bonds of the Forty-fifth Series currently proposed to be issued and all other bonds which shall be issued under the Indenture, or the Indenture as supplemented and amended, and for the purpose of securing the faithful performance and observance of all covenants and conditions therein and in any indenture supplemental thereto set forth, the Company has given, granted, bargained, sold, transferred, assigned, hypothecated, pledged, mortgaged, warranted, aliened and conveyed and by these presents does give, grant, bargain, sell, transfer, assign, hypothecate, pledge, mortgage, warrant, alien and convey unto The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee, as provided in the Indenture, and its successor or successors in the trust thereby and hereby created and to its or their assigns forever, all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to all improvements and additions to property of the Company subject to the lien of the Indenture made, constructed or otherwise acquired by it and not heretofore described in the Indenture or any supplement thereto and not heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture, together (subject to the provisions of Article X of the Indenture) with the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, products and profits thereof, and does hereby confirm that the Company will not cause or consent to a partition, either voluntary or through legal proceedings, of property, whether herein described or heretofore or hereafter acquired, in which its ownership shall be as a tenant in common except as permitted by and in conformity with the provisions of the Indenture and particularly of Article X thereof. TOGETHER WITH all and singular the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging or in any wise appertaining to said premises, property, franchises and rights, or any thereof, referred to in the foregoing granting clauses, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders and (subject to the provisions of Article X of the Indenture) the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, products and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title and interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid -8- premises, property, franchises and rights and every part and parcel thereof. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all said premises, property, franchises and rights hereby conveyed, assigned, pledged or mortgaged, or intended so to be, unto the Trustee, its successor or successors in trust, and its or their assigns forever; BUT IN TRUST, NEVERTHELESS, with power of sale, for the equal and proportionate benefit and security of the holders of all bonds and interest coupons now or hereafter issued under the Indenture, as supplemented and amended, pursuant to the provisions thereof, and for the enforcement of the payment of said bonds and coupons when payable and the performance of and compliance with the covenants and conditions of the Indenture, as supplemented and amended, without any preference, distinction or priority as to lien or otherwise of any bond or bonds over others by reason of the difference in time of the actual issue, sale or negotiation thereof or for any other reason whatsoever, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Indenture, as supplemented and amended; and so that each and every bond now or hereafter issued thereunder shall have the same lien, and so that the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on every such bond shall, subject to the terms of the Indenture, as supplemented and amended, be equally and proportionately secured thereby and hereby, as if it had been made, executed, delivered, sold and negotiated simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the Indenture. AND IT IS EXPRESSLY DECLARED that all bonds issued and secured thereunder and hereunder are to be issued, authenticated and delivered, and all said premises, property, franchises and rights hereby and by the Indenture, as supplemented and amended, conveyed, assigned, pledged or mortgaged, or intended so to be (including all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to any and all premises, property, franchises and rights of every kind and description, real, personal and mixed, tangible and intangible, thereafter acquired by the Company and whether or not specifically described in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, except any therein expressly excepted), are to be dealt with and disposed of, under, upon and subject to the terms, conditions, stipulations, covenants, agreements, trusts, uses and purposes in the Indenture, as supplemented and amended, expressed, and it is hereby agreed as follows: -9- SECTION 1. There is hereby created a series of bonds designated as hereinabove set forth (said bonds being sometimes herein referred to as the "bonds of the Forty-fifth Series"), and the form thereof shall be substantially as hereinbefore set forth. Bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall mature on the date specified in the form thereof hereinbefore set forth, and the definitive bonds of such series shall be issued only as registered bonds without coupons. Bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be in such denominations as the Board of Directors shall approve, and execution and delivery thereof to the Trustee for authentication shall be conclusive evidence of such approval. The serial numbers of bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be such as may be approved by any officer of the Company, the execution thereof by any such officer to be conclusive evidence of such approval. Bonds of the Forty-fifth Series, until the principal thereof shall have become due and payable, shall bear interest at the annual rate designated in the title thereof, payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 in each year commencing August 1, 1996. The principal of and premium, if any, and the interest on the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be payable in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts, at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, designated for that purpose. Bonds of the Forty-fifth Series may be transferred at the principal office of the Trustee, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be exchangeable for other bonds of the same series, in the manner and upon the conditions prescribed in the Indenture, upon the surrender of such bonds at said principal office of the Trustee. However, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05 of the Indenture, no charge shall be made upon any transfer or exchange of bonds of the Forty-fifth Series other than for any tax or taxes or other governmental charge required to be paid by the Company. Any or all of the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be redeemable at any time and from time to time, prior to maturity, upon notice given by mailing the same, by first class mail postage prepaid, not less than thirty nor more than forty-five days prior to the date fixed for redemption to each registered holder of a bond to be redeemed (in -10- whole or in part) at the last address of such holder appearing on the registry books, at the principal amount thereof and accrued interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption if redeemed by the operation of Section 4 of the Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1964 or of the improvement fund provisions of any Supplemental Indenture other than this Supplemental Indenture or by the use of proceeds of released property. SECTION 2. The obligation of the Company to make payments with respect to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged, to the extent that, at the time that any such payment shall be due, the Company shall have made payments as required by the Company's Note dated February 29, 1996 issued pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Loan Agreement dated as of February 1, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement") between the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation and the Company sufficient to pay fully or partially the then due principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project) (hereinafter referred to as the "Revenue Bonds") or there shall be in the Bond Fund established pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Trust Indenture dated as of February 1, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the "Revenue Bond Indenture") of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation to Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi, trustee (hereinafter, together with any successor trustee under the Revenue Bond Indenture, referred to as the "Revenue Bond Trustee"), sufficient available funds to pay fully or partially the then due principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Revenue Bonds. The Trustee may conclusively presume that the obligation of the Company to make payments with respect to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall have been fully satisfied and discharged unless and until the Trustee shall have received a written notice from the Revenue Bond Trustee stating (i) that timely payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Revenue Bonds has not been made, (ii) that there are not sufficient available funds in such Bond Fund to make such payment and (iii) the amount of funds required to make such payment. In addition to redemption as provided in Section 1 hereof, Bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall also be redeemable in whole upon receipt by the Trustee of a -11- written demand for the redemption of the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series (hereinafter called "Redemption Demand") from the Revenue Bond Trustee, stating that the principal amount of all the Revenue Bonds then outstanding under the Revenue Bond Indenture has been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.02 of the Revenue Bond Indenture, specifying the date from which unpaid interest on the Revenue Bonds has then accrued and stating that such acceleration of maturity has not been rescinded. The Trustee shall within 10 days of receiving the Redemption Demand mail a copy thereof to the Company stamped or otherwise marked to indicate the date of receipt by the Trustee. The Company shall fix a redemption date for the redemption so demanded (herein called the "Demand Redemption") and shall mail to the Trustee notice of such date at least 30 days prior thereto. The date fixed for Demand Redemption may be any day not more than 180 days after receipt by the Trustee of the Redemption Demand. If the Trustee does not receive such notice from the Company within 150 days after receipt by the Trustee of the Redemption Demand, the date for Demand Redemption shall be deemed fixed at the 180th day after such receipt. The Trustee shall mail notice of the date fixed for Demand Redemption (hereinafter called the "Demand Redemption Notice") to the Revenue Bond Trustee (and the registered holders of the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series, if other than said Revenue Bond Trustee) not more than 10 nor less than 5 days prior to the date fixed for Demand Redemption, provided, however, that the Trustee shall mail no Demand Redemption Notice (and no Demand Redemption shall be made) if prior to the mailing of the Demand Redemption Notice the Trustee shall have received written notice of rescission of the Redemption Demand from the Revenue Bond Trustee. Demand Redemption of the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be at the principal amount thereof and accrued interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and such amount shall become and be due and payable, subject to the first paragraph of this Section 2, on the date fixed for Demand Redemption as above provided. Anything in this paragraph contained to the contrary notwithstanding, if, after mailing of the Demand Redemption Notice and prior to the date fixed for Demand Redemption, the Trustee shall have received a written notice from the Revenue Bond Trustee that the Redemption Demand has been rescinded or that the acceleration of maturity of the Revenue Bonds has been rescinded, the Demand Redemption Notice shall thereupon, without further act of the Trustee or the Company, be rescinded and become null and void for all purposes hereunder and no redemption of the bonds of the -12- Forty-fifth Series and no payments in respect thereof as specified in the Demand Redemption Notice shall be effected or required. Bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall also be redeemable in whole at any time, or in part from time to time (hereinafter called the "Regular Redemption"), upon receipt by the Trustee of a written demand (hereinafter referred to as the "Regular Redemption Demand") from the Revenue Bond Trustee stating: (1) the principal amount of Revenue Bonds to be redeemed pursuant to the third paragraph of Section 3.01 of the Revenue Bond Indenture; (2) the date of such redemption and that notice thereof has been given as required by the Revenue Bond Indenture; (3) that the Trustee shall call for redemption on the stated date fixed for redemption of the Revenue Bonds a principal amount of bonds of the Forty-fifth Series equal to the principal amount of Revenue Bonds to be redeemed; and (4) that the Revenue Bond Trustee, as holder of all bonds of the Forty-fifth Series then outstanding, waives notice of such redemption. The Trustee may conclusively presume the statements contained in the Regular Redemption Demand to be correct. Regular Redemption of the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be at the principal amount thereof and accrued interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption, together with a premium equal to a percentage of the principal amount thereof determined as set forth in the tabulation appearing in the form of the bond hereinbefore set forth, and such amount shall become and be due and payable, subject to the first paragraph of this Section 2, on the date fixed for such Regular Redemption, which shall be the date specified pursuant to item (2) of the Regular Redemption Demand as above provided. Bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall also be redeemable in whole at any time (hereinafter called the "Special Redemption") upon receipt by the Trustee of a written demand (hereinafter referred to as the "Special Redemption Demand") from the Revenue Bond Trustee stating: (1) that the outstanding Revenue Bonds have been called for redemption in whole pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 3.01 and Section 3.06 of the Revenue Bond Indenture; (2) the date of such redemption and that notice thereof has been given as required by the Revenue Bond Indenture; (3) that the Trustee shall call for redemption on the stated date fixed for redemption of the Revenue Bonds a principal amount of bonds of the Forty-fifth Series equal to the principal amount of the Revenue Bonds to be redeemed; and (4) that the Revenue Bond Trustee, as holder -13- of all bonds of the Forty-fifth Series then outstanding, waives notice of such redemption. The Trustee may conclusively presume the statements contained in the Special Redemption Demand to be correct. Special Redemption of the bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be at the principal amount thereof and accrued interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption but without premium, and such amount shall become and be due and payable, subject to the first paragraph of this Section 2, on the date fixed for such Special Redemption, which shall be the date specified pursuant to item (2) of the Special Redemption Demand as above provided. SECTION 3. If any interest payment date for bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized by law to close, then such interest payment date shall be the next succeeding day which shall not be a legal holiday or a day on which such institutions are so authorized to close. SECTION 4. Any written notice to the Trustee from the Revenue Bond Trustee shall be signed by the Revenue Bond Trustee's duly authorized officer therefor. SECTION 5. The Company covenants that the provisions of Section 4 of the Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1964, which are to remain in effect so long as any bonds of the Tenth Series shall be outstanding under the Indenture, shall remain in full force and effect so long as any bonds of the Forty-fifth Series shall be outstanding under the Indenture. SECTION 6. As supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended, is in all respects ratified and confirmed and the Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. SECTION 7. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture contained shall, or shall be construed to, confer upon any person other than a holder of bonds issued under the Indenture, the Company and the Trustee any right or interest to avail himself of any benefit under any provision of the Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended, or of this Supplemental Indenture. -14- SECTION 8. The Trustee assumes no responsibility for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the due execution hereof by the Company or for or in respect of the recitals and statements contained herein, all of which recitals and statements are made solely by the Company. SECTION 9. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts and all such counterparts executed and delivered, each as an original, shall constitute but one and the same instrument. -15- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Gulf Power Company has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be executed in its corporate name by its President or one of its Vice Presidents and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and to be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries, and said The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee, has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be executed in its corporate name by one of its Vice Presidents and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and to be attested by one of its Assistant Secretaries, in several counterparts, all as of the day and year first above written. GULF POWER COMPANY By: A. E. Scarbrough Vice President 500 Bayfront Parkway Pensacola, Florida 32501 Attest: Warren E. Tate, Secretary 500 Bayfront Parkway Pensacola, Florida 32501 Signed, sealed and delivered this __th day of February, 1996 by GULF POWER COMPANY in the presence of: Valerie Blackmon Gina Naar THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (National Association), as Trustee By: Valerie Dunbar Vice President 4 Chase Metro Tech Center 3rd Floor Brooklyn, New York 11245 Attest: - -------------- Assistant Secretary 4 Chase Metro Tech Center 3rd Floor Brooklyn, New York 11245 Signed, sealed and delivered this __th day of February, 1996 by THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (National Association) in the presence of: Name:_______________________ Name:_______________________ STATE OF FLORIDA ss. ss. COUNTY OF ESCAMBIA ss. The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this __th day of February, 1996, by A. E. Scarbrough, Vice President of GULF POWER COMPANY, a Maine corporation, on behalf of the corporation. He is personally known to me and did take an oath. -------------------------------- Candace Klinglesmith Notary Public - State of Florida My Commission Expires: -------------------------------- Commission Number: -------------------------------- STATE OF NEW YORK ss. ss. COUNTY OF KINGS ss. The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this __th day of February, 1996, by Valerie Dunbar, a Vice President of THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (National Association), a United States corporation, on behalf of the corporation. She is personally known to me and did take an oath. -------------------------------- Name:___________________________ Notary Public My Commission Expires: -------------------------------- Commission Number: -------------------------------- EX-99 3 EXHIBIT B-1 Exhibit B-1 MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION and GULF POWER COMPANY LOAN AGREEMENT Dated as of February 1, 1996 Relating to $21,200,000 Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project) LOAN AGREEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS (This Table of Contents is for convenience of reference only and is not a part of this Loan Agreement) PAGE ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS................................................................ 1 ARTICLE II ACQUISITION AND COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT; ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS SECTION 2.1. Acquisition and Completion of the Project........................................ 2 SECTION 2.2. Issuance of Series 1996 Bonds; Additional Bonds............................... 2 ARTICLE III LOAN BY ISSUER; PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT SECTION 3.1. Loan by Issuer.................................. 3 SECTION 3.2. Delivery of Notes by Company; Other Amounts Payable......................................... 3 SECTION 3.3. Obligation of the Company Unconditional......... 4 SECTION 3.4. First Mortgage Bonds............................ 4 SECTION 3.5. Assignment and Pledge of Payments and Rights Under the Notes, the Agreement and the First Mortgage Bonds.................................. 5 ARTICLE IV SPECIAL COVENANTS SECTION 4.1. No Warranty of Suitability by the Issuer........ 5 SECTION 4.2. Use of Project.................................. 5 SECTION 4.3. Indemnity Against Claims........................ 5 SECTION 4.4. Inspection of the Project....................... 6 -i- TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) PAGE SECTION 4.5. The Company to Maintain Its Corporate Existence; Conditions Under Which Exceptions Permitted........................... 6 SECTION 4.6. Annual Statement................................ 7 SECTION 4.7. Further Assurances and Corrective Instruments.................................... 7 SECTION 4.8. Maintenance of Project by Company............... 7 SECTION 4.9. Redemption or Purchase of Bonds................. 7 SECTION 4.10. Tax Covenants................................... 8 SECTION 4.11. Ad Valorem Taxes . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 8 ARTICLE V EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES SECTION 5.1. Events of Default............................... 8 SECTION 5.2. Remedies on Default............................. 10 SECTION 5.3. Agreement to Pay Attorneys' Fees and Expenses................................... 10 SECTION 5.4. No Additional Waiver Implied by One Waiver..................................... 11 ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 6.1. Term of This Agreement.......................... 11 SECTION 6.2. Notices......................................... 11 SECTION 6.3. Binding Effect.................................. 11 SECTION 6.4. Severability.................................... 12 SECTION 6.5. Amounts Remaining in the Bond Fund.............. 12 SECTION 6.6. Amendments...................................... 12 SECTION 6.7. Execution in Counterparts....................... 12 SECTION 6.8. Applicable Law.................................. 12 SECTION 6.9. Captions........................................ 12 SECTION 6.10. Other Financing................................. 12 TESTIMONIUM SIGNATURES AND SEALS EXHIBIT A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 -ii- LOAN AGREEMENT dated as of February 1, 1996 between the MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION, a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi (the "Issuer"), authorized to exercise the powers conferred by Title 57, Chapter 10, Article 7 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended and supplemented (the "Act"), and GULF POWER COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maine and qualified and doing business as a foreign corporation in the State of Mississippi (the "Company"), evidencing the agreement of the parties hereto. In consideration of the respective representations and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows (provided that in the performance of the agreements of the Issuer herein contained, any obligation it may thereby incur for the payment of money shall not be a general debt, liability or obligation of the Issuer, or of the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof but shall be payable solely out of the revenue and proceeds derived from this Agreement and the Notes (hereinafter defined), the sale of the Bonds referred to herein and any amounts received from the First Mortgage Bonds referred to in Section 3.4 hereof): ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS "Additional Bonds", "Bond Fund", "Bondholder", "Bonds", "Code", "Government Obligations", "1954 Code", "Rebate Agreement" and "Trustee" have the same meanings given and assigned to such words in Article I of the Indenture (hereinafter defined). "Agreement" means this Loan Agreement and any amendments and supplements hereto. "Event of Default" means any of the occurrences enumerated in Section 5.1 of this Agreement. "First Mortgage" means the Indenture dated as of September 1, 1941 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association) and The Citizens & Peoples National Bank of Pensacola, as trustees, as heretofore and hereafter supplemented and amended, including but not limited to the Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 1, 1996. "First Mortgage Bonds" means first mortgage bonds issued under the First Mortgage pursuant to, and having the terms described in, Section 3.4 hereof. "Indenture" means the Trust Indenture dated as of February 1, 1996, relating to the Bonds, between the Issuer and Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi, as Trustee, pursuant to which the Bonds are authorized to be issued, and including any indenture supplemental thereto. "Loan" means the loan to be made by the Issuer to the Company of the proceeds (which shall be deemed to include the underwriting discount, if any, and original issue discount, if any) of the sale of the Bonds, exclusive of any accrued interest paid by the initial purchasers of the Bonds upon the delivery thereof. "Notes" means the non-negotiable promissory notes of the Company issued pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof, in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto. "Original Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Installment Sale Agreement dated as of May 1, 1981, between Jackson County, Mississippi, and the Company. "Project" means the pollution control facilities described in the Original Agreement. "Series 1991 Bonds" means the $21,200,000 Jackson County, Mississippi Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Gulf Power Company Project) Series 1991. "Series 1996 Bonds" means the bonds authorized to be issued under Section 2.02 of the Indenture. ARTICLE II ACQUISITION AND COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT; ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS SECTION 2.1. Acquisition and Completion of the Project. The Company represents that the acquisition, installation and construction of the Project have been completed pursuant to the Original Agreement. SECTION 2.2. Issuance of Series 1996 Bonds; Additional Bonds. In order to provide funds to refund the Series 1991 Bonds, the Issuer agrees that it will initially issue and deliver the Series 1996 Bonds to the purchasers thereof at a price to be approved in advance by the Company and apply and deposit the proceeds thereof in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. The Indenture shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Company and shall provide the manner in which, and the purposes for which, proceeds of Bonds may be used and invested. -2- If no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Issuer will authorize the sale of and use its best efforts to sell from time to time, to the extent permitted by law, Additional Bonds, in amounts specified by the Company and upon the terms and conditions provided in the Indenture, for any purpose permitted by the Indenture. The Issuer will deposit the proceeds of any such Additional Bonds with the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. ARTICLE III LOAN BY ISSUER; PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT SECTION 3.1. Loan by Issuer. The Issuer hereby agrees to make the Loan to the Company for the purpose, in the case of the proceeds of the Series 1996 Bonds, of redeeming the Series 1991 Bonds within 90 days after the date of initial issuance of the Series 1996 Bonds. The Company hereby agrees to cause the proceeds of the Series 1996 Bonds to be applied exclusively to the foregoing purpose and to cause the Series 1991 Bonds to be redeemed within 90 days after the date of initial issuance of the Series 1996 Bonds. SECTION 3.2. Delivery of Notes by Company; Other Amounts Payable. In order to evidence the Loan and the obligation of the Company to repay the same, the Company shall execute and deliver for each series of Bonds a Note in a principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and having the same stated rate or rates of interest as, such series of Bonds. Each Note shall be dated the date of the initial issuance of, and mature on the same maturity date or dates as, the series of Bonds issued concurrently therewith. If, at the date any payment on the Bonds is due, there are any available moneys in the Bond Fund, such moneys shall be credited against the payment then due under the Notes, first in respect of interest and then, to the extent of remaining moneys, in respect of principal. The Company will also pay: (i) the fees, charges and reasonable expenses of the Trustee and any paying agents under the Indenture, such fees, charges and reasonable expenses to be paid directly to the Trustee or paying agents for their respective accounts as and when such fees, charges and reasonable expenses become due and payable, (ii) any expenses and costs incurred or to be incurred by virtue of the issuance and sale of the Bonds, (iii) any expenses in connection with any redemption of the Bonds, (iv) any expenses in connection with the redemption of the aforementioned Series 1991 Bonds and (v) any amounts owed under the Rebate Agreement. -3- SECTION 3.3. Obligation of the Company Unconditional. The obligation of the Company to make the payments as provided in this Agreement and the Notes and to perform and observe the other agreements on its part contained herein shall be absolute and unconditional notwithstanding failure of the title to the Project or any part thereof, loss of title to (or the temporary use of) the Project by virtue of the exercise by others of the power of eminent domain, any acts or circumstances that may constitute failure of consideration, destruction of or damage to the Project, commercial frustration of purpose, any change in the tax or other laws of the United States of America or of the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision of either thereof or any failure of the Issuer to perform and observe any agreement, whether express or implied, or any duty, liability or obligation arising out of or connected with this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Section 3.3 shall be construed to release the Issuer from the performance of any of the agreements on its part herein contained; and, in the event the Issuer should fail to perform any such agreement on its part, the Company may institute such action against the Issuer as the Company may deem necessary to compel performance or recover its damages for nonperformance so long as such action shall not violate the agreements on the part of the Company contained in the preceding sentence, but in no event shall the Company be entitled to any diminution of the amounts payable under the Notes and Section 3.2 hereof. The Company may, however, at its own cost and expense and in its own name or in the name of the Issuer, prosecute or defend any action or proceeding or take any other action involving third persons which the Company deems reasonably necessary in order to secure or protect its right of possession, occupancy and use hereunder, and in such event the Issuer hereby agrees to cooperate fully with the Company and to take all action necessary to effect the substitution of the Company for the Issuer in any such action or proceeding if the Company shall so request. SECTION 3.4. First Mortgage Bonds. Concurrently with the Issuer's delivery of each series of Bonds to the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee, in order to secure the Company's obligations under this Agreement and the Note issued concurrently therewith, First Mortgage Bonds, registered in the name of the Trustee equal in principal amount to such series of Bonds and having the same stated rate or rates of interest and the same maturity date or dates as such series of Bonds; provided, however, that if such series of Bonds is issued for the purpose of refunding all of the Bonds then outstanding, the Company may elect not to deliver such First Mortgage Bonds. -4- SECTION 3.5. Assignment and Pledge of Payments and Rights Under the Notes, the Agreement and the First Mortgage Bonds. The Issuer shall assign and pledge to the Trustee as security under the Indenture all rights, title and interests of the Issuer in and to (i) the Notes and all payments thereunder, (ii) this Agreement and all moneys receivable hereunder (except for payments under Sections 4.3 and 5.3 hereof) and (iii) the First Mortgage Bonds. The Company assents to such assignment and hereby agrees that, as to the Trustee, its obligations to make such payments shall be absolute and shall not be subject to any defense or any right of set-off, counterclaim or recoupment arising out of any breach by the Issuer or the Trustee of any obligation to the Company, whether hereunder or otherwise, or out of any indebtedness or liability at any time owing to the Company by the Issuer or the Trustee. ARTICLE IV SPECIAL COVENANTS SECTION 4.1. No Warranty of Suitability by the Issuer. The Issuer makes no warranty either express or implied as to the Project, including its suitability for the Company's purposes or needs. SECTION 4.2. Use of Project. The Issuer does hereby covenant and agree that it will not take any action, other than pursuant to the exercise of its rights under Section 5.2 of this Agreement, to prevent the Company from having possession and enjoyment of the Project during the term of this Agreement and will, at the request of the Company and at the Company's cost, cooperate with the Company in order that the Company may have possession and enjoyment of the Project. The Issuer hereby acknowledges that it shall have no rights to the use or possession of the Project. The Issuer hereby further acknowledges that the Project will not constitute any part of the security for the Bonds other than any interest in the Company's property shared by all holders of the Company's first mortgage bonds issued under the First Mortgage, including the First Mortgage Bonds. SECTION 4.3. Indemnity Against Claims. The Company will pay and discharge and will indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and the Trustee from (a) any lien or charge upon payments by the Company to the Issuer under the Notes, the First Mortgage Bonds or hereunder, (b) any taxes, assessments, impositions and other charges upon payments by the Company to the Issuer under the Notes, the First Mortgage Bonds or hereunder and (c) any and all -5- liability, damages, costs and expenses arising out of or resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture or in any way related to the Project, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. If any such lien or charge is sought to be imposed upon payments, or any such taxes, assessments, impositions or other charges are sought to be imposed, or any such liability, damages, costs and expenses are sought to be imposed, the Issuer and/or the Trustee will give prompt written notice to the Company, and the Company shall have the sole right and duty to assume, and will assume, the defense thereof, with full power to litigate, compromise or settle the same in its sole discretion. SECTION 4.4. Inspection of the Project. The Company agrees that the Issuer and its duly authorized agents may at reasonable times enter upon the Project site and examine and inspect the Project and the books and records of the Company with respect to the Project. SECTION 4.5. The Company to Maintain Its Corporate Existence; Conditions Under Which Exceptions Permitted. The Company agrees that during the term of this Agreement it will maintain its corporate existence and qualification to do business in the State of Mississippi, will not dissolve or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and will not consolidate with or merge into another corporation or permit one or more other corporations to consolidate with or merge into it; provided, that the Company may, without violating the agreements contained in this Section 4.5, consolidate with or merge into another domestic corporation (i.e., a corporation incorporated and existing under the laws of one of the states of the United States of America or under the laws of the United States of America) or permit one or more other corporations to consolidate with or merge into it, or sell or otherwise transfer to another domestic corporation all or substantially all of its assets as an entirety and thereafter dissolve, provided that, in the event the Company is not the surviving, resulting or transferee corporation, as the case may be, the surviving, resulting or transferee corporation assumes, accepts and agrees in writing to pay and perform all of the obligations of the Company herein and under the Notes and is a Mississippi corporation or is qualified to do business in the State of Mississippi as a foreign corporation and that such consolidation or merger does not result in the loss of the exclusion from gross income for federal income tax purposes of interest on the outstanding Bonds. SECTION 4.6.Annual Statement. The Company agrees to have an annual audit made by its regular independent public accountants and within 180 days after the close of each fiscal -6- year to furnish the Trustee and any Bondholder who may so request a balance sheet and statement of income and surplus showing the financial condition of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, if any, at the close of such fiscal year and the results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, if any, for such fiscal year, accompanied by a certificate or opinion of said accountants. The requirements of the Company pursuant to this Section 4.6 may be satisfied by the submission to the Trustee and each Bondholder who may request such information of the Company's annual report to its shareholders, so long as the Company prepares such an annual report. SECTION 4.7. Further Assurances and Corrective Instruments. The Issuer and the Company agree that they will, from time to time, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be executed, acknowledged and delivered, such supplements hereto and such further instruments as may reasonably be required for correcting any inadequate or incorrect description of the Project and for carrying out the intention or facilitating the performance of this Agreement. SECTION 4.8. Maintenance of Project by Company. The Company agrees that during the term of this Agreement it will pay all costs of operating, maintaining and repairing the Project; provided, however, that the Company shall not be under any obligation to renew, repair or replace any inadequate, obsolete, worn-out, unsuitable, undesirable or unnecessary portion of the Project. In any instance where the Company determines that any portion of the Project has become inadequate, obsolete, worn-out, unsuitable, undesirable or unnecessary, the Company may remove such portion of the Project and sell, trade-in, exchange or otherwise dispose of such removed portion without any responsibility or accountability to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Bondholders therefor. SECTION 4.9. Redemption or Purchase of Bonds. The Issuer shall take all steps then necessary under the applicable provisions of the Indenture and then applicable federal and state laws and regulations for the redemption or purchase of Bonds upon receipt by the Issuer and the Trustee from the Company of a written notice specifying: (a) the principal amount of Bonds to be redeemed or purchased; (b) the date of such redemption or purchase, which date, in the case of a redemption of Bonds, shall be at -7- least forty-five (45) days subsequent to the receipt by the Trustee of such notice; and (c) in the case of a redemption of Bonds, directions to mail a notice of redemption. In the case of a purchase of Bonds, the written notice to the Trustee shall, if available moneys in the Bond Fund are insufficient to purchase the principal amount of Bonds specified in (a) above, be accompanied by a deposit into the Bond Fund of cash or Government Obligations sufficient, together with other moneys then available in the Bond Fund, to make the directed purchase of Bonds. SECTION 4.10. Tax Covenants. The Company covenants and agrees that it will not use or permit the use by any person of any of the funds provided by the Issuer hereunder or any other of its funds, directly or indirectly, or direct the Trustee to invest any funds held by it under the Indenture or this Agreement, in such manner as would, or enter into, or allow any "related person" (as defined in Section 103(b)(13) of the 1954 Code) to enter into, any arrangement, formal or informal, that would, or take or omit to take any other action that would, cause any Bond to be an "arbitrage bond" within the meaning of Section 148(a) of the Code or result in the loss of the exclusion from gross income for federal income tax purposes of the interest paid on the Bonds to the extent afforded under Section 103 of the 1954 Code. The Company acknowledges Section 6.02 of the Indenture and agrees to perform all duties imposed upon it by such Section including but not limited to its obligations under the Rebate Agreement. Insofar as said Section imposes duties and responsibilities on the Company, it is specifically incorporated herein by reference. SECTION 4.11. Ad Valorem Taxes. The Project shall be subject to assessment thereof for ad valorem taxes in the manner provided by law. ARTICLE V EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES SECTION 5.1. Events of Default. Each of the following shall be an "Event of Default" under this Agreement: (a) Failure by the Company to pay when due the amounts required to be paid pursuant to the Notes or the failure by the Company to pay within 30 days of the date due any other amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Agreement. -8- (b) Failure by the Company to observe and perform any covenant, condition or agreement on its part to be observed or performed hereunder, other than as referred to in subsection (a) of this Section 5.1, for a period of 60 days after written notice, specifying such failure and requesting that it be remedied, is given to the Company by the Issuer or the Trustee, unless the Issuer and the Trustee shall agree in writing to an extension of such period prior to its expiration; provided, however, if the failure stated in the notice cannot be corrected within the applicable period, the Issuer and the Trustee will not unreasonably withhold their consent to an extension of such period if corrective action is instituted by the Company within the applicable period and diligently pursued until the failure is remedied. (c) The dissolution or liquidation of the Company, except as permitted by Section 4.5 hereof, or the commencement by the Company of any case or proceeding seeking to have an order for relief entered on its behalf as a debtor or to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent or seeking reorganization, liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, arrangement, composition, readjustment of its debts or any other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of the United States or any state, or adjudication of the Company as bankrupt, or an assignment by the Company for the benefit of its creditors, or the entry by the Company into an agreement of composition with its creditors, or the approval by a court of competent jurisdiction of a petition applicable to the Company in any proceeding for its reorganization instituted under the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or under any similar statutory provision which may hereafter be enacted. The foregoing provisions of Section 5.1(b) are subject to the limitation that, if by reason of force majeure the Company is unable in whole or in part to carry out its agreements herein contained other than those set forth in Sections 4.5 and 4.10 hereof, an Event of Default shall not be deemed to have occurred during the continuance of such inability. The term "force majeure" as used herein shall mean the following: acts of God; strikes; lockouts or other industrial disturbances; acts of public enemies; orders of any kind of the government of the United States or of any state or any of their departments, agencies or officials or of any civil or military authority; insurrections; riots; epidemics; landslides; lightning; earthquakes; fire; hurricanes; tornadoes; storms; floods; washouts; droughts; arrests; restraints of government and people; civil disturbances; explosions; breakage or accident to -9- machinery, transmission lines, pipes or canals; partial or entire failure of utilities; or any other cause or event not reasonably within the control of the Company. The Company agrees, however, to remedy to the extent practicable with all reasonable dispatch the effects of any force majeure preventing the Company from carrying out its agreements; provided that the settlement of strikes, lockouts and other industrial disturbances shall be entirely within the discretion of the Company, and the Company shall not be required to make settlement of strikes, lockouts and other industrial disturbances by acceding to the demands of the opposing party or parties when such course is in the judgment of the Company unfavorable to the Company. SECTION 5.2. Remedies on Default. Whenever any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Issuer may, in addition to any other remedy now or hereafter existing at law, in equity or by statute, take either or both of the following remedial steps: (a) By written notice to the Company, the Issuer may declare all amounts payable pursuant to the Notes to be immediately due and payable, whereupon the same shall become immediately due and payable. (b) The Issuer may take whatever action at law or in equity may appear necessary or desirable to collect the amounts referred to in (a) above then due and thereafter to become due, or to enforce performance and observance of any obligation, agreement or covenant of the Company under this Agreement. Any amounts collected pursuant to action taken under this Section 5.2 shall be paid into the Bond Fund and applied in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture or, if the Bonds have been fully paid (or provision for payment thereof has been made in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture) and the fees and expenses of the Trustee and the paying agents and all other amounts required to be paid under the Indenture shall have been paid, to the Company. SECTION 5.3. Agreement to Pay Attorneys' Fees and Expenses. In the event the Company should breach any of the provisions of the Notes or this Agreement and the Issuer should employ attorneys or incur other expenses for the collection of amounts payable hereunder or the enforcement of performance or observance of any obligation or agreement on the part of the Company herein contained, the Company agrees that it will on demand therefor pay to the Issuer the reasonable fees of such -10- attorneys and such other reasonable expenses so incurred by the Issuer. SECTION 5.4. No Additional Waiver Implied by One Waiver. In the event any provision contained in this Agreement should be breached by either party and thereafter waived by the other party, such waiver shall be limited to the particular breach so waived and shall not be deemed to waive any other breach hereunder. ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 6.1. Term of This Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect from the date hereof until such time as all of the outstanding Bonds shall have been fully paid or provision made therefor in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, whichever shall first occur, and the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agents and all other amounts payable by the Company under this Agreement and the Notes shall have been paid. SECTION 6.2. Notices. All notices, certificates or other communications hereunder shall be sufficiently given and shall be deemed given when delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: if to the Issuer, at 1306 Walter Sillers Building, 550 High Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39205, Attention: Executive Director; if to the Company, at 500 Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32501, Attention: Treasurer, with copies to Southern Company Services, Inc., 64 Perimeter Center East, Atlanta, Georgia 30346, Attention: Corporate Finance Department; and if to the Trustee, at 2510 14th Street, 1 Hancock Plaza, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501, Attention: Trust Department. A duplicate copy of each notice, certificate or other communication given hereunder by either the Issuer or the Company to the other shall also be given to the Trustee. The Issuer, the Company and the Trustee may, by notice given hereunder, designate any further or different addresses to which subsequent notices, certificates or other communications shall be sent. SECTION 6.3. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Issuer, the Company and their respective successors and assigns, subject, however, to the limitations contained in Section 4.5 hereof. -11- SECTION 6.4. Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any other provision hereof. SECTION 6.5. Amounts Remaining in the Bond Fund. Any amounts remaining in the Bond Fund upon termination of this Agreement shall, to the extent provided by Section 5.08 of the Indenture, belong to and be paid to the Company by the Trustee. SECTION 6.6. Amendments. This Agreement may not be effectively terminated except in accordance with the provisions hereof and may not be effectively amended except by a written agreement in accordance with Article XI of the Indenture and signed by the parties hereto. SECTION 6.7. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument. SECTION 6.8. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi. SECTION 6.9. Captions. The captions or headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of any provisions or sections of this Agreement. SECTION 6.10. Other Financing. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Issuer and the Company may hereafter enter into agreements to provide for the financing or refinancing of costs of the Project or any portion thereof in lieu of or in addition to the provisions herein for Additional Bonds. -12- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed in their respective corporate names and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested by their duly authorized officers, all as of the date first above written. MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION [SEAL] By: Executive Director ATTEST: Secretary GULF POWER COMPANY [SEAL] By: Vice President ATTEST: Secretary STATE OF MISSISSIPPI ) ) ss: COUNTY OF HARRISON ) Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said county and state, on this ____ day of February, 1996, within my jurisdiction, the within named William T. Barry and James Vernon Smith, Sr., who acknowledged that they are the Executive Director and Secretary of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, and that in said representative capacities they executed the above and foregoing instrument, after first have been duly authorized so to do. [SEAL] Notary Public My Commission Expires: - -------------------------- STATE OF FLORIDA ) ) ss: COUNTY OF ESCAMBIA ) Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said county and state, on this ____ day of February, 1996, within my jurisdiction, the within named A. E. Scarbrough and Warren E. Tate, who acknowledged that they are the Vice President and Secretary of Gulf Power Company, a Maine corporation, and that for and on behalf of the said corporation and as its act and deed they executed the above and foregoing instrument, after first having been duly authorized by said corporation so to do. [SEAL] Notary Public My Commission Expires: - -------------------------- EXHIBIT A GULF POWER COMPANY PROMISSORY NOTE $__________ [Date] GULF POWER COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maine (the "Company"), acknowledges itself indebted and for value received hereby promises to pay to the order of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation (the "Issuer"), and its successors and assigns, the principal sum of ___________________ DOLLARS ($________ ) together with interest on the unpaid principal balance thereof from the date hereof until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such sum shall be discharged at the rate borne by the Bonds referred to below. As additional interest hereon there shall be payable, and the Company promises to pay when due, amounts which shall equal the premium, if any, due on such Bonds in connection with the redemption thereof. This Note is issued to evidence a portion of the Loan (as defined in the Agreement hereinafter referred to) of the Issuer to the Company and the obligation of the Company to repay the same and shall be governed by and be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of a loan agreement (the "Agreement") between the Issuer and the Company dated as of February 1, 1996, pursuant to which the Issuer has loaned to the Company the proceeds of the sale of the Issuer's $__________ of Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series _____ (Gulf Power Company Project) (the "Bonds"). Additional similar Notes may be issued by the Company as provided in the Agreement. This Note (together with the Agreement) has been assigned to Hancock Bank (the "Trustee"), acting pursuant to a trust indenture dated as of February 1, 1996 (the "Indenture") between the Issuer and the Trustee, and may not be assigned by the Trustee except to a successor Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. Such assignment is made as security for the Bonds, and any other bonds which are or may at any time be issued and outstanding under the Indenture. The Bonds are dated and bear interest in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, payable on ____________________ and __________________________ in each year commencing ___________________ at the rate of ____________________ percent (____%) per annum, and mature on ______________________. The Bonds are subject to redemption prior to maturity as provided therein. Subject to the provisions of the Agreement, payments hereon are to be made by paying to the Trustee, as assignee of the Issuer, in funds which will be immediately available on the day payment is due, amounts which, and at or before times which, shall correspond to the payments with respect to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds whenever and in whatever manner the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, upon redemption or declaration or otherwise. If at the date any payments on the Bonds are due there are any available moneys in the Bond Fund established under the Indenture, such moneys shall be credited against the payment then due hereunder, first in respect of interest and then, to the extent of remaining moneys, in respect of principal. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, as defined in the Agreement, the principal of and interest on this Note may be declared immediately due and payable as provided in the Agreement. Neither the officers of the Company nor any persons executing this Note shall be liable personally or shall be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Gulf Power Company has caused this Note to be executed in its corporate name and on its behalf by its President, its Treasurer or a Vice President by his manual signature, and its corporate seal to be impressed hereon and attested by the manual signature of its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, all as of the date first above written. GULF POWER COMPANY [SEAL] By:__________________________ Title:______________________ Attest:_______________________ Title:________________________ ASSIGNMENT Pay to the order of Hancock Bank, as assignee of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, under the Trust Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1996, between the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation and Hancock Bank, as Trustee, securing the payment of Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series _____ (Gulf Power Company Project), in the original principal amount of $---------------. Dated:__________________ MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION By:__________________________ Title:_______________________ EX-99 4 EXHIBIT B-2 Exhibit B-2 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION to HANCOCK BANK, as Trustee TRUST INDENTURE Dated as of February 1, 1996 Relating to $21,200,000 Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUST INDENTURE TABLE OF CONTENTS (This Table of Contents is for convenience of reference only and is not a part of this Trust Indenture) Page PARTIES..................................................................... 1 RECITALS.................................................................... 1 FORM OF BOND.................................................................2 FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION..............................8 FORM OF REGISTRATION AND VALIDATION CERTIFICATE..............................8 GRANTING CLAUSE..............................................................9 HABENDUM CLAUSE.............................................................10 ARTICLE I 10 DEFINITIONS.............................................. 10 ARTICLE II THE BONDS 12 SECTION 2.01. Authorized Amount of Bonds................. 12 SECTION 2.02. Issuance of Bonds.......................... 12 SECTION 2.03. Form of Bonds.............................. 12 SECTION 2.04. Details, Execution and Payment............. 13 SECTION 2.05. Authentication, Registration, Exchange, Transfer and Ownership of Bonds.......................... 14 SECTION 2.06. Delivery of Series 1996 Bonds; Application of Proceeds.................................. 16 SECTION 2.07. Temporary Bonds............................ 17 SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed or Lost Bonds......... 17 SECTION 2.09. Destruction of Bonds....................... 18 SECTION 2.10. Additional Bonds........................... 18 ARTICLE III REDEMPTION OF BONDS BEFORE MATURITY 20 -i- SECTION 3.01. Redemption Dates and Prices................ 20 SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption....................... 20 SECTION 3.03. Effect of Call for Redemption.............. 21 SECTION 3.04. Partial Redemption......................... 21 SECTION 3.05. Funds in Trust; Unclaimed Funds............ 21 SECTION 3.06. Special Redemption......................... 22 SECTION 3.07. Surrender of First Mortgage Bonds.......... 22 SECTION 3.08. Satisfaction of First Mortgage Bonds....... 23 ARTICLE IV GENERAL COVENANTS 23 SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal and Premium, If Any, and Interest............................................. 23 SECTION 4.02. Performance of Covenants; Issuer........... 23 SECTION 4.03. Instruments of Further Assurance........... 24 SECTION 4.04. Recordation................................ 24 SECTION 4.05. Inspection of Project Books................ 24 SECTION 4.06. Rights Under Agreement..................... 24 SECTION 4.07. Designation of Additional Paying Agents.... 24 SECTION 4.08. Existence of Issuer........................ 25 ARTICLE V REVENUES AND FUNDS 25 SECTION 5.01. Source of Payment of Bonds................. 25 SECTION 5.02. Creation of Bond Fund...................... 25 SECTION 5.03. Payments into the Bond Fund................ 25 SECTION 5.04. Use of Moneys in the Bond Fund............. 26 SECTION 5.05. Custody of the Bond Fund................... 26 SECTION 5.06. Non-presentment of Bonds................... 26 SECTION 5.07. Moneys to Be Held in Trust................. 27 SECTION 5.08. Repayment to the Company from the Bond Fund..................................................... 27 SECTION 5.09. Transfers to Rebate Fund................... 27 ARTICLE VI INVESTMENTS 27 SECTION 6.01. Investment of Bond Fund Moneys............. 27 SECTION 6.02. Tax Covenants.............................. 28 ARTICLE VII RELEASE OF LIEN 29 SECTION 7.01. Release of Lien............................. 29 ARTICLE VIII -ii- DEFAULT PROVISIONS AND REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND BONDHOLDERS 30 SECTION 8.01. Events of Default.......................... 30 SECTION 8.02. Acceleration............................... 30 SECTION 8.03. Other Remedies............................. 31 SECTION 8.04. Legal Proceedings by Trustee............... 31 SECTION 8.05. Right of Bondholders to Direct Proceedings.............................................. 32 SECTION 8.06. Appointment of Receivers................... 32 SECTION 8.07. Waiver..................................... 32 SECTION 8.08. Application of Moneys...................... 32 SECTION 8.09. Remedies Vested in Trustee................. 34 SECTION 8.10. Rights and Remedies of Bondholders......... 34 SECTION 8.11. Termination of Proceedings................. 35 SECTION 8.12. Waivers of Events of Default............... 35 SECTION 8.13. Notice of Default under Section 8.01(c); Opportunity of Issuer and the Company to Cure Such Default.................................................. 36 ARTICLE IX THE TRUSTEE 36 SECTION 9.01. Acceptance of the Trusts................... 36 SECTION 9.02. Fees, Charges and Expenses of Trustee...... 39 SECTION 9.03. Notice to Bondholders if an Event of Default Occurs........................................... 39 SECTION 9.04. Intervention by Trustee.................... 40 SECTION 9.05. Successor Trustee.......................... 40 SECTION 9.06. Resignation by Trustee..................... 40 SECTION 9.07. Removal of Trustee......................... 40 SECTION 9.08. Appointment of Successor Trustee........... 40 SECTION 9.09. Concerning Any Successor Trustee........... 41 SECTION 9.10. Successor Trustee as Bond Registrar, Custodian of Bond Fund and Paying Agent.................. 41 SECTION 9.11. Trustee and Issuer Required to Accept Directions and Actions of Company........................ 42 SECTION 9.12. No Transfer of Notes or First Mortgage Bonds Held by the Trustee; Exception..................... 42 SECTION 9.13. Voting of First Mortgage Bonds Held by the Trustee.............................................. 42 ARTICLE X INDENTURES SUPPLEMENTAL HERETO 43 SECTION 10.01. Supplemental Indentures Not Requiring Consent of Bondholders................................... 43 SECTION 10.02. Supplemental Indentures Requiring Consent of Bondholders................................... 44 -iii- SECTION 10.03. Trustee Authorized to Join in Supplements; Reliance on Counsel......................... 45 ARTICLE XI AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT 45 SECTION 11.01. Amendments, Etc., to Agreement Not Requiring Consent of Bondholders......................... 45 SECTION 11.02. Amendments, Etc., to Agreement Requiring Consent of Bondholders................................... 46 SECTION 11.03. Trustee Authorized to Join in Amendments; Reliance on Counsel.......................... 46 ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS 46 SECTION 12.01. Consents, Etc., of Bondholders............ 46 SECTION 12.02. Limitation of Rights...................... 47 SECTION 12.03. Severability.............................. 47 SECTION 12.04. Notices................................... 47 SECTION 12.05. Trustee as Paying Agent and Bond Registrar................................................ 48 SECTION 12.06. Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays................................................. 48 SECTION 12.07. Counterparts.............................. 48 SECTION 12.08. Applicable Provisions of Law.............. 48 SECTION 12.09. Captions.................................. 48 SECTION 12.10. No Liability of Officers.................. 48 TESTIMONIUM.................................................................49 SIGNATURES AND SEALS........................................................49 -iv- THIS INDENTURE made and entered into as of February 1, 1996, by and between the MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION, a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi (the "Issuer"), and HANCOCK BANK, Gulfport, Mississippi, a bank duly organized, existing and authorized to accept and execute trusts of the character herein set out under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Mississippi, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). RECITALS WHEREAS, the Issuer is authorized by the provisions of Title 57, Chapter 10, Article 7 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended and supplemented (the "Act"), among other things, to provide financial assistance to businesses in the State of Mississippi by providing loans, guarantees, insurance and other assistance to businesses, thereby encouraging the investment of private capital in businesses in the State of Mississippi, and to finance such assistance to businesses by the issuance of revenue bonds; and WHEREAS, pursuant to its statutory powers, Jackson County, Mississippi (the "County") has entered into an Installment Sale Agreement dated as of April 1, 1991 with Gulf Power Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maine (the "Company"), pursuant to which the County issued and sold its Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Gulf Power Company Project) Series 1991 (the "Series 1991 Bonds") in the aggregate principal amount of $21,200,000 in order, inter alia, to refinance the cost of acquiring, installing and constructing certain pollution control facilities for use in connection with Plant Daniel located in Jackson County, Mississippi, which facilities comprise the Project (as defined in the Agreement hereinafter mentioned); and WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Company have entered into a Loan Agreement dated as of February 1, 1996 (the "Agreement") providing that, for the purposes therein set forth, the Issuer will issue and sell its Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Gulf Power Company Project) in one or more series (the "Bonds"); that the Issuer will loan the proceeds of the Bonds to the Company; that to evidence the Loan (as hereinafter defined) the Company will execute and deliver, concurrently with the issuance of each series of Bonds, a non-negotiable promissory note in a like principal amount bearing interest at the same stated rate or rates of interest as such series of Bonds; and that as security for its obligation to pay such promissory notes the Company will deliver to the Trustee, concurrently with the issuance of each series of Bonds, a like principal amount of the Company's first -1- mortgage bonds issued under and secured by the Company's First Mortgage (as hereinafter defined) in accordance with, and except as otherwise provided in, Section 3.4 of the Agreement; and WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the Agreement have been in all respects duly and validly authorized by resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Issuer (the "Board"); and WHEREAS, in order to provide funds to refund the Series 1991 Bonds, the Issuer has duly authorized the issuance and sale of its Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project) (hereinafter sometimes called the "Series 1996 Bonds"), in the aggregate principal amount of $21,200,000; and WHEREAS, the Issuer has determined that the Series 1996 Bonds and the certificate of authentication by the Trustee and the certificate of registration and validation to be endorsed on all the Series 1996 Bonds shall be, respectively, substantially in the following forms, with such variations, omissions and insertions as are required or permitted by this Indenture: [FORM OF BOND] No........... $ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA STATE OF MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION POLLUTION CONTROL REVENUE REFUNDING BOND, SERIES 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project) MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION (herein called the "Issuer"), a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi, for value received, hereby promises to pay, solely from the special fund provided therefor as hereinafter set forth, to , or registered assigns or legal representative, on the 1st day of February, 2026 (or earlier as hereinafter referred to), upon the presentation and surrender hereof at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee (hereinafter mentioned), the principal sum of DOLLARS in any coin or currency of the United States of America which on the date of payment thereof is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay, solely from said special fund, to the registered owner hereof by check or draft mailed to the registered owner at his address as it appears on the bond -2- registration books of the Issuer, interest on said principal sum from the latest semiannual interest payment date to which interest has been paid on Bonds of this series preceding the date hereof, unless the date hereof is an interest payment date to which interest is being paid, in which case from the date hereof, or unless the date hereof is prior to August 1, 1996, in which case from February 1, 1996, at the rate of ________________ Per Centum (____%) per annum until payment of said principal sum, such interest being payable semiannually on the 1st days of February and August (commencing August 1, 1996) in each year in like coin or currency. The interest payable on any February 1 or August 1 will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture (hereinafter mentioned), be paid to the person in whose name this Bond is registered at the close of business on the record date, which shall be the January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, next preceding such interest payment date or, if such January 15 or July 15 shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in Gulfport, Mississippi, are authorized to close, the next preceding day which shall not be a legal holiday or a day on which such institutions are so authorized to close. The Issuer is a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi. The Bonds (hereinafter mentioned) are authorized to be issued for purposes for which bonds are authorized to be issued under the provisions of Title 57, Chapter 10, Article 7 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended and supplemented (the "Act"). This Bond and the interest hereon shall not be deemed to constitute a debt, liability or obligation of the Issuer or the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof, or a pledge of the faith and credit of the Issuer or the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof, but this Bond shall be payable solely from the revenues provided therefor as hereinafter described and the Issuer is not obligated to pay this Bond or the interest hereon except from the revenues and proceeds pledged therefor and neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the Issuer or the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the premium, if any, or interest on this Bond. No covenant or agreement contained in this Bond shall be deemed to be a covenant or agreement of any member, officer, agent or employee of the Issuer in his individual capacity and no member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer nor any officer of the Issuer executing this Bond shall be liable personally on this Bond or be subject to any personal liability in connection with the issuance of this Bond. This Bond is one of a duly authorized series of revenue refunding bonds of the Issuer known as "Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project)", -3- issued for the purpose of refunding the $21,200,000 Jackson County, Mississippi Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Gulf Power Company Project) Series 1991 related to the refinancing of the acquisition, installation and construction of certain pollution control facilities (herein called the "Project"). The Bonds of this series initially authorized aggregate Twenty-One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($21,200,000) in principal amount. The Indenture provides for the issuance, under the conditions, limitations and restrictions therein set forth, of additional Bonds for the purpose of refunding Bonds of any series issued under the Indenture. The Bonds of this series and all such additional Bonds (herein called collectively the "Bonds") are issued or are to be issued under and pursuant to a trust indenture (said trust indenture, together with all trust indentures supplemental thereto as therein permitted, being herein called the "Indenture"), dated as of the 1st day of February, 1996, by and between the Issuer and Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi, as Trustee (said bank and any successor trustee under the Indenture being herein called the "Trustee"), an executed counterpart of which Indenture is on file at the principal office of the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the provisions, among others, with respect to the custody and application of the proceeds of Bonds issued under the Indenture, the collection and disposition of revenues, a description of the funds charged with and pledged to the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, the nature and extent of the security, the terms and conditions under which the Bonds are or may be issued, the rights, duties and obligations of the Issuer and of the Trustee, the rights of the holders of the Bonds and the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Indenture and the Agreement (hereinafter mentioned) may be amended, and, by the acceptance of this Bond, the holder hereof assents to all of the provisions of the Indenture. This Bond is issued and the Indenture was made and entered into under and pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi, and particularly the Act, and under and pursuant to resolutions duly adopted by the Issuer. The Issuer has entered into a Loan Agreement, dated as of February 1, 1996 (herein called the "Agreement"), with Gulf Power Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maine (herein called the "Company"), under the provisions of which the Issuer has loaned the proceeds of the Bonds of this series to the Company and has agreed to loan the proceeds of additional Bonds to the Company (herein called the "Loan"). In order to evidence the Loan and the Company's obligation to repay the same, the Company has executed and delivered its non-negotiable promissory note and has agreed to issue additional such notes concurrently with the issuance of -4- additional series of Bonds (herein called the "Notes"). The Notes provide for the repayment by the Company of the Loan, including interest thereon, in installments sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds as the same shall become due and payable. The Notes provide that the amounts so to be paid thereunder shall be paid directly to the Trustee as assignee of the Issuer; such payments are to be deposited to the credit of the Bond Fund as defined in and created under the Indenture which special fund is pledged to and charged with the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Bonds issued under the Indenture and such amounts so to be paid thereunder have been duly pledged and assigned for that purpose. In addition, certain other rights of the Issuer under the Agreement, including the Company's obligation (subject to certain exceptions) to deliver to the Trustee concurrently with the issuance of each series of Bonds a like principal amount of the Company's first mortgage bonds, have been assigned to the Trustee to secure payment of such principal, premium, if any, and interest under the Indenture. The Bonds are issuable as fully registered Bonds without coupons in denominations of $5,000 or any multiple thereof. At the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, in the manner and subject to the limitations, conditions and charges provided in the Indenture, Bonds may be exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of Bonds of the same maturity, of authorized denominations and bearing interest at the same rate. The Bonds of this series are non-callable for redemption prior to February 1, 2001, except in the event the Trustee and the Issuer shall have received written notice from the Company of its determination of the occurrence of certain events specified in Section 3.06 of the Indenture. If called for special redemption in such event, the Bonds of this series shall be subject to redemption at any time in whole at the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the redemption date but without premium. The Bonds of this series are also subject to redemption by the Issuer prior to maturity on or after February 1, 2001, in whole or in part at any time (but if in part by lot or in such other random manner as the Trustee in its discretion may determine), at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth in the table below plus accrued interest to the redemption date. -5- Redemption Period Redemption (all dates inclusive) Price February 1, 2001 through January 31, 2002.................... 102% February 1, 2002 through January 31, 2003.................... 101% February 1, 2003 and thereafter.............................. 100% Any such redemption, either in whole or in part, shall be made upon at least thirty (30) days' prior notice as provided in the Indenture, and shall be made in the manner and under the terms and conditions provided in the Indenture. On the date designated for redemption, notice having been given and moneys for payment of the redemption price and accrued interest being held by the Trustee or by the paying agents, all as provided in the Indenture, the Bonds or portions of Bonds so called for redemption shall become and be due and payable at the redemption price provided for redemption of such Bonds or such portions thereof on such date, interest on such Bonds or such portions thereof so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, such Bonds or such portions thereof so called for redemption shall cease to be entitled to any benefit or security under the Indenture, and the registered owners thereof shall have no rights in respect of such Bonds or such portions thereof so called for redemption except to receive payment of the redemption price and accrued interest thereon so held by the Trustee or by the paying agents. If a portion of this Bond shall be called for redemption, a new registered Bond without coupons in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued to the registered owner upon the surrender hereof. The holder of this Bond shall have no right to enforce the provisions of the Indenture or to institute action to enforce the covenants therein, or to take any action with respect to any event of default under the Indenture or to institute, appear in or defend any suit or other proceeding with respect thereto, except as provided in the Indenture. In certain events, on the conditions, in the manner and with the effect set forth in the Indenture, the principal of all the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture may become or may be declared due and payable before the stated maturity thereof, together with the interest accrued thereon. Modifications or alterations of the Indenture or any trust indenture supplemental thereto or of the Agreement may be made only to the extent and in the circumstances permitted by the Indenture. The transfer of this Bond may be registered by the registered owner hereof in person or by his attorney or legal representative at the principal corporate trust office of the -6- Trustee, but only in the manner and subject to the limitations and conditions provided in the Indenture and upon surrender and cancellation of this Bond. Upon any such registration of transfer the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for this Bond a new registered Bond or Bonds without coupons, registered in the name of the transferee, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of this Bond, of the same series and maturity and bearing interest at the same rate. This Bond is issued with the intent that the laws of the State of Mississippi shall govern its construction. As declared by the Act and other applicable laws of the State of Mississippi, this Bond shall have all the qualities and incidents, including negotiability, of an investment security under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Mississippi. All acts, conditions and things required to happen, exist and be performed precedent to and in the issuance of this Bond and the execution of the Indenture have happened, exist and have been performed as so required. This Bond shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose or be entitled to any benefit or security under the Indenture until it shall have been authenticated by the execution by the Trustee of the certificate of authentication endorsed hereon. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, by resolution of its Board of Directors, has caused this Bond to be executed in its name and on its behalf by the facsimile signature of its Executive Director, and by the manual or facsimile signature of its Secretary and a facsimile of its seal to be imprinted hereon. Dated: MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION (SEAL) By: Executive Director Attest: Secretary -7- [FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION] (To be endorsed on all Bonds) CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This Bond is one of the Bonds of the series designated therein and issued under the provisions of the within-mentioned Indenture. HANCOCK BANK, as Trustee By: Authorized Signature [FORM OF REGISTRATION AND VALIDATION CERTIFICATE] (To be endorsed on all Bonds) STATE OF MISSISSIPPI ) COUNTY OF HINDS ) SS: The undersigned, Secretary of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, does hereby certify that the within Bond has been duly registered by me pursuant to law in a book kept in my office for that purpose; and that the within Bond has been validated by decree of the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, rendered on the __th day of February, 1996. Secretary of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation -8- WHEREAS, all acts, conditions and things required by the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi to happen, exist and be performed precedent to and in connection with the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the Agreement have happened, exist and have been performed as so required, in order to make this Indenture a valid and binding trust indenture for the security of the Bonds in accordance with its terms and in order to make the Agreement a valid and binding agreement in accordance with its terms; and WHEREAS, the Trustee has accepted the trusts created by this Indenture and in evidence thereof has joined in the execution hereof. NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that in consideration of the premises, of the acceptance by the Trustee of the trusts hereby created, and the purchase and acceptance of the Bonds by the holders thereof, and also for and in consideration of the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) to the Issuer in hand paid by the Trustee at or before the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and for the purpose of fixing and declaring the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are to be issued, authenticated, delivered, secured and accepted by all persons who shall from time to time be or become holders thereof, and in order to secure the payment of all Bonds at any time issued and outstanding hereunder and the interest and the premium, if any, thereon according to their tenor, purport and effect, and in order to secure the performance and observance of all the covenants, agreements and conditions therein or herein contained; the Issuer has executed and delivered this Indenture, will cause the Company to deliver to the Trustee the Company's promissory note dated the date of the initial issuance of the Series 1996 Bonds and the Company's First Mortgage Bonds, ____% Pollution Control Series due February 1, 2026, and will cause the Company to deliver any other of its Notes and First Mortgage Bonds required in connection with the issuance of Additional Bonds (as hereinafter defined); the Issuer does hereby bargain, sell, convey, assign and pledge to the Trustee, and grant to the Trustee a security interest in, all rights, title and interests of the Issuer in, to and under such Notes and all payments made and to be made thereunder and in, to and under such First Mortgage Bonds and all payments, if any, made and to be made thereunder as security for the payment of all outstanding Series 1996 Bonds and any Additional Bonds and the interest and the premium, if any, thereon and does hereby bargain, sell, convey, assign and pledge to the Trustee, and grant to the Trustee a security interest in, all other rights, title and interests of the Issuer in, to and under the Agreement and all moneys receivable thereunder (except for payments to be received under Sections 4.3 and 5.3 of the Agreement) as security for the payment of the Bonds as aforesaid and the satisfaction of any other obligation assumed by it in -9- connection with all outstanding Bonds at any time issued hereunder; TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same unto the Trustee and its successors in trust forever; IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS, upon the terms and trusts herein set forth, for the equal and proportionate benefit and security of all and singular present and future holders of the Bonds issued and to be issued under this Indenture, without preference, priority or distinction as to lien or otherwise, except as otherwise hereinafter provided, of any one Bond over any other Bond, by reason of priority in the issue, sale or negotiation thereof or otherwise; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Issuer, its successors or assigns shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds due or to become due thereon, at the times and in the manner mentioned in the Bonds, and shall cause the payments to be made into the Bond Fund (hereinafter defined) as required under Article V hereof or shall provide, as permitted hereby, for the payment thereof pursuant to the provisions of Article VII hereof, and shall perform all the covenants and conditions required of it by this Indenture, and shall pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee and any additional paying agents all sums of money due or to become due to them in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof, then upon such final payments this Indenture and the rights hereby granted shall terminate and the Trustee shall release this Indenture and shall execute such documents to evidence such termination and release as may be reasonably required by the Issuer or the Company; otherwise this Indenture to be and remain in full force and effect. THIS INDENTURE FURTHER WITNESSETH, and it is expressly declared, that all Bonds from time to time issued and secured hereunder are to be issued, authenticated and delivered, and all said property, rights and interests, including, without limitation, the amounts hereby assigned and pledged, are to be dealt with and disposed of subject to the terms of this Indenture, and the Issuer agrees with the Trustee and with the respective holders and owners, from time to time, of said Bonds, or part thereof, as follows: ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS The terms "Act", "Agreement", "Board", "Company", "County", "Issuer" and "Series 1991 Bonds" have the same meanings given and assigned to such words in the Recitals hereto. The terms "First -10- Mortgage", "First Mortgage Bonds", "Loan", "Notes", "Project" and "Series 1996 Bonds" defined in Article I of the Agreement shall have the same meanings in this Indenture. In addition, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: "Additional Bonds" means the bonds authorized to be issued under Section 2.10 of this Indenture. "Bond Fund" means the trust fund created by Section 5.02 of this Indenture. "Bondholder" or "holder" or "owner of the Bonds" means the person or entity in whose name any Bond is registered. "Bonds" means the bonds authorized to be issued under Sections 2.02 and 2.10 of this Indenture. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "event of default" means any occurrence or event described in Section 8.01 hereof. "First Mortgage Trustee" means the trustee at the time serving as such under the First Mortgage. "Government Obligations" means (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged, or (b) obligations issued by a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the United States of America, the timely payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America. "Indenture" means this trust indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto. "1954 Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. "outstanding" or "Bonds outstanding" means all Bonds which have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except: (a) Bonds cancelled after purchase or because of payment at or redemption prior to maturity; (b) Bonds for the payment or redemption of which all necessary moneys or Government Obligations shall have been theretofore deposited with the Trustee (whether upon or prior to the maturity or redemption date of any such Bonds); provided that, if such Bonds are to be redeemed prior to the -11- maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given or arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made therefor, or waiver of such notice satisfactory in form to the Trustee shall have been filed with the Trustee; (c) Bonds in exchange for which, or upon the transfer of which, other Bonds have been authenticated under Section 2.05 hereof; and (d) Bonds in lieu of which other Bonds have been authenticated under Sections 2.07 and 2.08 hereof. "Rebate Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09 hereof. "Supplemental Indenture" means the Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 1, 1996 between the Company and the First Mortgage Trustee. "Trustee" means the trustee serving as such under this Indenture, including any successor Trustee serving or appointed pursuant to Section 9.05 or 9.08 hereof. ARTICLE II THE BONDS SECTION 2.01. Authorized Amount of Bonds. No Bonds may be issued under the provisions of this Indenture except in accordance with this Article II. SECTION 2.02. Issuance of Bonds. There shall be initially issued under and secured by this Indenture Bonds of the Issuer, in the aggregate principal amount of Twenty-One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($21,200,000) for the purpose of refunding the Series 1991 Bonds related to the refinancing of the acquisition, installation and construction of the Project. Said Bonds shall be designated "Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project)", shall bear interest (calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and twelve 30-day months) at the rate of ________________ per centum (____%) per annum, which interest shall be payable semi-annually on the 1st days of February and August in each year, commencing August 1, 1996, and shall mature, subject to prior redemption as hereinafter set forth, on the 1st day of February, 2026. SECTION 2.03. Form of Bonds. The definitive Bonds are issuable as fully registered Bonds without coupons in denominations of $5,000 or any multiple thereof. The definitive Bonds shall be substantially in the form hereinabove set forth, with such appropriate variations, omissions and insertions as are -12- permitted or required by this Indenture and may have endorsed thereon such legends or text as may be necessary or appropriate to conform to any applicable rules and regulations of any governmental authority or any usage or requirement of law with respect thereto. SECTION 2.04. Details, Execution and Payment. Each Bond of each series shall be dated as of the date of authentication, and shall bear interest from the latest semi-annual interest payment date to which interest has been paid on the Bonds of such series preceding the date of authentication, unless such date of authentication is an interest payment date to which interest is being paid on the Bonds of such series, in which case it shall bear interest from such date of authentication, provided that Bonds of each series authenticated prior to the first interest payment date of such series shall bear interest from a date specified for such series, which date, in the case of the Series 1996 Bonds, shall be February 1, 1996. The Bonds shall be executed by the facsimile signature of the Executive Director of the Issuer and by the manual or facsimile signature of its Secretary and the seal of the Issuer or a facsimile thereof shall be affixed thereto or imprinted thereon. All authorized facsimile signatures shall have the same force and effect as manual signatures. In case any officer whose signature or facsimile signature shall appear on any Bonds shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such Bonds, such signature or such facsimile signature shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes as if such officer had remained in office until such delivery, and also any Bond may be signed by or bear the facsimile signature of such persons as at the actual time of the execution of such Bond shall be the proper officers to sign such Bond although at the date of delivery of such Bond such persons may not have been such officers. The principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds shall be payable in any coin or currency of the United States of America which on the respective dates of payment thereof is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts. The principal of and premium, if any, on all Bonds shall be payable at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, and payment of the interest on each Bond shall be made by the Trustee on each interest payment date to the person appearing on the registration books of the Issuer hereinafter provided for as the owner thereof, by check or draft mailed to such owner at his address as it appears on such registration books. Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, on all -13- Bonds shall be made upon the presentation and surrender of such Bonds as the same shall become due and payable. The person in whose name any Bond of any series is registered at the close of business on any record date (as hereinafter defined) with respect to any interest payment date for the Bonds of such series shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding the cancellation of such Bond upon any transfer or exchange thereof subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date, except if and to the extent there shall be a default in the payment of the interest due on such interest payment date, in which case such defaulted interest shall be paid to the person in whose name such Bond (or any Bond or Bonds issued, directly or after intermediate transactions, upon transfer or exchange or in substitution thereof) is registered on a subsequent record date for such payment established as hereinafter provided. A subsequent record date may be established by the Issuer at the direction of the Company by notice mailed to the holders of the Bonds of the affected series not less than ten days preceding such record date, which record date shall not be less than five nor more than thirty days prior to the subsequent interest payment date. The term "record date" as used in this Section 2.04 with respect to any regular interest payment date shall mean the fifteenth day of the month next preceding such interest payment date, if such interest payment date shall be the first day of a month, or the first day of the month in which such interest payment date shall fall, if such interest payment date shall be the fifteenth day of a month, or, if such day shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in Gulfport, Mississippi are authorized by law to close, the next preceding day which shall not be a legal holiday or a day on which such institutions are so authorized to close. SECTION 2.05. Authentication, Registration, Exchange, Transfer and Ownership of Bonds. Only such of the Bonds as shall have endorsed thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinabove set forth, duly executed by the Trustee, shall be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture. No Bond shall be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless and until such certificate of authentication shall have been duly executed by the Trustee, and such certificate of the Trustee upon any such Bond shall be conclusive evidence that such Bond has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. The Trustee's certificate of authentication on any Bond shall be deemed to have been duly executed if signed by an authorized representative of the Trustee, but it shall not be necessary that the same officer sign the certificate of authentication on all of the Bonds that may be issued hereunder at any one time. -14- Bonds, upon surrender thereof at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, together with an assignment duly executed by the owner or his attorney or legal representative in such form as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee, may, at the option of the owner thereof, be exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of Bonds of the same series and maturity, of any denomination or denominations authorized by this Indenture, and bearing interest at the same rate. The Trustee is hereby appointed as bond registrar (the "Bond Registrar") and as such shall keep books for the registration and for the registration of transfer of Bonds as provided in this Indenture. The transfer of any Bond may be registered only upon the books kept for the registration and registration of transfer of Bonds upon surrender thereof to the Bond Registrar together with an assignment duly executed by the owner or his attorney or legal representative in such form as shall be satisfactory to the Bond Registrar. Upon any such registration of transfer, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such Bond a new Bond or Bonds, registered in the name of the transferee, of any denomination or denominations authorized by this Indenture in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Bond of the same series and maturity and bearing interest at the same rate. In all cases in which Bonds shall be exchanged or the transfer of Bonds shall be registered hereunder, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver at the earliest practicable time Bonds in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. All Bonds surrendered in any such exchange or registration of transfer shall forthwith be cancelled by the Trustee. The Issuer or the Trustee may make a charge for every such exchange or registration of transfer of Bonds sufficient to reimburse it for any tax, fee or other governmental charge required to be paid with respect to such exchange or registration of transfer, and such charge shall be paid before any such new Bonds shall be delivered. As to any Bond, the person in whose name the same shall be registered shall be deemed and regarded as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and payment of or on account of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Bond shall be made only to or upon the order of the owner thereof or his legal representative. All such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon such Bond, including the interest thereon, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid. Neither the Issuer, the Trustee, the Company nor the Bond Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. -15- SECTION 2.06. Delivery of Series 1996 Bonds; Application of Proceeds. Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee and the Trustee shall authenticate the Series 1996 Bonds and deliver them to the purchasers thereof as directed by the Issuer as hereinafter in this Section 2.06 provided. Prior to the delivery by the Trustee of any Series 1996 Bonds, there shall be delivered to the Trustee: (a) A copy, certified by the Secretary of the Issuer, of the resolutions adopted by the Board authorizing the execution and delivery of the Agreement, authorizing the acceptance and assignment of a Note, and authorizing the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the issuance of the Series 1996 Bonds. (b) An executed counterpart of the Agreement. (c) A certificate of the Company stating that the Company has approved the issuance of the Series 1996 Bonds and the price thereof as required by Section 2.2 of the Agreement. (d) A request and authorization to the Trustee on behalf of the Issuer, signed by the Executive Director of the Issuer, to authenticate and deliver the Series 1996 Bonds to the purchasers therein identified upon payment to the Trustee, but for the account of the Issuer, of a sum specified in such request and authorization. (e) A Note duly executed on behalf of the Company and assigned to the Trustee. (f) An executed counterpart of the Supplemental Indenture. (g) First Mortgage Bonds duly executed and authenticated. (h) An opinion of nationally recognized counsel experienced on the subject of municipal bonds and acceptable to the Trustee that the interest on the Series 1996 Bonds is excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes, except for interest on any Series 1996 Bond for any period during which it is held by a person who is a "substantial user" of the Project or a "related person" as defined in the 1954 Code. (i) A copy of the request filed by the Company with the County for the redemption of the Series 1991 Bonds, and -16- a certified copy of the resolutions of the County calling the Series 1991 Bonds for redemption. Upon the issuance and delivery of the Series 1996 Bonds, the Trustee shall apply the proceeds from the sale of the Series 1996 Bonds as follows: (a) The accrued interest (if any) received from the sale of the Series 1996 Bonds shall be deposited into the Bond Fund; and (b) The balance of such proceeds shall be deposited with the trustee under the Trust Indenture dated as of January __, 1991, pursuant to which the Series 1991 Bonds were issued and secured, and shall be applied solely to the redemption of the Series 1991 Bonds. SECTION 2.07. Temporary Bonds. Until definitive Bonds are ready for delivery, there may be executed, and upon request of the Issuer the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of definitive Bonds and subject to the same limitations and conditions, temporary printed, engraved, lithographed or typewritten Bonds, in the form of registered Bonds without coupons in the denomination of $5,000 or any multiple thereof, substantially of the tenor hereinabove set forth and with such appropriate omissions, insertions and variations as may be required. Until definitive Bonds are ready for delivery, any temporary Bond may be exchanged at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, without charge to the holder thereof, for an equal aggregate principal amount of temporary Bonds of like tenor, of the same series and maturity and bearing interest at the same rate. If temporary Bonds shall be issued, the Issuer shall cause the definitive Bonds to be prepared and to be executed and delivered to the Trustee, and the Trustee, upon presentation to it at its principal corporate trust office of any temporary Bond, shall cancel the same and authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, without charge to the holder thereof, a definitive Bond or Bonds of an equal aggregate principal amount, of the same series and maturity and bearing interest at the same rate as the temporary Bond surrendered. Until so exchanged the temporary Bonds shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefit and security of this Indenture as the definitive Bonds to be issued and authenticated hereunder. SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed or Lost Bonds. In case any Bond secured hereby shall become mutilated or be destroyed or lost, the Issuer shall cause to be executed, and the Trustee -17- shall authenticate and deliver, a new Bond of like date and tenor in exchange and substitution for and upon the cancellation of such mutilated Bond, or in lieu of and in substitution for such Bond destroyed or lost, upon the holder's paying the reasonable expenses and charges of the Issuer and the Trustee in connection therewith and, in the case of a Bond destroyed or lost, his filing with the Trustee evidence satisfactory to it that such Bond was destroyed or lost, and of his ownership thereof, and furnishing the Issuer and the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to them. SECTION 2.09. Destruction of Bonds. All Bonds paid, redeemed or purchased, either at or before maturity, shall be cancelled upon the payment, redemption or purchase of such Bonds and shall be delivered to the Trustee when such payment, redemption or purchase is made. All Bonds cancelled under any of the provisions of this Indenture shall be destroyed, in accordance with applicable law, by the Trustee, which shall execute a certificate in triplicate describing the Bonds so destroyed, and one executed certificate shall be filed with the Issuer and one with the Company and the other executed certificate shall be retained by the Trustee. SECTION 2.10. Additional Bonds. Additional Bonds may be issued under and secured by this Indenture at one time or from time to time, in addition to the Series 1996 Bonds and, subject to the conditions hereinafter provided in this Section 2.10, for the purpose of providing funds for refunding any of the Bonds then outstanding of any series, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon, interest to accrue to the selected redemption date, any serial maturities to become due prior to the selected redemption date and any expenses in connection with such refunding (any such Additional Bonds to be identified as "Refunding Bonds"). Before any Additional Bonds shall be issued under the provisions of this Section 2.10, the Board shall adopt a resolution authorizing the issuance of such Additional Bonds, fixing the amount thereof and designating the outstanding Bonds to be refunded with the proceeds of such Additional Bonds. Such Additional Bonds shall be designated, shall be stated to mature on such date or dates and in such year or years, shall bear interest, payable on such dates, at such rate or rates not exceeding the maximum rate then permitted by law, and may be made redeemable at such times and prices (subject to the provisions of Article III of this Indenture), as all may be provided by the resolution authorizing the issuance of such Additional Bonds. Except as to any difference in the date, the maturity or maturities, the rate or rates of interest or the provisions for redemption by sinking fund or otherwise, such Additional Bonds shall be on a parity with and shall be entitled to the same benefit and security of this Indenture as the Series 1996 Bonds. -18- Such Additional Bonds shall be executed substantially in the form and manner hereinabove set forth and shall be deposited with the Trustee for authentication, but before such Additional Bonds shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, there shall be delivered to the Trustee the following: (a) A copy, certified by the Secretary of the Issuer, of the resolution adopted by the Board authorizing the issuance of such Additional Bonds in the amount specified therein, authorizing the acceptance and assignment of a Note, and providing for the application of the proceeds. (b) A certificate stating that the Company has approved the issuance of such Additional Bonds, including the terms, manner of issuance, purchase price and disposition of the proceeds thereof, and the terms and conditions of any supplement to this Indenture entered into in connection with such Additional Bonds. (c) An executed counterpart of any amendment to the Agreement. (d) An opinion of nationally recognized counsel experienced on the subject of municipal bonds and acceptable to the Trustee that the issuance of such Additional Bonds and the application of the proceeds of such Additional Bonds to the purpose or purposes described in the resolution mentioned in clause (a) of this Section 2.10 will not result in the interest on any Bonds theretofore issued under this Indenture and then outstanding or any portion thereof becoming included in gross income for federal income tax purposes, except as to any such Bond held by a "substantial user" of the Project or a "related person" within the meaning of the 1954 Code, and that the interest on such Additional Bonds will be so excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes. (e) A Note duly executed on behalf of the Company and assigned to the Trustee. (f) First Mortgage Bonds duly executed and authenticated in accordance with Section 3.4 of the Agreement; provided, however, that if such Additional Bonds are issued for the purpose of refunding all of the Bonds then outstanding, the Company may elect not to deliver First Mortgage Bonds. (g) If First Mortgage Bonds are to be delivered, an executed counterpart of a Supplemental Indenture to the First Mortgage providing for the issuance of such First Mortgage Bonds. -19- (h) A copy of the request filed by the Company with the Issuer for the refunding of outstanding Bonds, and a certified copy of the resolution of the Board with respect to such refunding. ARTICLE III REDEMPTION OF BONDS BEFORE MATURITY SECTION 3.01. Redemption Dates and Prices. The Series 1996 Bonds are non-callable for redemption except as provided in this Section 3.01. The Bonds are subject to special redemption by the Issuer, upon request of the Company under Section 4.9 of the Agreement, pursuant to the special redemption provisions of Section 3.06 hereof at the times specified in the notice given by the Issuer as provided in Section 3.06 hereof at the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the redemption date but without premium. The Series 1996 Bonds are subject to redemption by the Issuer prior to maturity on or after February 1, 2001, in whole or in part at any time, as requested by the Company pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Agreement, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth in the table below plus accrued interest to the redemption date: Redemption Period Redemption (all dates inclusive) Price February 1, 2001 through January 31, 2002. . 102% February 1, 2002 through January 31, 2003. . 101 February 1, 2003 and thereafter. . . . . . . 100 If less than all of the Bonds of a series shall be called for redemption, the particular Bonds or portions of Bonds to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee by lot or in such other random manner as the Trustee in its discretion may determine. SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption. At least thirty (30) days before the redemption date of any Bonds, either in whole or in part, the Trustee shall cause a notice of any such redemption to be mailed, postage prepaid, to all owners of Bonds to be redeemed in whole or in part at their addresses as they appear on the registration books hereinabove provided for. Each such notice shall set forth the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price to be paid and, if less than all of the Bonds then outstanding shall be called for redemption, the distinctive numbers and letters, if any, of such Bonds to be redeemed and, in the case of Bonds to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the -20- principal amount thereof to be redeemed. In case any Bond is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption which relates to such Bond shall state also that on or after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Bond, a new Bond in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of such Bond will be issued. Upon the mailing by the Trustee of a redemption notice in accordance with this Section 3.02 for the purpose of redeeming Series 1996 Bonds, the Trustee shall deliver a written demand to the First Mortgage Trustee in accordance with the penultimate or last paragraph, as the case may be, of Section 2 of the Supplemental Indenture. SECTION 3.03. Effect of Call for Redemption. On the date so designated for redemption, notice having been given in the manner and under the conditions hereinabove provided, the Bonds or portions of Bonds so called for redemption shall become and be due and payable at the redemption price provided for redemption for such Bonds or portions of Bonds on such date, and moneys for payment of the redemption price and accrued interest to the redemption date being held by the Trustee in a separate account in the Bond Fund in trust for the holders of the Bonds or portions thereof to be redeemed, all as provided in this Indenture, interest on the Bonds or portions of Bonds so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, such Bonds or portions of Bonds shall cease to be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture, and the holder of such Bonds or portions of Bonds shall have no rights in respect thereof except to receive payment of the redemption price thereof and accrued interest to the redemption date. SECTION 3.04. Partial Redemption. In case part but not all of an outstanding Bond shall be selected for redemption, the owner thereof or his attorney or legal representative shall present and surrender such Bond to the Trustee for payment of the principal amount thereof so called for redemption, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the order of such owner or his attorney or legal representative, without charge therefor, for the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Bond so surrendered, a Bond of the same series and maturity and bearing interest at the same rate. SECTION 3.05. Funds in Trust; Unclaimed Funds. All moneys which the Trustee shall have withdrawn from the Bond Fund or shall have received from any other source and set aside, or deposited with the paying agents, for the purpose of paying any of the Bonds hereby secured, either at the maturity thereof or upon call for redemption, shall be held in trust for the respective holders of such Bonds. But any moneys which shall be so set aside or deposited by the Trustee and which shall remain unclaimed by the holders of such Bonds for a period of five (5) -21- years after the date on which such Bonds shall have become due and payable shall upon request in writing be paid to the Company or to such officer, board or body as may then be entitled by law to receive the same, and thereafter the holders of such Bonds shall look only to the Company or to such officer, board or body, as the case may be, for payment and then only to the extent of the amount so received without any interest thereon, and the Trustee, the Issuer and the paying agents shall have no responsibility with respect to such moneys. SECTION 3.06. Special Redemption. The Bonds are subject to redemption in whole at any time and without premium upon receipt by the Trustee and the Issuer of a written notice from the Company stating the Company has determined that: (i) any federal, state or local body exercising governmental or judicial authority has taken any action which results in the imposition of unreasonable burdens or excessive liabilities with respect to the Project, or Plant Daniel served by the Project, rendering impracticable or uneconomical the operation by the Company of either the Project or such generating facility, including, without limitation, the condemnation or taking by eminent domain of all or substantially all of the Project or such generating facility; or (ii) changes in the economic availability of raw materials, operating supplies or facilities or technological or other changes have made the continued operation of such generating facility as an efficient generating facility uneconomical; or (iii) the Project or such generating facility has been damaged or destroyed to such an extent that it is not practicable or desirable to rebuild, repair or restore the Project or such generating facility. If the Issuer shall have received such notice by the Company, the Issuer, upon request of the Company, shall give written notice to the Trustee directing the Trustee to take all action necessary to redeem the outstanding Bonds in whole and on a date specified in such notice, which date shall be not less than forty-five (45) nor more than ninety (90) days from the date the notice is received by the Trustee. SECTION 3.07. Surrender of First Mortgage Bonds. When any Bonds shall be cancelled by the Trustee or shall otherwise cease to be secured by the lien of this Indenture as provided in Section 7.01 hereof, the Trustee shall surrender to the Company First Mortgage Bonds of the series pledged hereunder in connection with the initial delivery by the Trustee of, and of the same maturity as, such Bonds in a principal amount equal to, -22- but not exceeding, the principal amount of such Bonds. For the purposes of this Section 3.07, delivery to or acquisition by the Trustee of Bonds for cancellation (other than in connection with a permitted exchange or registration of transfer of ownership) shall be deemed to constitute receipt by the Trustee of moneys sufficient to pay, purchase or redeem the Bonds so delivered. SECTION 3.08. Satisfaction of First Mortgage Bonds. The Issuer and the Trustee agree that the obligations of the Company to make payment with respect to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the First Mortgage Bonds pledged hereunder in connection with the initial delivery of the Series 1996 Bonds shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent and as provided in the first paragraph of Section 2 of the Supplemental Indenture. The Trustee shall give the notice provided for in such Section within ten (10) days after a payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Series 1996 Bonds shall not have been made when due and there are not sufficient available funds in the Bond Fund to make such payment. ARTICLE IV GENERAL COVENANTS SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal and Premium, If Any, and Interest. The Issuer covenants that it will promptly pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on every Bond issued under this Indenture at the place, on the dates and in the manner provided herein and in said Bonds according to the true intent and meaning thereof, but only from the revenues and receipts specifically pledged herein for such purposes. SECTION 4.02. Performance of Covenants; Issuer. The Issuer covenants that it will faithfully perform at all times any and all covenants, undertakings, stipulations and provisions contained in this Indenture, in any and every Bond executed, authenticated and delivered hereunder and in all of its proceedings pertaining hereto. The Issuer covenants that it is duly authorized under the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi, including particularly and without limitation the Act, to issue the Series 1996 Bonds authorized hereby and to execute this Indenture, to accept, assign and pledge the Notes and the Agreement and the amounts payable under the Notes and the First Mortgage Bonds, and to pledge the amounts hereby pledged in the manner and to the extent herein set forth; that all action on its part necessary for the issuance of the Series 1996 Bonds and the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the Agreement has been duly and effectively taken; and that the Series 1996 Bonds in the hands of the owners thereof are and will be valid and enforceable obligations of the Issuer according to the terms thereof and hereof. -23- SECTION 4.03. Instruments of Further Assurance. The Issuer covenants that, at the direction and expense of the Company, it will do, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be done, executed, acknowledged and delivered, such indentures supplemental hereto and such further acts, instruments and transfers as the Trustee may reasonably require for the better pledging and assigning unto the Trustee all and singular the rights to payments under the Notes, the Agreement and the First Mortgage Bonds and any other income and other moneys pledged hereby to the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds. The Issuer further covenants that it will not create or suffer to be created any lien, encumbrance or charge upon its interest in the Project or any part thereof, the Notes, the Agreement or the First Mortgage Bonds, if any, except the lien of this Indenture. SECTION 4.04. Recordation. The Issuer covenants that, at the direction and expense of the Company, it will cause all instruments as may be necessary to perfect and preserve the security interest created by this Indenture to be recorded or filed in such manner and in such places as may be required by law. SECTION 4.05. Inspection of Project Books. The Issuer covenants and agrees that all books and documents in its possession relating to the Project shall at all times be open to inspection by the Trustee and its duly authorized agents. SECTION 4.06. Rights Under Agreement. The Agreement, a duly executed counterpart of which has been filed with the Trustee, sets forth the covenants and obligations of the Issuer and the Company, and reference is hereby made to the same for a detailed statement of said covenants and obligations of the Company thereunder; and the Issuer agrees that the Trustee in its own name or in the name of the Issuer may enforce all rights of the Issuer and all obligations of the Company under and pursuant to the Agreement for and on behalf of the Bondholders, whether or not the Issuer is in default hereunder. SECTION 4.07. Designation of Additional Paying Agents. The Issuer shall cause, at the direction of the Company, the necessary arrangements to be made through the Trustee and to be thereafter continued for the designation of additional paying agents and for providing for the payment of such of the Bonds as shall be presented when due at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, or its successor in trust hereunder, or at the principal office of said additional paying agents. All such funds held by said additional paying agents shall be held by each of them in trust and shall constitute a part of the trust estate and shall be subject to the security interest created hereby. -24- SECTION 4.08. Existence of Issuer. The Issuer covenants that it will at all times maintain its corporate existence and will duly procure any necessary renewals and extensions thereof; will use its best efforts to maintain, preserve and renew all the rights, powers, privileges and franchises owned by it; and will comply with all valid acts, rules, regulations and orders of any legislative, executive, judicial or administrative body applicable to the Project and the matters herein provided for. ARTICLE V REVENUES AND FUNDS SECTION 5.01. Source of Payment of Bonds. The Bonds authenticated and delivered hereunder are the obligations of the Issuer and the Issuer shall make payments hereunder in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Bonds. Such Bonds are not general obligations of the Issuer or the State of Mississippi or any county, municipality or political subdivision thereof, but are limited obligations payable solely from revenues and proceeds derived from the Notes, the Agreement and the First Mortgage Bonds and as provided herein. SECTION 5.02. Creation of Bond Fund. There is hereby created and established with the Trustee a trust fund to be designated "Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1996 (Gulf Power Company Project) Bond Fund". Moneys deposited therein shall be used to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds as provided in this Indenture. SECTION 5.03. Payments into the Bond Fund. There shall be deposited into the Bond Fund that portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Series 1996 Bonds consisting of accrued interest on the Series 1996 Bonds up to the date of their delivery. In addition, there shall be deposited into the Bond Fund, as and when received, (i) all repayments of the Loan and interest thereon made pursuant to the Notes and the Agreement; (ii) all other moneys received by the Trustee under and pursuant to any of the provisions of the Agreement which are required, or which are accompanied by directions from the Company that such moneys are, to be paid into the Bond Fund; and (iii) all payments, if any, made to the Trustee as holder of First Mortgage Bonds. The Issuer hereby covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, it will deposit, or cause to be paid to the Trustee for deposit in the Bond Fund for its account, sufficient sums from revenues derived pursuant to the Notes promptly to meet and pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds as the same become due and payable; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the Issuer to use any funds or revenues from any source -25- other than revenues derived pursuant to the Notes, the Agreement or the First Mortgage Bonds. The Trustee is authorized to receive at any time payments or prepayments from the Company pursuant to the Notes and the Agreement for deposit in the Bond Fund. SECTION 5.04. Use of Moneys in the Bond Fund. All interest accruing on the Series 1996 Bonds up to the date of their delivery will be paid from the amounts deposited in the Bond Fund pursuant to the first sentence of Section 5.03 hereof. Except as provided in this Indenture, moneys in the Bond Fund shall be used solely for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds. Upon receipt of a written notice from the Company pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Agreement and, in the case of a directed purchase of Bonds, upon the deposit of cash or Government Obligations in the Bond Fund sufficient, together with other amounts available therefor in the Bond Fund, to make the directed purchase of Bonds, the Issuer and the Trustee covenant and agree to take and cause to be taken the necessary steps to redeem or purchase such principal amount of Bonds as specified by the Company in such written notice; provided, however, that any available moneys in the Bond Fund may be used on direction of the Company to redeem a part of the Bonds outstanding and then redeemable or to purchase Bonds for cancellation so long as the Company is not in default with respect to any payments required pursuant to the Notes and the Agreement and to the extent said moneys are in excess of the amount required for payment of the Bonds theretofore matured or called for redemption and interest accrued and payable in respect of outstanding Bonds. SECTION 5.05. Custody of the Bond Fund. The Bond Fund shall be in the custody of the Trustee but in the name of the Issuer, and the Issuer hereby authorizes and directs the Trustee to withdraw sufficient funds from the Bond Fund to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds as the same become due and payable and to make said funds so withdrawn available to the paying agents hereunder at their principal office, for the purpose of paying said principal and premium, if any, and interest, which authorization and direction the Trustee hereby accepts. SECTION 5.06. Non-presentment of Bonds. In the event any Bond shall not be presented for payment when the principal thereof becomes due, either at maturity or at the date fixed for redemption thereof, if funds sufficient to pay such Bond shall have been deposited in the Bond Fund or otherwise made available to the Trustee through deposit therein as provided in Section 5.03, all liability of the Issuer to the holder thereof for the payment of such Bond shall forthwith cease, terminate and be completely discharged, and thereupon it shall be the duty of the Trustee to hold such funds within a separate account in the Bond Fund, subject to the provisions of Section 3.05 hereof, without -26- liability for interest thereon, for the benefit of the holder of such Bond, which shall thereafter (subject to the provisions of Section 3.05 hereof) be restricted exclusively to such funds for any claim of whatever nature on his part under this Indenture or on, or with respect to, said Bond. SECTION 5.07. Moneys to Be Held in Trust. All moneys required to be deposited with or paid to the Trustee for the account of the Bond Fund under any provision of this Indenture shall be held by the Trustee in trust, and except for moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee for the redemption of Bonds or the payment of Bonds including Bonds which are deemed to be paid within the meaning of Section 7.01 hereof, shall, while held by the Trustee, constitute part of the trust estate and be subject to the security interest created hereby. SECTION 5.08. Repayment to the Company from the Bond Fund. Any amounts remaining in the Bond Fund (other than moneys, if any, set aside as provided in Sections 3.03, 3.05, 5.06 and 7.01 hereof), after payment in full of the Bonds (or provision for payment thereof having been made in accordance with this Indenture), the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any additional paying agent and all other amounts required to be paid hereunder and under the Rebate Agreement, shall be repaid to the Company as provided in Section 6.5 of the Agreement. SECTION 5.09. Transfers to Rebate Fund. Anything contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding (a) the "Rebate Fund" established under the Arbitrage Rebate Agreement by and among the Issuer, the Trustee and the Company dated as of February 1, 1996 and related to the Bonds (the "Rebate Agreement") shall not be considered part of the "trust estate" created or pledged by this Indenture and (b) the Trustee shall be permitted to transfer money on deposit in the Bond Fund to the Rebate Fund established under the Rebate Agreement to satisfy the provisions of the Rebate Agreement. ARTICLE VI INVESTMENTS SECTION 6.01. Investment of Bond Fund Moneys. Any moneys held in the Bond Fund shall be invested and reinvested by the Trustee, at the request of, and as directed by, the Company in Government Obligations or other obligations or securities then permitted by law. Such investments may be made through the investment department of the Trustee. Any such investments shall be held by or under the control of the Trustee and shall be deemed at all times to be a part of the Bond Fund and the interest accruing thereon and any profit realized from such investments shall be credited to the Bond Fund and any loss -27- resulting from such investments shall be charged to the Bond Fund. The Trustee, upon direction of the Company, shall sell and reduce to cash a sufficient amount of such investments whenever the cash balance in the Bond Fund is insufficient to pay the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds when due. SECTION 6.02. Tax Covenants. The Issuer and the Company will not directly or indirectly use or permit the use of any proceeds of the Bonds or any other funds of the Issuer or the Company, or take or omit to take any action that would cause the Bonds to be "arbitrage bonds" within the meaning of Section 148(a) of the Code or result in the loss of the exclusion from gross income for federal income tax purposes of the interest paid on the Bonds to the extent afforded under Section 103 of the 1954 Code. To that end, the Issuer and the Company will comply with all requirements of the Code and the 1954 Code to the extent applicable to the Bonds. In the event that at any time the Issuer or the Company is of the opinion that for purposes of this Section 6.02 it is necessary to restrict or limit the yield on the investment of any moneys held by the Trustee under this Indenture, the Issuer or the Company shall so instruct the Trustee in writing, and the Trustee shall take such action as may be necessary in accordance with such instructions. The Company covenants to comply with the provisions of the Rebate Agreement as the Rebate Agreement may be amended or supplemented in accordance with its terms, and in compliance therewith, the Issuer hereby agrees to establish with the Trustee a Rebate Fund under the Rebate Agreement, which shall not be a trust fund under this Indenture, and the terms of and provisions governing which shall be set forth in the Rebate Agreement; provided that said compliance shall not be required if the Issuer or the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion of nationally recognized bond counsel to the effect that compliance is not required to preserve the exclusion from gross income for federal income tax purposes of interest paid on the Bonds. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Rebate Agreement and the provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of the Rebate Agreement shall govern. This covenant shall survive payment in full or defeasance of the Bonds. The obligations imposed upon the Company by this Section have been acknowledged and accepted by the Company in Section 4.10 of the Agreement. -28- ARTICLE VII RELEASE OF LIEN SECTION 7.01. Release of Lien. If, when any of the Bonds shall have become due and payable in accordance with their terms or otherwise as provided in this Indenture or shall have been duly called for redemption or irrevocable instructions to call such Bonds for redemption shall have been given by the Issuer to the Trustee, the whole amount of the principal and the interest and the premium, if any, so due and payable upon such Bonds shall be paid or sufficient cash or Government Obligations non-callable by the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when due will provide, without investment or reinvestment, sufficient cash, shall be held by the Trustee or the paying agents for such purpose under the provisions of this Indenture, then and in that case such Bonds shall cease to be secured by the lien of this Indenture, and the Trustee in such case, on demand of the Issuer or the Company, shall release the lien of this Indenture with respect to such Bonds and shall execute such documents to evidence such release as may be reasonably required by the Issuer or the Company; provided, however, that in the event Government Obligations shall be deposited with and held by the Trustee or the paying agents as hereinabove provided, then in addition to the requirements set forth in Article III of this Indenture, the Trustee shall within thirty (30) days after such Government Obligations shall have been deposited with it cause a notice signed by it to be published once in a daily newspaper or financial journal having a general circulation in the financial community in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, setting forth (a) the date designated for the redemption of such Bonds, (b) a description of the Government Obligations so held by it and (c) that the lien of this Indenture with respect to such Bonds has been released in accordance with the provisions of this Section. All moneys and obligations held by the Trustee or the paying agents pursuant to this Section shall be held in trust and applied to the payment, when due, of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Bonds. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the rights of the Trustee under Section 9.02 hereof, the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 5.04, 5.06 and 5.07 hereof and the obligations of the Company under Section 6.02 hereof, shall survive, anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding. -29- ARTICLE VIII DEFAULT PROVISIONS AND REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND BONDHOLDERS SECTION 8.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events occur, it is hereby defined and declared to be and to constitute an "event of default": (a) default in the payment when due of any interest on any Bond; or (b) default in the payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any Bond, whether at the stated maturity thereof, or upon proceedings for redemption thereof, or upon the maturity thereof by acceleration; or (c) default in the performance or observance of any other of the covenants, agreements or conditions on the part of the Issuer in this Indenture or in the Bonds, and continuance thereof for the period after notice specified in Section 8.13 hereof; or (d) the occurrence of an "Event of Default" under Section 5.1 of the Agreement; or (e) the bonds outstanding under the First Mortgage shall have been declared due and payable prior to their stated maturities, and such acceleration shall not have been rescinded. SECTION 8.02. Acceleration. Upon the occurrence of an event of default the Trustee may, and upon the written request of the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding shall, by notice in writing delivered to the Issuer and the Company, declare the principal of all Bonds then outstanding and the interest accrued thereon immediately due and payable; and such principal and interest shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable. Upon such acceleration, the Trustee shall make written demand to the First Mortgage Trustee for redemption of the First Mortgage Bonds. If, after the principal of the Bonds has been so declared to be due and payable, all arrears of interest and interest on overdue installments of interest (if lawful) at the rate per annum borne by the Bonds and the principal and premium, if any, on all Bonds then outstanding which shall have become due and payable otherwise than by acceleration and all other sums payable under this Indenture or upon the Bonds, except the principal of, and interest on, the Bonds which by such declaration shall have become due and payable, are paid by the Issuer, and the Issuer also performs all other things in respect of which it may have been in default hereunder and pays the reasonable charges of the Trustee, the Bondholders and any trustee appointed under law, -30- including the Trustee's reasonable attorneys' fees, then, and in every such case, the Trustee shall annul such declaration and its consequences, and such annulment shall be binding upon all holders of Bonds issued hereunder; but no such annulment shall extend to or affect any subsequent default or impair any right or remedy consequent thereon. The Trustee shall forward a copy of any such annulment notice pursuant to this paragraph to the Issuer and the Company. Immediately upon such annulment, the Trustee shall cancel, by notice to the First Mortgage Trustee, any demand made by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VIII. SECTION 8.03. Other Remedies. If any event of default occurs and is continuing, except as otherwise provided in Section 8.12 hereof, the Trustee, before or after declaring the principal of the Bonds immediately due and payable, may enforce each and every right granted to it as the holder of First Mortgage Bonds and under the Notes and the Agreement and any supplements or amendments thereto for the benefit of the Bondholders. In exercising such rights and the rights given the Trustee under this Article VIII, the Trustee shall take such action as, in the judgment of the Trustee applying the standards described in Section 9.01(a) hereof, would best serve the interests of the Bondholders. SECTION 8.04. Legal Proceedings by Trustee. If any event of default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee in its discretion may, and upon the written request of the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all Bonds then outstanding and receipt of indemnity to its satisfaction shall, in its own name: (a) by mandamus, or other suit, action or proceeding at law or in equity, enforce all rights of the Bondholders; (b) bring suit upon the Bonds; or (c) by action or suit in equity enjoin any acts or things which may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of the Bondholders. No remedy conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Bondholders by the terms of this Indenture is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, but each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other remedy given to the Trustee or to the Bondholders hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute. No delay or omission to exercise any right or power accruing upon any default or event of default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or event of default or acquiescence therein; and every such right -31- and power may be exercised from time to time as often as may be deemed expedient. No waiver of any default or event of default hereunder, whether by the Trustee or by the Bondholders, shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or event of default or shall impair any rights or remedies consequent thereon. SECTION 8.05. Right of Bondholders to Direct Proceedings. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding shall have the right, upon providing the Trustee indemnity to its satisfaction, at any time, by an instrument or instruments in writing executed and delivered to the Trustee, to direct the method and place of conducting all proceedings to be taken in connection with the enforcement of the terms and conditions of this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or any other proceedings hereunder; provided, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of law or of this Indenture. SECTION 8.06. Appointment of Receivers. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, and upon the filing of a suit or other commencement of judicial proceedings to enforce the rights of the Trustee and of the Bondholders under this Indenture, the Trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be entitled as a matter of right to the appointment of a receiver or receivers of the trust estate with such powers as the court making such appointment shall confer. SECTION 8.07. Waiver. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, to the extent that such rights may then lawfully be waived, neither the Issuer, nor the State of Mississippi, nor any political subdivision thereof, nor anyone claiming through or under any of them, shall set up, claim, or seek to take advantage of any appraisement, valuation, stay, extension or redemption laws now or hereafter in force, in order to prevent or hinder the enforcement of this Indenture, and the Issuer, for itself and all who may claim through or under it, hereby waives, to the extent that it lawfully may do so, the benefit of all such laws. SECTION 8.08. Application of Moneys. All moneys received by the Trustee pursuant to any right given or action taken under the provisions of this Article VIII shall, after payment of the costs and expenses of the proceedings resulting in the collection of such moneys and of the expenses, liabilities and advances incurred or made by the Trustee, be deposited in the Bond Fund and all moneys (except moneys held in separate accounts by the Trustee pursuant to Sections 3.03, 3.05 and 5.06 hereof) in the Bond Fund shall be applied as follows: -32- (a) Unless the principal of all the Bonds shall have become or shall have been declared due and payable, all such moneys shall be applied: FIRST: To the payment of all amounts owed the United States of America under the Rebate Agreement; SECOND: To the payment to the persons entitled thereto of all installments of interest then due on the Bonds, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest and, if the amount available shall not be sufficient to pay in full any particular installment, then to the payment ratably, according to the amounts due on such installment, to the persons entitled thereto, without any discrimination or privilege; and THIRD: To the payment to the persons entitled thereto of the unpaid principal of and premium, if any, on any of the Bonds which shall have become due (other than Bonds matured or called for redemption for the payment of which moneys are held pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture), in the order of their due dates, with interest on such Bonds from the respective dates upon which they became due and, if the amount available shall not be sufficient to pay in full Bonds due on any particular date, together with such interest, then to the payment ratably, according to the amount of principal due on such date, to the persons entitled thereto without any discrimination or privilege. (b) If the principal of all the Bonds shall have become due or shall have been declared due and payable, all such moneys shall be applied to the payment of all amounts owed the United States of America under the Rebate Agreement and then to the payment of the principal and interest then due upon the Bonds, without preference or priority of principal over interest or of interest over principal, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Bond over any other Bond, ratably, according to the amounts due respectively for principal and interest, to the persons entitled thereto without any discrimination or privilege. (c) If the principal of all the Bonds shall have been declared due and payable, and if such declaration shall thereafter have been rescinded and annulled under the provisions of this Article VIII then, subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 8.08 in the event that the principal of all the Bonds shall later become due or be declared due and payable, the moneys shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 8.08. -33- Whenever moneys are to be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 8.08, such moneys shall be applied at such times, and from time to time, as the Trustee shall determine, having due regard to the amount of such moneys available for application and the likelihood of additional moneys becoming available for such application in the future. Whenever the Trustee shall apply such funds, it shall fix the date (which shall be an interest payment date unless it shall deem another date more suitable) upon which such application is to be made and upon such date interest on the amounts of principal to be paid on such dates shall cease to accrue. The Trustee shall give such notice as it may deem appropriate of the deposit with it of any such moneys and of the fixing of any such date, and shall not be required to make payment to the holder of any Bond until such Bond shall be presented to the Trustee for appropriate endorsement or for cancellation if fully paid. Whenever all principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Bonds have been paid under the provisions of this Section 8.08 and all expenses and charges of the Trustee and any paying agents have been paid and all amounts owed the United States of America under the Rebate Agreement have been paid, any balance remaining in the Bond Fund shall be paid to the Company as provided in Section 5.08 hereof. SECTION 8.09. Remedies Vested in Trustee. All rights of action (including the right to file proof of claims) under this Indenture or under any of the Bonds may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Bonds or the production thereof in any trial or proceedings relating thereto; and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its name as Trustee without the necessity of joining as plaintiffs or defendants any holders of the Bonds; and any recovery of judgment shall be for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the outstanding Bonds. SECTION 8.10. Rights and Remedies of Bondholders. No holder of any Bond shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law for the enforcement of this Indenture or for the execution of any trust hereof or for the appointment of a receiver or any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) a default has occurred of which the Trustee has been notified as provided in Section 9.01(h) hereof, or of which by said subsection it is deemed to have notice, (ii) such default shall have become an event of default and the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee and shall have offered it reasonable opportunity either to proceed to exercise the powers hereinbefore granted or to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name, (iii) they have offered to the Trustee indemnity as provided in Section 9.01(l) hereof, and (iv) the Trustee shall thereafter fail or refuse to exercise the -34- powers hereinbefore granted, or to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name; and such notification, request and offer of indemnity are hereby declared in every case at the option of the Trustee to be conditions precedent to the execution of the powers and trusts of this Indenture, and to any action or cause of action for the enforcement of this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder; it being understood and intended that no one or more holders of the Bonds shall have any right in any manner whatsoever to affect, disturb or prejudice the lien of this Indenture by its, his or their action or to enforce any right hereunder except in the manner herein provided, and that all proceedings at law or in equity shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of all Bonds then outstanding. Nothing in this Indenture contained shall, however, affect or impair the right of any Bondholder to enforce the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on any Bond at and after the maturity thereof, or the obligation of the Issuer to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on each of the Bonds issued hereunder to the respective holders thereof at the time and place, from the source and in the manner in the Bonds expressed. SECTION 8.11. Termination of Proceedings. In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture by the appointment of a receiver, or otherwise, and such proceedings shall have been continued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely, then and in every such case the Issuer and the Trustee shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee shall continue as if no such proceedings had been taken. SECTION 8.12. Waivers of Events of Default. The Trustee may in its discretion waive any event of default hereunder and its consequences and rescind any declaration of maturity of principal, and shall do so upon the written request of the holders of (a) not less than two-thirds in aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding in respect of which default in the payment of principal and/or interest exists, or (b) more than 50% in aggregate principal amount of all Bonds then outstanding in the case of any other default; provided, however, that there shall not be waived (i) any event of default in the payment of the principal of any outstanding Bonds when due or (ii) any default in the payment when due of the interest on any such Bonds unless prior to such waiver or rescission, all arrears of interest, with interest (to the extent permitted by law) at the rate borne by the Bonds in respect of which such default shall have occurred on overdue installments of interest or all arrears of payments of principal when due, as the case may be, and all expenses of the Trustee in connection with such default shall -35- have been paid or provided for, and in case of any such waiver or rescission, or in the case any proceeding taken by the Trustee on account of any such default shall have been discontinued or abandoned or determined adversely, then and in every such case the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder respectively, but no such waiver or rescission shall extend to any subsequent or other default, or impair any right consequent thereon. SECTION 8.13. Notice of Default under Section 8.01(c); Opportunity of Issuer and the Company to Cure Such Default. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no default under Section 8.01(c) hereof shall constitute an event of default until actual notice of such default by registered or certified mail shall be given to the Issuer and the Company by the Trustee or by the holder or holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all Bonds outstanding and the Issuer and the Company shall have had sixty days after receipt of such notice to correct said default or cause said default to be corrected within the applicable period; provided, however, if said default is such that it cannot be corrected within the applicable period, it shall not constitute an event of default if corrective action is instituted by the Issuer or the Company within the applicable period and diligently pursued until the default is corrected. With regard to any alleged default concerning which notice is given to the Issuer and the Company under the provisions of this Section 8.13, the Issuer hereby grants the Company full authority for the account of the Issuer to perform any covenant or obligation alleged in said notice to constitute a default, in the name and stead of the Issuer with full power to do any and all things and acts to the same extent that the Issuer could do and perform any such things and acts and with power of substitution. In the event that the Trustee fails to receive any amount when due under the Notes and the Agreement, the Trustee shall immediately give written notice to the Company specifying such failure. ARTICLE IX THE TRUSTEE SECTION 9.01. Acceptance of the Trusts. The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts imposed upon it by this Indenture, and agrees to perform said trusts, but only upon and subject to the following express terms and conditions: (a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of any event of default and after the curing or waiver of all events of default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such -36- duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an event of default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived) the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent corporate trustee would exercise or use under the circumstances in the enforcement of a corporate indenture. (b) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereof and perform any of its duties by or through attorneys, agents, receivers or employees but shall be answerable for the conduct of the same in accordance with the standard specified above, and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters relating to the trusts hereof and the duties hereunder, and may in all cases pay such reasonable compensation to all such attorneys, agents, receivers and employees as may reasonably be employed in connection with the trusts hereof. The Trustee may act upon the opinion or advice of any attorney (who may be the attorney or attorneys for the Issuer or the Company), approved by the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from any action or inaction in good faith in reliance upon such opinion or advice. (c) The Trustee shall not be responsible for any recital herein, or in the Bonds (except in respect to the certificate of the Trustee endorsed on the Bonds), or for the recording or re-recording, filing or re-filing of this Indenture, or any other instrument required by this Indenture to secure the Bonds, or for insuring the Project or collecting any insurance moneys, or for the validity of the execution by the Issuer of this Indenture or of any supplements hereto or instruments of further assurance, or for the sufficiency of the security for the Bonds issued hereunder or intended to be secured hereby. (d) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use of any Bonds authenticated or delivered hereunder. The Trustee may become the owner of Bonds secured hereby with the same rights which it would have if not the Trustee. To the extent permitted by law, the Trustee may also receive tenders and purchase in good faith Bonds from itself, including any department, affiliate or subsidiary, with like effect as if it were not the Trustee. (e) The Trustee shall be protected in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate, order, affidavit, letter, telegram or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons. Any action taken by the -37- Trustee pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent is the owner of any Bond, shall be conclusive and binding upon all future owners of the same Bond and upon owners of Bonds issued in exchange therefor or in place thereof. (f) As to the existence or non-existence of any fact or as to the sufficiency or validity of any instrument, paper or proceeding, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate signed by the Issuer or the Company as sufficient evidence of the facts therein contained; and prior to the occurrence of an event of default of which the Trustee has been notified as provided in subsection (h) of this Section 9.01, or of which by said subsection it is deemed to have notice, the Trustee shall also be at liberty to accept a similar certificate to the effect that any particular dealing, transaction or action is necessary or expedient, but may at its discretion secure such further evidence deemed necessary or advisable, but shall in no case be bound to secure the same. The Trustee may accept a certificate of the Secretary of the Issuer under the Issuer's seal to the effect that a resolution in the form therein set forth has been adopted by the Issuer as conclusive evidence that such resolution has been duly adopted, and is in full force and effect. (g) The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty, and it shall not be answerable for other than its negligence or willful default. (h) The Trustee shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any event of default hereunder except failure by the Issuer to cause to be made any of the payments to the Trustee required to be made by Article IV hereof or the existence of an event of default described in Section 8.01(c) hereof, unless the Trustee shall be specifically notified in writing of such event of default by the Issuer or by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding; and all notices or other instruments required by this Indenture to be delivered to the Trustee must, in order to be effective, be delivered at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, and in the absence of such notice so delivered the Trustee may conclusively assume there is no event of default except as aforesaid. (i) At any and all reasonable times the Trustee and its duly authorized agents, attorneys, experts, engineers, accountants and representatives shall have the right fully to inspect any and all parts of the Project, including all -38- books, papers and records of the Issuer pertaining to the Project and the Bonds and to take such memoranda from and in regard thereto as may be desired. (j) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the said trusts and powers or otherwise in respect of the premises. (k) Notwithstanding anything elsewhere in this Indenture contained, the Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to demand, in respect of the authentication of any Bonds, the withdrawal of any cash, or any action whatsoever within the purview of this Indenture, any showings, certificates, opinions, appraisals or other information, or corporate action or evidence thereof, in addition to that by the terms hereof required as a condition of such action by the Trustee, which the Trustee in its discretion may deem desirable for the purpose of establishing the right of the Issuer to the authentication of any Bonds, the withdrawal of any cash, or the taking of any other action by the Trustee. (1) Before taking any action referred to in Section 8.02, 8.03, 8.04, 8.10, 8.12 or 9.04 hereunder, the Trustee may require that a satisfactory indemnity bond be furnished for the reimbursement of all expenses to which it may be put and to protect it against all liability, except liability which is adjudicated to have resulted from its negligence or willful default by reason of any action so taken. (m) All moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied or invested as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required herein or by law. Neither the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received hereunder except such as may be mutually agreed upon. SECTION 9.02. Fees, Charges and Expenses of Trustee. The Trustee shall be entitled to payment and reimbursement for reasonable fees for its services rendered hereunder and all advances, counsel fees and other expenses reasonably and necessarily made or incurred by the Trustee in connection with such services. Upon an event of default, but only upon an event of default, the Trustee shall have a first lien, with right of payment prior to payment on account of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on any Bond, upon the trust estate for the foregoing fees, charges and expenses incurred by it. SECTION 9.03. Notice to Bondholders if an Event of Default Occurs. If an event of default occurs of which the Trustee is by -39- Section 9.01(h) hereof required to take notice or if notice of an event of default is given as in Section 9.01(h) provided, then the Trustee shall promptly give written notice thereof by registered or certified mail to each owner of Bonds then outstanding. SECTION 9.04. Intervention by Trustee. In any judicial proceeding to which the Issuer is a party and which in the opinion of the Trustee and its counsel has a substantial bearing on the interests of the owners of the Bonds, the Trustee may intervene on behalf of the Bondholders and shall do so if requested in writing by the owners of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding. The rights and obligations of the Trustee under this Section 9.04 are subject to the approval of a court of competent jurisdiction. SECTION 9.05. Successor Trustee. Any corporation or association into which the Trustee may be converted or merged, or with which it may be consolidated, or to which it may sell or transfer its trust business and assets as a whole or substantially as a whole or any corporation or association resulting from any such conversion, sale, merger, consolidation or transfer to which it is a party, ipso facto, shall be and become successor Trustee hereunder and vested with all of the title to the trust estate and all the trusts, powers, discretions, immunities, privileges and all other matters as was its predecessor, without the execution or filing of any instrument or any further act, deed or conveyance on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. SECTION 9.06. Resignation by Trustee. The Trustee and any successor Trustee may at any time resign from the trusts hereby created by giving thirty days' written notice to the Issuer and the Company, served personally or sent by registered or certified mail, and to each owner of Bonds then outstanding, sent by registered or certified mail, and such resignation shall take effect at the end of such thirty days if a successor Trustee has been appointed at such time pursuant to Section 9.08 hereof, or upon the later appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to Section 9.08 hereof. SECTION 9.07. Removal of Trustee. The Trustee may be removed at any time, by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing delivered (a) to the Trustee and to the Issuer and the Company, and signed by the owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding, or (b) to the Trustee and the owners of all Bonds then outstanding, and signed by the Issuer and the Company. SECTION 9.08. Appointment of Successor Trustee. In case the Trustee hereunder shall resign or be removed, or be dissolved, or -40- shall be in course of dissolution or liquidation, or otherwise become incapable of acting hereunder, or in case it shall be taken under the control of any public officer or officers, or of a receiver appointed by a court, a successor shall be appointed by the Issuer at the direction of the Company. The Issuer shall cause notice of such appointment to be given in the same manner as the giving of notices of redemption as set forth in Section 3.02 hereof. If the Issuer fails to make such appointment promptly, a successor may be appointed by the owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding. Every such successor Trustee appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.08 shall be a trust company or bank in good standing having a reported capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than $25,000,000, if there be such an institution willing, qualified and able to accept the trusts upon reasonable and customary terms. SECTION 9.09. Concerning Any Successor Trustee. Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor and also to the Issuer an instrument in writing accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become fully vested with all of the estates, properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor shall, nevertheless, on the written request of the Issuer, or of its successor, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the estates, properties, rights, powers and trusts of such predecessor hereunder, and every predecessor Trustee shall deliver all securities and moneys held by it as Trustee hereunder to its successor. Should any instrument in writing from the Issuer be required by any successor Trustee for more fully and certainly vesting in such successor the estate, rights, powers and duties hereby vested or intended to be vested in the predecessor, any and all such instruments in writing shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Issuer. The resignation of any Trustee and the instrument or instruments removing any Trustee and appointing a successor hereunder, together with all other instruments provided for in this Article IX, shall be filed and/or recorded by the successor Trustee in each recording office where the Indenture shall have been filed and/or recorded and the successor Trustee shall bear the cost thereof. SECTION 9.10. Successor Trustee as Bond Registrar, Custodian of Bond Fund and Paying Agent. In the event of a change of Trustee, the Trustee which has resigned or been removed shall cease to be Bond Registrar, custodian of the Bond Fund and a paying agent for principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, and the successor Trustee shall become such Bond Registrar, custodian of the Bond Fund and a paying agent. -41- SECTION 9.11. Trustee and Issuer Required to Accept Directions and Actions of Company. Whenever, after a reasonable request by the Company, the Issuer shall fail, refuse or neglect to give any direction to the Trustee or to require the Trustee to take any action which the Issuer is required to have the Trustee take pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement or this Indenture, the Company as agent of the Issuer may give any such direction to the Trustee or require the Trustee to take any such action, and the Trustee is hereby irrevocably empowered and directed to accept such direction from the Company as sufficient for all purposes of this Indenture. The Company shall have the right as agent of the Issuer to cause the Trustee to comply with any of the Trustee's obligations under this Indenture to the same extent that the Issuer is empowered so to do. Certain actions or failures to act by the Issuer under this Indenture may create or result in an event of default under this Indenture and the Company, as agent of the Issuer, may to the extent permitted by law perform any and all acts or take such action as may be necessary for and on behalf of the Issuer to prevent or correct said event of default and the Trustee shall take or accept such performance by the Company as performance by the Issuer in such event. The Issuer hereby makes, constitutes and appoints the Company irrevocably as its agent to give all directions, do all things and perform all acts provided, and to the extent so provided, by this Section 9.11. SECTION 9.12. No Transfer of Notes or First Mortgage Bonds Held by the Trustee; Exception. Except as required to effect an assignment to a successor Trustee, the Trustee shall not sell, assign or transfer the Agreement, the Notes or First Mortgage Bonds, and the Trustee is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Company to such effect, including a consent to the issuance of stop transfer instructions to the First Mortgage Trustee. SECTION 9.13. Voting of First Mortgage Bonds Held by the Trustee. The Trustee, as a holder of First Mortgage Bonds, shall attend any meeting of bondholders under the First Mortgage as to which it receives due notice. So long as no event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, either at such meeting, or otherwise where consent of holders of first mortgage bonds of the Company is sought without a meeting, the Trustee shall vote as such holder, or shall consent with respect thereto, proportionately with what the Trustee reasonably believes will be the vote or consent of all other first mortgage bonds of the Company then outstanding and eligible to vote or consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee shall not vote as such holder in favor of, or give its consent to, any action -42- which, in the Trustee's opinion, would materially adversely affect the interests of the Bondholders, except upon notification by the Trustee to the Bondholders of such proposal and consent thereto of the holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding and, if such action would also affect one or more but less than all series of Bonds, the consent thereto of the holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of all the outstanding Bonds of such series so affected and, if such proposal would also affect the rights of some but less than all the outstanding Bonds of any one series, the consent thereto of the holders of at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds so affected. ARTICLE X INDENTURES SUPPLEMENTAL HERETO SECTION 10.01. Supplemental Indentures Not Requiring Consent of Bondholders. The Issuer and the Trustee may, without the consent of, or notice to, any of the Bondholders, enter into such indenture or indentures supplemental to this Indenture as shall not be inconsistent with the terms and provisions hereof for any one or more of the following purposes: (a) to set forth any or all of the matters in connection with the issuance of Additional Bonds as provided in Section 2.10 hereof; (b) to cure any ambiguity, defect or omission in this Indenture, or to otherwise amend this Indenture, in such manner as shall not in the opinion of the Trustee impair the security hereof or adversely affect the Bondholders; (c) to grant to or confer upon the Trustee for the benefit of the Bondholders any additional rights, remedies, powers or authorities that may lawfully be granted or conferred upon the Bondholders or the Trustee; (d) to add additional covenants of the Issuer, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer; (e) to subject to this Indenture additional revenues, properties or collateral; (f) to modify, amend or supplement this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto in such manner as to permit the qualification hereof and thereof under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or any similar federal statute hereafter in effect or to permit the qualification of the Bonds for sale under the securities laws of any of -43- the states of the United States, and, if they so determine, to add to this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto such other terms, conditions and provisions as may be permitted by said Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or similar federal statute; (g) to evidence the succession of a new Trustee hereunder; and (h) to make such changes as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the 1954 Code or the Code relating to the exclusion of interest on the Bonds from gross income thereunder. SECTION 10.02. Supplemental Indentures Requiring Consent of Bondholders. Exclusive of supplemental indentures covered by Section 10.01 hereof and subject to the terms and provisions contained in this Section 10.02, and not otherwise, the holders of not less than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding shall have the right, from time to time, anything contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, to consent to and approve the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of such other indenture or indentures supplemental hereto as shall be deemed necessary and desirable by the Trustee for the purpose of modifying, altering, amending, adding to or rescinding, in any particular, any of the terms or provisions contained in this Indenture or in any indenture supplemental hereto; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 10.02 contained shall permit, or be construed as permitting (i) an extension of the maturity or mandatory sinking fund redemption dates of the principal of or the interest on any Bond issued hereunder, or (ii) a reduction in the principal amount of, or redemption premium on, any Bond or Bonds or the rate or rates of interest thereon, or (iii) a privilege or priority of any outstanding Bond or Bonds over any other outstanding Bond or Bonds, or (iv) a reduction in the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds required for consent to such supplemental indenture. If at any time the Issuer shall request the Trustee to enter into any such supplemental indenture for any of the purposes of this Section 10.02, the Trustee shall, upon being satisfactorily indemnified with respect to expenses, cause notice of the proposed execution of such supplemental indenture to be given in the same manner as the giving of notices of redemption as set forth in Section 3.02 hereof. Such notice shall briefly set forth the nature of the proposed supplemental indenture and shall state that copies thereof are on file at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee for inspection by all Bondholders. If, within sixty days or such longer period as shall be prescribed by the Issuer following the giving of such notice, the holders of not less than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the -44- Bonds outstanding at the time of the execution of any such supplemental indenture shall have consented to and approved the execution thereof as herein provided, no holder of any Bond shall have any right to object to any of the terms and provisions contained therein, or the operation thereof, or in any manner to question the propriety of the execution thereof, or to enjoin or restrain the Trustee or the Issuer from executing the same or from taking any action pursuant to the provisions thereof. Upon the execution of any such supplemental indenture as in this Section 10.02 permitted and provided, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and without the necessity for notation on the outstanding Bonds. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, a supplemental indenture under this Article X which affects the rights of the Company shall not become effective unless and until the Company shall have consented to the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture. In this regard, the Trustee shall cause notice of the proposed execution and delivery of any such supplemental indenture together with a copy of the proposed supplemental indenture to be mailed by certified or registered mail to the Company at least fifteen days prior to the giving of notice of the proposed execution of such supplemental indenture as provided in this Section 10.02. The Company shall be deemed to have consented to the execution and delivery of any such supplemental indenture if the Trustee does not receive a letter of protest or objection thereto signed by or on behalf of the Company on or before 4:30 P.M., local time, on the fifteenth day after the Company's receipt of said notice and a copy of the proposed supplemental indenture. SECTION 10.03. Trustee Authorized to Join in Supplements; Reliance on Counsel. The Trustee is authorized to join with the Issuer in the execution and delivery of any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article X and in so doing shall be fully protected by an opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Issuer or the Company, that such supplemental indenture is so permitted and has been duly authorized by the Issuer and that all things necessary to make it a valid and binding supplemental indenture have been done. ARTICLE XI AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT SECTION 11.01. Amendments, Etc., to Agreement Not Requiring Consent of Bondholders. The Issuer and the Trustee shall, without the consent of or notice to the Bondholders, consent to any amendment, change or modification of the Agreement which may be entered into pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof or as may be required (i) by the provisions of the Agreement or this -45- Indenture, (ii) for the purpose of curing any ambiguity or formal defect or omission, (iii) in connection with the Project facilities so as to identify the same more precisely or substitute or add additional facilities, or (iv) in connection with any other change therein which, in the judgment of the Trustee, is not to the prejudice of the Trustee or the Bondholders. SECTION 11.02. Amendments, Etc., to Agreement Requiring Consent of Bondholders. Except for the amendments, changes or modifications as provided in Section 11.01 hereof, neither the Issuer nor the Trustee shall consent to any other amendment, change or modification of the Agreement or the terms of the Notes without the giving of notice and the written approval or consent of the holders of not less than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding given and procured as in this Section 11.02 provided. If at any time the Issuer and the Company shall request the consent of the Trustee to any such proposed amendment, change or modification of the Agreement or the terms of the Notes, the Trustee shall, upon being satisfactorily indemnified with respect to expenses, cause notice of such proposed amendment, change or modification to be given in the same manner as provided by Section 10.02 hereof with respect to supplemental indentures. Such notice shall briefly set forth the nature of such proposed amendment, change or modification and shall state that copies of the instrument embodying the same are on file with the Trustee for inspection by all Bondholders. SECTION 11.03. Trustee Authorized to Join in Amendments; Reliance on Counsel. The Trustee is authorized to join with the Issuer in the execution and delivery of any amendment permitted by this Article XI and in so doing shall be fully protected by an opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Issuer or the Company, that such amendment is so permitted and has been duly authorized by the Issuer and that all things necessary to make it a valid and binding agreement have been done. ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 12.01. Consents, Etc., of Bondholders. Any consent, request, direction, approval, objection or other instrument required by this Indenture to be signed and executed by the Bondholders may be in any number of concurrent writings of similar tenor and may be signed or executed by such Bondholders in person or by agent appointed in writing. Proof of the execution of any such consent, request, direction, approval, objection or other instrument or of the writing appointing any such agent, if made in the following manner, shall be sufficient for any of the purposes of this Indenture, and shall be -46- conclusive in favor of the Trustee with regard to any action taken by it under such request or other instrument, namely: The fact and date of the execution by any person of any such writing may be proved by the certificate of any officer in any jurisdiction who by law has power to take acknowledgments within such jurisdiction that the person signing such writing acknowledged before him the execution thereof, or by an affidavit of any witness to such execution. SECTION 12.02. Limitation of Rights. With the exception of rights herein expressly conferred, nothing expressed or mentioned in or to be inferred from this Indenture, or the Bonds, is intended or shall be construed to give to any person or company other than the Company, the parties hereto, and the holders of the Bonds, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture or any covenants, conditions and provisions herein contained; this Indenture and all of the covenants, conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be and are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the parties hereto and the holders of the Bonds as herein provided. SECTION 12.03. Severability. If any provision of this Indenture shall be held or deemed to be or shall, in fact, be illegal, inoperative or unenforceable, the same shall not affect any other provision or provisions herein contained or render the same invalid, inoperative or unenforceable to any extent whatever. SECTION 12.04. Notices. Any notice, request, complaint, demand, communication or other paper shall be sufficiently given and shall be deemed given when delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or sent by telegram, addressed as follows: if to the Issuer, at 1306 Walter Sillers Building, 550 High Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39205, Attention: Executive Director; if to the Trustee, at 2510 14th Street, 1 Hancock Plaza, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501, Attention: Trust Department; and if to the Company, at 500 Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32501, Attention: Treasurer, with copies to Southern Company Services, Inc., 64 Perimeter Center East, Atlanta, Georgia 30346, Attention: Corporate Finance Department. A duplicate copy of each notice required to be given hereunder by either the Issuer or the Trustee shall also be given to the Company, and a duplicate copy of each notice required to be given hereunder by the Trustee to either the Issuer or the Company shall also be given to the other. The Issuer, the Company and the Trustee may, by notice given hereunder, designate any further or different addresses to which subsequent notices, certificates or other communications shall be sent. -47- SECTION 12.05. Trustee as Paying Agent and Bond Registrar. The Trustee is hereby designated and agrees to act as a paying agent and Bond Registrar for and in respect of the Bonds. SECTION 12.06. Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Bonds or the date fixed for redemption of any Bonds shall be in the city of payment a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then payment of interest or principal and premium, if any, need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period after such date. SECTION 12.07. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument. SECTION 12.08. Applicable Provisions of Law. This Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi. SECTION 12.09. Captions. The captions or headings in this Indenture are for convenience only and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of any provisions or Sections of this Indenture. SECTION 12.10. No Liability of Officers. No covenant or agreement contained in the Bonds or this Indenture shall be deemed to be a covenant or agreement of any member, officer, agent or employee of the Issuer in his individual capacity, and neither the members of the Board nor any official executing the Bonds or this Indenture shall be liable personally on the Bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance of the Bonds or the execution and delivery of this Indenture. -48- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation has caused these presents to be signed in its name and behalf by its Executive Director, and its official seal to be hereunto affixed and attested by its Secretary, and to evidence its acceptance of the trusts hereby created Hancock Bank, as Trustee, has caused these presents to be signed in its name and behalf and its official seal to be hereunto affixed and attested by its duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written. MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION [SEAL] By: Attest: Executive Director Secretary HANCOCK BANK [SEAL] By: Attest: Vice President and Trust Officer Vice President and Trust Officer STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF ESCAMBIA Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said county and state, on this __th day of February, 1996, within my jurisdiction, the within named William T. Barry and James Vernon Smith, Sr., who acknowledged that they are the Executive Director and Secretary of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, and that in said representative capacities they executed the above and foregoing instrument, after first having been duly authorized so to do. Notary Public My Commission Expires: STATE OF MISSISSIPPI COUNTY OF HARRISON Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said county and state, on this __th day of February, 1996, within my jurisdiction, the within named ______________ and _______________, who acknowledged that they are each a Vice President and Trust Officer of Hancock Bank, a Mississippi state chartered bank, and that for and on behalf of the said bank and as its act and deed they executed the above and foregoing instrument, after first having been duly authorized by said bank so to do. Notary Public My Commission Expires: -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----