-----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, N5C+ghZ2Oy2weVANID2VUf1zz9weKbxhMcjvf8UE4u+lOJ+C9GwAhQa3c5kZkQrZ An9kynKQW5cxtrvaoA4lwA== 0000044545-97-000025.txt : 19970801 0000044545-97-000025.hdr.sgml : 19970801 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000044545-97-000025 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19970728 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 19970731 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: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-02429 FILM NUMBER: 97648769 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 BAYFRONT PKWY CITY: PENSACOLA STATE: FL ZIP: 32501 BUSINESS PHONE: 9044446111 8-K 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 28, 1997 -------------------------- GULF POWER COMPANY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maine 0-2429 59-0276810 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File (IRS Employer Identification of incorporation) Number) No.) 500 Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32501 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (850) 444-6111 ---------------------------- N/A - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) Item 5. Other Events. On July 28, 1997, Gulf Power Company (the "Company") entered into an Underwriting Agreement covering the issue and sale by the Company of $20,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Series B 7.50% Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037. Said Notes were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the shelf registration statement (Registration Statement Nos. 333-19271, 333-19271-01 and 333-19271-02) of the Company. Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits. (c) Exhibits. 1 Underwriting Agreement, dated July 28, 1997, between the Company and The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. 4.2 Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 1997, providing for the issuance of the Company's Series B 7.50% Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037. 4.7 Form of Series B 7.50% Junior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 above). 12.1 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges. 12.2 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred dividend requirements (pre-income tax basis). SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Date: July 31, 1997 GULF POWER COMPANY By /s/Wayne Boston Wayne Boston Assistant Secretary EX-1 2 Exhibit 1 $20,000,000 7.50% Series B Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037 GULF POWER COMPANY UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT July 28, 1997 The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. 3333 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30326 Ladies and Gentlemen: Gulf Power Company, a Maine corporation (the "Company"), confirms its agreement (the "Agreement") with you and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters", which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom you are acting as representative (in such capacity, you shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Representative"), with respect to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of $20,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Series B 7.50% Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037 (the "Junior Subordinated Notes") set forth in Schedule I. The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Junior Subordinated Notes as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, as heretofore supplemented, dated as of January 1, 1997 (the "Base Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Debt Trustee"), and a second supplemental indenture to the Base Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1997 (the "Supplemental Indenture," and together with the Base Indenture and any other amendments or supplements thereto, the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Debt Trustee. SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as follows: (a) A registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (File Nos. 333-19271, 333-19271-01 and 333- 19271-02), in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes and certain other securities has been prepared and filed in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); such registration statement, as amended, and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to you, and to you for each of the other Underwriters, has been declared effective by the Commission in such form (except that copies of the registration statement, as amended, and any post-effective amendment delivered to you for each of the other Underwriters need not include exhibits but shall include all documents incorporated by reference therein); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus, as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement, included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act, being hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"); such registration statement, as it became effective, including the exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 at the time such registration statement became effective, being hereinafter called the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes, in the form in which it was included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective, being hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; the Prospectus as supplemented by a 2 preliminary prospectus supplement dated July 25, 1997 relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of such date, being hereinafter called the "Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus"; and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in final form by a prospectus supplement relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes in the form in which it is filed with the Commission, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act in accordance with Section 3(f) hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such filing, being hereinafter called the "Final Supplemented Prospectus"). (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and as of such time of filing, when read together with the Prospectus, none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and, when read together with the Prospectus as it otherwise may be amended or supplemented, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the Company makes no warranty or representation to any Underwriter with respect to: (A) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus; or (B) any information set forth in the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus under the caption "Book-Entry-Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company". (c) The Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act 3 and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. (d) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and, to the extent not used to confirm sales of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, comply, and the Final Supplemented Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, when any such post-effective amendments are declared effective or supplements are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will comply, in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1939 Act (hereinafter defined) and the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, (i) as of the applicable effective date as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, (ii) as of the filing date thereof as to the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, and (iii) as of the applicable filing date as to the Final Supplemented Prospectus and any Prospectus as further amended or supplemented, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; except that the Company makes no warranties or representations with respect to (A) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statements of Eligibility (Form T-1) (collectively, the "Form T-1") under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"), (B) statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, or the Final Supplemented Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter expressly for use therein or (C) any information set forth in the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus under the caption "Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company". (e) With respect to the Registration Statement, the conditions for use of Form S-3, as set forth in the General Instructions thereof, have been satisfied. (f) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse 4 change in the business, properties or financial condition of the Company. (g) The Company is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maine, is duly qualified to carry on its business as a foreign corporation under the laws of the States of Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, and has due corporate authority to carry on the public utility business in which it is engaged and to own and operate the properties used by it in such business, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Indenture and to issue and sell the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Underwriters. (h) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. (i) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Debt Trustee, the Indenture will, on the Closing Date, constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or (2) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) (the "Enforceability Exceptions"); the Indenture will conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and, on the Closing Date, the Indenture will have been duly qualified under the 1939 Act. (j) The issuance and delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and, on the Closing Date, the Junior Subordinated Notes will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor as described in the Final Supplemented Prospectus, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions, will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture and will conform in all material respects to 5 all statements relating thereto in the Final Supplemented Prospectus. (k) The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all "Senior Indebtedness" (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company. (l) Neither the Company nor any of the Company's subsidiaries is and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Junior Subordinated Notes, will be an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). (m) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder and thereunder shall have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and do not and will not result in any violation of the charter or bylaws of the Company, and do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company under (A) any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its properties may be subject (except for conflicts, breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be materially adverse to the Company or materially adverse to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), or (B) any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, or any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, or any of its properties. (n) No authorization, approval, consent or order of any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of the Junior Subordinated Notes or the transactions by the Company contemplated in this Agreement, except (A) such as may be required under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder; (B) such as may be required under the Public Utility 6 Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "1935 Act"); (C) the qualification of the Indenture under the 1939 Act; (D) the approval of the Florida Public Service Commission (the "Florida Commission"); and (E) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws. SECTION 2. SALE AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING. (a) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes set forth in Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter (plus any additional amount of Junior Subordinated Notes that such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof) at a price equal to 96.85% of the principal amount thereof; except that such price will be increased to 98% of the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes sold to certain institutions. (b) Payment for and delivery of certificates for the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be made at the offices of Troutman Sanders LLP, NationsBank Plaza, 600 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on August 1, 1997 (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10) or such other time, place or date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing Date"). Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer in federal funds at the Closing Date against delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes which it has agreed to purchase. The Representative, individually and not as Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes to be purchased by any Underwriter whose payment has not been received by the Closing Date, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder. The delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be made in fully registered form, registered in the name of CEDE & CO., to the offices of The Depository Trust Company in New York, New York or its designee, and the Underwriters shall accept such delivery. 7 SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows: (a) The Company, on or prior to the Closing Date, will deliver to the Underwriters conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of all amendments thereto, heretofore or hereafter made, including any post-effective amendment (in each case including all exhibits filed therewith, and including unsigned copies of each consent and certificate included therein or filed as an exhibit thereto, except exhibits incorporated by reference, unless specifically requested). As soon as the Company is advised thereof, it will advise the Representative orally of the issuance of any stop order under the 1933 Act with respect to the Registration Statement, or the institution of any proceedings therefor, of which the Company shall have received notice, and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and to secure the prompt removal thereof, if issued. The Company will deliver to the Underwriters sufficient conformed copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus and of all supplements and amendments thereto (in each case without exhibits) for distribution to each Underwriter and, from time to time, as many copies of the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act. (b) The Company will furnish the Underwriters with copies of each amendment and supplement to the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus and Final Supplemented Prospectus relating to the offering of the Junior Subordinated Notes in such quantities as the Underwriters may from time to time reasonably request. If, during the period (not exceeding nine months) when the delivery of a prospectus shall be required by law in connection with the sale of any Junior Subordinated Notes by an Underwriter or dealer, any event relating to or affecting the Company, or of which the Company shall be advised in writing by the Underwriters, shall occur, which in the opinion of the Company or of Underwriters' counsel should be set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to make the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus not misleading in the light of the circumstances when it is delivered, or if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period 8 to amend or supplement the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus or to file under the 1934 Act any document incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in order to comply with the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, the Company forthwith will (i) notify the Underwriters to suspend solicitation of purchases of the Junior Subordinated Notes and (ii) at its expense, make any such filing or prepare and furnish to the Underwriters a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or supplements or an amendment or amendments to the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus which will supplement or amend the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus so that, as supplemented or amended, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus is delivered, not misleading or which will effect any other necessary compliance. In case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with the sale of any Junior Subordinated Notes after the expiration of the period specified in the preceding sentence, the Company, upon the request of such Underwriter, will furnish to such Underwriter, at the expense of such Underwriter, a reasonable quantity of a supplemented or amended prospectus, or supplements or amendments to the Final Supplemented Prospectus, complying with Section 10(a) of the 1933 Act. During the period specified in the second sentence of this subsection, the Company will continue to prepare and file with the Commission on a timely basis all documents or amendments required under the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; provided, that the Company shall not file such documents or amendments without also furnishing copies thereof prior to such filing to the Representative and Dewey Ballantine. (c) The Company will endeavor, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Junior Subordinated Notes for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and the other jurisdictions of the United States as the Representative may designate; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to file a consent to service of process or to file annual reports or to comply with any other requirements in connection with such qualification deemed by the Company to be unduly burdensome. 9 (d) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable but not later than 45 days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement of the Company (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 of the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the "effective date" (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement. (e) During a period of 15 days from the date of this Agreement, the Company will not, without the Representative's prior written consent, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, any Junior Subordinated Notes or any security convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for the Junior Subordinated Notes or any debt securities substantially similar to the Junior Subordinated Notes (except for the Junior Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to this Agreement). (f) As soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, and in any event within the time prescribed by Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, to file the Final Supplemented Prospectus with the Commission and to advise the Representative of such filing and to confirm such advice in writing. SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to, the expenses of (i) the printing and filing of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificate(s) for the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Underwriters, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel and accountants, (iv) the qualification of the Junior Subordinated Notes under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(c) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of any blue sky survey (such fees and disbursements of counsel shall not exceed $3,500), (v) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto and of the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, the Final Supplemented Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of any blue sky survey, (vii) the fee of the National Association of 10 Securities Dealers, Inc. in connection with its review of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, if applicable, (viii) the fees and expenses of the Debt Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Debt Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes, (ix) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Junior Subordinated Notes, (x) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar, and (xi) the cost of qualifying the Junior Subordinated Notes with The Depository Trust Company. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay all other expenses incurred by them in connection with their offering of the Junior Subordinated Notes including fees and disbursements of their counsel, Dewey Ballantine. SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Junior Subordinated Notes are subject to the following conditions: (a) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect on the Closing Date and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending before, or to the knowledge of the Company threatened by, the Commission on such date. If filing of the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, is required pursuant to Rule 424, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus, and any such supplement, shall have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424. (b) Orders of the Florida Commission and the Commission permitting the transactions contemplated hereby substantially in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof shall be in full force and effect and shall contain no provision unacceptable to the Underwriters or the Company (but all provisions of such order or orders heretofore entered, copies of which have heretofore been delivered to the Representative, are deemed acceptable to the Underwriters and the Company and all provisions of such order or orders hereafter entered shall be deemed acceptable to the Underwriters and the Company unless within 24 hours after receiving a copy of any such order any party to this Agreement shall give notice to the other parties to the effect that such order contains an unacceptable provision). 11 (c) On the Closing Date the Representative shall have received: (1) The opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Beggs & Lane, counsel for the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule II-A. (2) The opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Troutman Sanders LLP, counsel for the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule II-B. (3) The opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel to the Debt Trustee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule III. (4) The favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Date, of Dewey Ballantine, counsel for the Underwriters, substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule IV. (5) At the Closing Date, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, any material adverse change in the business, properties or financial condition of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received a certificate of the President or any Vice President of the Company, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1 hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Date, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission. (6) On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter dated the Closing Date to the effect that: (A) they are independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act; (B) in their opinion, the financial statements and schedules audited by them and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus 12 comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act; (C) they have performed certain limited procedures through a specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of such letter, namely (i) reading the minute books of the Company; (ii) reading the unaudited financial statements, if any, of the Company incorporated in the Final Supplemented Prospectus and agreeing the amounts therein with the Company's accounting records; (iii) making inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether the unaudited financial statements, if any, incorporated in the Final Supplemented Prospectus (a) are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements incorporated in the Final Supplemented Prospectus and (b) comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations under the 1934 Act; (iv) reading the unaudited amounts for Operating Revenues, Income Before Interest Charges and Net Income After Dividends on Preferred Stock and the unaudited Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis), which amounts shall include such amounts for the latest period subsequent to that covered by the financial statements incorporated by reference in the Final Supplemented Prospectus for which such amounts are available at the time this Agreement becomes effective; (v) reading the unaudited financial statements from which the amounts and ratios described in (iv) were derived and agreeing the amounts therein to the Company's accounting records; (vi) making inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether (a) the unaudited amounts and ratios referred to in (iv) above and the unaudited financial statements referred to in (v) above are stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of the corresponding audited amounts or ratios included or incorporated by reference in the Final Supplemented Prospectus and (b) as of a specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of delivery of such letter, there has been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any decrease in net assets as compared with amounts shown in the latest audited balance sheet incorporated in the Final Supplemented Prospectus, except in each case for changes or decreases which (I) the Final Supplemented 13 Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur, (II) are occasioned by the declaration of dividends, (III) are occasioned by draw-downs under existing pollution control financing arrangements, (IV) are occasioned by draw-downs and regularly scheduled payments of capitalized lease obligations, (V) are occasioned by the purchase or redemption of bonds or stock to satisfy mandatory or optional redemption provisions relating thereto, or (VI) are disclosed in such letter; (vii) reading the unaudited amounts for Operating Revenues, Income Before Interest Charges and Net Income After Dividends on Preferred Stock and the unaudited Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred Dividend Requirements (Pre- Income Tax Basis) for any period subsequent to those set forth in (iv) above, which if available shall be set forth in such letter; (viii) reading the unaudited financial statements from which the amounts and ratios described in (vii) above were derived and which will be attached to such letter and agreeing the amounts therein to the Company's accounting records; and (ix) making inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether the unaudited amounts and ratios referred to in (vii) above and the unaudited financial statements referred to in (viii) above are stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of the corresponding audited amounts or ratios included or incorporated by reference in the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and (D) reporting their findings as a result of performing the limited procedures set forth in (C) above. It is understood that the foregoing procedures do not constitute an audit performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and they would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments made in such letter, and accordingly that Arthur Andersen LLP make no representations as to the sufficiency of such procedures for the several Underwriter's purposes. (7) On the Closing Date, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Junior Subordinated Notes as herein contemplated and related proceedings, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Junior Subordinated Notes as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and 14 substance to the Representative and Dewey Ballantine, counsel for the Underwriters. (8) That no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement (including any filing made by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or 14 of the 1934 Act) shall be unsatisfactory in form to Dewey Ballantine or shall contain information (other than with respect to an amendment or supplement relating solely to the activity of any Underwriter or Underwriters) which, in the reasonable judgment of the Representative, shall materially impair the market- ability of the Junior Subordinated Notes. (9) The Company shall have performed its obligations when and as provided under this Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time prior to the Closing Date, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Sections 4, 7 and 9(b) hereof. SECTION 6. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. The obligations of the Company shall be subject to the conditions set forth in the first sentence of Section 5(a) and in Section 5(b). In case such conditions shall not have been fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company by mailing or delivering written notice thereof to the Underwriters. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as otherwise provided in Sections 4, 7 and 9(b) hereof. SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20(a) of the 1934 Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1934 Act or otherwise, and to reimburse the Underwriters and such controlling person or persons, if any, for any legal or other expenses incurred by them in connection with defending any actions, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged 15 untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, or the Final Supplemented Prospectus or, if the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters any amendments or any supplements thereto, or shall make any filings pursuant to Section 13 or 14 of the 1934 Act which are incorporated therein by reference, in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, or the Final Supplemented Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission which was made in such Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, or the Final Supplemented Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by, or through the Representative on behalf of, any Underwriter for use therein and except that this indemnity with respect to the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, or the Final Supplemented Prospectus, if the Company shall have furnished any amendment or supplement thereto, shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or of any person controlling such Underwriter) on account of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arising from the sale of the Junior Subordinated Notes to any person if a copy of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, or the Final Supplemented Prospectus (exclusive of documents incorporated therein by reference pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3), as the same may then be amended or supplemented, shall not have been sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person with or prior to the written confirmation of the sale involved and the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was corrected in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus as supplemented or amended at the time of such confirmation. Each Underwriter agrees, within ten days after the receipt by it of notice of the commencement of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought by it, or by any person controlling it, from the Company on account of its agreement contained in this Section 7, to notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof but the omission of such Underwriter so to notify the Company of any such action shall not release the Company from any liability which it may have to such Underwriter or to such controlling person 16 otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7. In case any such action shall be brought against the Underwriters or any such person controlling such Underwriters and such Underwriter shall notify the Company of the commencement thereof as above provided, the Company shall be entitled to participate in (and, to the extent that it shall wish, including the selection of counsel, to direct) the defense thereof, at its own expense. In case the Company elects to direct such defense and select such counsel, any Underwriter or controlling person shall have the right to employ its own counsel, but, in any such case, the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or controlling person unless the employment of such counsel has been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with defending such action. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include any statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party. In no event shall any indemnifying party have any liability or responsibility in respect of the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim effected without its prior written consent. (b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and such of its officers who have signed the Registration Statement and each other Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any such other Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20(a) of the 1934 Act to the same extent and upon the same terms as the indemnity agreement of the Company set forth in Section 7(a) hereof, but only with respect to alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus, or such documents as amended or supplemented, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by, or through the Representative on behalf of, such Underwriter for use therein. 17 SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, or contained in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by, or on behalf of the Company and shall survive delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Underwriters. SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. (a) The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Date if (i) trading in securities on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been generally suspended, (ii) minimum or maximum ranges for prices shall have been generally established on the New York Stock Exchange by the Commission or by the New York Stock Exchange, (iii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities, or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States is involved, any declaration of war by the United States Congress or any other substantial national or international calamity or emergency affecting the United States, in any such case provided for in clauses (i) through (iv) with the result that, in the reasonable judgement of the Representative, the marketability of the Junior Subordinated Notes shall have been materially impaired. (b) If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Representative pursuant to subsection (a) above or because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, then in any such case, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters, severally, for the reasonable fees and disbursements of Dewey Ballantine and for the out of pocket expenses (in an amount not exceeding $10,000) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes and, upon such reimbursement, the Company shall be absolved from any further liability hereunder, except as provided in Sections 4 and 7. SECTION 10. DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail on the Closing Date to purchase the Junior Subordinated Notes that it or they are obligated to purchase under this 18 Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representative shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then: (a) if the principal amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the Junior Subordinated Notes, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or (b) if the principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the Junior Subordinated Notes, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter. No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default. In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Final Supplemented Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. SECTION 11. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representative at 3333 Peachtree Road, N.E., South Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, Attention: Syndicate Department; notices to the Company shall be delivered to 500 Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32501, Attention: Corporate Secretary, with a copy to Southern Company Services, Inc., 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Attention: Charles N. Eldred. SECTION 12. PARTIES. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other 19 than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Section 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Junior Subordinated Notes from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase. SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said State. Except as otherwise set forth herein, specified times of day refer to New York City time. SECTION 14. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 20 If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms. Very truly yours, GULF POWER COMPANY By: WAYNE BOSTON Title: ASSISTANT SECRETARY CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written THE ROBINSON-HUMPHREY COMPANY, INC. By: C. MACLAINE KENAN Title: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT For itself and as Representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto. SCHEDULE I NAME OF UNDERWRITER Principal Amount of Series B Junior Subordinated Notes The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. $ 5,000,000 J.C. Bradford & Co. 5,000,000 Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. 5,000,000 Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation 1,000,000 Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated 1,000,000 Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. 1,000,000 Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 1,000,000 Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. 1,000,000 ---------- TOTAL $20,000,000 Schedule II-A [Letterhead of BEGGS & LANE] ___________ __, 199_ The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. 3333 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30326 GULF POWER COMPANY Series B _.__% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JUNE 30, 2037 Dear Sirs: We have acted as general counsel to Gulf Power Company (the "Company") in connection with (i) the Company's issuance of $20,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Series B ___% Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037 (the "Notes") pursuant to a Subordinated Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 1997, by and between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as heretofore supplemented and amended and as further supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of __________ __, 199_ (collectively, the "Indenture"); and (ii) the purchase by you of the Notes pursuant to the terms of an Underwriting Agreement dated July __, 1997, among the Company and the underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the "Underwriters") for whom you are acting as Representative (the "Underwriting Agreement"). This opinion is being delivered to you as Representative pursuant to Section 5(c)(1) thereof. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have examined the registration statement on Form S-3 (Nos. 333- 19271, 333-19271-01 and 333-19271-02) pertaining to the Notes (the "Registration Statement") filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the prospectus dated January 10, 1997 as supplemented by a final prospectus supplement dated __________, 199_ (the "Final Supplemented Prospectus"), which pursuant to Form S-3 incorporates by reference the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarters ended and the Current Reports on Form 8-K of the Company dated (the "Exchange Act Documents"), each as filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, the documents delivered to you at the closing (except the Notes, of which we have examined a specimen), and we have made such other and further investigations as we deemed necessary to express the opinions hereinafter set forth. The Indenture and the Underwriting Agreement are herein referred to as the "Agreements". We are of the opinion, relying as to matters of New York law upon the opinion dated hereof rendered to you by Dewey Ballantine, as to matters of Georgia law and with respect to the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, on the opinion dated the date hereof rendered to you by Troutman Sanders LLP, that: 1. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Maine, is duly qualified to carry on its business as a foreign corporation under the laws of the States of Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, and has due corporate authority to carry on the public utility business in which it is engaged and to own and operate the properties used by it in such business and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Agreements and the Notes. 2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and the Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company. 3. All orders, consents, or other authorizations or approvals of the Florida Public Service Commission and the Commission legally required for the issuance and sale of the Notes have been obtained; such orders are sufficient for the issuance and the sale of the Notes; the issuance and the sale of the Notes and conform in all material respects with the terms of such orders; and no other order, consent or other authorization or approval of any Florida or United States governmental body (other than in connection or in compliance with the provisions of the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction, as to which we express no opinion) is legally required for the issuance and sale of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement. 2 4. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Debt Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company's obligations under the Indenture may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Indenture conforms as to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof in the Final Supplemented Prospectus. 5. The Notes have been duly authorized and executed by the Company and, when authenticated by the Debt Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company's obligations under the Notes may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity; and the Notes conform as to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof in the Final Supplemented Prospectus. 6. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). 7. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes, will not be an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. We have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements made or included in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents and take no responsibility therefor, except as and to the extent set forth in paragraphs 4 and 5 above and in the Final Supplemented Prospectus in the second paragraph under the caption "Experts". In the course of the preparation by the Company of the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents, we participated in conferences with certain officers and employees of the Company, with other counsel for the Company 3 and with representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP. Based upon our examination of the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents, our investigations made in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents and our participation in the conferences referred to above, (i) we are of the opinion that the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, as of __________, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and that the Exchange Act Documents, as of their respective dates of filing with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the relevant requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, except that in each case we express no opinion as to the financial statements or other financial or statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents, and (ii) nothing came to our attention which gives us reason to believe that the Registration Statement, as of the date of filing with the Commission of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 (including such Annual Report on Form 10-K), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Final Supplemented Prospectus (including the Exchange Act Documents) contains any untrue statement therein of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that in each case we express no opinion or belief with respect to the financial statements or other financial or statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents. We are members of the State Bar of Florida and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the States of Florida and Mississippi and the federal law of the United States and, to the extent set forth herein, the laws of the States of Maine, Georgia and New York. This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the above-described transaction. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by or furnished to any other person without our prior written consent, except that Troutman Sanders LLP and Dewey Ballantine may rely on this opinion in giving their opinions 4 pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Underwriting Agreement insofar as such opinion relates to matters of Florida and Mississippi law. Yours very truly, BEGGS & LANE 5 Schedule II-B [Letterhead of TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP] __________ __, 199_ The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. 3333 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30326 GULF POWER COMPANY SERIES B _.__% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JUNE 30, 2037 Dear Sirs: We have acted as counsel to Gulf Power Company (the "Company") in connection with (i) the Company's issuance of $20,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Series B ___% Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037 (the "Notes") pursuant to a Subordinated Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 1997, by and between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as heretofore supplemented and as further supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of __________ __, 199_ (collectively, the "Indenture"); and (ii) the purchase by you of the Notes pursuant to the terms of an Underwriting Agreement dated July __, 1997, among the Company and the underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the "Underwriters") for whom you are acting as Representative (the "Underwriting Agreement"). This opinion is being delivered to you as Representative pursuant to Section 5(c)(2) thereof. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have examined the registration statement on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-19271, 333-19271-01 and 333-19271-02) pertaining to the Notes (the "Registration Statement") filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the prospectus dated January 10, 1997 as supplemented by a final prospectus supplement dated __________, 199_ (the "Final Supplemented Prospectus"), which pursuant to Form S-3 incorporates by reference the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarters ended and the Current Reports on Form 8-K of the Company dated (the "Exchange Act Documents"), each as filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, the documents delivered to you at the closing (except the certificates representing the Notes, of which we have examined a specimen), and we have made such other and further investigations as we deemed necessary to express the opinions hereinafter set forth. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. The Indenture and the Underwriting Agreement are herein referred to collectively as the "Agreements". Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion, relying as to matters of Florida and Mississippi law upon the opinion dated the date hereof rendered to you by Beggs & Lane and relying as to matters of New York law upon the opinion dated the date hereof rendered to you by Dewey Ballantine, that: 1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maine, is duly qualified to carry on its business as a foreign corporation in the States of Florida, Georgia and Mississippi and has due corporate authority to carry on the public utility business in which it is engaged, to own and operate the properties used by it in such business and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Agreements and the Notes. 2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and the Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company. 3. All orders, consents or other authorizations or approvals of the Florida Public Service Commission and the Commission legally required for the issuance and sale of the Notes have been obtained; such orders are sufficient for the issuance and sale of the Notes; the issuance and sale of the Notes conform in all material respects with the terms of such orders; and no other order, consent or other authorization or approval of any Florida or United States governmental body (other than in connection or in compliance with the provisions of the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction, as to which we express no opinion) is legally required for the issuance and sale of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement. 2 4. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Debt Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company's obligations under the Indenture may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Indenture conforms as to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof in the Final Supplemented Prospectus. 5. The Notes have been duly authorized and executed by the Company and, when authenticated by the Debt Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company's obligations under the Notes may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Notes conform as to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof in the Final Supplemented Prospectus. 6. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements made or included in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents and take no responsibility therefor, except as and to the extent set forth in paragraphs 4 and 5 above. In the course of the preparation by the Company of the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents, we participated in conferences with certain officers and employees of the Company, with other counsel for the Company, with representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP and with your counsel. Based upon our examination of the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents, our investigations made in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents and our participation in the 3 conferences referred to above, (i) we are of the opinion that the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, as of _______________, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and that the Exchange Act Documents, as of their respective dates of filing with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the relevant requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, except that in each case we express no opinion as to the financial statements or other financial or statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents, and (ii) nothing came to our attention which gives us reason to believe that the Registration Statement, as of the date of filing with the Commission of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 (including such Annual Report on Form 10-K), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Final Supplemented Prospectus (including the Exchange Act Documents) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that in each case we express no opinion or belief with respect to the financial statements or other financial or statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents. We are members of the State Bar of Georgia and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of Georgia and the federal law of the United States and, to the extent set forth herein, the laws of the States of Maine, Mississippi, Florida and New York. This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the above-described transaction. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by or furnished to any other person without our prior written consent. Yours very truly, TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP 4 Schedule III [Letterhead of Cravath, Swaine & Moore] __________ __, 199_ The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. 3333 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30326 Gulf Power Company 500 Bayfront Parkway Pensacola, Florida 32501 Gulf Power Company Series B _.__% Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037 Dear Sirs: We have acted as counsel to The Chase Manhattan Bank (the "Bank") in connection with (a) the Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1997 (the "Original Indenture"), between Gulf Power Company (the "Company") and the Bank, as Trustee, as heretofore supplemented and amended, (b) the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of ___________ (together with the Original Indenture, herein called the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Bank, as Trustee. In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion, including copies of the Indenture and certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Bank. Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that: i) the Bank has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a banking corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New York; ii) the Bank has the corporate trust power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its duties under the Indenture, has duly executed and delivered the Indenture, and, insofar as the laws governing the trust powers of the Bank are concerned and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Company, the Indenture constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Bank, enforceable against the Bank in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). iii) the execution, delivery and performance by the Bank of the Indenture does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or bylaws of the Bank. iv) no approval, authorization or other action by, or filing with, any governmental authority of the United States of America or the State of New York having jurisdiction over the trust powers of the Bank is required in connection with the execution and delivery by the Bank of the Indenture or the performance by the Bank of its duties thereunder, except such as have been obtained, taken or made. We are admitted to practice in the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to matters governed by any laws other than the laws of the State of New York and the Federal law of the United States of America. We are furnishing this opinion to you solely for your benefit. This opinion is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose. Very truly yours, CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE 2 Schedule IV [Letterhead of DEWEY BALLANTINE] __________ __, 199_ The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. 3333 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30326 GULF POWER COMPANY Series B _.__% Junior Subordinated Notes, due ____ Ladies and Gentlemen: We have represented you in connection with (i) the Company's issuance of $20,000,000 of its Series B ___% Junior Subordinated Notes (the "Notes") pursuant to a Subordinated Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 1997, by and between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as heretofore supplemented and amended and as further supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of __________ __, 199_ (collectively, the "Indenture"); and (ii) the purchase by you of the Notes pursuant to the terms of an Underwriting Agreement dated July __, 1997, among the Company and the underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the "Underwriters") for whom you are acting as Representative (the "Underwriting Agreement"). This opinion is being delivered to you as Representative pursuant to Section 5(c)(4) thereof. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have examined the registration statement on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-19271, 333-19271-01 and 333-19271-02) pertaining to the Notes (the "Registration Statement"), filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the prospectus dated January 10, 1997, as supplemented by a final prospectus supplement dated , which pursuant to Form S-3 incorporates by reference the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarters ended and the Current Reports on Form 8-K of the Company, dated (the "Exchange Act Documents"), each as filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, the documents delivered to you at the closing (except the Notes, of which we have examined a specimen), and we have made such other and further investigations as we deemed necessary to express the opinions hereinafter set forth. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. The Indenture and the Underwriting Agreement are herein referred to as the "Agreements". Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion, relying as aforesaid and as to all matters covered hereby which are governed by or dependent upon the laws of the States of Florida and Mississippi upon the opinion of Beggs & Lane dated the date hereof and addressed to you and as to all matters covered hereby which are governed by or dependent upon the laws of the State of Georgia upon the opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP dated the date hereof and addressed to you, that: 1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maine, is duly qualified to carry on its business as a foreign corporation in the States of Florida, Georgia and Mississippi and has due corporate authority to carry on the public utility business in which it is engaged and to own and operate the properties used by it in such business and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Agreements and the Notes. 2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and the Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company. 3. All orders, consents, or other authorizations or approvals of the Florida Public Service Commission and the Commission legally required for the issuance and sale of the Notes have been obtained; such orders are sufficient for the issuance and sale of the Notes; the issuance and sale of the Notes conform in all material respects with the terms of such orders; and no other order, consent or other 2 authorization or approval of any Florida or United States governmental body (other than in connection or in compliance with the provisions of the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction, as to which we express no opinion) is legally required for the issuance and sale of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement. 4. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Debt Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company's obligations under the Indenture may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Indenture conforms as to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof in the Final Supplemented Prospectus. 5. The Notes have been duly authorized and executed by the Company and, when authenticated by the Debt Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the qualifications that the enforceability of the Company's obligations under the Notes may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Notes conform as to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof in the Final Supplemented Prospectus. 6. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements made or included in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents and take no responsibility therefor, except as and to the extent set forth in paragraphs 4 and 5 above. In the course of the preparation by the Company of the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents, we participated in conferences with certain officers and employees of the Company, with representatives 3 of Arthur Andersen LLP and with counsel to the Company. Based upon our examination of the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Exchange Act Documents, our investigations made in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Final Supplemented Prospectus and our participation in the conferences referred to above, (i) we are of the opinion that the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, as of ___________, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and that the Exchange Act Documents, as of their respective dates of filing with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the relevant requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, except that in each case we express no opinion as to the financial statements or other financial or statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents, and (ii) nothing came to our attention which gives us reason to believe that the Registration Statement, as of the date of filing with the Commission of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 (including such Annual Report on Form 10-K), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Final Supplemented Prospectus (including the Exchange Act Documents) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that in each case we express no opinion or belief with respect to the financial statements or other financial or statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents. We are members of the State Bar of New York and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States, and to the extent set forth herein, the laws of the States of Maine, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida. This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above matter. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon by or furnished to any other person without our prior written consent except that Beggs & Lane and Troutman Sanders LLP may rely on this opinion in giving their opinions pursuant 4 to Section 5(c) of the Underwriting Agreement, insofar as such opinions relate to matters of New York law, and Troutman Sanders LLP may rely on this opinion in giving its opinion pursuant to Sections 102, 302 and 904 of the Indenture, insofar as such opinion relates to matters of New York law. Very truly yours, DEWEY BALLANTINE 5 EX-4.2 3 Exhbit 4.2 ================================================================================ GULF POWER COMPANY TO THE CHASE MANHATTTAN BANK, TRUSTEE. SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE DATED AS OF AUGUST 1, 1997 $20,000,000 SERIES B 7.50% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JUNE 30, 2037 ================================================================================ TABLE OF CONTENTS1 PAGE ARTICLE 1.................................................................2 SECTION 101. Establishment................................................2 SECTION 102. Definitions..................................................2 SECTION 103. Payment of Principal and Interest............................2 SECTION 104. Denominations................................................3 SECTION 105. Global Securities............................................3 SECTION 106. Transfer.....................................................4 SECTION 107. Redemption...................................................4 ARTICLE 2.................................................................4 SECTION 201. Recitals by Company..........................................5 SECTION 202. Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture.........5 SECTION 203. Executed in Counterparts.....................................5 1This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture or have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions. THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is made as of the 1st day of August, 1997, by and between GULF POWER COMPANY, a Maine corporation, 500 Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32501 (the "Company"), and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001 (the "Trustee"). W I T N E S S E T H: WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore entered into a Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1997 (the "Original Indenture"), with The Chase Manhattan Bank, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1997 (the "First Supplemental Indenture"), with The Chase Manhattan Bank; WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this reference and the Original Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, is herein called the "Indenture"; WHEREAS, under the Original Indenture, a new series of Junior Subordinated Notes may at any time be established by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Original Indenture and the terms of such series may be described by a supplemental indenture executed by the Company and the Trustee; WHEREAS, the Company proposes to create under the Indenture a new series of Junior Subordinated Notes; WHEREAS, additional Junior Subordinated Notes of other series hereafter established, except as may be limited in the Original Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified, may be issued from time to time pursuant to the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified; and WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and recording of this Second Supplemental Indenture and to make it a valid and binding obligation of the Company have been done or performed. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE 1 Series B Junior Subordinated Notes SECTION 101. Establishment. There is hereby established a new series of Junior Subordinated Notes to be issued under the Indenture, to be designated as the Company's Series B 7.50% Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037 (the "Series B Notes"). There are to be authenticated and delivered $20,000,000 principal amount of Series B Notes, and no further Series B Notes shall be authenticated and delivered except as provided by Sections 203, 303, 304, 907 or 1107 of the Original Indenture. The Series B Notes shall be issued in definitive fully registered form. The Series B Notes shall be in substantially the form set out in Exhibit A hereto. The entire principal amount of the Series B Notes shall initially be evidenced by one certificate issued to the Depositary (which shall be The Depository Trust Company) or its nominee. The form of the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication for the Series B Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto. Each Series B Note shall be dated the date of authentication thereof and shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. SECTION 102. Definitions. The following defined terms used herein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified below. Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Original Indenture. "Interest Payment Dates" means March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. "Original Issue Date" means August 1, 1997. "Regular Record Date" means, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the close of business on the 15th calendar day preceding such Interest Payment Date. "Stated Maturity" means June 30, 2037. SECTION 103. Payment of Principal and Interest. Principal shall be paid at the Stated Maturity (or upon earlier redemption). The unpaid principal amount of the Series B Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 7.50% per annum until paid or duly provided for. Interest shall be paid quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name the Series B Notes are registered on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable at the Stated Maturity of principal or on a Redemption Date as provided herein will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable. Any such interest that is not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holders on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person or Persons in whose name the Series B Notes are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee ("Special Record Date"), notice whereof shall be given to Holders of the Series B Notes not less than ten (10) days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Series B Notes shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Original Indenture. Payments of interest on the Series B Notes will include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for the Series B Notes shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Series B Notes is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. Payment of the principal and interest (including Additional Interest, if any) due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of the Series B Notes shall be made upon surrender of the Series B Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments of interest (including interest on any Interest Payment Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of the Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto. SECTION 104. Denominations. The Series B Notes may be issued in the denominations of $25, or any integral multiple thereof. SECTION 105. Global Securities. The Series B Notes will be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary (which shall be The Depository Trust Company) or its nominee. Except under the limited circumstances described below, Series B Notes represented by the Global Security will not be exchangeable for, and will not otherwise be issuable as, Series B Notes in definitive form. The Global Securities described above may not be transferred except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or its nominee. Owners of beneficial interests in such a Global Security will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture, and no Global Security representing a Series B Note shall be exchangeable, except for another Global Security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or to a successor Depositary or its nominee. The rights of Holders of such Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary. A Global Security shall be exchangeable for Series B Notes registered in the names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Security and no successor Depositary shall have been appointed, or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as such Depositary and no successor Depositary shall have been appointed, (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) there shall have occurred an Event of Default with respect to the Series B Notes. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Series B Notes registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct. SECTION 106. Transfer. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of Series B Notes, but payment will be required of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange any Series B Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the day of the mailing of a notice identifying the serial numbers of the Series B Notes to be called for redemption, and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing, or (b) to transfer or exchange any Series B Notes theretofore selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Series B Note redeemed in part. SECTION 107. Redemption. The Series B Notes shall be subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, at any time or from time to time on or after August 1, 2002, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. In the event of redemption of the Series B Notes in part only, a new Series B Note or Notes for the unredeemed portion will be issued in the name or names of the Holders thereof upon the surrender thereof. The Series B Notes will not have a sinking fund. Notice of redemption shall be given as provided in Section 1104 of the Original Indenture. Any redemption of less than all of the Series B Notes shall, with respect to the principal thereof, be divisible by $25. ARTICLE 2 Miscellaneous Provisions SECTION 201. Recitals by Company. The recitals in this Second Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company only and not by the Trustee, and all of the provisions contained in the Original Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of Series B Notes and of this Second Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full. SECTION 202. Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture. As heretofore supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture and as supplemented hereby, the Original Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. SECTION 203. Executed in Counterparts. This Second Supplemental Indenture may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this instrument to be signed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written. ATTEST: GULF POWER COMPANY By: By: Assistant Secretary Vice President ATTEST: THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By: By: EXHIBIT A FORM OF SERIES B NOTE NO. 1 CUSIP NO. ___________ THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THIS SECURITY IS, TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE, SUBORDINATE AND SUBJECT IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE PRIOR PAYMENT IN FULL OF ALL SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS AND THIS SECURITY IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE WITH RESPECT THERETO. GULF POWER COMPANY SERIES B 7.50% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE JUNE 30, 2037 Principal Amount: $_________ Regular Record Date: 15th calendar day prior to Interest Payment Date Original Issue Date: August 1, 1997 Stated Maturity: June 30, 2037 Interest Payment Dates: March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 Interest Rate: 7.50% per annum Authorized Denomination: $25 Initial Redemption Date: August 1, 2002 Gulf Power Company, a Maine corporation (the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to _____________________________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _________ DOLLARS ($__________) on the Stated Maturity shown above (or upon earlier redemption), and to pay interest thereon from the Original Issue Date shown above, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date as specified above, commencing on the Interest Payment Date next succeeding the Original Issue Date shown above and on the Stated Maturity (or upon earlier redemption) at the rate per annum shown above until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and on any overdue principal and on any overdue installment of interest. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date that is the Stated Maturity or on a Redemption Date) will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (the "Note") is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date as specified above next preceding such Interest Payment Date, provided that any interest payable at Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes of this series shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payments of interest on this Note will include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for this Note shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Note is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is closed for business. Payment of the principal of and interest (including Additional Interest, if any) due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of the Series B Notes shall be made upon surrender of the Series B Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payment of interest (including interest on an Interest Payment Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of the Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least 16 days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto. The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture), and this Note is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided, and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his acceptance hereof, waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions. REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE. Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal. Dated: ________________, 19__. GULF POWER COMPANY By: Attest: Assistant Secretary {Seal of GULF POWER COMPANY appears here} CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Trustee By: Authorized Officer (Reverse Side of Note) This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Junior Subordinated Notes of the Company (the "Notes"), issued and issuable in one or more series under a Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1997, as supplemented (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, Trustee (the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures incidental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof as Series B 7.50% Junior Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2037 (the "Series B Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of up to $20,000,000. Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture. The Company shall have the right, subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, to redeem this Note at any time on or after August 1, 2002 at the option of the Company, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest, including any Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof. The Notes will not have a sinking fund. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary. The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Note or Notes to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Company. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York. ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM- as tenants in UNIF GIFT MIN ACT- _______ Custodian ________ common (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT- as tenants by the entireties under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act JT TEN- as joint tenants with right of survivorship and ________________________ not as tenants (State) in common Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list. ------------------- FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto (please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee) PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing agent to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. EXHIBIT B CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Trustee By: Authorized Officer EX-12.1 4 Exhibit 12.1 7/30/97 GULF POWER COMPANY Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the the five years ended December 31, 1996 and the twelve months ended June 30, 1997
Twelve Months Ended Year ended December 31, June 30, =========================================================== 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 ------------------Thousands of Dollars--------------------- EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Income Before Interest Charges $ 98,422 $ 96,088 $ 93,407 $ 92,693 $ 94,283 $ 92,042 Federal and state income taxes 28,569 28,304 40,848 33,796 35,417 37,810 Deferred income taxes, net 3,322 5,347 (6,987) 390 2,156 (2,342) Deferred investment tax credits - - - - - - AFUDC - Debt funds 46 454 656 187 58 6 ---------- --------- --------- -------- --------- --------- Earnings as defined $ 130,359 $ 130,193 $127,924 $127,066 $131,914 $127,516 ========== ========= ========= ======== ========= ========= FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Interest on long-term debt $ 35,792 $ 31,344 $ 27,124 $ 23,294 $ 24,691 $ 23,593 Interest on interim obligations 1,041 870 1,509 2,931 2,071 1,464 Amort of debt disc, premium and expense, net 1,032 1,412 1,834 2,014 2,087 2,180 Other interest charges 1,410 2,877 2,442 1,674 1,882 4,179 ---------- --------- --------- -------- --------- --------- Fixed charges as defined $ 39,275 $ 36,503 $ 32,909 $ 29,913 $ 30,731 $ 31,416 ========== ========= ========= ======== ========= ========= RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 3.32 3.57 3.89 4.25 4.29 4.06
EX-12.2 5 Exhibit 12.2 7/30/97 GULF POWER COMPANY Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred dividend requirements for the five years ended December 31, 1996 and the twelve months ended June 30, 1997
Twelve Months Ended Year ended December 31, June 30, =========================================================================== 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 ----------------------------Thousands of Dollars--------------------------- EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Income Before Interest Charges $ 98,422 $ 96,088 $ 93,407 $ 92,693 $ 94,283 $ 92,042 Federal and state income taxes 28,569 28,304 40,848 33,796 35,417 37,810 Deferred income taxes, net 3,322 5,347 (6,987) 390 2,156 (2,342) Deferred investment tax credits - - - - - - AFUDC - Debt funds 46 454 656 187 58 6 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Earnings as defined $130,359 $130,193 $127,924 $127,066 $131,914 $127,516 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Interest on long-term debt $ 35,792 $ 31,344 $ 27,124 $ 23,294 $ 24,691 $ 23,593 Interest on interim obligations 1,041 870 1,509 2,931 2,071 1,464 Amort of debt disc, premium and expense, net 1,032 1,412 1,834 2,014 2,087 2,180 Other interest charges 1,410 2,877 2,442 1,674 1,882 4,179 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Fixed charges as defined 39,275 36,503 32,909 29,913 30,731 31,416 Tax deductible preferred dividends 199 156 156 156 156 156 --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- 39,474 36,659 33,065 30,069 30,887 31,572 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Non-tax deductible preferred dividends 4,904 5,572 5,769 5,657 5,609 5,343 Ratio of net income before taxes to net income x 1.539 x 1.560 x 1.555 x 1.543 x 1.591 x 1.585 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Pref dividend requirements before income taxes 7,547 8,692 8,971 8,729 8,924 8,469 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Fixed charges plus pref dividend requirements $ 47,021 $ 45,351 $ 42,036 $ 38,798 $ 39,811 $ 40,041 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES PLUS PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS 2.77 2.87 3.04 3.28 3.31 3.18
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