“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the bonds being redeemed (assuming, for this purpose, that such bonds mature on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the bonds being redeemed (assuming, for this purpose, that such bonds mature on the Par Call Date).
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.
“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that we appoint to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time or, if any of such firms is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by us.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means any of (1) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by each of Regions Securities LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., Stephens Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., or, in each case, an affiliate thereof, and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (2) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with us.
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
Purchase of the Bonds
We or our affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase all or some of the bonds at any price or prices by means other than redemption, whether by tender, in the open market, by private negotiated agreement or otherwise, subject to applicable law.
Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds
See “Description of the New Bonds — Issuance of Additional Bonds” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the bases upon which we are permitted to issue first mortgage bonds under our mortgage and related requirements for such issuance. As of July 31, 2020, we had approximately $754 million of available property additions, entitling us to issue approximately $452 million principal amount of first mortgage bonds on the basis of property additions, and we could have issued approximately $1,152 million principal amount of first mortgage bonds on the basis of retired first mortgage bonds. The bonds will be issued on the basis of retired first mortgage bonds.
Additional Information
For additional information about the bonds, see “Description of the New Bonds” in the accompanying prospectus, including:
1. additional information about the terms of the bonds,
2. general information about our mortgage and the trustees,
3. a description of certain reservations of rights to amend our mortgage,
4. a description of certain restrictions contained in our mortgage, and
5. a description of events of default under our mortgage.
S-5