National Grid PLC F-3ASR, filed Jun 8, 2021
National Grid PLC (NGG)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, 2021
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
National Grid plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
| ENGLAND AND WALES (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation) |
98-0367158 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
| Justine Campbell (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices) |
Keri Sweet-Zavaglia (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number including area code, of agent for service) | |
Copies of communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
Jeffrey Cohen
Linklaters LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
1-212-903-9014
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting | ☐ | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities
Act. ☐
| † | The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012. |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
| ||||
| Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered/ Proposed Maximum Aggregate Price per Unit |
Amount of Registration Fee | ||
| Debt securities |
Indeterminate | (1) | ||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
Note:—
| (1) | An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of debt securities is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units or represented by depositary shares. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. |
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PROSPECTUS
National Grid plc
Debt Securities
We may from time to time offer and sell unsecured debt securities in one or more separate series. We will describe in one or more prospectus supplements, which must accompany this prospectus, the type and amount of a series of debt securities we are offering and selling, as well as the specific terms of these securities. Such prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the prospectus supplements carefully, together with the information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before you invest in these securities.
We may offer debt securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering. We may sell these securities directly to you, through agents we select, or through underwriters and dealers we select. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell these securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The mailing address of our principal executive office is 1-3 Strand, London, WC2N 5EH, England and our telephone number is 011-44-207-004-3000.
Investing in these securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus and “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as well as any contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of debt securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is June 8 2021.
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You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement or any document to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of these documents. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.
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This document is called a prospectus and is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities we may offer. Each time we offer debt securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus. The accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of that offering, and may also include a discussion of any special considerations applicable to those securities. The accompanying prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the accompanying prospectus supplement. Please carefully read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. In addition to the information contained in the documents, we refer you to under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the debt securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits, can be read on the SEC website, which is listed under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
All references in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to “National Grid”, “NG”, “our company”, “we”, “us” or “our” mean National Grid plc, unless we state otherwise or as the context requires. In addition, the term “IFRS” means international financial reporting standards as adopted by the European Union and IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB.
Our consolidated financial statements are published in pounds sterling. In this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, “U.S. dollars” or “$” refers to U.S. currency and “pounds sterling”, “sterling”, “£” or “pence” refers to United Kingdom currency.
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Investing in the debt securities offered using this prospectus involves risk. You should consider carefully the risks incorporated by reference in this prospectus from our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F or in similar sections in subsequent filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information on factors that may affect our future results before you decide to buy our debt securities. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer, and the trading price and liquidity of our debt securities could decline, in which case you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risk factors may be included in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series or offering of securities.
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This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain certain statements that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information. These statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. These statements include information with respect to our financial condition, our results of operations and businesses, strategy, plans and objectives. Words such as “anticipates”, “expects”, “should”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “outlook”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “targets”, “may”, “will”, “continue”, “project” and similar expressions, as well as statements in the future tense, identify forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond our ability to control or estimate precisely, such as:
| • | changes in laws or regulations, including any arising as a result of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and any legislation introduced to facilitate the attainment of Net Zero emissions targets; |
| • | announcements from and decisions by governmental bodies or regulators, including the implementation of the RIIO-2 price control as well as increased economic uncertainty following the COVID-19 pandemic; |
| • | the timing of construction and delivery by third parties of new generation projects requiring connection; |
| • | breaches of, or changes in, environmental, climate change and health and safety laws or regulations, including breaches or other incidents arising from the potentially harmful nature of our activities; |
| • | network failure or interruption, the inability to carry out critical non-network operations and damage to infrastructure, due to adverse weather conditions including the impact of major storms as well as the results of climate change, due to counterparties being unable to deliver physical commodities, or due to the failure of or unauthorised access to or deliberate breaches of our IT systems and supporting technology; |
| • | failure to adequately forecast and respond to disruptions in energy supply; |
| • | performance against regulatory targets and standards and against our peers with the aim of delivering stakeholder expectations regarding costs and efficiency savings; |
| • | customers and counterparties (including financial institutions) failing to perform their obligations to the Company; |
| • | fluctuations in exchange rates, interest rates and commodity price indices; |
| • | restrictions and conditions (including filing requirements) in our borrowing and debt arrangements, funding costs and access to financing; |
| • | regulatory requirements for us to maintain financial resources in certain parts of our business and restrictions on some subsidiaries’ transactions such as paying dividends, lending or levying charges; |
| • | the delayed timing of recoveries and payments in our regulated businesses and whether aspects of our activities are contestable; |
| • | the funding requirements and performance of our pension schemes and other post-retirement benefit schemes; |
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| • | the failure to attract, train or retain employees with the necessary competencies, including leadership skills, and any significant disputes arising with our employees or the breach of laws or regulations by our employees; |
| • | the failure to respond to market developments, including competition for onshore transmission; |
| • | the threats and opportunities presented by emerging technology; |
| • | the failure by the Company to respond to, or meet its own commitments as a leader in relation to, climate change development activities relating to energy transition, including the integration of distributed energy resources; and |
| • | the need to grow our business to deliver our strategy, as well as incorrect or unforeseen assumptions or conclusions (including unanticipated costs and liabilities) relating to business development activity, including the WPD Acquisition, the NECO Sale and the proposed sale of a majority stake in the Group’s UK Gas Transmission business, and joint ventures. |
Other factors are discussed under the sections listed under “Operating and financial review and prospects” and “Risk factors” in the cross-reference table in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and may be discussed in an accompanying prospectus supplement. We may also make or disclose written and/or oral forward-looking statements in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC, our annual reports and accounts to shareholders, shareholder circulars, offering circulars, registration statements, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by our directors, management or employees to third parties, including financial analysts. We undertake no obligation to update any of our forward-looking statements.
The effects of these factors are difficult to predict. New factors emerge from time to time and we cannot assess the potential impact of any such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the filing requirements of the Exchange Act. In accordance with the Exchange Act, we file such reports and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The address of the SEC’s internet site is provided solely for the information of prospective investors and is not intended to be an active link incorporating any materials via such website, except as described below.
You may request a copy of the filings referred to above at no cost by writing or telephoning us at our registered office at 1-3 Strand, London WC2N 5EH, England, 011-44-207-004-3000, attn: Investor Relations.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
This prospectus “incorporates by reference” certain of the reports and other information that we have filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. This means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. Information filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will update and supersede this information. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below:
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 March 2021; |
| • | Any future reports on Form 6-K that we may file that indicate that they are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; and |
| • | Any future Annual Reports on Form 20-F that we may file with the SEC under the Exchange Act prior to the termination of any offering contemplated by this prospectus. |
Information in this prospectus may be modified by information included in subsequent Exchange Act filings that we incorporate by reference, the result of which is that only the information as modified will be part of this prospectus. All other information in the prospectus will be unaffected by the replacement of this superseded information.
The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Our website address is https://www.nationalgrid.com/investors. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.
Each person, including any beneficial owner to whom this prospectus is delivered, may request, orally or in writing, a copy of these documents, which will be provided at no cost, by contacting:
| Investor Relations 1-3 Strand, London WC2N 5EH, England Telephone number is 011-44-207-004-3000 | ||||
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Overview
National Grid plc is the name of our holding company and we are an international energy utility based in the United Kingdom and north-eastern United States.
Our website address is http://www.nationalgrid.com. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.
The description of our business below contains information and data as of the date of this prospectus and may be amended or supplemented by the accompanying prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference herein or therein.
Our Business
Our principal operations are in the ownership and operation of electricity transmission infrastructure and gas transmission in the United Kingdom, electricity transmission and distribution and gas distribution in the northeastern United States. We also have interests in related matters, including electricity interconnectors and metering services in the United Kingdom and liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) storage and transportation in the United States. On March 18, 2021, we announced that we (i) will acquire PPL WPD Investments Limited (together with its subsidiary undertakings), the holding company of Western Power Distribution, the UK’s largest electricity distribution business, from PPL WPD Limited, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (“PPL”) for an equity value of £7.8 billion, (ii) agreed to sell The Narragansett Electric Company to PPL Energy Holdings, LLC, also a subsidiary of PPL, for an equity value of $3.8 billion (£2.7 billion) and (iii) will be initiating a sale process later this year for a majority stake in our gas transmission business in the United Kingdom as well as our metering services in the United Kingdom.
At 31 March 2021, we had more than 23,000 employees located in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The performance of our principal businesses is reported by segment, reflecting the management responsibilities and economic characteristics of each activity. Our principal businesses and segments, together with other activities and discontinued operations, are:
| • | United Kingdom electricity transmission; |
| • | United Kingdom gas transmission; |
| • | U.S. regulated; and |
| • | National Grid Ventures (such as commercial operations in energy metering, electricity interconnectors, renewables development and LNG storage) and other activities (mainly relating to United Kingdom property business, together with insurance and corporate activities in the United Kingdom and the U.S., and National Grid plc’s investments in technology and innovation companies, through National Grid Partners). |
Our principal subsidiaries are: National Grid Electricity Transmission plc, which operates our United Kingdom electricity transmission business; National Grid Gas plc, which operates our United Kingdom gas transmission; National Grid USA, a holding company for our U.S. electricity and gas distribution, electricity transmission and electricity generation businesses; and National Grid North America, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of National Grid plc and the top holding company in National Grid plc’s corporate structure in the United States that acts as a treasury, finance and holding company for National Grid plc in the United States and operates as a vehicle for acquisition financing for National Grid plc in the United States through intercompany lending arrangements.
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CAPITALISATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
The following table sets forth our capitalisation on an actual basis, using financial information compiled in accordance with IFRS, as at 31 March 2021. You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes and together with any updated information in the accompanying prospectus supplement and any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein.
| As at 31 March 2021 |
||||
| (£ millions) | ||||
| Bank loans and overdrafts |
2,532 | |||
| Other bonds |
24,209 | |||
| Lease liabilities |
586 | |||
| Other loans |
156 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total long-term debt |
27,483 | |||
| Total short-term debt |
3,737 | |||
| Total Debt |
31,220 | |||
| Capital and reserves: |
||||
| Share capital |
474 | |||
| Share premium account |
1,296 | |||
| Retained earnings |
23,163 | |||
| Translation reserve |
(35 | ) | ||
| Cash flow hedges reserve |
(48 | ) | ||
| Cost of hedging reserve |
(28 | ) | ||
| FVOCI equity reserve |
51 | |||
| FVOCI debt reserve |
111 | |||
| Own credit reserve |
1 | |||
| Capital redemption reserve |
19 | |||
| Merger reserve |
(5,165 | ) | ||
| Total Shareholder’s Equity |
19,839 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Non-controlling interest |
21 | |||
| Total Equity |
19,860 | |||
| Total Capitalisation |
51,080 | |||
Notes:—
| (1) | As at 31 March 2021 we had net debt related net derivative assets of £175 million. Charges over our property, plant and other assets were provided as collateral over borrowings as at 31 March 2021, totaling £67 million. The value of our guarantees and letters of credit issued by the Group as at 31 March 2021 amounted to £2,836 million, which excludes the £1 billion in relation to Section A of the National Grid UK Pension Scheme as described further in note 2 below. |
| (2) | We, as the Parent Company of the Group, have guaranteed the repayment of the principal sum, any associated premium and interest on specific loans due by certain subsidiary undertakings primarily to third parties. As at 31 March 2021, the sterling equivalent amounted to £2,108 million. The guarantees are for varying terms from less than one year to open-ended. In addition, as part of the sectionalisation of the National Grid UK Pension Scheme on 1 January 2017, a guarantee of £1 billion has been provided to Section A. This payment is contingent on insolvency or on failure to pay pensions obligations to Section A and can be claimed against National Grid plc, National Grid holdings One plc or Lattice Group Limited (up to £1 billion in total). |
| (3) | The information contained in the Capitalisation and Indebtedness table is extracted without material adjustment from our audited consolidated financial statements as at 31 March 2021. There has been no material change in our continental liabilities of guarantees since 31 March 2021. As at 31 March 2021, we had cash and short-term investments of £2,499 million. |
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| (4) | On 20 May 2021, our directors announced a proposed final dividend of 32.16 pence per share that will absorb approximately £1,141 million of shareholders’ equity (assuming all amounts are settled in cash). It will be paid on 18 August 2021 to shareholders who are on the register of members at 4 June 2021 (subject to shareholders’ approval at the AGM). A scrip dividend will be offered as an alternative. |
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
General
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as trustee, dated 3 July 2006, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of 24 July 2006 and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of 17 July 2015. We have summarised material provisions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the indenture, including the definition of certain terms in the indenture and those terms to be made a part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The form of indenture is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. In this summary, we have included reference to section numbers in the indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalised terms used in this summary have the meanings specified in the indenture. In this summary, “we”, “our” or “us” means NG and its successors under the indenture only and does not include any of its subsidiaries.
The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities which we may issue under it and provides that we may issue debt securities under it from time to time in one or more series. The indenture does not limit the amount of other indebtedness or the debt securities which we or our subsidiaries may issue.
We describe in this section the general terms that will apply to any series of debt securities that may be offered under this prospectus. At the time that we offer debt securities, we will describe in the related prospectus supplement the specific terms of the debt securities of a series and the extent to which the general terms described in this section apply or do not apply to those securities.
The debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. In each case, these obligations shall be without any preference among themselves. This will be subject, in the event of insolvency, to laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights. Other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness may contain covenants, events of default and other provisions which are different from or which are not contained in the debt securities.
We will issue debt securities in series. Each series of debt securities may have different terms, and, in some cases, debt securities of the same series may have different terms. We will describe the following terms of the particular series of debt securities being offered in the applicable prospectus supplement:
| • | the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorised or any minimum denominations of the series of debt securities, |
| • | the percentage or percentages of principal amount (price to public) at which the debt securities of the series will be issued, |
| • | certain dates or periods, including: |
| (a) | the original issue date or dates or periods during which the debt securities may be issued, |
| (b) | the date or dates (or manner of determining the same), if any, on which, or the range of dates, if any, within which, the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the debt securities of the series is payable, and |
| (c) | the record dates, if any, for the determination of holders to whom such principal (and premium, if any, thereon) is payable, |
| • | information with regard to interest, including: |
| (a) | the rate or rates per annum (and the manner or basis of calculation thereof) at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest (if any), |
| (b) | the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, |
| (c) | the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable (or manner of determining the same), and |
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| (d) | the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date, |
| • | the place or places where: |
| (a) | the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on debt securities of the series shall be payable, |
| (b) | debt securities of the series may be presented for transfer or exchange, |
| (c) | notices and demands to or upon us may be served, and |
| (d) | commercial banks and foreign exchange markets must be open to settle payments to constitute a good business day, |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or otherwise, |
| • | our obligation, if any, to redeem, repurchase or repay debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the terms and conditions in respect thereof, |
| • | with respect to debt securities of a series, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon a redemption prior to maturity or a declaration of acceleration of the maturity following an event of default, if any, thereof, |
| • | any stock exchange on which we will list a series of debt securities, |
| • | any additional events of default (as defined below), |
| • | any additional covenants or agreements with respect to the debt securities of the series, |
| • | if a person other than The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York) is to act as trustee for the debt securities of any series, the name and location of the corporate trust office of such trustee and, with respect to any debt securities of a series, if a person other than the applicable trustee, in its capacity as principal paying agent for the debt securities, is to act as such agent, the name and location of the principal office of such principal paying agent, |
| • | if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currency unit in which any payments on the debt securities of the series shall be made or in which the debt securities of the series shall be denominated, |
| • | if applicable, the fact that the terms of the applicable indenture described below under “Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” will not apply with respect to the debt securities of the series, |
| • | the date as of which any Global Security (as defined below) representing outstanding debt securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first security of the series to be issued, |
| • | if applicable, the fact that the terms of the applicable indenture described under “Redemption of Debt Securities for Tax Reasons” and “Payment of Additional Amounts” below will not apply with respect to the debt securities of the series, |
| • | whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or notes and, in such case, the depositary for such global security or notes, |
| • | whether any legends shall be stamped or imprinted on all or a portion of the debt securities of a series, and the terms and conditions upon which any such legends may be removed, |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any, |
| • | any other terms of that series, and |
| • | any material United Kingdom or U.S. federal tax consequences applicable to the particular series which are not disclosed in this Prospectus. |
The indenture does not contain any provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in our credit quality or a takeover, recapitalisation or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us. Accordingly, we
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could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit rating.
Denominations, Registration and Transfer
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we will issue debt securities registered in the name of holders as set out in the books of the security registrar (each, a “registered security”, or a security in “registered form”).
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, registered securities will be represented by interests in one or more global securities (each, a “Global Security”, or a security in “global form”) deposited with a nominee for, and accepted for settlement and clearance by, one or more of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and a common depositary for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, Société anonyme (“Clearstream”), as described under “Global Securities” below. Registered securities will be issued in such denominations as are specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and a Global Security will be issued in a denomination equal to the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series represented by such Global Security, unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise.
In the circumstances described below under “—Securities in Definitive Form”, we may physically issue and deliver certificated securities in registered form, which are referred to as securities in “definitive form”. Registered securities of any series issued in definitive form will be exchangeable for other registered securities of the same series, of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor and of different authorised denominations. A registered security issued in definitive form may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of transfer duly executed), at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for such purpose with respect to any series of debt securities and referred to in an applicable prospectus supplement, without service charge but subject to payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the indenture. Such transfer or exchange will be effected after the security registrar or transfer agent, as the case may be, is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We have initially appointed the trustee as the security registrar under the indenture. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents (in addition to the security registrar) that we have initially designated with respect to any series of debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for such series. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of debt securities.
If the debt securities of a series are redeemed in part, we shall not be required to:
| • | issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any such series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of debt securities of that series selected to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or |
| • | register the transfer of or exchange any registered security, or portion thereof, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered security being redeemed in part. |
Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be represented in whole or in part by one or more Global Securities that will be registered in the name of and deposited with or on behalf of, DTC or a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream (a “Depositary”) or a nominee thereof. Global Securities will be issued in registered form unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. Unless and until it is exchanged for registered securities in definitive form, any such Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the relevant Depositary to its nominee, or vice versa, or by a nominee to another nominee of such Depositary or, in either case, to a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities will be described in the related prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements. See also “—Clearance and Settlement” below.
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Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security or its nominee will credit the accounts of persons entitled thereto with the respective beneficial interests in the principal amounts of the debt securities represented by such Global Security. Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such debt securities, or by us if we offer and sell directly such debt securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the Depositary for such Global Security or its nominee (“participants”) or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) for such Global Security and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons who hold interests through participants). The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
So long as the relevant Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, it will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the indenture governing the debt securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by such Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities of such series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture governing such debt securities. Such owners of beneficial interests will not have the direct right to act upon any solicitation for actions from holders of the debt securities and will be permitted to act only to the extent appropriate proxies to do so from DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, have been received. Similarly, upon the occurrence of an event of default, unless and until debt securities in definitive form are issued, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will be restricted to acting only to the extent appropriate proxies have been received from DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable.
Any payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on debt securities registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to it as the registered owner of the Global Security representing such debt securities. Neither we, nor any of the applicable trustees, paying agents or security registrars for such debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security for such debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the Depositary for a Global Security or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest (if any), will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the debt securities of such series represented by such Global Security as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities payable to bearer or registered in “street name” (holders of debt securities in accounts at banks or brokers), and will be the responsibility of such participants.
Securities in Definitive Form
If a Depositary for a Global Security in respect of a series of debt securities is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 120 days, or in the event of our winding up we fail to make any payment on any debt securities when due, and the trustee has received notice from the registered owner of such Global Security requesting the exchange of a specified amount of such debt securities for debt securities of such series in definitive form, we will issue registered securities in respect of the debt securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for the Global Security representing such series of debt securities.
We may at any time and in our sole discretion determine that the registered securities, in respect of the debt securities of any series represented by one or more Global Securities, shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event, we will issue registered securities in respect of the debt securities of such series in definitive form. Further, if we so specify with respect to the debt securities of a series, you may, on terms acceptable to us and the Depositary for such Global Security, receive registered securities of such series in definitive form.
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In any such instance, you will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of securities of the series of debt securities represented by such Global Security, equal in principal amount to your beneficial interest, registered in your name.
Debt securities of any series so issued in definitive form will only be issued as registered securities in authorised minimum denominations and bearing any applicable restrictive legend. There should be no tax consequences associated with an exchange of registered securities in global form for registered securities in definitive form. If we issue debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a particular Global Security, the relevant Depositary, as holder of that Global Security, will surrender it against receipt of the debt securities in definitive form, cancel the book-entry debt securities of that series, and distribute through DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, the debt securities in definitive form of that series to the persons and in the amounts specified by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be.
To the extent permitted by law, we, the trustee, the paying agents and the security registrars shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name any debt security in definitive form is registered as the absolute owner.
Payments in respect of a debt security in definitive form will be made to the person in whose name the definitive debt security is registered as it appears in the register for that series. They will be made either by check mailed or delivered to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified in the security register. Debt securities issued in definitive form should be presented to the applicable paying agent for redemption.
Holders of debt securities in definitive form will have the direct right to act upon any solicitation for actions from holders of the debt securities, including upon the occurrence of an event of default, and will not be required to rely upon receipt of proxies from DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream.
Payments on Debt Securities
The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the date on which we will pay interest, if any, and the date for payments of principal (and premium, if any, thereon) on any particular series of debt securities. The prospectus supplement will also specify the interest rate or rates, if any, or how such rate or rates will be calculated.
Redemption at the Option of NG
The applicable prospectus supplement will specify whether we may redeem the debt securities of any series, in whole or in part, at our option or in any other circumstances. The prospectus supplement will also specify the notice that we will be required to provide and the prices (and premium, if any, thereon) at which and the dates on which the debt securities may be redeemed. Any notice of redemption of debt securities will state:
| • | the date fixed for redemption; |
| • | the record date; |
| • | the amount of debt securities to be redeemed if we are only redeeming part of a series; |
| • | the series and relevant identification codes of the debt securities to be redeemed; |
| • | the redemption price; |
| • | that on the date fixed for redemption the redemption price will become due and payable on each debt security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that any interest will cease to accrue on or after the redemption date; and |
| • | the place or places at which each holder may obtain payment of the redemption price. |
Redemption at the Option of Debt Security Holders
The applicable prospectus supplement will specify whether holders of the debt securities of any series may have the option to require us to redeem such debt securities in the event of a restructuring of National Grid. This option is referred to as a “put option”. In the event that the applicable prospectus supplement states that debt
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security holders of such series have a put option, then the provisions described below relating to the notices that NG and/or such debt security holders will be required to provide and the prices (and premium, if any, thereon), at which and the dates on which the affected debt securities may be redeemed will be applicable.
Public Announcement upon Occurrence of Restructuring Event
If the applicable prospectus supplement specifies that debt security holders of such series have a put option, then at any time while any of such debt securities remains outstanding, there occurs a restructuring event (as described further below), we shall make a public announcement of such event. The public announcement will consist of an announcement by us or the trustee, of the occurrence of the restructuring event published in a leading national newspaper having general circulation in the United States (which is expected to be The Wall Street Journal).
Determining whether a Restructuring Event Has Occurred
A “restructuring event” shall be deemed to have occurred when at any time while any of such series of debt securities remain outstanding, the sum of disposal percentages for NG within any consecutive period of 36 months commencing on or after the initial issue date of any such series of debt securities is greater than 50 per cent, as determined by NG.
The “disposal percentages for NG” are calculated, in relation to a sale, transfer, lease or other disposal or dispossession of any disposed assets of NG, the ratio of (a) the aggregate operating profit of disposed assets of NG to (b) the consolidated operating profit of NG, expressed as a percentage.
“Disposed assets of NG” for the purposes of the calculation of disposal percentages for NG means, where NG and/or any of its subsidiaries sells, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of or is dispossessed by any means (but excluding sales, transfers, leases, disposals or dispossessions which, when taken together with any related lease back or similar arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business, have the result that the operating profit of NG directly attributable to any such undertaking, property or assets continues to accrue to NG or, as the case may be, such subsidiary), otherwise than to a wholly-owned subsidiary of NG or to NG, of the whole or any part (whether by a single transaction or by a number of transactions whether related or not) of its undertaking or (except in the ordinary course of business of NG or any such subsidiary) property or assets, the undertaking, property or assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of or of which it is so dispossessed.
“Operating profit of disposed assets of NG”, in relation to any disposed assets of NG, means the operating profits on ordinary activities before tax and interest (for the avoidance of doubt, exceptional items, as reflected in the relevant accounts of NG, shall not be included) of NG and its subsidiaries directly attributable to such disposed assets as determined in accordance with IFRS by reference to the relevant accounts and, if relevant accounts of NG do not yet exist, determined in a manner consistent with the assumptions upon which the directors’ report of NG is to be based. Where the directors of NG have employed assumptions in determining the operating profit of NG, those assumptions should be clearly stated in the directors’ report of NG;
“Relevant accounts of NG” means the most recent annual audited consolidated financial accounts of NG and its subsidiaries preceding the relevant sale, transfer, lease or other disposal or dispossession of any disposed asset of NG.
“Directors’ report of NG” refers to a report prepared and signed by two directors of NG addressed to the trustee setting out the operating profit of NG, the consolidated operating profit of NG and the disposal percentage for NG and stating any assumptions which the directors of NG have employed in determining the operating profit of NG.
“Consolidated operating profit of NG” means the consolidated operating profit on ordinary activities before tax and interest (for the avoidance of doubt, exceptional items, as reflected in the relevant accounts of NG shall not be included) of NG and its subsidiaries (including any share of operating profit of associates and joint ventures) determined in accordance with IFRS by reference to the relevant accounts of NG.
For the purpose of determining whether a restructuring event has occurred, “subsidiary” means a subsidiary within the meaning of Section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006.
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Events Giving Rise to a Put Option
If debt security holders have a put option, then such debt security holders shall be able to exercise a put option only in the circumstances described below.
If at any time while any given series of debt securities with a put option remains outstanding, there occurs a restructuring event, and if, within the applicable NG restructuring period, either:
| (a) | (if at the time that the restructuring event occurs there are rated debt securities (as defined below)) a rating downgrade in respect of the restructuring event occurs; or |
| (b) | (if at the time that the restructuring event occurs there are no rated debt securities) a negative rating event in respect of the restructuring event occurs, |
then the holders of each such affected series of debt securities will have the option upon the giving of a notice to require us to redeem or, at our option, purchase (or procure the purchase of) such debt security on any business day falling within the period of 45 days after a notice of the exercise of the put option is given to us (at its principal amount together with accrued interest to the date of redemption). The restructuring event and rating downgrade or the restructuring event and negative rating event, as the case may be, occurring within the NG restructuring period, together are referred to as a “put event”.
For the purpose of determining whether a put event has occurred, “NG restructuring period” shall refer to the period ending 90 days after a public announcement of a restructuring event (or such longer period in which the rated debt securities or rateable debt, as the case may be, is or are under consideration (announced publicly within the first mentioned period) for rating review or, as the case may be, rating by a rating agency).
“Rating agency” refers to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and its successors or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors or any rating agency substituted for either of them (or any permitted substitute of them) by NG from time to time with the prior written approval of the trustee.
“Rated debt securities” means for each series, the debt securities of such series, if and for so long as they shall have an effective rating from a rating agency and otherwise any rateable debt which is rated by a rating agency; provided that if there shall be no such rateable debt outstanding prior to the maturity of such series of debt securities, the holders of not less than one-quarter in principal amount of such outstanding debt securities may require us to obtain and thereafter update on an annual basis a rating of such debt securities from a rating agency. In addition, we may at any time obtain and thereafter update on an annual basis a rating of such debt securities from a rating agency, provided that, except as provided above, we shall not have any obligation to obtain such a rating of such debt securities;
A “negative rating event” shall be deemed to have occurred if either (a) we do not, either prior to or not later than 21 days after the relevant restructuring event, seek, and thereupon use all reasonable efforts to obtain, a rating of the affected series of debt securities or any other rateable debt from a rating agency or (b) if we do so seek and use such efforts, we are unable, as a result of such restructuring event, to obtain such a rating of at least investment grade (BBB- or Baa3 or their respective equivalents for the time being), provided that a negative rating event shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular restructuring event if the rating agency declining to assign a rating of at least investment grade (as described above) does not announce or publicly confirm that its declining to assign a rating of at least investment grade was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised in or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable restructuring event (whether or not the restructuring event shall have occurred at the time such investment grade rating is declined);
“Rateable debt” shall be understood to refer to unsecured and unsubordinated debt of NG having an initial maturity of five years or more; and
“Rating downgrade” shall be deemed to have occurred in respect of the restructuring event if the then current rating whether provided by a rating agency at our invitation or by its own volition assigned to the rated debt securities by any rating agency is withdrawn or reduced from an investment grade rating (BBB- or Baa3 or their respective equivalents for the time being or better) to a non-investment grade rating (BB+ or Ba1, or their respective
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equivalents for the time being, or worse) or, if a rating agency shall already have rated the rated debt securities below investment grade (as described above), the rating is lowered one full rating category; provided that a rating downgrade otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular restructuring event if the rating agency making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply does not announce or publicly confirm that the reduction was the result, in whole or part, of any event or circumstance comprised in or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable restructuring event (whether or not the applicable restructuring event shall have occurred at the time of the rating downgrade).
The trustee has no responsibility to monitor whether the notes are rated or incur a Rating downgrade.
Our Obligations upon the Occurrence of a Put Event
Promptly upon our becoming aware that a put event has occurred, we shall, or at any time upon the trustee becoming similarly so aware the trustee may, and if so requested in writing by the holders of at least one-quarter in principal amount of the affected series of debt securities then outstanding or if so directed by a resolution of such debt security holders, the trustee shall give notice to such debt security holders specifying the nature of the put event and the procedures for exercising the put option. We refer to this notice as a “put event notice”.
We shall, forthwith upon becoming aware of the occurrence of the restructuring event (a) provide the trustee with the relevant directors’ report of NG and (b) provide, or procure that the reporting accountants provide, the trustee with the accountants’ report. “Reporting accountants” refers to the auditors of NG (but not acting in their capacity as auditors) or such other firm of accountants as may be nominated by NG and approved in writing by the trustee for the purpose or, failing which, as may be selected by the trustee for the purpose. The directors’ report and the accountants’ report shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all concerned, including the trustee and the holders of the affected series of debt securities. The trustee shall be entitled to act, or not act, and rely on without being expected to verify the accuracy of the same (and shall have no liability to debt security holders for doing so) any directors’ report and/or any accountants’ report (whether or not addressed to it).
“Accountants’ report” means a report of the reporting accountants stating whether the amounts included in the calculation of the operating profit and the amount for consolidated operating profit as included in the directors’ report have been accurately extracted from the accounting records of NG and its Subsidiaries and whether the disposal percentage included in the directors’ report has been correctly calculated which will be prepared pursuant to an engagement letter to be entered into by and among the reporting accountants and us.
We shall use reasonable efforts to procure that there shall at the relevant time be reporting accountants who have (a) entered into an engagement letter with us which shall (i) not limit the liability of the reporting accountants by reference to a monetary cap and (ii) be available for inspection by holders of debt securities at the principal office of the trustee or (b) agreed to provide accountants’ reports on such other terms as we shall approve. If we, having used reasonable efforts, are unable to procure that there shall at the relevant time be reporting accountants who have entered into an engagement letter complying with (i) above, the trustee may rely on an accountants’ report which contains a limit on the liability of the reporting accountants by reference to a monetary cap or otherwise.
You should be aware that the engagement letter for the reporting accountants may contain a limit on the liability of the reporting accountants which may impact on the interests of debt security holders.
We shall give notice to the trustee of the identity of the reporting accountants.
Put Option Redemption Procedures
In order to exercise the option of redemption of a debt security in the event of an occurrence of a put event, the debt security holder must deliver each debt security to be redeemed accompanied by a duly signed and completed notice (which we refer to as a “put notice”). The put notice must be delivered on any business day falling within the period of 45 days after we or the trustee, as the case may be, provide a put event notice to the debt security holders. We refer to this period as the “put period”.
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The put notice may also specify an account to which payment is to be made for the put option redemption. The debt security should be delivered after the date falling seven days after the expiry of the put period otherwise payment will be made in the same manner as payment for the principal of any premium and interest on the notes. We refer to the date on which the debt security should be delivered as the “put date”.
In return for the receipt of the debt security and put notice, the debt security holder will receive a non-transferable receipt. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment in respect of any debt security so delivered will be made, if the debt security holder duly specified a bank account in the put notice to which payment is to be made, on the put date by transfer to that bank account. A put notice, once given, shall be irrevocable. We shall redeem the relevant debt securities on the put date unless previously redeemed or purchased.
If you hold your debt securities through a nominee or broker, you will need to instruct your nominee or broker, as applicable, to tender the required notice and deliver the applicable debt securities so that such tender complies with the procedures set forth above.
Negative Pledge
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, so long as any debt securities of a series remain outstanding (as defined in the indenture), the company will not create or permit to subsist any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other form of encumbrance or security interest upon the whole or any part of its undertaking, its assets or revenues present or future to secure any Relevant Indebtedness (as defined below), or any guarantee of or indemnity in respect of any Relevant Indebtedness unless, at the same time or prior thereto, our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture (a) are secured equally and rateably therewith or benefit from a guarantee or indemnity in substantially identical terms thereto, as the case may be, in each case to the satisfaction of the trustee, or (b) have the benefit of such other security, guarantee, indemnity or other arrangement as the trustee in its absolute discretion shall deem to be not materially less beneficial to the holders of the debt securities or as shall be approved by the holders of not less than 75 per cent. in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series.
“Relevant Indebtedness” means any present or future indebtedness in the form of, or represented by, bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or other securities which are for the time being, or are intended, with the agreement of NG, to be quoted, listed or ordinarily dealt in on any stock exchange.
Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale or Lease of Assets
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, so long as any debt security of a series remains outstanding, we are permitted to consolidate, amalgamate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person (as defined in the indenture). However, we may not take these actions unless:
| • | the corporation formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which we are merged, or the person which acquires, leases or is the transferee of or recipient of the conveyance of substantially all or all of our properties and assets, shall: |
| (a) | be a corporation or other person organised and validly existing under the laws of the United States, the United Kingdom or any other country that is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (as the same may be constituted from time to time); and |
| (b) | expressly assume, by a supplement to the applicable indenture that is executed and delivered in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, with any amendments or revisions necessary to take account of the jurisdiction in which any such corporation or other person is organised (if other than England and Wales); |
| (i) | the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on all of the debt securities of such a series; |
| (ii) | the performance of every covenant of the indenture (other than a covenant included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than such debt securities) and of such debt securities on our part to be performed; |
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| (iii) | such assumption shall provide that such corporation or person shall pay to the holder of any such debt securities such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that every net payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on such debt securities will not be less than the amounts provided for in such debt securities to be then due and payable; and |
| (iv) | with respect to (iii) above, such obligation shall extend to any deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed upon such payment by the United Kingdom or the country in which any such corporation or person is organised or resident for tax purposes or any district, municipality or other political subdivision or taxing authority thereof (subject to the limitations contained in “—Payments of Additional Amounts” below, as applied to such corporation or person and, if applicable, such other country); and |
| • | immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no event of default with respect to the debt securities of such a series, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, with respect to such debt securities, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
Upon any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any such conveyance, transfer or lease, the successor corporation or person will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise all of our rights and powers under the indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation or person had been named as the issuer thereunder and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the applicable indenture and such debt securities.
Events of Default
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, the following events will constitute an event of default under the indenture with respect to a series of debt securities (whatever the reason for such event of default and whether it will be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
| (a) | default in the payment of any principal (or premium, if any) due on the debt securities, and continuance of such default for a period of 14 days; |
| (b) | default in the payment of any interest (and additional amounts, if any) due on the debt securities, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; |
| (c) | default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty (other than any obligation for the payment of any principal or interest with respect to the debt securities) applicable to us contained in the indenture, and which default is incapable of remedy or, if in the opinion of the trustee is capable of remedy and has not been remedied within 90 days after the trustee having given us written notice as provided in the indenture; |
| (d) | if (i) any of our or any Principal Subsidiary’s (as defined below) present or future Relevant Indebtedness becomes due and payable prior to its stated maturity by reason of an actual event of default or (ii) any amount with respect to such Relevant Indebtedness is not paid when due or, as the case may be, within any applicable grace period, provided that the aggregate amount of the Relevant Indebtedness with respect to any of the events described in this paragraph equals or exceeds £100,000,000 thereafter; |
| (e) | either a court in the United Kingdom issues a final order or an effective shareholders’ resolution is validly adopted, and where possible, such resolution or final order is not discharged or stayed within 90 days, for our winding up or dissolution; |
| (f) | attachment is made of the whole or substantially the whole of our assets or undertakings and such attachment is not released or cancelled within 90 days or an encumbrancer takes possession or an administrative or other receiver or similar officer is appointed of the whole or substantially the whole of our undertaking or assets or an administration or similar order is made to us, and such taking of possession, appointment or order is not released, discharged or cancelled within 90 days; |
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| (g) | we cease to carry on all or substantially all of our business, or we are unable to pay debts within the meaning of Section 123 (1)(e) or Section 123(2) of the United Kingdom Insolvency Act 1986; or |
| (h) | we are adjudged bankrupt or insolvent by a court of competent jurisdiction in our country of incorporation. |
“Principal Subsidiary” each one of National Grid Gas plc, National Grid Electricity Transmission plc, National Grid USA, National Grid North America and includes any successor thereto or any member of the NG Group which the auditors of the Company have certified to the Trustee as being a company to which all or substantially all of the assets of a Principal Subsidiary are transferred. In the event that all or substantially all of the assets of a Principal Subsidiary are transferred to a member of the NG Group, the transferor of such assets will cease to be deemed a Principal Subsidiary.
If an event of default with respect to a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25 per cent. in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series by written notice as provided in the indenture may declare the principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money has been obtained by the trustee, and subject to applicable law and certain other provisions of the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration.
The indenture provides that, within 120 days after the occurrence of any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to a series of debt securities, the trustee will transmit, in the manner set forth in the indenture and subject to the exceptions described below, notice of such default to the holders of the debt securities of that series unless such default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, or additional amounts with respect to, any debt securities, the trustee may (although there is no obligation on it to do so) withhold such notice if and so long as the board, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or responsible officers of the trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the holders of the debt securities. If an event of default occurs, has not been waived and is continuing with respect to a series of debt securities, the trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of the debt securities of that series by all appropriate judicial proceedings. The indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the trustee during any default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee, and subject to applicable law and certain other provisions of the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series.
Modification and Waiver
In general, we and the trustee may modify or amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series affected by such modification; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
| • | change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium or instalment of interest on, the debt securities; |
| • | reduce the principal amount of, or the rate (or modify the calculation of such principal amount or rate) of interest on, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, the debt securities; |
| • | change the redemption provisions of the debt securities or, following the occurrence of any event that would entitle a holder to require us to redeem or repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holder, adversely affect the right of redemption or repurchase at the option of such holder, of the debt securities; |
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| • | change the place of payment or the coin or currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to, the debt securities is payable; |
| • | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of the debt securities (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder, on or after the repayment date); |
| • | reduce the percentage in principal amount of the debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required in order to take specific actions; |
| • | reduce the requirements for quorum or voting by holders of the debt securities in the applicable section of the indenture; |
| • | modify any of the provisions in the indenture regarding the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of certain covenants by the holders of such debt securities except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each note affected thereby; or |
| • | modify any of the above provisions. |
We and the trustee may modify or amend the indenture and the debt securities without the consent of any holder in order to, among other things:
| • | provide for our successor pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or sale of assets that complies with the provisions under “—Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale or Lease of Assets” above; |
| • | add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by the indenture; |
| • | provide for a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision in the indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture which will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities; |
| • | change the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorised amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of the debt securities under the indenture; |
| • | add any additional events of default with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | provide for conversion or exchange rights of the holders of the debt securities; or |
| • | make any other change that does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities. |
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of the debt securities, waive compliance by us with certain restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of the debt securities, waive any past default and its consequences under the indenture with respect to the debt securities, except a default (1) in the payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the debt securities or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each note.
Under the indenture, we are required to furnish the trustee annually a statement as to performance by us of certain of our obligations under the indenture and as to any default in such performance.
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Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we may discharge certain obligations to holders of a series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year (or called for redemption within one year) by depositing with the trustee, in trust, funds in U.S. dollars or Government Obligations (as defined below) in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities with respect to principal and any premium, interest and additional amounts to the date of such deposit (if the debt securities have become due and payable) or with respect to principal, any premium and interest to the maturity or redemption date thereof, as the case may be.
The indenture provides that, unless the provisions relating to discharge and defeasance are made inapplicable to the debt securities, we may elect either (1) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities (except for, among other things, the obligation to pay additional amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of certain events of taxation, assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on the debt securities and other obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an officer or agency with respect to the debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust) (“defeasance”) or (2) to be released from our obligations with respect to the debt securities under certain covenants such that any omission to comply with such obligations thereafter will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities (“covenant defeasance”). Defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, will be conditioned upon the irrevocable deposit by us with the trustee, in trust, of an amount in U.S. dollars, or Government Obligations, or both, applicable to such debt securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, any premium and interest on the debt securities on the scheduled due dates or any prior redemption date.
Such a trust may only be established if, among other things:
| (1) | the applicable defeasance or covenant defeasance does not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument, other than the indenture, to which we are a party or by which we are bound; |
| (2) | no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default with respect to the debt securities to be defeased will have occurred and be continuing on the date of establishment of such a trust after giving effect to such establishment and, with respect to defeasance only, no insolvency proceeding will have occurred and be continuing at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after such date; |
| (3) | we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the indenture) to the effect that the beneficial owners of the debt securities will not recognise income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred, and such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a letter ruling of the Internal Revenue Service received by us, a Revenue Ruling published by the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture; |
| (4) | with respect to defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate as to solvency and the absence of intent by us to prefer holders of the debt securities over our other creditors; and |
| (5) | we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent to defeasance or covenant defeasance in the indenture, as the case may be, have been complied with. |
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“Government Obligations” means debt securities which are (1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America which, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and will also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorised to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian with respect to the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
In the event we effect covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities and the debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default other than an event of default with respect to any covenant as to which there has been covenant defeasance, the Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of the stated maturity or redemption date but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from such event of default. However, we would remain liable to make payment of such amounts due at the time of acceleration.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, interest and any other amounts on, or in respect of, the debt securities without withholding or deduction at source for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of any Relevant Jurisdiction, as defined below, or any political subdivision of any Relevant Jurisdiction or any authority in or of any Relevant Jurisdiction having the power to tax, unless such taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges are required to be withheld or deducted. If a withholding or deduction at source is required, we will, unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, subject to certain limitations and exceptions described below, pay to the holder of any debt securities, as additional interest, such additional amounts as may be necessary so that every net payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or any other amount made to such holder, after the withholding or deduction, will not be less than the amount provided for in such debt securities or in the indenture to be then due and payable.
We will not be required to pay any additional amounts:
| (1) | for or on behalf of a person who is liable to such taxes or duties in respect of such debt securities by reason of having some connection with the Relevant Jurisdiction other than the mere holding of such debt securities; |
| (2) | in connection with presentation in the Relevant Jurisdiction where presentation is required; |
| (3) | if the holder or the beneficial owner of the relevant debt security failed to comply with a request by us or other authorised person addressed to the holder or beneficial owner, as the case may be, to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or the beneficial owner or to make any declaration or other similar claim to satisfy any information or other requirement, which is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of a taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of the tax and which such holder or beneficial owner is legally able to satisfy; |
| (4) | where presentation is required, more than 30 days after the Relevant Date (as defined below) except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to such additional amounts, on presenting the same for payment on such thirtieth day; |
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| (5) | where such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual and is required to be made pursuant to European Union Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such directive; |
| (6) | for or on behalf of a holder who would have been able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting, where presentation is required, the relevant debt securities to another Paying Agent in a member state of the European Union; or |
| (7) | with respect to any combination of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) above. |
“Relevant Date” means the date on which the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any series of debt securities first becomes due or (if any amount of the money payable is improperly withheld or refused) the date on which payment in full of the amount outstanding is made or (if earlier) the date on which notice is duly given to the holder that upon presentation of the debt security in global or definitive form payment will be made provided that payment is in fact made upon such presentation.
“Relevant Jurisdiction” as used herein means the United Kingdom or any other jurisdiction in which we are resident for tax purposes.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, any amounts to be paid on the debt securities by or on behalf of us, will be paid net of any deduction or withholding imposed or required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any regulations thereunder or official interpretations thereof) or an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another jurisdiction facilitating the implementation thereof (or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices implementing such an intergovernmental agreement) (any such withholding or deduction, a “FATCA Withholding”). Neither we nor any other person will be required to pay any additional amounts in respect of FATCA Withholding.
In addition, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay additional amounts with respect to any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, interest or any other amounts on, any such debt securities to any holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such debt securities if such payment would be required by the laws of the Relevant Jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or relevant taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or partner or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner to the extent such beneficiary, partner or settlor would not have been entitled to such additional amounts had it been the holder of the note.
Redemption of Debt Securities for Tax Reasons
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we or our successor may redeem any series of the debt securities at our option, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100 per cent. of the principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, if as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws or treaties (or any regulations or rulings promulgated under these laws or treaties) of the Relevant Jurisdiction or any taxing authority in the Relevant Jurisdiction (or any political subdivision) or any change in the application or official interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings occurring, in the case of a redemption by us, on or after the date of issuance of the series of debt securities or, in the case of a redemption by our successor, on or after the date on which the successor corporation assumes the obligation under the debt securities, we will be required as of the next interest payment date to pay additional amounts with respect to the debt securities as provided in “—Payment of Additional Amounts” above and such requirements cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures (such measures not involving any material additional payments or expense by us) then available. If we elect to redeem the debt securities under this provision, we will give written notice of such election to the trustee and the holders of the debt securities. Interest on the debt securities will cease to accrue unless we default in the payment of the redemption price.
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Prior to giving the notice of a tax redemption, we will deliver to the trustee a certificate signed by a duly authorised officer stating that we are entitled to effect the redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to our right to so redeem have occurred.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in that state.
Information Concerning the Trustee
The indenture provides that the trustee will have no obligations other than the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth in such indenture, except that, if an event of default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee will use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise of the rights and powers vested in it by the indenture as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. The trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against any loss, liability or expense, and then only to the extent required by the terms of the indenture. The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York) is to be the trustee and paying agent under the indenture, is one of a number of banks with which NG and its subsidiaries maintain banking relationships in the ordinary course of business and they are the depositary for our American Depositary Shares.
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Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, if we issue Global Securities representing any debt securities, then the Global Securities will be deposited upon issuance with, or on behalf through one or more international and domestic clearing systems. The principal clearing systems we will use are the book-entry systems operated by DTC in the United States, Clearstream in Luxembourg and Euroclear in Brussels, Belgium. These systems have established electronic debt securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and depositaries. These links allow debt securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates.
Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market. Where payments for debt securities we issue in global form will be made in U.S. dollars, these procedures can be used for cross-market transfers and the securities will be cleared and settled on a delivery against payment basis.
Global securities will be registered in the name of and deposited with a nominee for, and accepted for settlement and clearance by, one or more of DTC and a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, and any other clearing system identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Cross-market transfers of debt securities that are not in global form may be cleared and settled in accordance with other procedures that may be established among the clearing systems for these securities. Investors in securities that are issued outside of the United States, its territories and possessions must initially hold their interests through Euroclear, Clearstream or the clearing system that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The policies of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to investors’ interests in debt securities held by them. This is also true for any other clearing system that may be named in a prospectus supplement.
Neither we, nor any trustee, paying agent or registrar have any responsibility for any aspect of the actions of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream or any of their direct or indirect participants or accountholders. Neither we, nor any trustee, paying agent or registrar have any responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream or any of their direct or indirect participants or accountholders. Neither we, nor any trustee, paying agent or registrar supervise these systems in any way. This is also true for any other clearing system indicated in a prospectus supplement.
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and their participants and accountholders perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You should be aware that they are not obligated to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time.
The description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream as they are currently in effect. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.
The Clearing Systems
DTC
DTC has advised us as follows:
| • | DTC is: |
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| • | a limited purpose trust company organised under the laws of the State of New York; |
| • | a “banking corporation” within the meaning of New York Banking Law; |
| • | a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
| • | a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code; and |
| • | a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
| • | DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes to accounts of its participants. This eliminates the need for physical movement of certificates. |
| • | Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other organisations. DTC is partially owned by some of these participants or their representatives. |
| • | Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that have relationships with participants. |
| • | The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC. |
Clearstream
Clearstream has advised us as follows:
| • | Clearstream is a duly licensed bank organised as a société anonyme incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg and is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). |
| • | Clearstream holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among them. It does so through electronic book-entry charges to the accounts of its customers. This eliminates the need for physical movement of certificates. |
| • | Clearstream provides other services to its accountholders, including safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and lending and borrowing of securities. |
| • | Clearstream’s customers include worldwide securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include professional financial intermediaries. Its U.S. customers are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. |
| • | Indirect access to the Clearstream system is also available to others that clear through Clearstream customers or that have custodial relationships with its customers, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies. |
Euroclear
Euroclear has advised us as follows:
| • | Euroclear is incorporated under the laws of Belgium as a bank and is subject to regulation by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission (Commission Bancaire et Financière) and the National Bank of Belgium (Banque Nationale de Belgique). |
| • | Euroclear holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among them. It does so through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. |
| • | Euroclear provides other services to its customers, including credit custody, lending and borrowing of securities and tri-party collateral management. It interfaces with the domestic markets of several other countries. |
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| • | Euroclear customers include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other professional financial intermediaries. |
| • | Indirect access to the Euroclear system is also available to others that clear through Euroclear customers or that have relationships with Euroclear accountholders. |
| • | All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis. This means that specific certificates are not matched to specific securities clearance accounts. |
Other Clearing Systems
We may choose any other clearing system for a particular series of debt securities. The clearance and settlement procedures for the clearing system we choose will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Primary Distribution
The distribution of the debt securities will be cleared through one or more of the clearing systems that we have described above or any other clearing system that is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Payment for debt securities will be made on a delivery versus payment or free delivery basis. These payment procedures will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Clearance and settlement procedures may vary from one series of debt securities to another according to the currency that is chosen for the specific series of debt securities. Customary clearance and settlement procedures are described below.
We will submit applications to the relevant system or systems for the debt securities to be accepted for clearance. The clearance numbers that are applicable to each clearance system will be specified in the prospectus supplement.
Clearance and Settlement Procedures—DTC
DTC participants that hold debt securities through DTC on behalf of investors will follow the settlement practices applicable to U.S. corporate debt obligations in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System.
Securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of these DTC participants against payment in same-day funds, for payments in U.S. dollars, on the settlement date. For payments in a currency other than U.S. dollars, securities will be credited free of payment on the settlement date.
Clearance and Settlement Procedures—Euroclear and Clearstream
We understand that investors that hold their debt securities through Euroclear or Clearstream accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to conventional Eurobonds in registered form, or such other procedures as are applicable for other securities.
Securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Euroclear and Clearstream accountholders on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.
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Secondary Market Trading
Trading between DTC Participants
Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to U.S. corporate debt obligations in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System for debt securities.
If payment is made in U.S. dollars, settlement will be in same-day funds. If payment is made in a currency other than U.S. dollars, settlement will be free of payment. If payment is made other than in U.S. dollars, separate payment arrangements outside of the DTC system must be made between the DTC participants involved.
Trading between Euroclear and/or Clearstream Accountholders
We understand that secondary market trading between Euroclear and/or Clearstream accountholders will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in registered form.
Trading between DTC and Euroclear or Clearstream
A purchaser of securities that are held in the account of a DTC participant must send instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream at least one business day prior to settlement. The instructions will provide for the transfer of the securities from the selling DTC participant’s account to the account of the purchasing Euroclear or Clearstream participant. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will then instruct the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream to receive the securities either against payment or free of payment.
The interests in the securities will be credited to the respective clearing system. The clearing system will then credit the account of the participant, following its usual procedures. Credit for the securities will appear on the next day, European time. Cash debit will be back-valued to, and the interest on the securities will accrue from, the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If the trade fails and settlement is not completed on the intended date, the Euroclear or Clearstream cash debit will be valued as of the actual settlement date instead.
Euroclear participants or Clearstream participants will need the funds necessary to process same-day funds settlement. The most direct means of doing this is to preposition funds for settlement, either from cash or from existing lines of credit, as for any settlement occurring within Euroclear or Clearstream. Under this approach, participants may take on credit exposure to Euroclear or Clearstream until the securities are credited to their accounts one business day later.
As an alternative, if Euroclear or Clearstream has extended a line of credit to them, participants can choose not to preposition funds and will instead allow that credit line to be drawn upon to finance settlement. Under this procedure, Euroclear participants or Clearstream participants purchasing securities would incur overdraft charges for one business day (assuming they cleared the overdraft as soon as the securities were credited to their accounts). However, interest on the securities would accrue from the value date. Therefore, in many cases, the investment income on securities that is earned during that one business day period may substantially reduce or offset the amount of the overdraft charges. This result will, however, depend on each participant’s particular cost of funds.
Because the settlement will take place during New York business hours, DTC participants will use their usual procedures to deliver securities to the depositary on behalf of Euroclear participants or Clearstream participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. For the DTC participants, then, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.
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Special Timing Considerations
You should be aware that investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the debt securities through Clearstream and Euroclear on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on certain days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the debt securities, or to receive or make a payment or delivery of the debt securities, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream or Euroclear is used.
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This section discusses the material United Kingdom withholding tax treatment of payments of interest in respect of, and the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities that we may issue, in each case as of the date of this prospectus. The discussion that follows is of a general nature, and additional disclosure regarding the tax treatment of specific debt securities may be provided in the prospectus supplement for such instruments. To the extent there is any inconsistency in the discussion of tax consequences between this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the discussion in the prospectus supplement. Prospective investors are advised to consult their own tax advisers concerning the application of the United Kingdom tax and U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction or any applicable tax treaties, and the possible effect of changes in applicable tax law.
United Kingdom
The comments in this part are based on current United Kingdom tax law as applied in England and Wales and HM Revenue & Customs practice (which may not be binding on HM Revenue & Customs), in each case as of the date of this prospectus.
References in this part to “interest” shall mean amounts that are treated as interest for the purposes of United Kingdom taxation.
Interest on the debt securities
While the debt securities are and continue to be listed on a recognised stock exchange, within the meaning of Section 1005 Income Tax Act 2007, payments of interest by NG may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom income tax. The London Stock Exchange is a recognised stock exchange for these purposes. Debt securities will be treated as listed on the London Stock Exchange if they are included in the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange. The New York Stock Exchange, the Irish Stock Exchange and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange are also recognised stock exchanges for these purposes. Debt securities will be treated as listed on those exchanges if they are both admitted to trading on such exchanges and are officially listed in the respective jurisdictions in accordance with provisions corresponding to those generally applicable in countries in the European Economic Area. Accordingly, so long as the particular series of debt securities are listed on any such exchange, interest payments made on the debt securities will be payable without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom income tax. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate the exchanges on which the debt securities are listed.
In all other cases, interest will generally be paid by NG under deduction of United Kingdom income tax at the basic rate (currently 20 per cent.), subject to the availability of other reliefs under domestic law or to any direction to the contrary from HM Revenue & Customs in respect of such relief as may be available pursuant to the provisions of any applicable double taxation treaty.
Investors who are in any doubt as to their position or would like to know more should consult their professional advisers.
U.S. Federal Income Taxation
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of debt securities by a U.S. Holder (as defined below). This summary deals only with initial purchasers of debt securities at the “issue price” that are U.S. Holders and that will hold the debt securities as capital assets. The issue price is the first price to the public (not including bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organisations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) at which a substantial amount of the debt securities is sold for money. The discussion does not cover all aspects of U.S.
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federal income taxation that may be relevant to, or the actual tax effect that any of the matters described herein will have on, the acquisition, ownership or disposition of debt securities by particular investors (including consequences under the alternative minimum tax or net investment income tax), and does not address state, local, non-U.S. or other tax laws. This summary also does not discuss all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to certain types of investors subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws (such as financial institutions, insurance companies, individual retirement accounts and other tax-deferred accounts, tax-exempt organisations, dealers in securities or currencies, investors that will hold the debt securities as part of straddles, hedging transactions or conversion transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes, persons that have ceased to be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, investors holding the debt securities in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the United States, U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents living abroad, U.S. holders that are required to take certain amounts into income no later than the time such amounts are reflected on an applicable financial statement, or investors whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar). This summary deals only with debt securities that are due to mature 30 years or less from the date on which they are issued. If we issue debt securities that are due to mature more than 30 years from their date of issue, we will describe the U.S. federal income tax treatment of such debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of debt securities that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation created or organised under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax without regard to its source or (iv) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or the trust has validly elected to be treated as a domestic trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that holds debt securities will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Prospective purchasers that are entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them and their partners of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of debt securities by the partnership.
This summary is based on the tax laws of the United States, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as of the date hereof and all subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect.
THE SUMMARY OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES SET OUT BELOW IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISERS AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF ACQUIRING, OWNING, AND DISPOSING OF THE DEBT SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND POSSIBLE CHANGES IN TAX LAW.
Interest Payments
Payments or accruals of “qualified stated interest” (as defined below) (including any additional amounts paid in respect of withholding taxes and without reduction for any amounts withheld) on the debt securities will be includible in your gross income as ordinary interest income at the time you receive or accrue such amounts (in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting). The term “qualified stated interest” generally means stated interest that is unconditionally payable at least annually during the entire term of a debt security at a single fixed interest rate or, subject to certain conditions, at a floating rate based on one or more interest indices.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect interest payments on the debt securities to be treated as “qualified stated interest” and we expect the debt securities to be issued without “original issue discount” (equal to or more than a statutorily defined de minimis amount) or bond premium. If we issue debt securities that have “original issue discount” (equal to or more than a statutorily defined de minimis amount), or bond premium or provide for payments of interest that we do not expect to be treated as “qualified stated interest” or denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, we will describe the tax treatment of such debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Interest paid by us on the debt securities constitutes foreign source income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For foreign tax credit limitation purposes, interest on the debt securities generally will constitute passive income.
Sale, Exchange, Redemption and Other Disposition of the Debt Securities
Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of the debt securities, you will recognise taxable gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realised on the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition (other than accrued but unpaid interest which will be treated as ordinary interest income) and your adjusted tax basis in such debt securities. Your adjusted tax basis in the debt securities generally will equal the cost of such debt securities reduced by any principal paid on the debt securities. The amount realized does not include the amount attributable to accrued but unpaid interest. Which will be taxable as interest income to the extent not previously included in income. Any such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition you held the debt securities for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. Any gain or loss realised by a U.S. holder on the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of the debt securities generally will be treated as U.S. source gain or loss, as the case may be.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of interest on the debt securities and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the debt securities unless the holder of the debt securities establishes an exemption from the information reporting rules. A holder of debt securities that does not establish such an exemption may be subject to U.S. backup withholding on these payments if the holder fails to provide its taxpayer identification number or otherwise comply with the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and you may be entitled to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS. You should consult your tax advisors about these rules and any other reporting obligations that may apply to the ownership or disposition of debt securities, including requirements related to the holding of certain “specified foreign financial assets”.
FATCA Withholding
Certain provisions of U.S. law, commonly known as FATCA, impose reporting requirements and a withholding tax of 30 per cent. on, among other things, certain “foreign passthru payments” by non-U.S. financial institutions (“FFIs”) to persons that fail to meet certain certification or reporting requirements. A number of jurisdictions (including the United Kingdom) have entered into, or have agreed in substance to, intergovernmental agreements to facilitate the implementation of FATCA with the United States (“IGAs”), which modify the way in which FATCA applies in their jurisdictions. We believe that we are not currently an FFI.
Certain aspects of the application of the FATCA provisions and IGAs to instruments such as the debt securities, including whether withholding would ever be required pursuant to FATCA or an IGA with respect to payments on instruments such as the debt securities, are uncertain and may be subject to change. Even if withholding would be required pursuant to FATCA or an IGA with respect to payments on instruments such as
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the debt securities, proposed regulations have been issued that provide that such withholding would not apply prior to the date that is two years after the date on which final regulations defining foreign passthru payments are published in U.S. Federal Register. In the preamble to the proposed regulations, the U.S. Treasury Department indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations until the issuance of final regulations. Additionally, debt securities characterised as debt (or which are not otherwise characterised as equity and have a fixed term) for U.S. federal tax purposes that are issued on or prior to the date that is six months after the date on which final regulations defining “foreign passthru payments” are filed with the U.S. Federal Register generally would be “grandfathered” for purposes of FATCA withholding unless materially modified after such date.
In the event that FATCA withholding were relevant with respect to payments on the debt securities, if any amount were to be deducted or withheld from interest, principal or other payments on the debt securities as a result of FATCA, neither we nor any paying agent or any other person would be required to pay additional amounts as a result of the deduction or withholding.
FATCA is particularly complex and significant aspects of when and how FATCA will apply remain unclear. You should consult your own tax advisers to obtain a more detailed explanation of FATCA and to learn how these rules may affect you in your particular circumstance.
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We may sell the debt securities directly to purchasers or underwriters or through agents, dealers or underwriters.
The prospectus supplement with respect to the offered securities will set forth the terms of the offering of the offered securities, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to us, from such price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which such offered securities may be listed. Any public offering price, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
The distribution of the offered securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
Agents appointed by us may solicit offers to purchase debt securities. The prospectus supplement will name these agents, who may be underwriters, and discuss any commissions payable to them. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, these agents will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment. We may also sell debt securities to an agent as principal. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the offered debt securities. Agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If any underwriters are utilised in the sale of debt securities, we will enter into an underwriting agreement with such underwriters and the names of the underwriters and the terms of the transaction, including, commissions, discounts and any other compensation of the underwriters, if any, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the debt securities to the public. If underwriters are utilised in the sale of the debt securities, the debt securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be offered and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices, or at varying prices determined by the underwriters at the time of sale.
Our debt securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by the managing underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the debt securities of a series if they purchase any of such securities. We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional debt securities, to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price (with additional underwriting discounts or commissions), as may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. If we grant any over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such securities. The underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If a dealer is utilised in the sale of debt securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell the debt securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the debt securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the debt securities so offered and sold. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. Dealers may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
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Offers to purchase offered securities may be solicited directly by us, and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the related prospectus supplement.
Debt securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more marketing firms, or remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the debt securities remarketed thereby. Remarketing firms may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will authorise agents, underwriters, dealers or other persons to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase debt securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject to only those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such offers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Each series of debt securities will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of debt securities on an exchange but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall not be obligated to do so. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the debt securities.
Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
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Certain legal matters in connection with the debt securities to be offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Linklaters LLP. Certain legal matters in connection with the debt securities to be offered hereby will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents by counsel to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, and the effectiveness of National Grid plc’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
We are an English public limited company. Most of our directors and executive officers are resident outside the United States and a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons or to enforce against them or us in U.S. courts judgments obtained in U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. We have been advised by Linklaters that there is doubt as to enforceability in England and Wales, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, of liabilities predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States.
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INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| ITEM 8. | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
The United Kingdom Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”) allows an English company to indemnify its directors against liability and to provide its directors with funds to cover the costs incurred in defending legal proceedings against him or her. Under the Companies Act, an English company is allowed to indemnify its directors against any liability incurred by a director to any person (other than the company itself or any associated company) in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company, by means of a “qualifying third party indemnity provision”. A “qualifying third party indemnity provision” may cover the costs of a judgment against a director but cannot include (i) costs incurred by a director to the company or any associated company; (ii) fines imposed in criminal proceedings and penalties imposed by regulatory authorities by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature; (iii) costs incurred in defending criminal proceedings where the director is convicted or civil proceedings brought by the company or an associated company where judgment is given against him; or (iv) costs incurred in proceedings for certain relief where the court refuses to grant such relief.
NG arranges Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance cover. A qualifying third party indemnity provision was granted in favour of the directors in accordance with Sections 232 to 234 of the Companies Act. The indemnity provision is contained in NG’s articles of association at Articles 126.1 to 126.3 which are set out below.
Article 126.1
“To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will indemnify all our Directors and officers out of our own funds against the following:
| (a) | Any liability incurred by or attaching to them in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by them in relation to NG other than: |
| (i) | any liability to us or any associated company; and |
| (ii) | any liability of the kind referred to in Section 234(3) of the Companies Act. |
| (b) | Any other liability incurred by or attaching to them: |
| (i) | in actually or seemingly carrying out their duties; |
| (ii) | in using or seemingly using their powers; and |
| (iii) | in any other activity connected to their duties, powers or office. |
Where a Director or officer is indemnified against any liability in line with this Article 126, the indemnity will cover all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by them.”
Article 126.2
“As well as the cover provided under Article 126.1 above, the Directors will have power to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of:
| (a) | any person who is or was at any time a Director or officer of any relevant company; or |
| (b) | any person who is or was at any time a trustee of any pension fund or employees’ share scheme in which employees of any relevant company are interested. |
This includes insurance against any liability incurred by or attaching to them through any act or omission:
| (i) | in actually or seemingly carrying out their duties; |
| (ii) | in using or seemingly using their powers; and |
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| (iii) | in any other activity connected to their duties, powers or offices; |
in relation to:
| (a) | any relevant company; |
| (b) | any pension fund; or |
| (c) | any employees’ share scheme; |
and all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by them in relation to any act or omission.”
Article 126.3
“Subject to the law, we will:
| (a) | provide a Director or officer with funds to meet expenditure they have incurred or may incur in defending any criminal or civil proceedings or in connection with any application under the provisions mentioned in Section 205(5) of the Companies Act; |
| (b) | provide a Director or officer with funds to meet expenditure they have incurred or may incur in defending an investigation by a regulatory authority or against action proposed by a regulatory authority in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him or her in relation to us; and |
| (c) | do anything to enable a Director or officer to avoid incurring such expenditure, but any funds we provide or other things we do will be in line with Section 205(5) of the Companies Act.” |
The relevant provisions of the Companies Act which permit the giving of such indemnities are Sections 205 and 232 to 234.
Section 232(1) of the Companies Act states that a company cannot exempt a director from any liability that would otherwise attach to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company. Furthermore, Section 232(2) of the Companies Act states that a company cannot, either directly or indirectly, provide an indemnity for a director of the company, or of an associated company, against any liability attaching to him in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company of which he is a director, except as permitted by Sections 233, 234 and 235 of the Companies Act. Section 233 permits a company to purchase and maintain insurance against the liability mentioned in Section 232(2). Section 234 sets out the conditions which must be fulfilled for an indemnity to be a qualifying third party indemnity. The indemnity must not provide: (i) any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director to the company or to any associated company; (ii) any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director to pay a fine imposed in criminal proceedings or a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature; and (iii) any indemnity against any liability incurred by the director (a) in defending criminal proceedings in which he is convicted, (b) in defending civil proceedings brought by the company or an associated company in which judgment is given against him or (c) where the court refuses to grant him relief in connection with an application under Section 661(3) or (4) (relief in case of acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) or under Section 1157 (relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct). Section 235 permits indemnification of a director of a company that is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme against liability incurred in connection with the company’s activities as a trustee of the scheme, but not against any liability incurred by the director to pay a fine imposed in criminal proceedings or a sum payable to a regulatory authority by way of a penalty in respect of non-compliance with any requirement of a regulatory nature, or any liability incurred by the director in defending criminal proceedings in which he is convicted as a final decision.
Section 205 of the Companies Act provides that a company can provide a director with funds to meet expenditures incurred or to be incurred by him in defending any criminal or civil proceedings in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him in relation to the company or an
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associated company, or in connection with any application for relief under Section 661(3) or (4) (relief in case of acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) or Section 1157 (relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct).
The terms on which such loan or other assistance is given must include a requirement that the loan be repaid or the liability discharged if the director is convicted, judgment is given against him or the court refuses to grant the relief on the application.
Except in limited circumstances (Section 994 of the Companies Act) when a company’s affairs are being or have been conducted in a manner unfairly prejudicial to the interests of all or some shareholders, or when any act or omission of the company is or would be so prejudicial, English law does not generally permit class action lawsuits by shareholders on behalf of the company or on behalf of other shareholders.
We will indemnify and hold harmless each of our directors and officers or authorised representatives who signs the registration statement from and against civil liabilities, including liabilities under U.S. securities laws, which they may incur in their capacity.
The form of underwriting agreement to be filed or furnished in connection with the issuance of any debt securities using the prospectus to which this Registration Statement relates will provide that each underwriter, severally, will indemnify NG and each of its directors, officers and representatives who signed the registration statement and each person, if any, who controls NG within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against certain civil liabilities.
| ITEM 9. | EXHIBITS |
The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Index to Exhibits below.
| ITEM 10. | UNDERTAKINGS |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement; |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 per cent. change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
| (iii) | To include any plan of distribution or any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
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| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | To file a post effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-X if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: |
| (i) | Each prospectus filed by a registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
| (ii) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
| (6) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant; |
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| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about an undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of National Grid’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a registrant in the successful defence of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, that registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, National Grid plc certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised, in London, England on the 8th day of June 2021.
| National Grid plc | ||
| By: | /s/ Andy Agg | |
| Andy Agg | ||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||
The undersigned do hereby constitute and appoint John Pettigrew, Chief Executive Officer; Andy Agg, Chief Financial Officer; and Justine Campbell, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary all or any one of them, our true and lawful attorneys and agents, to sign for us or any of us in our names and in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, or any related registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents required in connection therewith, and to do any and all acts and things in our names and in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or either of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, and any rules, regulations, and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Registration Statement; and we do hereby ratify and confirm all that the said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the day of 2021.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ John Pettigrew John Pettigrew |
Chief Executive (Principal Executive Officer) |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Nicola Shaw Nicola Shaw |
President UK Networks |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Andy Agg Andy Agg |
Chief Financial Officer |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Justine Campbell Justine Campbell |
Group General Counsel & Company Secretary |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Jonathan Dawson Jonathan Dawson |
Non-executive Director; Independent |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Therese Esperdy Therese Esperdy |
Non-executive Director; Independent |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Dr. Paul Golby Dr. Paul Golby |
Non-executive Director; Independent |
June 8, 2021 | ||
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| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Liz Hewitt Liz Hewitt |
Non-executive Director; Independent |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Amanda Mesler Amanda Mesler |
Non-executive Director; Independent |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Paula Rosput Reynolds Paula Rosput Reynolds |
Chairman & Non-executive Director; Independent |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Earl Shipp Earl Shipp |
Non-executive Director; Independent |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Jonathan Silver Jonathan Silver |
Non-executive Director; Independent |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Mark Williamson Mark Williamson |
Non-executive Director and Senior Independent Director |
June 8, 2021 | ||
| /s/ Keri Sweet-Zavaglia Keri Sweet-Zavaglia |
(Authorised Representative in the United States) |
June 8, 2021 | ||
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Exhibit 5.1
| Linklaters LLP One Silk Street London EC2Y 8HQ Telephone (+44) 20 7456 2000 Facsimile (+44) 20 7456 2222 DX Box Number 10 CDE |
The Directors
National Grid plc
1-3 Strand
London WC2N 5EH
| 8 June 2021 | ||||
| Our Ref | L-310800 |
National Grid plc (the “Issuer”)—Registration Statement on Form F-3 in respect of debt securities (the “Debt Securities”)
| 1 | We have acted as English legal advisers to the Issuer, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, in connection with the automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on 8 June 2021 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) of an indeterminate amount of the Issuer’s Debt Securities. The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time pursuant to the Indenture (as defined in the Schedule to this opinion). This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the Registration Statement. |
| 2 | This opinion is limited to English law as applied by the English courts and on the basis of our understanding of current United Kingdom HM Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) practice (which may not be binding on HMRC), in each case in effect on the date of this opinion. It is given on the basis that it will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law. In particular we express no opinion on matters of federal law of the United States or the laws of any State of the United States or the laws of any other jurisdiction. |
| 3 | For the purpose of this opinion, we have examined the documents listed and, where appropriate, defined in the Schedule to this opinion. We believe such documents to be those necessary for us to review for the purpose of giving this opinion. |
| 4 | We have assumed that: |
| 4.1 | (except in the case of the Issuer) all relevant documents are within the capacity and powers of, have been validly authorised by, and have been or will be validly executed and delivered by, each of the respective parties thereto; |
| 4.2 | each of the documents which are the subject of this opinion is valid and binding on each party under the law to which it is expressed to be subject where that is not English law and that words and phrases used in those documents have the same meaning and effect as they would if those documents were governed by English law; |
This communication is confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected by work product immunity.
Linklaters LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC326345. It is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The term partner in relation to Linklaters LLP is used to refer to a member of Linklaters LLP or an employee or consultant of Linklaters LLP or any of its affiliated firms or entities with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the names of the members of Linklaters LLP together with a list of those non-members who are designated as partners and their professional qualifications is open to inspection at its registered office, One Silk Street, London EC2Y 8HQ or on www.linklaters.com and such persons are either solicitors, registered foreign lawyers or European lawyers.
Please refer to www.linklaters.com/regulation for important information on Linklaters LLP’s regulatory position.
| 4.3 | all documents furnished to us as copies are genuine, authentic and complete and conform to the original documents of which they are copies, all signatures thereon or on the original thereof are genuine, and the relevant documents have been executed in the forms reviewed by us and, where relevant, the Debt Securities will be completed, authenticated and issued as provided in the Indenture; |
| 4.4 | the Certificates and the Articles of Association (each as defined in the Schedule to this opinion) are up-to-date; |
| 4.5 | unless otherwise indicated herein, none of the documents examined by us have been amended, supplemented or terminated (whether by written agreement, course of dealings or otherwise); |
| 4.6 | the Minutes (as defined in the Schedule to this opinion) are a true and complete record of the proceedings described therein in duly convened, constituted and quorate meetings and the resolutions set out in the Minutes were validly passed and remain in full force and effect without modification; |
| 4.7 | the terms of the Debt Securities will not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture and there will be no provision in any supplement to the Registration Statement or any other document which would affect the content of this opinion; and |
| 4.8 | each issue of Debt Securities will be duly authorised. |
| 5 | Based on the documents referred to and assumptions made in paragraphs 3 and 4 above, and subject to the qualifications in paragraphs 7 to 10 below and to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the following opinion: |
| 5.1 | The Issuer has been incorporated and is existing as a company with limited liability under the laws of England. |
| 5.2 | The Issuer has corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under the Indenture and to issue and deliver the Debt Securities. |
| 5.3 | The Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture and, provided that each Debt Security is executed as provided in the relevant resolutions authorising the relevant issue of Debt Securities and the Articles of Association, the Issuer will have validly executed and delivered the Debt Securities. |
| 5.4 | Assuming the Indenture constitutes valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Issuer under New York law, insofar as English law is concerned, the obligations assumed by the Issuer under the Indenture constitute valid and binding obligations of the Issuer. |
| 5.5 | The statements of law and HMRC practice contained in the Registration Statement under the heading “Material Tax Considerations—United Kingdom”, subject to the limitations and qualifications therein, represent a correct summary in all material respects of the matters set out therein as at the date of the Registration Statement. |
| 6 | The term “enforceable” as used above should not be construed to mean that the obligations assumed by the relevant party will necessarily be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular: |
| 6.1 | enforcement may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency and liquidation, (b) reorganisation and (c) laws of general application relating to or affecting the rights of creditors; |
| 6.2 | enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity—for example, equitable remedies may not be available where damages are considered to be an adequate remedy; |
Page 2 of 6
| 6.3 | claims may become barred under the Limitation Act 1980 or may be or become subject to set-off or counterclaim. |
| 7 | This opinion is subject to the following: |
| 7.1 | It should be understood that we have not been responsible for investigating or verifying the accuracy of the facts, including statements of foreign law, or the reasonableness of any statements of opinion, contained in the Registration Statement, or that no material facts have been omitted from it. |
| 7.2 | We express no opinion as to the compliance or otherwise with (i) the financial limitations on borrowings or covenants by the Issuer contained in the Articles of Association and (ii) the limitations on the maximum aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued by the Issuer as contemplated by the Registration Statement. |
| 7.3 | Where obligations are to be performed in a jurisdiction outside England, they may not be enforceable in England to the extent that performance would be illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction. |
| 7.4 | A provision in an agreement may be unenforceable if it amounts to a penalty under English law. |
| 7.5 | An English court may refuse to give effect to any contractual provision concerning payment of the costs of enforcement or litigation brought before an English court. |
| 7.6 | To the extent it relates to United Kingdom stamp duties any undertaking or indemnity may be void under section 117 of the Stamp Act 1891. |
| 7.7 | We express no opinion as to the effect of any sanctions or other similar restrictive measures in relation to any party to the Indenture or the Debt Securities or any transaction contemplated thereby. |
| 7.8 | The English courts may have regard to the law of the country in which performance takes place in relation to the manner of performance and the steps to be taken in the event of defective performance. |
| 7.9 | The English courts may not be restricted from applying overriding provisions of English law and if there is a provision of New York law that is manifestly incompatible with English public policy, it is possible that the English courts may not apply it. |
| 8 | Furthermore, the English courts may not accept jurisdiction to determine the matter or may stay or strike out proceedings in certain circumstances, including where there is some other forum with competent jurisdiction which is more appropriate for the trial of the action, where proceedings involving the same cause of action and between the same parties are pending in another jurisdiction or where merits of the issues in dispute have already been judicially determined or should have been raised in previous proceedings between the parties. |
| 9 | This opinion is given on the basis of English law in force (or, insofar as this opinion relates to tax, to United Kingdom taxation law), and as it affects the obligations under the Indenture and/or the Debt Securities, as at the date of this opinion. This opinion is given on the basis that there will be no amendment to or termination or replacement of the documents, authorisations and consents referred to in the Schedule to the opinion. This opinion is also given on the basis that we undertake no responsibility to notify you of any change in English law or United Kingdom taxation law after the date of this opinion. |
| 10 | This opinion is addressed to you solely for your benefit in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement. It is not to be transmitted to anyone else nor is it to be relied upon by anyone else or for any other purpose or quoted or referred to in any public document or filed with anyone without our express consent. |
Page 3 of 6
| 11 | We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to, and the reference to us made under the captions “Legal Matters” and “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities under United States Federal Securities Laws” in, the Registration Statement. In giving this consent we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required within Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. |
Yours faithfully
Linklaters LLP
Page 4 of 6
SCHEDULE
| 1 | A copy of the articles of association of the Issuer in force as at the date of this opinion (the “Articles of Association”) |
| 2 | A copy of the certificate of incorporation of the Issuer, the certificates of incorporation on change of name and the certificate on re-registration (as a public company) (the “Certificates”) |
| 3 | An indenture dated 3 July 2006 between the Issuer and The Bank of New York (now The Bank of New York Mellon) as trustee, in the form filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on 28 June 2006 (the “Indenture”), as amended and/or supplemented by any further amendments and/or supplements up to the date of this opinion |
| 4 | A copy of the certificate of the assistant secretary of the Issuer dated 24 July 2006 certifying that the Indenture was approved and signed by duly authorised persons on behalf of the Issuer |
| 5 | A certified copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the finance committee of the board of the Issuer (the “Finance Committee”) held on 24 April 2006 (the “2006 Finance Committee Minutes”) |
| 6 | A certified copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors held on 27 June 2006 (together with the 2006 Finance Committee Minutes, the “2006 Minutes”) |
| 7 | A certified copy of an extract from the draft minutes of a meeting of the Finance Committee held on 26 June 2012 (the “June 2012 Finance Committee Minutes”) |
| 8 | A certified copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of a sub-committee of the Finance Committee held on 5 July 2012 (together with the June 2012 Finance Committee Minutes, the “2012 Minutes”) |
| 9 | A certified copy of an extract from the draft minutes of a meeting of the Finance Committee held on 23 June 2015 (the “2015 Finance Committee Minutes”) |
| 10 | A certified copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors held on 24 June 2015 (together with the 2015 Finance Committee Minutes, the “2015 Minutes”) |
| 11 | A copy of the certificate of the Global Tax and Treasury Director of the Issuer dated 17 July 2015 certifying, inter alia, that the execution of the second supplemental indenture is permitted by the Indenture |
| 12 | A certified copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors held on 18 April 2018 (the “2018 Minutes”) |
| 13 | A certified copy of an extract from the draft minutes of a meeting of the Finance Committee held on 22 January 2021 (the “January 2021 Finance Committee Minutes”) |
| 14 | A certified copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors held on 24 March 2021 (together with the January 2021 Finance Committee Minutes, the “2021 Minutes”) |
| 15 | A certified copy of an extract from the draft minutes of a meeting of the Finance Committee held on 15 April 2021 (together with the 2006 Minutes, the 2012 Minutes, the 2015 Minutes, the 2018 Minutes and the 2021 Minutes, the “Minutes”) |
| 16 | Copies of the terms of reference of the Finance Committee dated respectively 27 February 2004, May 2012, May 2014 and January 2021 |
Page 5 of 6
| 17 | The Registration Statement |
| 18 | A power of attorney granted by the Issuer and dated 4 June 2018 |
Page 6 of 6
Exhibit 5.2
| Linklaters LLP 1290 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10104 Telephone (+1) 212 903 9000 Facsimile (+1) 212 903 9100 |
National Grid plc
1-3 Strand
London WC2N 5EH
England
| June 8, 2021 |
Ladies and Gentlemen,
National Grid plc (the “Issuer”) Registration Statement on Form F-3 in respect of debt securities (the “Debt Securities”)
We have acted as United States counsel to the Issuer in connection with the automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, 2021 relating to the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) of an indeterminate amount of the Issuer’s Debt Securities. The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time pursuant to the indenture dated July 3, 2006 between National Grid plc and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York) (as amended and/or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”).
This opinion is limited to the federal law of the United States and the laws of the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other State of the United States or any other jurisdiction.
For the purpose of this opinion, we have examined the Indenture, such certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate. We have assumed that the Issuer has the power to execute and deliver the Debt Securities and the Indenture, and perform its obligations thereunder, that the Indenture has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered under the laws of England and Wales by the Issuer, that the Debt Securities conform to the form examined by us and that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, assumptions that we have not independently verified.
This communication is confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected by work product immunity.
Linklaters LLP is a multinational limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC326345 including solicitors of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, members of the New York and District of Columbia Bars and foreign legal consultants in New York. It is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The term partner in relation to Linklaters LLP is used to refer to a member of Linklaters LLP or an employee or consultant of Linklaters LLP or any of its affiliated firms or entities with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the names of the members of Linklaters LLP together with a list of those non-members who are designated as partners and their professional qualifications is open to inspection at its registered office, One Silk Street, London EC2Y 8HQ, England or on www.linklaters.com.
Please refer to www.linklaters.com/regulation for important information on Linklaters LLP’s regulatory position.
In our opinion:
| 1. | The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Issuer and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Issuer enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. |
| 2. | The Debt Securities, when executed and delivered by the Issuer against payment therefor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and when authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to us under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
Linklaters LLP
Page 2 of 2
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of our reports dated 19 May 2021 relating to the financial statements of National Grid plc and the effectiveness of National Grid plc’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of National Grid plc for the year ended 31 March 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
| /s/ Deloitte LLP |
|
|
| London, United Kingdom |
| 8 June 2021 |
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
| ☐ | CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
| New York | 13-5160382 | |
| (Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank) |
(I.R.S. employer identification no.) |
| 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. | 10286 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
National Grid plc
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
| England and Wales | 98-0367158 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. employer identification no.) | |
| 1-3 Strand London WC2N 5EH England |
||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) | |
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
| 1. | General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee: |
| (a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
| Name |
Address | |
| Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services of the State of New York |
One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417, and Albany, N.Y. 12223 | |
| Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10045 | |
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
550 17th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20429 | |
| The Clearing House Association L.L.C. |
100 Broad Street New York, N.Y. 10004 | |
| (b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes.
| 2. | Affiliations with Obligor. |
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
| 16. | List of Exhibits. |
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”).
| 1. | A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735). |
- 2 -
| 4. | A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229494). |
| 6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229519). |
| 7. | A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. |
- 3 -
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, and State of New York, on the 27th day of May, 2021.
| THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON | ||
| By: | /s/ Francine Kincaid | |
| Name: Francine Kincaid | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
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EXHIBIT 7
Consolidated Report of Condition of
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 2021, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.
| Dollar amounts in thousands | ||||
| ASSETS |
||||
| Cash and balances due from depository institutions: |
||||
| Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin |
5,024,000 | |||
| Interest-bearing balances |
145,894,000 | |||
| Securities: |
||||
| Held-to-maturity securities |
48,027,000 | |||
| Available-for-sale debt securities |
107,057,000 | |||
| Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading |
65,000 | |||
| Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell: |
||||
| Federal funds sold in domestic offices |
0 | |||
| Securities purchased under agreements to resell |
12,587,000 | |||
| Loans and lease financing receivables: |
||||
| Loans and leases held for sale |
0 | |||
| Loans and leases held for investment |
29,053,000 | |||
| LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses |
289,000 | |||
| Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance |
28,764,000 | |||
| Trading assets |
9,403,000 | |||
| Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) |
3,016,000 | |||
| Other real estate owned |
1,000 | |||
| Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies |
1,625,000 | |||
| Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures |
0 | |||
| Intangible assets |
6,974,000 | |||
| Other assets |
15,502,000 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total assets |
383,939,000 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| LIABILITIES |
||||
| Deposits: |
||||
| In domestic offices |
216,878,000 | |||
| Noninterest-bearing |
89,989,000 | |||
| Interest-bearing |
126,889,000 | |||
| In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs |
120,977,000 | |||
| Noninterest-bearing |
9,599,000 | |||
| Interest-bearing |
111,378,000 | |||
| Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase: |
||||
| Federal funds purchased in domestic offices |
0 | |||
| Securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
6,694,000 | |||
| Trading liabilities |
2,444,000 | |||
| Other borrowed money: |
||||
| (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases) |
320,000 | |||
| Not applicable |
||||
| Not applicable |
||||
| Subordinated notes and debentures |
0 | |||
| Other liabilities |
7,431,000 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total liabilities |
354,744,000 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| EQUITY CAPITAL |
||||
| Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus |
0 | |||
| Common stock |
1,135,000 | |||
| Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) |
11,650,000 | |||
| Retained earnings |
17,053,000 | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income |
-643,000 | |||
| Other equity capital components |
0 | |||
| Total bank equity capital |
29,195,000 | |||
| Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries |
0 | |||
| Total equity capital |
29,195,000 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total liabilities and equity capital |
383,939,000 | |||
|
|
|
I, Emily Portney, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Emily Portney
Chief Financial Officer
We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.
| Thomas P. Gibbons
|
Directors |