DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
General
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our debt securities. When we offer our debt securities in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the particular terms of those debt securities and the extent to which any of these general provisions will not apply. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you make any investment decision. We may issue one or more series of debt securities directly to the public or as part of a purchase unit from time to time. We may also sell hybrid or novel securities now existing or developed in the future that combine certain features of the debt securities described in this prospectus.
The debt securities will be our direct unsecured general obligations. We may issue the debt securities from time to time in one or more series under an indenture dated as of March 15, 2005 between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (ultimate successor as trustee to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as trustee (the ‘‘Trustee’’). This indenture, as previously amended and supplemented and as it may be further amended and supplemented from time to time, is referred to in this prospectus as the ‘‘Indenture.’’
We have summarized selected provisions of the Indenture below. You should read this summary together with the Indenture, any supplemental indentures or other documents establishing the debt securities for a complete understanding of the provisions that may be important to you. The following description of the debt securities and the Indenture is qualified by reference to the Indenture, which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. References to certain sections in parentheses below are references to sections of the Indenture. Whenever particular provisions or defined terms in the Indenture are referred to under this ‘‘Description of Debt Securities,’’ such provisions or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein. The Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should refer to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for provisions that apply to the debt securities.
There is no requirement under the Indenture that our future issuances of debt securities be issued exclusively under the Indenture and we will be free to employ other indentures or documentation containing provisions different from those included in the Indenture or applicable to one or more issuances of debt securities in connection with future issuances of other debt securities. Nonetheless, the debt securities registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will only be issued either pursuant to the Indenture or pursuant to an indenture (or a form thereof) that is filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the debt securities.
The Indenture provides that the applicable debt securities will be issued in one or more series, may be issued at various times, may have differing maturity dates and may bear interest at differing rates. We need not issue all debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series for issuances of additional debt securities of that series. Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of debt, including secured debt, we or our subsidiaries may incur.
The Indenture does not currently contain any restriction on the payment of dividends or any financial covenants. However, the supplemental indenture for any series of debt securities may contain such restrictions. The prospectus supplement related to such debt securities will describe such restrictions and the protections, if any, that such restrictions provide the holders of the debt securities in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us that may adversely affect the holders of the debt securities.
Ranking
The debt securities will be our direct unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsubordinated debt. As of December 31, 2024, TXNM, exclusive of its subsidiaries, had $555 million of outstanding short-term and long-term debt that would have ranked equally with the debt securities.
We are a holding company and derive substantially all of our income from our operating subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flows and consequent ability to service our debt, including the debt securities, are dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and distribution of those earnings to us and other payments or distributions of funds by our subsidiaries to us, including payments of principal and interest under intercompany indebtedness. Our operating subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and will have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any dividends or make any other distributions (except for payments required pursuant to the terms of intercompany indebtedness) to us or to otherwise pay amounts due with respect to the debt securities or to make specific funds available for such payments. Various financing arrangements, charter provisions and regulatory requirements may impose certain restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer funds to us in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances. The debt securities will be effectively subordinated to the claims of all creditors, including trade creditors and tort claimants, of our subsidiaries. In the event of the bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or reorganization of the business of one of our subsidiaries, creditors of that subsidiary would generally have the right to be paid in full before any distribution is made to us or the holders of the debt securities. As of December 31, 2024, our subsidiary PNM had $11.5 million aggregate stated value of cumulative preferred stock outstanding and $2,834 million aggregate principal amount of short-term and long-term debt outstanding, $340.7 million of which was secured. As of December 31, 2024, our subsidiary TNMP had $1,610 million aggregate principal amount of secured short-term and long-term debt outstanding.
The Indenture provides that payment of principal, premium and interest on any debt security issued under the Indenture shall be made solely from the assets of TXNM and not from any assets of utility subsidiaries.
Provisions of a Particular Series
The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to that offering. These terms will include any of the following terms that apply to that series:
•the title of the debt securities;
•the total principal amount of the debt securities;
•the person or persons to whom interest payments are made, if other than the registered holder;
•the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable, how the dates will be determined and whether the stated maturity may be extended;
•the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, and how the rate or rates will be determined;
•the date or dates from which interest on the debt securities will accrue, the interest payment dates on which interest will be paid, and the record dates for the interest payments;
•the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods for the debt securities and the duration of the extension;
•the place or places at which or methods by which payments will be made;
•whether we have the option to redeem the debt securities and, if so, the terms of our redemption option;
•any sinking fund or other provisions or options held by holders of the debt securities that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;
•if the debt securities will be issued in denominations other than $1,000 and integral multiples thereof;
•any index or formula used for determining principal, premium or interest;
•any collateral, security, assurance or guarantee applicable to a series of debt securities;
•the currency or currencies in which payments will be made if other than United States dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent of those amounts in United States dollars;
•if payments may be made on any of the debt securities, at our election or at the holder’s election, in a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, then the currency or currencies in which those payments may be made, the terms and conditions of the election and the manner of determining those amounts;
•the portion of the principal payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the entire principal;
•if the principal payable on the maturity date will not be determinable on one or more dates prior to the maturity date, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date or the manner of determining such amount;
•whether the provisions described below under ‘‘Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance’’ will apply to the debt securities;
•whether the debt securities will be issuable as global securities and, if so, the securities depositary;
•any changes or additions to the events of default under the Indenture or changes or additions to our covenants under the Indenture; and
•any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the terms of the Indenture.
(See Section 3.01)
All debt securities of any one series will be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be determined in the manner provided for in the Indenture. (See Section 3.01)
Debt securities may be issued and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If applicable, the prospectus supplement will describe any special United States federal income tax consequences and other considerations which apply to senior debt securities issued at a discount or to any securities denominated or payable in a foreign currency or currency unit.
Redemption
We will set forth any terms for the redemption of any debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we indicate differently in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be redeemable upon notice by mail to the holders between 30 and 60 days prior to the redemption date. If less than all of the debt securities of any series are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select the debt securities to be redeemed from the outstanding debt securities of such series or tranche, not previously called for redemption. In the absence of any provision for selection, the Trustee will choose a method of random selection as it deems fair and appropriate. (See Sections 11.03 and 11.04)
The debt securities will cease to bear interest on the redemption date assuming we redeem them. We will pay the redemption price and any accrued interest once the debt securities are surrendered for redemption. If only part of a debt security is redeemed, the Trustee will deliver to you a new debt security of the same series for the remaining portion without charge. (See Section 11.07)
We may make any redemption, at our option, conditional upon the receipt by the paying agent or agents, on or prior to the date fixed for redemption, of money sufficient to pay the redemption price. If the paying agent or agents have not received the money by the date fixed for redemption, we will not be required to redeem the debt securities. (See Section 11.04)
Payment
Except as may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest, if any, on each debt security payable on each interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name the debt security is registered as of the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment date. If there has been a default in the payment of interest on any debt security, the defaulted interest may be paid to the holder of that debt security as of the close of business on a date to be fixed by the Trustee, which will be between 10 and 15 days prior to the date we proposed for payment of the defaulted interest, and not less than 10 days after receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The defaulted interest may also be paid in any other manner permitted by any securities exchange on which that debt security may be listed, if the Trustee finds it practicable. (See Section 3.07)
Registration of Transfer and Exchange
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement applicable to any series of debt securities, subject to any limitations on the transfer of global securities, the transfer of the debt securities may be registered, and the debt securities may be exchanged for other debt securities of the same series, of authorized denominations and with the same terms and principal amount, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee. We may change the place for registration of transfer and exchange of the debt securities and may designate additional places for registration and exchange. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement applicable to any series of debt securities, no service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities. However, we may require payment
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed. We will not be required to execute or to provide for the registration of transfer of, or the exchange of:
•any debt security during a period of 15 days prior to giving any notice of redemption; or
•any debt security selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.
(See Section 3.05)
Restrictions on Mergers and Sale of Assets
Under the terms of the Indenture, we may not consolidate with or merge into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any entity or individual, unless:
•the surviving or successor entity is organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and it expressly assumes our obligations on all debt securities and under the Indenture;
•immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
•we deliver to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel as to compliance with the foregoing.
(See Section 8.01)
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Indenture provides that we may be:
•discharged from our obligations, with certain limited exceptions, with respect to any particular series of debt securities, as described in the Indenture, such a discharge being called a ‘‘defeasance’’ in this prospectus; and
•released from our obligations under certain restrictive covenants especially established with respect to any particular series of debt securities, including the covenants described above under ‘‘Restrictions on Mergers and Sale of Assets’’ and any additional covenants set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, such a release being called a ‘‘covenant defeasance’’ in this prospectus.
(See Section 13.02 and 13.03)
We must satisfy certain conditions to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance. Those conditions include the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money or government obligations which through their scheduled payments of principal and interest would provide sufficient money to pay the principal and any premium and interest on those debt securities on the maturity dates of those payments or upon redemption. In addition, we will be required to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance or covenant defeasance will not cause the holders of the applicable series of debt securities to recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes, and that such holders will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and related defeasance or covenant defeasance were not to occur. In the case of a defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or a change in federal income tax law. (See Section 13.04)
Modification of the Indenture
We and the Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of any holder of the debt securities for certain specified purposes, including:
•to evidence the assumption by any permitted successor of our covenants in the Indenture and in the debt securities;
•to add to our existing covenants or to surrender any of our rights or powers under the Indenture;
•to add additional events of default;
•to add to or change any of the provisions to such extent necessary for the issuance of debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form;
•to change, eliminate, or add any provision to the Indenture; provided, however, if the change, elimination, or addition will adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of any particular series in any material respect, that change, elimination, or addition will become effective only:
◦when the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series has been obtained in accordance with the Indenture; or
◦when no debt securities of the affected series remain outstanding under the Indenture;
•to secure the debt securities;
•to establish the form or terms of the debt securities of any other series as permitted by the Indenture;
•to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee;
•to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee; or
•to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to make any other provisions with respect to matters and questions arising under the Indenture; provided that the action will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of any particular series in any material respect.
(See Section 9.01)
If the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date of the Indenture to require changes to the Indenture, the Indenture will be deemed to be amended so as to conform to that amendment of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We and the Trustee may, without the consent of any of the holders, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to evidence that amendment. (See Section 9.01)
The consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all series then outstanding, considered as one class, is required for all other modifications to the Indenture. However, if less than all of the series of debt securities outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then only the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series that are directly affected will be required. No amendment or modification may:
•change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security, or reduce the principal amount of any debt security or its rate of interest or change the method of calculating the interest rate or reduce any premium payable upon redemption, or reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or change the currency in which payments are made, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the date that any principal or interest is due and payable on any debt security, without the consent of the holder;
•reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt security of any particular series the consent of which is required for any supplemental indenture or any waiver of compliance with a provision of the Indenture or any default thereunder and its consequences, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting, without the consent of all the holders of the series; or
•modify certain provisions of the Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waivers of certain covenants and waivers of past defaults with respect to the debt securities of any particular series, without, in each case, the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby.
(See Section 9.02)
A supplemental indenture which changes the Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of debt securities, or modifies the rights of the holders of the debt securities of one or more series, will not affect the rights under the Indenture of the holders of the debt securities of any other series. (See Section 9.02)
The Indenture provides that the debt securities owned by us or anyone else required to make payment on the debt securities will be disregarded and considered not to be outstanding in determining whether the required holders have given a request or consent. (See Section 1.01)
We may fix in advance a record date to determine the required number of holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other such ‘‘act’’ or action of the holders, in certain situations. If the record date is fixed, the holders of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series on that record date, and no other holders, will be entitled to take or revoke the relevant action, whether or not those holders remain holders after that record date. No action, however, will be effective unless taken on or prior to the applicable expiration date by holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series on that record date. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other act of a holder will bind every future holder of the same debt securities and the holder of every debt security issued upon the registration of transfer of or in exchange of those debt securities. A transferee will be bound by our acts or those of the Trustee taken in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of that action is made upon that debt security. (See Section 1.04)
Events of Default
‘‘Event of default’’ when used in the Indenture with respect to any particular series of debt securities, means any of the following:
•failure to pay interest on any debt security of the applicable series for 60 days after it is due;
•failure to pay the principal of or premium on any debt security of the applicable series when due (whether at maturity or upon earlier redemption);
•failure to pay the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of the applicable series;
•failure to perform any other covenant in the Indenture, other than a covenant that does not relate to that series of debt securities, that continues for 90 days after we receive written notice from the Trustee, or we and the Trustee receive a written notice from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series; however, the Trustee or the Trustee and such holders, as applicable, can agree to an extension of the 90-day period and this extension will be automatic if we are diligently pursuing action to correct the default;
•certain events related to our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or
•any other event of default provided with respect to the debt securities of that series.
(See Section 5.01)
Remedies
Acceleration of Maturity
If an event of default with respect to any one series of debt securities occurs and continues, either the Trustee or the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. However, if the event of default is applicable to more than one series of debt securities, the Trustee or the holders of a majority in principal amount of all the outstanding debt securities of all series, considered as one class, and not the holders of any one series, may make a declaration of acceleration. (See Section 5.02)
At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, the event of default giving rise to the declaration of acceleration will be considered waived, and the declaration and its consequences will be automatically rescinded and annulled if:
•we have paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
◦all overdue interest on all the debt securities of the series;
◦the principal of and premium, if any, on any debt securities of the series which have otherwise become due and interest, if any, that is currently due;
◦interest, if any, on overdue interest (to the extent lawful); and
◦all amounts due to the Trustee under the Indenture; and
•any other event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series has been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture.
(See Section 5.02)
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any particular series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of that series waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default:
•in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt security of that series, or
•in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended by supplemental indenture without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected.
However, if a default occurs and continues with respect to more than one series of debt securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all such series, considered as one class, has the right to waive the default, and not the holders of the debt securities of any one such series. Upon any waiver, the default ceases to exist, and any and all events of default arising therefrom is deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of the Indenture; but no waiver will extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(See Section 5.13)
Right to Direct Proceedings
If an event of default with respect to any particular series of debt securities occurs and continues, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series 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. However, if an event of default occurs and continues with respect to more than one series of debt securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all such series, considered as one class, have the right to make the direction, and not the holders of the debt securities of any one of such series. In either case, the Indenture further provides that:
•such direction will not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the Indenture;
•the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee and not inconsistent with such direction, and
•subject to the provisions of the Indenture the Trustee will have the right to decline to follow any direction if the Trustee in good faith determines that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
(See Section 5.12)
Limitation on Right to Institute Proceedings
No holder of debt securities of any particular series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or Trustee, or for any other remedy under the Indenture, unless:
•the holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;
•the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series in respect of which an event of default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, have made a written request to the Trustee;
•such holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the Trustee to institute proceedings; and
•the Trustee has failed to institute any proceeding for 60 days after notice and has not received any direction inconsistent with the written request of the holders during that period.
(See Section 5.07)
No Impairment of Right to Receive Payment
The limitations on the right to institute proceedings, however, do not apply to a suit by a holder of a debt security for payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest if any, on that debt security on or after the applicable due date. (See Section 5.08)
Annual Notice to Trustee
We will provide to the Trustee an annual statement by an appropriate officer as to whether we are in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture. (See Section 10.04)
Notices
Notices to holders of the debt securities will be given by mail to the holders at the addresses that appear in the security register. (See Section 1.06)
Title
We, the Trustee, and any of our agents or the agents of the Trustee, may treat the person in whose name the debt securities are registered as the absolute owner thereof, whether or not such debt securities may be overdue, for the purpose of making payments and for all other purposes irrespective of notice to the contrary. (See Section 3.08)
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. (See Section 1.12)
Regarding the Trustee
The Trustee is U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (ultimate successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.). In addition to acting as Trustee, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association and its affiliates act, and may act, as Trustee under our and/or our affiliates’ other various indentures and trusts. We and our affiliates also maintain credit and liquidity facilities and conduct other banking transactions with affiliates of the Trustee in the ordinary course of our businesses.
The Trustee may resign at any time by giving us written notice or be removed at any time by an act of the holders of a majority in principal amount of any particular series of debt securities then outstanding delivered to the Trustee and us. In addition, provided that no event of default has occurred or is continuing, we may appoint a new trustee upon delivering to the Trustee a resolution of our board of directors appointing a successor trustee and the successor’s acceptance of our appointment. In this case, the Trustee will be deemed to have resigned and the successor will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the Indenture. In any event, the resignation or removal of the Trustee, and no appointment of a successor trustee, will be effective until the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee. (See Section 6.10)
The Trustee will perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in the Indenture unless an event of default under the Indenture occurs and continues. In case an event of default occurs and continues, the Trustee will exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (See Section 6.01)
Book-Entry Issuance
Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, we will issue debt securities of each series in the form of one or more fully registered global securities. The global securities will be deposited with the Trustee under the
Indenture as custodian for the depositary, which will be The Depository Trust Company or another depositary identified in a prospectus supplement, and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities it represents, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole:
•by the applicable depositary to a nominee of the depositary;
•by any nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee; or
•by the depositary or any nominee to a successor depositary or any nominee of the successor.
Investors may hold their beneficial interests in the global securities directly through the depositary if they have an account with the depositary or indirectly through organizations that have accounts with the depositary.
