Volta Electricity Receivables Securitisation Notes (Article 62 Asset Identification Code TGSESUNXXN0064)

Transcription

1 Volta Electricity Receivables Securitisation Notes (Article 62 Asset Identification Code TGSESUNXXN0064) Issued by TAGUS Sociedade de Titularização de Créditos, S.A. (Incorporated in Portugal with limited liability under registered number ) 450,000, per cent. Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2017 to be admitted to trading on Euronext Lisbon 400,000 Class R Notes due ,695,000 Liquidity Notes due 2017 Issue Price: 100% TAGUS Sociedade de Titularização de Créditos, S.A. (the Issuer ) and EDP Serviço Universal, S.A. (the Assignor ), on or around the date hereof, will enter into a receivables assignment agreement (the Receivables Assignment Agreement ) under which the Assignor will sell and assign and the Issuer will acquire a portion of the credit rights owned by the Assignor which result from the right of the Assignor legally established in Decree-law no. 29/2006, of 15 February, as amended and complemented from time to time and republished by Decree-law no. 215-A/2012, of 8 October (the Receivables ) and, more generically, in article 77 of the Commercial Relations Regulation (Regulamento de Relações Comerciais) currently in force as approved by the Energetic Services Regulator (Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos or the ERSE ) to receive, through the electricity tariffs, the amount of additional cost incurred by the Assignor with respect to the purchase of electricity from Special Regime Generators for 2012, including the adjustments from the two previous years (2010 and 2011), to be recovered over a period of five years starting in January 2012, in the original amount of 1,198,581,371, as results from the difference between tables 3-11 and 3-10, contained in pages 64 and 63, respectively, of the document Tarifas e Preços para a Energia eléctrica e outros serviços em 2013 available at (the Over Costs ), accrued of interest in the amount of 6.32 per cent. p.a., calculated pursuant to the methodology contained in the Ministerial Order no. 279/2011, of 17 October and identified in table 0-8 contained in page 9 of the document Tarifas e Preços para a energia eléctrica e outros serviços em 2013 (all such credit rights owned by the Assignor hereinafter referred to as Credit Rights ). As of 23 May 2013, the total amount outstanding in respect of the Over Costs is of 917,966,019 and the total amount outstanding in respect of the Over Costs that are owned by the Assignor is of 627,015,614. The Receivables assigned to the Issuer amount to 422,691,767, which corresponds to 35.27% of the total amount of Over Costs, 46.05% of the amount of Over Costs outstanding as of 23 May 2013 and 67.41% of the amount of Over Costs outstanding as of 23 May 2013 owned by the Assignor. To finance the acquisition of the Receivables, the Issuer will issue securitisation notes (the Notes, such definition comprising the Senior Notes, the Class R Notes and the Liquidity Notes, as defined in the Terms and Conditions of the Notes below) backed by the Receivables, which will be exclusively allocated to the discharge of payments under the Notes or in connection therewith. Pursuant to the terms of article 61 and the subsequent articles of Decree-law no. 453/99, of 5 November, as amended from time to time (the Securitisation Law ) the right of recourse of the holders of the Notes is limited to the specific pool of assets of the Issuer which collateralizes certain obligations of the Issuer in relation to the Notes, including the Receivables, the collections arising from the Receivables, the accounts of the Issuer and the Issuer s rights in respect of the documents entered into in connection with the issue of the Notes and any other right and/or benefit, either contractual or statutory, relating thereto, purchased or received by the Issuer in relation to issue of the Notes (the Asset Pool ). Accordingly, the obligations of the Issuer in relation to the Notes and under the other documents entered into in connection with the issue of the Notes are obligations solely of the Issuer and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, and are not responsibility of, any other entity in accordance with the Securitisation Law. In particular, the Notes are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, and are not responsibility of, StormHarbour Securities LLP or its affiliates (collectively the Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager ) or the Assignor. The Notes also have the benefit of the statutory segregation principle (príncipio da segregação) provided for by article 62 of the Securitisation Law, which provides that assets allocated to a given issue of securitisation notes (as well as the proceeds and income deriving from such assets) are an autonomous pool of assets (património autónomo), the assets and liabilities of the Issuer in respect of each issue of notes made by the Issuer being completely segregated from the other assets and liabilities of the Issuer, and therefore the Asset Pool will not be available to meet any obligations of the Issuer until all obligations inherent to the Notes, and respective costs and expenses, are discharged in full. Furthermore, pursuant to article 63 of the Securitisation Law, holders of Notes are also entitled to a statutory special creditor privilege (privilégio creditório especial) over the Asset Pool exclusively allocated to the Notes. An investment in the Notes involves certain risks. For a discussion of certain significant factors affecting investments in the Notes, see Risk Factors herein. This Prospectus has been approved by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários or the CMVM ) as competent authority under Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 on the prospectus to be published when securities are admitted to trading and amending Directive 2001/34/EC, as amended from time to time (the Prospectus Directive ). According to article 118 of the Portuguese Securities Code, the CMVM only approves this Prospectus as meeting the requirements imposed under Portuguese and EU law pursuant to the Prospectus Directive. The language of the Prospectus is English, although certain legislative references and technical terms have been cited in their original language in order that the correct technical meaning may be ascribed to them under applicable law. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on 16 July 2013 (the First Payment Date ) and thereafter monthly in arrear on the 16th day of each month (or, if such day is not a Business Day (as defined), the immediately succeeding Business Day unless such day would fall into the next calendar month, in which case it will be brought forward to the immediately preceding Business Day (each a Payment Date ). The first interest period begins on (and including) 30 May 2013 and ends on (but excluding) 16 July Application has been made to Euronext Lisbon Sociedade Gestora de Mercados Regulamentados, S.A. ( Euronext ) for the Senior Notes to be admitted to trading on Euronext Lisbon, a regulated market managed by Euronext for the purposes of Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on markets in financial instruments, as amended from time to time (the MiFID ). This document constitutes a prospectus for admission to trading on a regulated market of the Notes for the purposes of the Prospectus Directive. The Notes will be issued in book-entry (forma escritural) and nominative (nominativas) form and will be governed by Portuguese law. The Notes shall, upon issue, be integrated in the centralised system (sistema centralizado) and settled through the Portuguese securities settlement system (Central de Valores Mobiliários or CVM ) operated by Interbolsa Sociedade Gestora de Sistemas de Liquidação e de Sistemas Centralizados de Valores Mobiliários, S.A. ( Interbolsa ). Among others, it is a condition precedent for the issuance of the Senior Notes that the Liquidity Notes and the Class R Notes have been subscribed in full at their principal amount. Recognition of the Senior Notes as eligible collateral for Eurosystem monetary policy and intra-day credit operations by the Eurosystem will depend, upon issue or at any or all times during their life, on satisfaction of the Eurosystem eligibility criteria. The Senior Notes are expected to have the following ratings, as assigned on issue:

2 (i) BBB (high) (sf) by DBRS Ratings Limited; (ii) BBB (sf) by Fitch Ratings Limited; and (iii) Baa3 (sf) by Moody s Investors Service Ltd.. A brief explanation of the meanings of these ratings is set out in General Information. A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to suspension, change or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each of DBRS Ratings Limited ( DBRS ), Fitch Ratings Limited ( Fitch ) and Moody s Investors Service Ltd. ( Moody s ) is established in the European Union and is registered under Regulation (EC) 1060/2009, of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on credit rating agencies, as amended from time to time (the CRA Regulation ). As such, each of DBRS, Fitch and Moody s is included in the list of credit rating agencies published by the European Securities and Markets Authority on its website in accordance with the CRA Regulation. This Prospectus is dated 24 May

3 CONTENTS RISK FACTORS... 4 RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENTS FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION THE PARTIES PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE NOTES OVERVIEW OF THE TRANSACTION STRUCTURE AND CASH FLOW DIAGRAM OF TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OVERVIEW OF CERTAIN TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS THE PORTUGUESE ELECTRICITY SECTOR TARIFF DEVIATIONS, TARIFF DEFICITS AND OVER COSTS DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUER DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNOR DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVICER DESCRIPTION OF THE... TRANSACTION MANAGER AND ISSUER ACCOUNTS BANK SELECTED ASPECTS OF PORTUGUESE LAW... RELEVANT TO THE RECEIVABLES AND THE TRANSFER OF THE RECEIVABLES 104 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE NOTES CLEARED THROUGH INTERBOLSA USE OF PROCEEDS TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES TAXATION SUBSCRIPTION AND SALE GENERAL INFORMATION

4 RISK FACTORS Prospective purchasers of the Notes should consider carefully, in light of the circumstances and their investment objectives, the information contained in this entire Prospectus and reach their own views prior to making any investment decision. Prospective purchasers should nevertheless consider, in addition to the other information contained in this Prospectus, the risk factors set out below before making an investment decision in respect of the Notes, as the same can materially and adversely affect the Receivables, the Notes and/or the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Issuer. In that case, the trading price and/or value of the Notes could decline, and the investors could lose all or part of their investment. The risks described below are those that the Issuer believes to be material, but these may not be the only risks and uncertainties that the Issuer faces. Additional risks not currently known or which are currently deemed immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on the Receivables, the Notes, business, financial condition or results of operations of the Issuer or result in other events that could lead to a decline in the trading price and/or value of the Notes. This Prospectus may also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors. Risk Factors relating to the Receivables and the Over Costs Risk of Change in Law, Regulatory Framework and Ministerial Orders or Administrative Decisions regarding the Receivables The Receivables are statutory rights ( direitos de fonte legal ) recognised pursuant to certain legal statutes, applicable regulations and ministerial orders or administrative decisions as better described in the chapter Tariff Deviations, Tariff Deficits and Over Costs under paragraph 2 of the caption The Over Costs. A change in the legal statutes, applicable regulations and ministerial orders or administrative decisions governing the Receivables or their billing and collection process may materially affect the Receivables, the right to collect such Receivables, the actual collection of the Receivables and, consequently, the payment of interest and/or capital due under the Notes by the Issuer. In case of change in the legal statutes, applicable regulations and ministerial orders that adversely affect the Receivables, the right to collect such Receivables or the actual collection of the Receivables, the owner of such Receivables shall have legitimacy to claim from the Portuguese State an indemnification to compensate effective losses deriving therefrom. However, there is no assurance that this will be successful or that it will not affect the timing of payments under the Notes. Failure of the DGO to perform deliveries Payment of principal and interest on the Notes is dependent upon EDP Distribuição - Energia, S.A., as the Distribution Grid Operator of the SEN (the DGO ), performing deliveries of amounts in respect of the Receivables, as collected, through the Global Use of System Tariff (the UGS Tariff ), from all consumers of electricity in Portugal. Accordingly, although the electricity consumers are the ones who actually bear the encumbrance which allows the payment of the Receivables and, as such, may be considered as the ultimate debtors of the Receivables, the DGO is the entity which undertakes the obligation to perform the deliveries of amounts in respect of the Receivables. For such reason, the sole entity which has the obligation to deliver to the Assignor the amounts pertaining to the Receivables is, at the present date the DGO, which, following notification of the assignment of the Receivables in the terms provided for in the applicable Transaction Documents (including the Receivables Assignment Agreement), will transfer on a monthly basis the corresponding amounts directly to the Issuer Transaction Account. 4

5 In case of insolvency of the DGO or failure by it to honour its obligation to perform deliveries of amounts in respect of the Receivables, the electricity market regulator, ERSE, shall be responsible for administrating and maintaining the recovery mechanism for the Receivables, in particular, ensuring that a replacement entity would make such deliveries. Additionally, it is legally established that the Receivables are not a part of the insolvency estate of any entity involved in billing and collection activities in the National Electricity System (Sistema Eléctrico Nacional or SEN ). Notwithstanding the above mentioned, the Issuer cannot ensure that, in case of insolvency of the DGO, all entities involved in billing and collection activities in the SEN, including, to the extent applicable, ERSE, will be able to maintain the recovery mechanism for the Receivables or that a replacement entity would be put in place and make the necessary deliveries and that, consequently, the collection of the Receivables will not be materially affected. Commingling Risk Pursuant to article 73-A of Decree-law 29/2006 and article 77 of the Commercial Relations Regulation (Regulamento de Relações Comerciais), the Over Costs, together with the corresponding accrued interest, are to be recovered through the inclusion of these amounts in the allowed revenues ( proveitos permitidos ) of the Assignor which are, in turn, included as one of the components of the UGS Tariff during a 5 year period starting on January Even if the UGS Tariff includes, besides the Over Costs, other costs of the SEN, cash flows pertaining thereto must be fully identifiable and segregated as per number 2 of article 77 of the Commercial Relations Regulation (Regulamento de Relações Comerciais) and number 5 of article 3 of Decree-law 237-B/2006, of 18 December ( Decree-law 237-B/2006 ). In any case, the Issuer cannot ensure that all entities involved in billing and collection activities in the SEN will comply with the segregation required by law and, in such cases, the failure to comply with the legal established segregation by such entities might materially impact the collection of the Receivables, and the cash flows in respect of the Receivables. Risk Factors Relating to the Notes Absence of a Secondary Market There is currently no market for the Notes and there can be no assurance that a secondary market for the Notes will develop or, if it does develop, that it will provide the Noteholders with liquidity of investment or that it will continue for the entire life of the Notes. Consequently, any purchaser of the Notes must be prepared to hold the Notes until final redemption thereof. The market price of the Notes could be subject to fluctuation in response to, among other things, variations affecting the Receivables, the market for similar securities, prevailing interest rates, changes in regulation and general market and economic conditions. Noteholders should also be aware of the prevailing and widely reported global credit market conditions and the general lack of liquidity in the secondary market for instruments similar to the Notes, the termination or variation of such secondary market, and the impact of such termination or variation, the Issuer cannot predict. Restrictions on Transfer The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States of America 1933 Securities Act (the Securities Act ) or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The Notes may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except if the offering of the Notes is made pursuant to exemptions from the registration provisions under Regulation S of the Securities Act and from state securities laws. No person is obliged or intends to register the Notes under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Accordingly, offers and sales of the Notes are subject to the restrictions described under Subscription and Sale. 5

6 The Securitisation Law and the Securitisation Tax Law The Securitisation Law was enacted in Portugal by Decree-law no. 453/99, of 5 November, as amended by Decree-law no. 82/2002, of 5 April, by Decree-law no. 303/2003, of 5 December, by Decree-law no. 52/2006, of 15 March, and by Decree-law no. 211-A/2008, of 3 November. The Securitisation Tax Law was enacted in Portugal by Decree-law no. 219/2001, of 4 August, as amended by Law no. 109-B/2001, of 27 December, by Decree-law no. 303/2003, of 5 December, by Law no. 107-B/2003, of 31 December, and by Law no. 53-A/2006, of 29 December (the Securitisation Tax Law ). As at the date of this Prospectus the application of the Securitisation Law by the Portuguese courts and the interpretation of its application by any Portuguese governmental or regulatory authority has been limited to a few cases, namely regarding effectiveness of the assignment of banking credits towards debtors, despite the absence of debtor notification and format of the assignment agreement. The Securitisation Tax Law has not been considered by any Portuguese court and no interpretation of its application has been issued by any Portuguese governmental or regulatory authority. Consequently, one cannot exclude that such authorities may in the future issue further regulations relating to the Securitisation Law and of the Securitisation Tax Law or the interpretation thereof, the impact of which cannot be predicted by the Issuer as at the date of this Prospectus. Under the Securitisation Law, an originator (as is the case of the Assignor) may sell credit rights to a securitisation vehicle, in particular a securitisation company (sociedade de titularização de créditos or STC, as is the case of the Issuer), against payment of the relevant purchase price. From the sale and purchase date forward, the Assignor will have no rights over the disposed credit rights and the STC will have no rights over the purchase price delivered to the Assignor. The purchase price is financed by the STC with the issuance of the relevant securitisation notes (obrigações titularizadas, as is the case of the Notes)). As from the Closing Date, the holders of such securitisation notes become the ultimate beneficiaries of the collections paid under the assigned credit rights and received by the STC (as well as of any other amounts paid to the STC in accordance with the applicable transaction documents in connection with the issue of the securitisation notes), subject to the payment of amounts ranking in priority to payment of amounts due in respect of the STC to the relevant transaction creditors (as is the case of the Transaction Creditors).The holders of each securitisation notes do not have any legal recourse for non-payments or reduced payments against the Assignor. Limited Recourse Nature of the Notes The Notes are limited recourse obligations and are obligations solely of the Issuer and will not be obligations or responsibilities of the Assignor, any other party to the applicable Transaction Documents or any other entity. Accordingly, the Notes will not be obligations of and will not be guaranteed by the Common Representative, the Transaction Manager, the Issuer Accounts Bank, the Paying Agent, the Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager, the Assignor or the Servicer, or any other entity, whether or not it is a party to any Transaction Document, and no such entity has assumed any obligation or liability in case the Issuer fails to meet any payment due under any of the Notes. Repayment of the Notes is limited to the funds received, derived or resulting from the Asset Pool, identified by the corresponding asset code TGSESUNXXN0064 awarded by the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (or the CMVM ) pursuant to article 62 of the Securitisation Law. Accordingly, the Issuer s ability to meet its obligations in respect of the Notes, its operating expenses and its administrative expenses is wholly and inter alia dependent upon receipt by the Issuer from the DGO of the deliveries of the amounts in respect of the Receivables and compliance by the relevant parties with their respective obligations under the applicable Transaction Documents. The obligations of the Issuer under the Notes are without recourse to any other assets of the Issuer pertaining to other issuances of securitisation notes by the Issuer or to the Issuer s own funds or to the Issuer s directors, officers, employees, managers or shareholders. None of such persons or entities has 6

7 assumed or will accept any liability whatsoever in respect of any failure by the Issuer to make any payment of any amount due on or in respect of the Notes. The Issuer will not have any other funds available to it to meet its obligations under the Notes or any other payments ranking in priority to, or pari passu with, the Notes. There is no assurance that there will be sufficient funds to enable the Issuer to pay interest on the Notes or, on the redemption date of the Notes (whether on each Payment Date, on the relevant Maturity Date or upon acceleration following delivery of an Enforcement Notice or if the Notes become otherwise immediately due and payable at their Principal Amount Outstanding together with any accrued interest or upon Mandatory Redemption in Part or in Whole) that there will be sufficient funds to enable the Issuer to repay principal in respect of the Notes in whole or in part. If there are insufficient funds available to the Issuer to pay in full all principal, interest and other amounts due in respect of the Notes upon acceleration following delivery of an Enforcement Notice or if the Notes become otherwise immediately due and payable at their Principal Amount Outstanding together with any accrued interest or upon Mandatory Redemption in Part or in Whole or upon Optional Redemption in Whole as permitted under the Conditions, then the Noteholders will have no further claim against the Issuer or any other entity or person named above in respect of any such unpaid amounts and such unpaid amounts shall be deemed discharged in full. Segregation of the Asset Pool Before being assigned by the Assignor to the Issuer under the applicable Transaction Documents and the Securitisation Law, the Receivables are property of the Assignor and will not be available to discharge any obligations of the Issuer towards the Noteholders and other Transaction Creditors. After having been assigned by the Assignor to the Issuer under the applicable Transaction Documents and the Securitisation Law, the Receivables will become property of the Issuer and be exclusively allocated to the performance of the obligations of the Issuer in relation to the Notes. The Asset Pool is covered by the statutory segregation rule provided in Article 62 of the Securitisation Law, which provides that the assets and liabilities (constituting an autonomous estate or património autónomo) of the Issuer in respect of each transaction entered into by the Issuer are completely segregated from any other assets and liabilities of the Issuer. In accordance with the terms of Article 61 of the Securitisation Law, the Notes and the obligations owing to the Transaction Creditors will have the benefit of the segregation principle (princípio da segregação) and, accordingly, the Issuer Obligations are exclusively limited, in accordance with the Securitisation Law and the applicable Transaction Documents, to the Asset Pool. Both before and after the occurrence of any Insolvency Event in relation to the Issuer, the Asset Pool is exclusively allocated to the discharge of the Issuer s liabilities towards the Transaction Creditors and the Noteholders, pursuant to the applicable Transaction Documents and in accordance with the relevant Payments Priorities, and other creditors of the Issuer do not have any right of recourse over the Asset Pool until there has been a full discharge of such liabilities. Without prejudice to the specific legal framework designed in this respect in the Securitisation Law in the alluded terms, satisfaction of the Noteholders and other Transaction Creditors credit entitlements upon delivery of an Enforcement Notice and the Notes becoming immediately due and payable in accordance with the Post-Enforcement Payments Priorities will depend on the actual access to the Asset Pool and all amounts deriving therefrom to the satisfaction of such credit entitlements in context of the relevant enforcement proceeding. However, these concerns are mitigated by virtue of the fact that the Issuer will represent that it has not created (and will undertake that it will not create) any interest in the Asset Pool in favour of any person other than the Noteholders and the Transaction Creditors and that creditors of the Issuer in respect of other securitisation transactions are similarly bound by non-petition and limited recourse covenants which would prevent them from having recourse to the Asset Pool. 7

8 Notes are subject to optional redemption The Senior Notes may be subject to optional redemption by the Issuer in the case of certain tax events or if the outstanding Receivables fall below 10% of their initial amount outstanding as at the Closing Date. Such optional redemption feature of Senior Notes may limit their market value. During any period when the Issuer may elect to redeem Senior Notes, the market value of those Senior Notes generally will not rise substantially above the price at which they can be redeemed. This also may be true prior to the occurrence of the events allowing the Issuer to exercise such optional redemption. An investor may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on the Senior Notes being redeemed and may only be able to do so at a significantly lower rate. Potential investors should consider reinvestment risk in light of other investments available at that time. The Notes are not protected by the Deposit Guarantee Fund Unlike a bank deposit, the Notes are not protected by the Deposit Guarantee Fund (Fundo de Garantia de Depósitos or FGD ) or any other government savings or deposit protection scheme. As a result, the FGD will not pay compensation to an investor in the Notes upon any payment failure of the Issuer. If the Issuer goes out of business or becomes insolvent, Noteholders may lose all or part of their investment in the Notes. Exchange rate risks and exchange controls The Issuer will pay principal and interest on the Notes in Euro. This presents certain risks relating to currency conversions if an investor s financial activities are denominated principally in a currency or currency unit (the Investor s Currency ) other than Euro. These include the risk that exchange rates may significantly change (including changes due to devaluation of the Euro or revaluation of the Investor s Currency) and the risk that authorities with jurisdiction over the Euro or the Investor s Currency may impose or modify exchange controls. An appreciation in the value of the Investor s Currency relative to the Euro would decrease (1) the Investor s Currency-equivalent yield on the Notes, (2) the Investor s Currency equivalent value of the principal payable on the Notes and (3) the Investor s Currency equivalent market value of the Notes. Government and monetary authorities may impose (as some have done in the past) exchange controls that could adversely affect an applicable exchange rate. As a result, investors may receive less interest or principal than expected, or no interest or principal. Interest rate risks As the Senior Notes are fixed rate notes, an investment in the Senior Notes involves inter alia the risk that changes in market interest rates, particularly increases, may adversely affect the value of the Senior Notes. Credit ratings may not reflect all risks Credit rating agencies will assign credit ratings to the Senior Notes. The ratings may not reflect the potential impact of all risks related to structure, market, additional factors discussed in this section, and other factors that may affect the value of the Senior Notes. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be revised or withdrawn by the rating agency at any time. In general, European regulated investors are restricted under Regulation (EC) 1060/2009, of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on credit rating agencies, as amended from time to time (the CRA Regulation ) from using credit ratings for regulatory purposes, unless such ratings are issued by a credit rating agency established in the EU and registered under the CRA Regulation (and such registration has not been withdrawn or suspended), subject to transitional provisions that apply in certain circumstances whilst the registration application is pending. Such general restriction will also apply in the case of credit ratings issued by non-eu credit rating agencies, unless the relevant credit ratings are endorsed by an EU-registered credit rating agency or the relevant non-eu rating agency is certified in 8

9 accordance with the CRA Regulation (and such endorsement action or certification, as the case may be, has not been withdrawn or suspended). If a rating agency lowers or withdraws its rating of the Senior Notes, that action may reduce the market value of the Senior Notes. Liquidity and Credit Risk for the Issuer The Issuer will be subject to the risk of delays in the receipt, or risk of defaults in the making, of deliveries of amounts in respect of the Receivables from the DGO (whoever it is). There can be no assurance that the levels or timeliness of payments of Collections will be adequate to ensure fulfilment of the Issuer s obligations in respect of the Notes on each Payment Date or on the Maturity Date. As the Issuer has no assets other than the Asset Pool to discharge its obligations in respect of the Notes, delays or default in the receipt of amounts due in respect of the Receivables from the DGO (whoever it is) could have an adverse impact on the due and puntual perfomance of payments by the Issuer to the Noteholders. Furthermore, the Assignor or Servicer will not be responsible for any delays in transfer funds from the Issuer Transaction Account and the Expense Reserve Account into the Noteholders accounts or to the accounts of the creditors of any Third Party Expenses, as applicable. Banco Espírito Santo, S.A. as Servicer of the Receivables Under the Receivables Servicing Agreement, Banco Espírito Santo, S.A. has been appointed as the Servicer in respect of the Receivables to perform certain administrative services in relation to the Receivables thereon in accordance with the terms of the Receivables Servicing Agreement. While the Servicer is under contract to perform certain administrative services under the Receivables Servicing Agreement there can be no assurance that it will be willing or able to perform such services in the future. In the event the appointment of the Servicer is terminated, a successor servicer shall be appointed. The services performed by Banco Espírito Santo, S.A. do not include collection of the Receivables as, following notification of the assignment of the Receivables in the terms provided for in the Receivables Assignment Agreement, the cash amount pertaining to payment of the Receivables are directly transferred by the DGO into the Issuer Transaction Account. The Servicer may not resign its appointment as Servicer without a justified reason and the appointment of a successor servicer is subject to the prior approval of the CMVM. Assignment of Receivables not affected by the insolvency of the Assignor In the event of the Assignor becoming insolvent, the Receivables Assignment Agreement, and the sale of the Receivables conducted pursuant to it will not be affected or terminated nor will such Receivables form part of the Assignor s Insolvency estate pursuant to subparagraph b) no. 1 of article 8 of the Securitisation Law, except where the interested parties to said Receivables Assignment Agreement acted in bad faith which woud materially affect the fulfilment of the Issuer s obligations towards the Noteholders. Accordingly, if the relevant interested parties produce a sustained evidence that the parties to the Receivables Assignment Agreement acted in bad faith in selling the Receivables to the Issuer, the assignment of the Receivables will be null and void and will revert back to the the insolvency estate of the Assignor. This could have a material adverse effect on the Issuer s ability to make payments under the Notes. Termination of appointment of the Transaction Manager In the event of the termination of the appointment of the Transaction Manager by reason of the occurrence of a Transaction Manager Event (as defined in the Transaction Management Agreement) it would be necessary for the Issuer to appoint a substitute transaction manager. The appointment of the substitute transaction manager is subject to the condition that, inter alia, such substitute transaction 9

10 manager is capable of administering the Issuer Accounts and performing the services of Transaction Manager. There is no certainty that it would be possible to find a substitute or a substitute of satisfactory standing and experience, who would be willing to act as transaction manager on the terms of the Transaction Management Agreement. In order to appoint a substitute transaction manager it may be necessary to pay higher fees than those paid to the Transaction Manager (which will not be passed on to the Assignor or the Servicer) and depending on the level of fees payable to any substitute, the payment of such fees could potentially adversely affect performance of the Issuer s obligations under the Notes. Ranking of claims of Transaction Creditors and Noteholders Both before and after an Insolvency Event in relation to the Issuer, amounts deriving from the Asset Pool will be available for the purposes of satisfying the Issuer Obligations to the respective Transaction Creditors and Noteholders in priority to the Issuer s obligations to any other creditor. Furthermore, under the Common Representative Appointment Agreement, the Transaction Management Agreement and the Conditions, the claims of certain Transaction Creditors will rank senior to the claims of the Noteholders in accordance with the relevant payments priorities (see Overview of the Transaction Pre-Enforcement Payments Priorities and Post-Enforcement Payments Priorities ). Both before and after an Insolvency Event in relation to the Issuer, amounts deriving from assets of the Issuer other than those comprised within the Asset Pool will not be available to satisfy the Issuer s Obligations to the Noteholders and the Transaction Creditors as they are legally segregated from the Asset Pool. Modification and waivers The Conditions contain provisions for calling meetings of Noteholders to consider matters affecting their interests generally. These provisions permit defined majorities to bind all Noteholders including Noteholders who did not attend and vote at the relevant meeting and Noteholders who voted in a manner contrary to the majority. The Conditions also provide that the Common Representative may, without the consent of Noteholders, agree to certain modifications of, or to the waiver or authorisation of a breach or proposed breach of, provisions of the applicable Transaction Documents or the Conditions. Common Representative s rights under Transaction Documents The Common Representative has entered into the Common Representative Appointment Agreement in order to exercise, following the occurrence of an Event of Default, certain rights on behalf of the Issuer and the Transaction Creditors in accordance with the terms of the applicable Transaction Documents for the benefit of the Noteholders and the other Transaction Creditors and to give certain directions and make certain requests in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of such Transaction Documents and the Securitisation Law. Accordingly, although the Common Representative may give certain directions and make certain requests to the Assignor and the Servicer on behalf of the Issuer under the terms of the Receivables Assignment Agreement and the Receivables Servicing Agreement, the exercise of any action by the Assignor and the Servicer in response to any such directions and requests will be made to and with the Issuer only and not with the Common Representative. Therefore, if an Insolvency Event has occurred in relation to the Issuer, the Common Representative may not be able to circumvent the involvement of the Issuer in the Transaction by, for example, pursuing actions directly against the Assignor or the Servicer under the Receivables Assignment Agreement or the Receivables Servicing Agreement. Although the Notes have the benefit of the segregation principle provided for by the Securitisation Law, the above may impair the ability of the Noteholders and the 10

11 Transaction Creditors to be repaid of amounts due to them in respect of the Notes and under the applicable Transaction Documents. Withholding taxes Should any withholding or deduction for or on account of any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatsoever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any government or state with authority to tax or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or therein having power to tax be required to be made from any payment in respect of the Notes (see Taxation below), neither the Issuer, the Common Representative, the Issuer Accounts Bank or the Paying Agent will be obliged to make any additional payments to Noteholders to compensate them for the reduction in the amounts that they will receive as a result of such withholding or deduction. In certain circumstances, the Issuer and the Noteholders may be subject to US withholding tax under FATCA for any payments made after 1 January 2017 The United States has passed legislation (commonly referred to as FATCA ) which will impose new information reporting requirements with respect to certain holders of financial accounts, as defined in the FATCA rules. FATCA may impact both the Issuer and the Noteholders regardless that the Issuer and the Noteholders will be located outside the United States. In this regard, if the Issuer does not enter into an agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the IRS ) and comply with these reporting requirements, it may become subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax on the receipt of certain payments, which may reduce amounts available to the Issuer to make payments on the Notes. Even if the Issuer does enter into such an agreement with the IRS, the Noteholders will need to provide certain information. If a Noteholder does not provide this information in a timely manner, and/or does not consent to the disclosure of the information requested to establish that it is eligible to receive payments free of FATCA withholding, beginning 1 January 2017, the Issuer, and other financial institutions through whom payments on the Notes are made, may be required to withhold up to 30% on a portion of payments made on the Notes to such Noteholder. To receive payments free of FATCA withholding, individual investors will be required to provide information establishing that they are not Untied States persons, or, in the case of individual investors that are Untied States persons, consent to the disclosure of information regarding the holding of their investment. If an amount in respect of FATCA were to be deducted or withheld from interest, principal or other payments on or with respect to the Notes, the Issuer would have no obligation to pay additional amounts or otherwise indemnify a holder for any such withholding or deduction. Prospective investors should consult their own advisors about the application of FATCA, in particular if they may be classified as financial institutions under the FATCA rules. Compliance with Article 122a of the CRD and Bank of Portugal Notice 9/2010 Article 122a of the Capital Requirements Directive (comprising Directive 2006/48/EC and Directive 2006/49/EC, formally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament on 14 June 2006, as may be amended or superseded from time to time, CRD ) and Bank of Portugal Notice 9/2010 ( Notice 9/2010 ) place an obligation on a credit institution that is subject to the CRD (a CRD Credit Institution ) which assumes exposure to the credit risk of a securitisation (as defined in Article 4(36) of Directive 2006/48/EC) to ensure that the originator, sponsor or original lender has explicitly disclosed that it will fulfil its retention obligation referred to below, and to have a thorough understanding of all structural features of a securitisation transaction that would materially impact the performance of their exposures to the transaction. The Assignor will undertake in the Receivables Assignment Agreement to retain, on an ongoing basis, a net economic interest equivalent to no less than 5 per cent. of the corresponding securitised exposures, as defined in Article 122a of the CRD and in Notice 9/2010; 11

12 accordingly, the Assignor will retain on an ongoing basis an amount of Credit Rights, selected on the Closing Date, equivalent to no less than 5 per cent. of the nominal amount of the Receivables (the Retained Interest ). The Assignor will undertake not to hedge, sell or in any other way mitigate its credit risk in relation to such Retained Interest, which may be reduced over time by, amongst other things, amortisation, allocation of losses or defaults on the underlying Receivables. The Investor Report will also provide confirmation as to the Assignor s continued holding of the original Retained Interest. It should be noted that there is no certainty that references to the Assignor s retention obligation of the Retained Interest in this Prospectus or the undertakings in the Receivables Assignment Agreement will constitute explicit disclosure (on the part of the Assignor) or adequate due diligence (on the part of the Noteholders) for the purposes of Article 122a and Notice 9/2010 and there can be no certainty that the Assignor will, at all times, be able to comply with its undertakings set out in the Receivables Assignment Agreement. If the Assignor does not comply with its undertakings set out in the Receivables Assignment Agreement, the ability of the Noteholders to sell and/or to receive the price for the Notes in the secondary market may be adversely affected. Article 122a of the CRD and Notice 9/2010 also place an obligation on CRD Credit Institutions, before investing in a securitisation and thereafter, to analyse, understand and stress test their securitisation positions, and monitor on an ongoing basis and in a timely manner performance information on the exposures underlying their securitisation positions. The Assignor has undertaken to provide to the Issuer, such information as may be reasonably required by the Noteholders to be included in the Investor Report to enable such Noteholders to comply with their obligations pursuant to the CRD and Notice 9/2010. Where the relevant requirements of Article 122a of the CRD and Notice 9/2010 are not complied with in any material respect and there is negligence or omission in the fulfilment of its due diligence obligations on the part of a CRD Credit Institution that is investing in the Notes, a proportionate additional risk weight of no less than 250 per cent. of the risk weight (with the total risk weight capped at 1250 per cent.) which would otherwise apply to the relevant securitisation position shall be imposed on such credit institution, progressively increasing with each subsequent infringement of the due diligence provisions. Noteholders should make themselves aware of the provisions of the CRD and make their own investigation and analysis as to the impact of the CRD on any holding of Notes. Noteholders should take their own advice on compliance with, and the application of, the provisions of Article 122a and Notice 9/2010. EU Savings Directive Under EC Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income, each Member State is required to provide to the tax authorities of another Member State details of payments of interest or other similar income paid by a person within its jurisdiction to, or collected by such a person for, an individual resident or certain limited types of entity established in that other Member State; however, for a transitional period, Austria and Luxembourg may instead apply a withholding system in relation to such payments, deducting tax at a rate of 35%. The transitional period is to terminate at the end of the first full fiscal year following agreement by certain non-eu countries to the exchange of information relating to such payments. A number of non-eu countries, and certain dependent or associated territories of certain Member States, have adopted similar measures (either provision of information or transitional withholding) in relation to payments made by a person within its jurisdiction to, or collected by such person for, an individual resident or certain limited types of entity established in a Member State. In addition, the Member States have entered into provision of information or transitional withholding arrangements with certain of those dependent or associated territories in relation to payments made by a person in a Member State to, or collected by such a person for, an individual resident of certain limited types of entity established in one of those territories. 12

13 The European Commission has proposed certain amendments to the Directive, which may, if implemented, amend or broaden the scope of the requirements described above. Investors who are in any doubt as to their position should consult their professional advisers. Change in law relating to the structure of the securitisation transaction and the issue of the Notes The structure of this securitisation transaction and, inter alia, the issue of the Notes are based on law, tax rules, rates, procedures and administrative practice in effect at the date of this Prospectus, and having due regard to the expected tax treatment of all relevant entities under such law and practice. No assurance can be given that laws, tax rules, rates, procedures or administration practices will not change after the date of this Prospectus or that such change will not adversely impact the securitisation transaction or the treatment of the Notes, including the expected payments of interest and repayment of principal in respect of the Notes. Neither the Issuer, the Common Representative, the Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager, the Transaction Manager, the Servicer or the Assignor will bear the risk of a change in law whether in the Issuer Jurisdiction or outside. Potential conflict of interest Each of the Transaction Parties (other than the Issuer) and their affiliates in the course of each of their respective businesses may provide services to other Transaction Parties and to third parties and in the course of the provision of such services it is possible that conflicts of interest may arise between such Transaction Parties and their affiliates or between such Transaction Parties and their affiliates and third parties. Each of the Transaction Parties (other than the Issuer) and their affiliates may provide such services and enter into arrangements with any person without regard to or constraint as a result of any such conflicts of interest arising as a result of it being a Transaction Party in respect of the Transaction. Conflicts of Interest Involving the Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager Various potential and actual conflicts of interest may arise as a result of the investment banking, commercial banking, asset management, financing and financial advisory services and products provided, or that could in the future be provided, by StormHarbour (including its affiliates (together, the StormHarbour Companies )), to the Issuer, the Common Representative, the Transaction Manager and other, as well as in connection with the investment, trading and brokerage activities of the StormHarbour Companies. The following briefly summarises some of these conflicts, but is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all such conflicts. StormHarbour will serve as Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager to the Issuer and will be paid fees and commissions for such service by the Issuer. In its capacity as Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager, StormHarbour will privately place the Notes in negotiated transactions at a price to be determined at the time of sale. One or more of the StormHarbour Companies and one or more accounts or funds managed by a StormHarbour Company (if any) may from time to time hold Notes for investment, trading or other purposes. None of the StormHarbour Companies are required to own or hold any Notes and may sell any Notes held by them at any time. No StormHarbour Company has done, and no StormHarbour Company will do, any analysis of the Receivables acquired or sold by the Issuer for the benefit of, or in a manner designed to further the interests of, any holder of Notes. One or more of the StormHarbour Companies may provide investment banking, commercial banking, asset management, financing and financial advisory services and products to any of the Transaction Parties, and purchase, hold and sell, both for their respective accounts or for the account of their respective clients, on a principal or agency basis, loans, securities, and other obligations and financial instruments of any Transactions Parties. As result of such transactions or arrangements, one or more of the StormHarbour Companies may have interests adverse to those of the Issuer and holders of the Notes. The StormHarbour Companies will not be restricted in their performance of any such services or in the types of debt or equity investments which they may make. In conducting the foregoing activities, the 13

14 StormHarbour Companies will be acting for their own account or for the account of their customers and will have no obligation to act in the interest of the Issuer or any holder of the Notes. One or more of the StormHarbour Companies may: have placed or acted as a financial arranger, structuring agent or advisor in connection with the original issuance of, or may act as a broker or dealer with respect to, certain of the Notes; or provide other investment banking, asset management, commercial banking, financing or financial advisory services to the Assignor. The StormHarbour Companies may from time to time enter into financing and derivative transactions (including repurchase transactions) with third parties with respect to the Notes, and the StormHarbour Companies in connection therewith may acquire or establish long, short or derivative financial positions with respect to the Notes or one or more portfolios of financial assets similar to the portfolio of Receivables acquired by (or intended to be acquired by) the Issuer, including the right to exercise voting rights with respect to such Notes or other assets, and may act without regard to whether any such action might have an adverse effect on the Issuer and the holders of the Notes. As part of their regular business, the StormHarbour Companies may also provide investment banking, commercial banking, asset management, financing and financial advisory services and products to, and purchase, hold and sell, both for their respective accounts or for the account of their respective clients, on a principal or agency basis, loans, securities, and other obligation and financial instruments and engage in private equity investment activities. The StormHarbour Companies will not be restricted in their performance of any such services or in the types of debt or equity investments, which they may make. In conducting the foregoing activities, the StormHarbour Companies will be acting for their own account or the account of their customers and will have no obligation to act in the interest of the Issuer. The StormHarbour Companies may, by virtue of the relationships described above or otherwise, at the date hereof or at any time hereafter, be in possession of information regarding the Assignor or its Affiliates, that is or may be material in the context of the Notes and that is or may not be known to the general public. None of the StormHarbour Companies has any obligation, and the offering of the Notes will not create any obligation on their part, to disclose to any purchaser of the Notes any such relationship or information, whether or not confidential. Payments mismatch risk To the extent that any amount payable in respect of the Notes exceeds the income from the Receivables due to the different profile of payments of the Notes and the Receivables, then the Issuer may have insufficient funds to meet its obligations under the Notes. Potential impact of the IMF/Eurozone Stabilisation Programme In May 2011, the Portuguese Government, with the support of the main Portuguese political parties, agreed to the IMF/Eurozone Stabilisation Programme (the Stabilisation Programme ). The Stabilisation Programme is expected to provide significant financial support of EUR 78 billion over the next years in the form of a cooperative package of IMF and EU funding. On 10 May 2011, the European Commission approved the Stabilisation Programme and on 16 May 2011, EU finance ministers granted their approval. The funding is subject to quarterly reviews for the duration of the Stabilisation Programme to ensure the conditions of the Stabilisation Programme are being met. The Stabilisation Programme is based on a three-prong strategy as follows: Restoring competitiveness: The first priority is to tackle structural problems that have caused Portugal to have low rates of growth over the past decade. This includes measures to reduce public sector involvement in the Portuguese economy and to address the issue of rent-seeking behaviour and excessive profits in the non-tradable sector. These measures may enable an easier entry in the telecommunications 14

15 market, may include cutting subsidies in the electricity sector, and may reduce the number of regulated professions. In addition, the Stabilisation Programme provides for a major reduction in social security contributions (offset by other tax and expenditure adjustments) aimed at significantly reducing labour costs and making Portugal s goods and services more competitive. Strengthening fiscal policy: Under the terms of the Stabilisation Programme, a mix of measures are aimed at reducing Portugal s budget deficit and stabilising public sector debt. These measures include reducing public subsidies and transfers, better prioritising capital spending, shifting the composition of taxation toward indirect and property taxes, broadening Portugal s income tax base and implementing significant savings in current expenditure at all levels of public administration (i.e., general government, local and regional government and state-owned enterprises). Ensuring the stability of the financial sector. The Stabilisation Programme provides for increasing Portuguese banks capital positions, strengthening regulation and supervision in the sector and introducing a new solvency support mechanism (fully funded under the Stabilisation Programme). The measures envisaged by the Stabilisation Programme might have an impact on the electricity sector and on the several entities operating in the electricity sector, including the Assignor, and may materially affect the Receivables, the right to collect such Receivables, the actual collection of the Receivables and, consequently, the payment of interest and/or capital due under the Notes by the Issuer, either directly or indirectly through the impact on the Portuguese economy as a whole. Below are some of the measures still to be implemented or in process of implementation, as extracted from the Memorandum of Understanding on Specific Economic Policy Conditionality in connection with the Stabilisation Programme, that could have a material adverse affect on the Portuguese economic and financial condition which may, in turn, have a material adverse affect on the electricity sector and on the several entities operating in the electricity sector, including the Assignor, on the Receivables, on the right to collect such Receivables, on the actual collection of the Receivables and, consequently, on the payment of interest and/or capital due under the Notes by the Issuer: ( ) Energy markets ( ) Liberalisation of electricity and gas markets 5.2. Take measures to accelerate the establishment of a functioning Iberian market for natural gas (MIBGAS), through regulatory convergence and the harmonisation of the tariff structures in Portugal and Spain. In particular, in accordance with the roadmap of 30 September 2011 agreed with the Spanish authorities, the regulators of each country will: (i) (ii) (iii) present proposals to harmonise the tariffs for access to the interconnection networks taking into account the outcome of the public consultation conducted in January 2012 [Q1-2013]; prepare a report analysing and developing options to improve the harmonised mechanism for capacity allocation and congestion management of cross-border flows with Spain, including the introduction of virtual reverse flows and other mechanisms allowing smaller players to make efficient use of the LNG Sines facility [Q4-2012]; apply a harmonised allocation and congestion management mechanism to all the interconnection capacity between Portugal and Spain, in line with the EU network codes and guidelines in this respect [Q1-2013] Clarify the national legal framework with respect to the scope of competencies of the logistics operator and define based on a cost-benefit analysis a way of convergence of the existing two platforms for electricity and natural gas. [Q4-2012] Ensure sustainability of the national electricity system 15

16 5.4. Conclude the measures approved in the Council of Ministers on 17 May 2012 to reduce excessive rents and to address the sustainability of the national electricity system. Cost reduction measures address the following compensation schemes: power guarantee, special regime (renewables - excluding those granted under tender mechanisms and cogeneration), CAE s (power purchase agreements) and CMECs, and will reduce policy cost by at least EUR 1275 million in Net Present Value (NPV) [Q4-2012]. The updated estimation of cost reductions that will be achieved as well as progress towards elimination of the tariff debt (dívida tarifária) by 2020 will be presented and assessed in the seventh review Conclude the announced measures to limit the policy costs embedded in CMECs and PPAs by Q In particular, as an element in revising the rate of return to bring it in line with the cost of capital at the moment the CMEC compensation was defined plus, if warranted, a risk premium of the assets that the mechanism remunerates: (i) approve the pieces of legislation that reduce the CMEC annuity discount rate from 7.55% to below 5% in terms that do not allow the increase of the new established rate (yielding a NPV of EUR 120 million); and (ii) set a compensation for the extension of exploitation licences of the power plants in Sines and Pego8 yielding NPVs of EUR million and EUR million respectively, providing details on the valuation methodology leading to these figures. The updated estimation of cost reductions that will be achieved will be presented and assessed in the seventh review Present a report on the CMEC scheme including the foreseen annual compensation amounts to each beneficiary and past payments since 2007 and the forecast of future payments. The report will also describe the process for the extension of the concession of the public hydro resource by the former CAE hydro power plants, its correspondent economic valuation, and the rationale for the direct award instead of a tender process. The report will assess and consider all the information available within the governmental and the official bodies (General Directorates, Regulator, State representative in the contracts). [Q4-2012] 5.8. Accelerate convergence to market-based pricing for co-generation operators in parallel with electricity market developments under the EU internal electricity and gas market legislation. The remuneration scheme for co-generation will be further revised to improve efficiency of the support system in ensuring continued guaranteed access of operators to electricity networks and markets with the calculation of explicit subsidies based on relevant price factors in the context of a competitive electricity market. The revision should ensure that the design of the support scheme allows a dynamic correlation between electricity market prices and the efficiency premium when the values of avoided externalities are not adequately reflected in electricity and other factor prices. This revision will be undertaken in line with the framework of the transposition of the energy efficiency directive [Q1-2013]. Ensure through annual audits that plants not fulfilling the requirements for cogeneration do not receive the support, and report on the progress. [Q2-2013] 5.9. For new contracts in renewables, revise downward the feed-in tariffs and ensure that the tariffs do not overcompensate producers for their costs and they continue to provide an incentive to reduce costs further, through digressive tariffs. For more mature technologies develop alternative mechanisms (such as feed-in premiums). Report on action taken will be provided in Q Decisions on future investments in renewables, in particular in less mature technologies, will be based on a rigorous analysis in terms of its costs and consequences for energy prices. International benchmarks will be used for the analysis and an independent evaluation will be carried out. Report on action taken will be provided in Q The detailed terms and conditions of implementation of the remaining measures of the Stabilisation Programme are as yet unknown, and when implemented they could have a material adverse effect on the Portuguese economic and financial condition which may, in turn, have a material adverse effect, on the electricity sector and on the several entities operating in the electricity sector, including the Assignor, on 16

17 the Receivables, on the right to collect such Receivables, on the actual collection of the Receivables and, consequently, on the payment of interest and/or capital due under the Notes by the Issuer. In addition, the failure by the Portuguese Government to implement the measures described above, or other measures even if non-related with the energy sector, contained in the Memorandum of Understanding on Specific Economic Policy Conditionality, may adversely affect the financial support agreed under the Stabilization Programme and, as a consequence, have an adverse impact on the Portuguese economic and financial condition which may, in turn, have a material adverse effect on the electricity sector and on the several entities operating in the electricity sector, including the Assignor, on the Receivables, on the right to collect such Receivables, on the actual collection of the Receivables and, consequently, on the payment of interest and/or capital due under the Notes by the Issuer. Considering the execution of the Stabilization Programme and Portugal s current economic and financial situation, the approval of additional measures affecting the electricity sector and, in particular, the Receivables, namely, measures aiming to ease the consumers burden regarding electricity prices, cannot be excluded. If any of such measures are put in place, they may have an impact on the electricity sector and on the several entities operating in the electricity sector, including the Assignor and/or the DGO, and may materially affect the Receivables, the right to collect such Receivables, the actual collection of the Receivables and, consequently, the payment of interest and/or capital due under the Notes by the Issuer, either directly or indirectly through the impact on the Portuguese economy as a whole. 17

18 RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENTS In accordance with article 243 of the Portuguese Securities Code the following entities are responsible for the information contained in this Prospectus: The Issuer and Mr. Joaquim António Furtado Baptista, Mr. José Francisco Gonçalves de Arantes e Oliveira and Mr. Bernardo Luis de Lima Mascarenhas Meyrelles do Souto, in their capacities as directors of the Issuer, are responsible for the information contained in this document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Issuer and of all the aforementioned individuals, the information contained in this document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. This statement is without prejudice to any liability which may arise under Portuguese law. The Issuer further confirms that this Prospectus contains all information which is material in the context of the issue of the Notes, that such information contained in this Prospectus is true and accurate in all material respects and is not misleading, that the opinions and the intentions expressed in it are honestly held by it and that there are no other facts the omission of which makes this Prospectus as a whole or any of such information or the expression of any such opinions or intentions misleading in any material respect and all proper enquiries have been made to ascertain and to verify the foregoing. The Issuer accepts responsibility accordingly (except where another party mentioned below accepts responsibility for certain information) and the Issuer has confirmed to the Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager that the Issuer accepts such responsibility. Mr. Manuel Corrêa de Barros de Lancastre, Mrs. Maria da Conceição Romão Teixeira Carrapeta Mr. João Alexandre Marques de Castro Moutinho Barbosa and Mrs. Catarina Isabel Lopes Antunes Ribeiro, in their capacities as members of the supervisory board of the Issuer, are responsible for the accuracy of the financial statements of the Issuer required by law or regulation to be prepared as from the date on which they began their current term of office following their appointment as members of the supervisory board of the Issuer. No representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made and no responsibility or liability is accepted by Mr. Manuel Corrêa de Barros de Lancastre, Mrs. Maria da Conceição Romão Teixeira Carrapeta Mr. João Alexandre Marques de Castro Moutinho Barbosa and Mrs. Catarina Isabel Lopes Antunes Ribeiro as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this Prospectus (other than the aforementioned financial information) or any other information supplied in connection with the Notes or their distribution. EDP SU, in its capacity as Assignor, accepts responsibility for the information contained in this document relating to itself and to the description of its rights and obligations in respect of the information relating to the Receivables Assignment Agreement and/or the Receivables in the sections headed The Tariff Deficit and the Over Costs, The Portuguese Electricity Sector and Description of the Assignor (together, the Assignor Information ). EDP SU confirms that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, such Assignor Information is in accordance with the facts, is not misleading and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. No representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made and no responsibility or liability is accepted by the Assignor as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this Prospectus (other than the Assignor Information) or any other information supplied in connection with the Notes or their offering. Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its London office, in its capacity as the Transaction Manager and Issuer Accounts Bank, accepts responsibility for the information in this document relating to itself in this regard in the section headed Description of the Transaction Manager and Issuer Accounts Bank (together the Transaction Manager and Issuer Accounts Bank Information ) and such Transaction Manager and Issuer Accounts Bank Information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. No representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made and no responsibility or liability is accepted by Deutsche Bank AG as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this Prospectus (other than the Transaction 18

19 Manager and Issuer Accounts Bank Information) or any other information supplied in connection with the Notes or their offering. KPMG & Associados - SROC, S.A., hereby represented by Mr. Vítor Manuel da Cunha Ribeirinho, in its capacity as the independent auditor of the Issuer for the years 2011 and 2012, is responsible for the independent Auditors Reports issued in connection with the audited financial statements prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS) as adopted by the European Union (EU) for the years ended on 31 December 2011 and 31 December 2012, which are incorporated by reference herein and confirms that the financial information relating to the Issuer in the section headed Documents Incorporated by Reference including the independent auditor s report, the balance sheet and profit and loss information and accompanying notes (incorporated by reference) has been, where applicable, accurately extracted from the audited financial statements for the relevant years. No representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made and no responsibility or liability is accepted by Mr. Vítor Manuel da Cunha Ribeirinho as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this Prospectus or any other information supplied in connection with the Notes or their offering, other than the independent auditors reports issued in connection with the audited financial statements for the years ended on 31 December 2011 and 31 December Banco Espírito Santo, S.A., in its capacity as the Servicer of the Receivables accepts responsibility for the information relating to the Servicer in the section headed Description of the Servicer (together the Servicer Information ) and such Servicer Information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. No representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made and no responsibility or liability is accepted by Banco Espírito Santo, S.A., in its capacity as the Servicer, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this Prospectus (other than the Servicer Information) or any other information supplied in connection with the Notes or their offering. Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados Sociedade de Advogados, RL, as legal advisors to the Assignor, responsible for the Portuguese legal matters included in the chapter The Portuguese Electricity Sector under the caption The National Electricity System (the SEN ) and for the Portuguese legal matters included in the chapter Tariff Deviations, Tariff Deficits and Over Costs under the caption The Over Costs. Vieira de Almeida & Associados Sociedade de Advogados, RL, as legal advisors to the Sole Arranger and Sole Lead Manager, the Issuer and the Common Representative responsible for the Portuguese legal matters included in the chapters Selected Aspects of Portuguese law relevant to the Receivables and the Transfer of the Receivables and Taxation. In accordance with article of the Portuguese Securities Code, liability of the entities referred to above is excluded if any of such entities proves that the addressee knew or should have known about the shortcoming in the contents of this Prospectus on the date of issue of the contractual declaration or when the respective revocation was still possible. Pursuant to subparagraph a) of article 150 of the Portuguese Securities Code, the Issuer is strictly liable (i.e. independently of fault) if any of the members of its management board, the financial intermediaries in charge of assisting with the offer or any other entities that have accepted to be appointed in this Prospectus is held responsible for any information, forecast or study included in the same. Additionally, subparagraph b) of said article 150, also provides that the Issuer is strictly liable (i.e. independently of fault) if any of the members of the auditing body, accounting firms, chartered accountants and any other individuals that have certified or, in any other way, verified the accounting documents on which the Prospectus is based is held responsible for such information. Further to subparagraph b) of article 243 of the Portuguese Securities Code, the right to compensation based on the aforementioned responsibility statements is to be exercised within six months following the 19

20 knowledge of a shortcoming in the contents of the Prospectus and ceases, in any case, two years following (i) disclosure of the admission Prospectus or (ii) amendment that contains the defective information or forecast. 20