<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 4(A)(i)


            STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING TWO SERIES OF SHARES

To:  The Secretary of State
     of the State of Texas

     Pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.13 of the Texas Business
Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation submits the following statement for
the purpose of establishing and designating two series of shares and fixing and
determining the preferences, limitations and relative rights of the series:

     1. The name of the corporation is ST Acquisition Corp. (the "Company").

     2. The following resolution, establishing and designating two series of
shares and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences of such
series, was duly adopted by all necessary action of the corporation on April 6,
2000.

          RESOLVED, that, pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
     Directors by the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
     Company, the Directors do hereby designate and authorize for issuance (i)
     1,000,000 shares of the Senior Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series A,
     $1,000.00 liquidation preference per share, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of
     the Senior Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series B, $1,000.00 liquidation
     preference per share, which shall have the relative rights, preferences and
     limitations as follows:

          (a) Designation. There is hereby created out of the authorized and
     unissued shares of Preferred Stock of the Company a class of Preferred
     Stock designated as the "Senior Redeemable Preferred Stock." The number of
     shares constituting such class shall be 2,000,000 and are referred to
     herein as the "Senior Preferred Stock." 1,000,000 shares of Senior
     Preferred Stock shall be designated as the "Senior Redeemable Preferred
     Stock, Series A," and 1,000,000 shares of the Senior Preferred Stock shall
     be designated as the "Senior Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series B." The
     liquidation preference of the Senior Preferred Stock shall be $1,000.00 per
     share.

          One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares of the Series A Senior Preferred
     Stock shall be initially issued, with an additional 900,000 shares of
     Series A Senior Preferred Stock reserved for issuance in accordance with
     paragraph (c)(i) hereof. The Company shall issue the shares of the Series B
     Senior Preferred Stock to the Holders of the Series A Senior Preferred
     Stock as is necessary to comply with the registration and exchange
     provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement and for issuance in
     accordance with paragraph (c)(i) hereof following such exchange.
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                                      -2-


     (b) Rank. The Senior Preferred Stock shall, with respect to dividend
distributions and distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution
of the Company, rank (i) senior to the extent set forth herein to all classes of
common stock of the Company ("Common Stock"), and to each other class of capital
stock or series of Preferred Stock hereafter established by the Board of
Directors of the Company the terms of which do not expressly provide that it
ranks senior to or on a parity with the Senior Preferred Stock as to dividend
distributions and distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution
of the Company (collectively referred to with the Common Stock of the Company as
"Junior Securities"); (ii) equally with any class of capital stock or series of
Preferred Stock issued by the Company hereafter established by the Board of
Directors of the Company the terms of which expressly provide that such class
will rank equally with the Senior Preferred Stock as to dividend distributions
and distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company
(collectively referred to as "Parity Securities"), provided that any such Parity
Securities that were not approved by the Holders in accordance with paragraph
(f)(ii)(A) hereof (to the extent such approval is required) shall be deemed to
be Junior Securities and not Parity Securities; and (iii) junior to each other
class of capital stock or series of Preferred Stock issued by the Company
hereafter established by the Board of Directors of the Company the terms of
which expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior to the Senior
Preferred Stock as to dividend distributions and distributions upon the
liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company (collectively, referred to
as "Senior Securities"), provided that any such Senior Securities that were not
approved by the Holders in accordance with paragraph (f)(ii)(B) hereof shall be
deemed to be Junior Securities and not Senior Securities.

     The Senior Preferred Stock will be subject to the issuance of series of
Junior Securities, Parity Securities and Senior Securities; provided that the
Company may not issue any new class of Parity Securities (other than the
issuance of additional shares of Senior Preferred Stock to satisfy dividend
payments on outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock) or Senior Securities
(or amend the provisions of any existing class of capital stock to make such
class of capital stock Parity Securities or Senior Securities) without the
approval of the Holders in accordance with paragraph f(ii) hereof.

     No full dividends may be declared or paid on any Parity Securities for any
period unless full cumulative dividends shall have been or contemporaneously are
declared and paid (or are deemed declared and paid) in full. If full dividends
are not paid, the Senior Preferred Stock will share dividends pro rata with the
Parity Securities. No dividends may be paid on any Junior Securities (except
dividends on Junior Securities payable in additional shares of Junior
Securities) and no Junior Securities may be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise
retired (except in exchange for Junior Securities) if full cumulative dividends
have not been paid in full (or deemed paid) on the Senior Preferred Stock for
all full semi-annual Divi-
<PAGE>

                                      -3-


dend Periods ended prior to the date of such payment in respect of Junior
Securities as may be further restricted as provided under paragraph (k)(ii).

     (c) Dividends.

     (i) From the Issue Date, Holders of the Senior Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the
Company, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, dividends
on the Senior Preferred Stock, payable semi-annually, at an initial rate per
annum equal to the greater of (x) 12% or (y) LIBOR plus 700 basis points of the
liquidation preference per share of Senior Preferred Stock (the "Initial
Dividend Rate"). If the Senior Preferred Stock is still outstanding, the
dividend rate (A) for the period from July 7, 2000 to and including October 4,
2000 will be equal to the Initial Dividend Rate plus 100 basis points, (B) for
the period from October 5, 2000 to and including January 2, 2001 will be equal
to the Initial Dividend Rate plus 150 basis points and (C) for the period from
January 3, 2001 to and including April 7, 2001 will be equal to the Initial
Dividend Rate plus 200 basis points; thereafter, the dividend rate on the Senior
Preferred Stock will be fixed at a rate per annum equal to 18.00%. All dividends
will accumulate on a daily basis whether or not earned or declared from the
Issue Date and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1
of each year (each, a "Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on October 1, 2000,
to holders of record on March 15 and September 15 immediately preceding the
relevant Dividend Payment Date. Dividends will be paid by the issuance of
additional shares of Senior Preferred Stock (including fractional shares) having
an aggregate liquidation preference equal to the amount of such dividends. If,
at any time, any of the Voting Rights Triggering Events described in clause (1)
or (2) of paragraph (f)(iv) shall have occurred, the per annum dividend rate
will be increased by 2% during the continuance of any such Voting Rights
Triggering Event. After the date on which such Voting Rights Triggering Event
ceases to exist, the dividend rate will be the rate borne by the Senior
Preferred Stock.

     (ii) All dividends paid with respect to shares of the Senior Preferred
Stock pursuant to paragraph (c)(i) shall be paid pro rata to the Holders
entitled thereto.

     (iii) Dividends accumulating after April 1, 2005 on the Senior Preferred
Stock for any past Dividend Period and dividends in connection with any optional
redemption pursuant to paragraph (e)(i) may be declared and paid at any time,
without reference to any Dividend Payment Date, to Holders of record on such
date, not more than sixty (60) days prior to the payment thereof, as may be
fixed by the Board of Directors.
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                                      -4-


     (iv) (A) No full dividends shall be declared by the Board of Directors or
paid or set apart for payment by the Company on any Parity Securities for any
period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are
declared and paid in full on the Senior Preferred Stock for all Dividend Periods
terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full dividends on such
Parity Securities. If any dividends are not so paid, all dividends declared upon
shares of the Senior Preferred Stock and any other Parity Securities shall be
declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on the
Senior Preferred Stock and such Parity Securities shall in all cases bear to
each other the same ratio that accumulated dividends per share on the Senior
Preferred Stock and such Parity Securities bear to each other.

     (B) So long as any share of the Senior Preferred Stock is outstanding, the
Company shall not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend on any of
the Junior Securities (other than dividends in Junior Securities to the holders
of Junior Securities), or make any payment on account of, or set apart for
payment money for a sinking or other similar fund for, the purchase, redemption
or other retirement of, any of the Junior Securities or any warrants, rights,
calls or options exercisable for or convertible into any of the Junior
Securities whether in cash, obligations or shares of the Company or other
property (other than in exchange for Junior Securities), and shall not permit
any corporation or other entity directly or indirectly controlled by the Company
to purchase or redeem any of the Junior Securities or any such warrants, rights,
calls or options (other than in exchange for Junior Securities) unless full
cumulative dividends determined in accordance herewith on the Senior Preferred
Stock have been paid in full for all full semi-annual Dividend Periods ended
prior to the date of such payment in respect of Junior Securities.

     (C) So long as any share of the Senior Preferred Stock is outstanding, the
Company shall not (except with respect to dividends as permitted by paragraph
(c)(iv)(A)) make any payment on account of, or set apart for payment money for a
sinking or other similar fund for, the purchase, redemption or other retirement
of, any of the Parity Securities or any warrants, rights, calls or options
exercisable for or convertible into any of the Parity Securities whether in
cash, obligations or shares of the Company or other property, and shall not
permit any corporation or other entity directly or indirectly controlled by the
Company to purchase or redeem any of the Parity Securities or any such warrants,
rights, calls or options unless full cumulative dividends determined in
accordance herewith on the Senior Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously
are paid in full.

     (v) Dividends payable on the Senior Preferred Stock for any period less
than a year shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months
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                                      -5-


and, for periods not involving a full calendar month, the actual number of days
elapsed (not to exceed 30 days).

     (vi) Additional Dividends shall become due and payable with respect to the
Senior Preferred Stock as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

     (d) Liquidation Preference.

     (i) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
or winding-up of the affairs of the Company, the Holders of shares of Senior
Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets
of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders an amount in cash
equal to the liquidation preference for each share outstanding, plus, without
duplication, an amount in cash equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon
to the date fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding-up (including an
amount equal to a prorated dividend for the period from the last Dividend
Payment Date to the date fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding-up)
before any distribution shall be made or any assets distributed in respect of
Junior Securities to the holders of any Junior Securities including, without
limitation, Common Stock of the Company. If upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, the amounts payable with
respect to the Senior Preferred Stock and all other Parity Securities are not
paid in full, the Holders of the Senior Preferred Stock and the Parity
Securities will share equally and ratably in any distribution of assets of the
Company first in proportion to the full liquidation preference to which each is
entitled until such preferences are paid in full, and then in proportion to
their respective amounts of accumulated but unpaid dividends.

     (ii) For the purposes of this paragraph (d), neither the sale, conveyance,
exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other
consideration) of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the
Company nor the consolidation or merger of the Company with or into one or more
entities shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the
affairs of the Company.

     (e) Redemption.

     (i) Optional Redemption. (A) The Company may redeem the Senior Preferred
Stock at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, after
the Issue Date but on or prior to April 1, 2001, subject to contractual and
other restrictions with respect thereto, from any source of funds legally
available therefor, in the manner provided for in paragraph (e)(iii) hereof, at
a redemption price in cash equal to the liquidation preference thereof, plus,
without duplication, an amount in cash equal to all accumulated and unpaid
dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any) (including
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                                      -6-


an amount in cash equal to a prorated dividend for the period from the Dividend
Payment Date immediately prior to the Redemption Date to the Redemption Date).
In addition, the Company may redeem the Senior Preferred Stock at its option, in
whole at any time or in part from time to time, subject to contractual and other
restrictions with respect thereto, from any source of funds legally available
therefor, in the manner provided for in paragraph (e)(iii) hereof, at the
redemption prices in cash (expressed as a percentage of the liquidation
preference) set forth below, plus, without duplication, an amount in cash equal
to all accumulated and unpaid dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any)
(including an amount in cash equal to a prorated dividend for the period from
the Dividend Payment Date immediately prior to the Redemption Date to the
Redemption Date) if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on April 1 of
each of the years listed below:

    2005..................................................   109.000%
    2006..................................................   107.200%
    2007..................................................   105.400%
    2008..................................................   103.600%
    2009..................................................   101.800%
    2010 and thereafter...................................   100.000%

; provided that no redemption pursuant to this paragraph (e)(i)(A) shall be
authorized or made unless prior thereto full accumulated and unpaid dividends
(including Additional Dividends, if any) are declared and paid in full on the
Senior Preferred Stock for all Dividend Periods terminating on or prior to the
Redemption Date.

     (B) In the event of a redemption pursuant to paragraph (e)(i)(A) hereof of
only a portion of the then outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock, the
Company shall effect such redemption on a pro rata basis according to the number
of shares held by each Holder of Senior Preferred Stock, except that the Company
may redeem such shares held by Holders of fewer than ten shares (or shares held
by Holders who would hold less than ten shares as a result of such redemption)
as may be determined by the Company.

     (ii) Mandatory Redemption. On April 1, 2011, the Company shall redeem, to
the extent of funds legally available therefor, in the manner provided for in
paragraph (e)(iii) hereof, all of the shares of Senior Preferred Stock then
outstanding at a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference
per share, plus, without duplication, an amount in cash equal to all accumulated
and unpaid dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any) per share
(including an amount equal to a prorated dividend for the period from the
Dividend Payment Date immediately prior to the Redemption Date to the Redemption
Date) (the "Mandatory Redemption Price").
<PAGE>

                                      -7-


     (iii) Procedures for Redemption. (A) At least 30 days and not more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for any redemption of the Senior Preferred Stock,
written notice (the "Redemption Notice") shall be given by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, to each Holder of record on the record date fixed for such
redemption of the Senior Preferred Stock at such Holder's address as it appears
in the register maintained by the Transfer Agent for the Senior Preferred Stock,
provided that no failure to give such notice nor any deficiency therein shall
affect the validity of the procedure for the redemption of any shares of Senior
Preferred Stock to be redeemed except as to the Holder or Holders to whom the
Company has failed to give said notice or except as to the Holder or Holders
whose notice was defective. The Redemption Notice shall state:

          (1) that the redemption is pursuant to paragraph (e)(i)(A) hereof;

          (2) the redemption price;

          (3) whether all or less than all the outstanding shares of Senior
     Preferred Stock are to be redeemed and the total number of shares of Senior
     Preferred Stock being redeemed;

          (4) the Redemption Date;

          (5) that the Holder is to surrender to the Company, in the manner, at
     the place or places and at the price designated, his certificate or
     certificates representing the shares of Senior Preferred Stock to be
     redeemed; and

          (6) that dividends on the shares of Senior Preferred Stock to be
     redeemed shall cease to accumulate on such Redemption Date unless the
     Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price.

     (B) Each Holder of Senior Preferred Stock shall surrender the certificate
or certificates representing such shares of Senior Preferred Stock to the
Company, duly endorsed (or otherwise in proper form for transfer, as determined
by the Company), in the manner and at the place designated in the Redemption
Notice, and on the Redemption Date the full redemption price for such shares
shall be payable in cash to the Person whose name appears on such certificate or
certificates as the owner thereof, and each surrendered certificate shall be
canceled and retired. In the event that less than all of the shares represented
by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued
representing the unredeemed shares.
<PAGE>

                                      -8-


     (C) On and after the Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults in the
payment in full of the applicable redemption price, dividends on Senior
Preferred Stock called for redemption shall cease to accumulate on the
Redemption Date, and all rights of the Holders of redeemed shares shall
terminate with respect thereto on the Redemption Date, other than the right to
receive the redemption price; provided, however, that if a notice of redemption
shall have been given as provided in paragraph (iii)(A) above and the funds
necessary for redemption (including an amount in cash in respect of all
dividends that will accumulate to the Redemption Date) shall have been
irrevocably deposited in trust for the equal and ratable benefit for the Holders
of the shares of senior Preferred Stock to be redeemed, then, at the close of
business on the Business Day on which such funds are segregated and set aside,
the Holders of the shares to be redeemed shall cease to be stockholders of the
Company and shall be entitled only to receive the redemption price.

     (f) Voting Rights.

          (i) The Holders of Senior Preferred Stock, except as otherwise
     required under Texas law or as set forth in paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv)
     below, shall not be entitled or permitted to vote on any matter required or
     permitted to be voted upon by the stockholders of the Company.

          (ii) (A) So long as any shares of Senior Preferred Stock are
     outstanding, the Company shall not authorize or issue any class of Parity
     Securities without the affirmative vote or consent of Holders of at least a
     majority of the then outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock, voting
     or consenting, as the case may be, as one class, given in person or by
     proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at an annual or special
     meeting; provided, however, that no such vote or consent shall be necessary
     in connection with the issuance of additional shares of Senior Preferred
     Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Statement of
     Resolution.

          (B) So long as any shares of Senior Preferred Stock are outstanding,
     the Company shall not authorize or issue any class of Senior Securities
     without the affirmative vote or consent of Holders of at least a majority
     of the outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock, voting or consenting,
     as the case may be, as one class, given in person or by proxy, either in
     writing or by resolution adopted at an annual or special meeting.

          (C) So long as any shares of Senior Preferred Stock are outstanding,
     the Company shall not amend this Statement of Resolution or its Articles of
     Incorporation so as to affect adversely the specified rights, preferences,
     privileges or voting rights of Holders of shares of Senior Preferred Stock
     without the affirmative vote or consent of Holders of at least a majority
     of the issued and outstanding shares of Senior Preferred
<PAGE>

                                      -9-


     Stock, voting or consenting, as the case may be, as one class, given in
     person or by proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at an annual
     or special meeting.

          (iii) Without the affirmative vote or consent of Holders of a majority
     of the issued and outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock, voting or
     consenting, as the case may be, as a separate class, given in person or by
     proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at an annual or special
     meeting, the Company shall not, in a single transaction or series of
     related transactions, consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell,
     assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
     substantially all of its assets to, another Person unless: (A) either (1)
     the Company is the continuing Person or (2) the Person (if other than the
     Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged
     or to which the properties and assets of the Company are sold, assigned,
     transferred, leased, conveyed or otherwise disposed of shall be a
     corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or
     any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume
     all of the obligations of the Company under this Statement of Resolution
     and the obligations hereunder shall remain in full force and effect; (B) if
     the Company is not the surviving Person, the Senior Preferred Stock shall
     be converted into or exchanged for and shall become shares of such
     successor, transferee or resulting Person, having in respect of such
     successor, transferee or resulting Person the same powers, preferences and
     relative, participating, optional or other special rights and the
     qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the Senior
     Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction; (C) immediately
     after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis the Company or
     such Person could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other
     than Permitted Indebtedness) in compliance with paragraph (k)(i); and (D)
     immediately after giving effect to such transaction (including any
     Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred in connection with the
     transaction), no Voting Rights Triggering Event shall have occurred or be
     continuing.

          For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment,
     sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of related
     transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of
     one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, the Capital Stock of
     which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of
     the Company shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all
     of the properties and assets of the Company.

          (iv) (A) If (1) the Company fails to redeem all of the then
     outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock on or before April 1, 2011 or
     otherwise fails to discharge any redemption obligation with respect to the
     Senior Preferred Stock; (2) the Company fails to make a Change of Control
     Offer following a Change of Control if
<PAGE>

                                     -10-


     such Change of Control Offer is required by paragraph (g) hereof or fails
     to purchase shares of Senior Preferred Stock from Holders who elect to have
     such shares purchased pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; or (3) the
     Company breaches or violates one of the provisions set forth in paragraph
     (k) or paragraph (f)(iii) hereof and the breach or violation continues for
     a period of 60 days or more after the Company receives notice thereof
     specifying the default from the Holders of at least 25% of the shares of
     Senior Preferred Stock then outstanding, then in the case of any of clauses
     (1) through (3) (each of such clauses (1) through (3) a "Voting Rights
     Triggering Event"), the number of directors constituting the Board of
     Directors shall be adjusted by the number, if any, necessary to permit the
     Holders of the Senior Preferred Stock, voting separately and as one class,
     to elect the lesser of two directors or that number of directors
     constituting at least 25% of the Board of Directors; provided, that, in the
     event more than one of the above defaults occurs, at the same or at
     different times, the maximum number of directors that such Holders shall be
     entitled to elect is the lesser of two directors and that number of
     directors constituting 25% of the Board of Directors. Holders of a majority
     of the issued and outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock, voting
     separately and as one class, shall have the exclusive right to elect the
     lesser of two directors or 25% of the members of the Board of Directors at
     a meeting therefor called upon occurrence of such Voting Rights Triggering
     Event, and at every subsequent meeting at which the terms of office of the
     directors so elected by the Holders of Senior Preferred stock expire (other
     than as described in (f)(iv)(B) below). The voting rights provided herein
     shall be the exclusive remedy at law or in equity of the Holders of the
     Senior Preferred Stock for any Voting Rights Triggering Event.

          (B) The right of the Holders of the Senior Preferred Stock voting
     together as a separate class to elect members of the Board of Directors as
     set forth in subparagraph (f)(iv)(A) above shall continue until such time
     as the failure, breach or default giving rise to such Voting Rights
     Triggering Event is remedied, cured or waived by the Holders of at least a
     majority of the shares of Senior Preferred Stock then outstanding and
     entitled to vote thereon, at which time (1) the special right of the
     Holders of Senior Preferred Stock so to vote as a class for the election of
     directors and (2) the term of office of the directors elected by the
     Holders of Senior Preferred Stock shall each terminate and the directors
     elected by the holders of Common Stock or Capital Stock (other than the
     Senior Preferred Stock) shall constitute the entire Board of Directors. At
     any time after voting power to elect directors shall have become vested and
     be continuing in the Holders of Senior Preferred Stock pursuant to
     paragraph (f)(iv) hereof, or if vacancies shall exist in the offices of
     directors elected by the Holders of Senior Preferred Stock, a proper
     officer of the Company may, and upon the written request of the Holders of
     record of at least 25% of the shares of Senior Preferred Stock then
     outstanding addressed to the secretary of the Company shall, call a special
     meeting of the Holders
<PAGE>

                                     -11-


of Senior Preferred Stock, for the purpose of electing the directors which such
Holders are entitled to elect. If such meeting shall not be called by a proper
officer of the Company within 20 days after personal service of said written
request upon the secretary of the Company, or within 20 days after mailing the
same within the United States by certified mail, addressed to the secretary of
the Company at its principal executive offices, then the Holders of record of at
least 25% of the outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock may designate in
writing one Holder to call such meeting at the expense of the Company, and such
meeting may be called by the Person so designated upon the notice required for
the annual meetings of stockholders of the Company and shall be held at the
place for holding the annual meetings of stockholders. Any Holder of Senior
Preferred Stock so designated shall have, and the Company shall provide, access
to the lists of stockholders to be called pursuant to the provisions hereof.

     (C) At any meeting held for the purpose of electing directors at which the
Holders of Senior Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting together as a
separate class, to elect directors as aforesaid, the presence in person or by
proxy of the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Senior
Preferred Stock entitled to vote thereat shall be required to constitute a
quorum of the Senior Preferred Stock.

     (D) Any vacancy occurring in the office of a director elected by the
Holders of the Senior Preferred Stock may be filled by the remaining director
elected by the Holders of the Senior Preferred Stock unless and until such
vacancy shall be filled by the Holders of the Senior Preferred Stock.

     (v) In any case in which the Holders of the Senior Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (f) or pursuant to Texas law, each
Holder of Senior Preferred Stock entitled to vote with respect to such matter
shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Senior Preferred Stock held.

     (g) Change of Control.

     (i) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (the date of such occurrence
being the "Change of Control Date"), the Company shall make an offer to purchase
(the "Change of Control Offer") the outstanding shares of Senior Preferred Stock
at a purchase price equal to 101% of the liquidation preference thereof plus,
without duplication, an amount in cash equal to all accumulated and unpaid
dividends (including Additional Dividends, if any) thereon (including an amount
in cash equal to a prorated dividend for the period from the immediately
preceding Dividend Payment Date to the Change of Control Payment Date).
<PAGE>

                                     -12-


     (ii) Within 30 days of the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company
also shall (i) cause a notice of the Change of Control to be sent at least once
to the Dow Jones News Service or similar business news service in the United
States and (ii) send by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder of
Senior Preferred Stock, at the address appearing in the register maintained by
the Transfer Agent for the Senior Preferred Stock, a notice stating:

          (1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this
     paragraph (g) and that all of the Senior Preferred Stock tendered will be
     accepted for payment, and otherwise subject to the terms and conditions set
     forth herein;

          (2) the Change of Control Purchase Price and the purchase date (which
     shall be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from
     the date such notice is mailed (the "Change of Control Payment Date"));

          (3) that any of the Senior Preferred Stock not tendered will continue
     to accumulate dividends;

          (4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of
     Control Purchase Price, any of the Senior Preferred Stock accepted for
     payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accumulate
     dividends after the Change of Control Payment Date;

          (5) that Holders accepting the offer to have their Senior Preferred
     Stock purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to
     surrender their certificates representing the Senior Preferred Stock to the
     Company, properly endorsed for transfer together with such customary
     documents as the Company and the transfer agent may reasonably require, in
     the manner and at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of
     business on the Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

          (6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their acceptance if the
     Company receives, not later than the close of business on the third
     Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram,
     telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the
     Holder, the number of shares of Senior Preferred Stock delivered for
     purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to
     have such Senior Preferred Stock purchased;
<PAGE>

                                     -13-


          (7) that Holders whose Senior Preferred Stock is being purchased only
     in part will be issued new certificates representing the number of shares
     of Senior Preferred Stock equal to the unpurchased portion of the
     certificates surrendered; and

          (8) any other procedures that a Holder must follow to accept a Change
     of Control Offer or effect withdrawal of such acceptance.

     (iii) The Company will comply with any securities laws and regulations, to
the extent such laws and regulations are applicable to the redemption of the
Senior Preferred Stock in connection with a Change of Control Offer.

     (iv) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall (A) accept
for payment the shares of Senior Preferred Stock validly tendered pursuant to
the Change of Control Offer, (B) promptly mail to the Holders of shares so
accepted the Change of Control Purchase Price therefor in cash and (C) cancel
and retire each surrendered certificate and execute a new certificate
representing that number of shares of Senior Preferred Stock equal to any
unpurchased shares represented by a certificate surrendered. Unless the Company
defaults in the payment for the shares of Senior Preferred Stock tendered
pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, dividends shall cease to accumulate
with respect to the shares of Senior Preferred Stock tendered and all rights of
Holders of such tendered shares shall terminate, except for the right to receive
payment therefor, on the Change of Control Payment Date.

     (v) If the repurchase of the Senior Preferred Stock would violate or
constitute a default or be otherwise prohibited under any Indebtedness of the
Company then outstanding, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained above, prior to complying with the foregoing provisions, but in any
event within 30 days following the date the Change of Control occurs, the
Company shall, to the extent required to permit the repurchase of the Senior
Preferred Stock required by this paragraph (g), either (A) repay in full all
such Indebtedness (and terminate all commitments) or (B) obtain the requisite
consents, if any, under such Indebtedness required to permit the repurchase of
the Senior Preferred Stock required by this paragraph (g). The Company must
first comply with the covenant described in the preceding sentence before it
shall be required to purchase shares of Senior Preferred Stock in the event of a
Change of Control; provided that the Company's failure to consummate a Change of
Control Offer in accordance with the provisions of this covenant due to the
covenant described in the immediately preceding sentence shall constitute a
Voting Rights Triggering Event described in clause (3) of the definition of
"Voting Rights Triggering Event" if not cured within 30 days of the last date on
which the Company would have
<PAGE>

                                     -14-


been required to consummate the Change of Control Offer without giving effect to
the covenant described in the immediately preceding sentence.

     (h) Conversion or Exchange. The Holders of shares of Senior Preferred Stock
shall not have any rights hereunder to convert such shares into or exchange such
shares for shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of any
class or classes of Capital Stock of the Company other than as provided in the
Registration Rights Agreement.

     (i) Reissuance of Senior Preferred Stock. Shares of Senior Preferred Stock
that have been issued and reacquired in any manner, including shares purchased
or redeemed or exchanged, shall (upon compliance with any applicable provisions
of the laws of Texas) have the status of authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock undesignated as to series and may be redesignated and reissued
as part of any series of Preferred Stock; provided that shares of Senior
Preferred Stock reacquired pursuant to the exchange offer contemplated by the
Registration Rights Agreement shall be reissued as Senior Preferred Stock with
the series designation referred to in paragraph (a) hereof; and provided,
further, that any issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock must be in
compliance with the terms hereof.

     (j) Business Day. If any payment, redemption or exchange shall be required
by the terms hereof to be made on a day that is not a Business Day, such
payment, redemption or exchange shall be made on the immediately succeeding
Business Day.

     (k) Certain Covenants. During any period of time that (i) the ratings
assigned to the Notes (or, if the Notes are no longer outstanding, a similar
debt issuance of the Company) by both of the Rating Agencies are Investment
Grade Ratings and (ii) no Voting Rights Triggering Event has occurred and is
continuing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to
the provisions described below under paragraphs (k)(i), (k)(ii), (k)(iii),
(k)(v) and clause (c) of paragraph (f)(iii) (collectively, the "Suspended
Covenants"). In the event that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are
not subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to the Senior Preferred
Stock for any period of time as a result of the preceding sentence and,
subsequently, one or both Rating Agencies withdraw their ratings or downgrade
the ratings assigned to the Notes below the required Investment Grade Ratings,
then the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent
that any such Restricted Subsidiary is not subject to such covenant pursuant to
the terms thereof) will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants
for the benefit of such Senior Preferred Stock and compliance with the Suspended
Covenants with respect to Restricted Payments made after the time of such
withdrawal or downgrade will be calculated in accordance with the terms of the
covenant described below under paragraph (k)(ii) as if such covenant had been in
effect during the entire period of time from April 7, 2000.
<PAGE>

                                     -15-


     (i) Limitation on Additional Indebtedness. The Company shall not, and shall
not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Regulated
Restricted Subsidiary) to, directly or indirectly, incur (as defined) any
Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness); provided that if no Voting
Rights Triggering Event has occurred and is continuing at the time or as a
consequence of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness)
if after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and the receipt
and application of the proceeds thereof, the Company's Consolidated Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio is at least 2.0 to 1 if the Indebtedness is incurred on or prior
to December 31, 2001 and 2.25 to 1 if the Indebtedness is incurred thereafter.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
may incur Permitted Indebtedness.

     For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event
that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of
Indebtedness which the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary are permitted to
issue, the Company and such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, will have
the right, in the Company's sole discretion, to classify such item of
Indebtedness at the time of its issuance and from time to time thereafter and
will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness under
the clause permitting the Indebtedness as so classified.

     (ii) Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Company shall not make, and
shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly,
make, any Restricted Payment, unless:

          (1) no Voting Rights Triggering Event has occurred and is continuing
     at the time of or immediately after giving effect to such Restricted
     Payment;

          (2) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted
     Payment, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other
     than Permitted Indebtedness) under paragraph (k)(i); and

          (3) immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the
     aggregate of all Restricted Payments made after the Issue Date does not
     exceed the sum of

               (a) 50% of the Company's Cumulative Consolidated Net Income (or
          minus 100% of any cumulative deficit in Consolidated Net Income during
          such period);
<PAGE>

                                     -16-


               (b) 100% of the aggregate Net Proceeds and the fair market value
          of any property or securities received by the Company from the issue
          or sale after the Issue Date of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
          Capital Stock or Capital Stock of the Company issued to any Subsidiary
          of the Company) of the Company or any Indebtedness or other securities
          of the Company convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
          Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company
          which have been so converted, exercised or exchanged, as the case may
          be;

               (c) without duplication of any amounts included in clause (3)(b)
          above, 100% of the aggregate Net Proceeds received by the Company from
          any equity contribution from a holder of the Company's Capital Stock,
          excluding any Net Proceeds from a Public Equity Offering to the extent
          used to redeem the Notes; and

               (d) without duplication, the sum of:

                    (i) the aggregate amount returned in cash on or with respect
               to an Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) in any
               Person made subsequent to the Issue Date whether through interest
               payments, principal payments, dividends or other distributions;

                    (ii) the net proceeds received by the Company or any of its
               Restricted Subsidiaries from the disposition (other than to the
               Company or a Subsidiary of the Company), retirement or redemption
               of all or any portion of an Investment described in clause
               (3)(d)(i); and

                    (iii) upon redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
               Restricted Subsidiary, the fair market value of the net assets of
               such Subsidiary as of such date;

     provided, however, that, with respect to an Investment in any Person, the
     sum of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above with respect to the Investment in
     such Person may not exceed the aggregate amount of all Investments made in
     such Person subsequent to the Issue Date; and

               (e) $5.0 million.

     For purposes of determining under clause (3) above, the amount expended for
Restricted Payments, cash distributed shall be valued at the face amount thereof
and property other than cash shall be valued at its fair market value.
<PAGE>

                                     -17-


          The provisions of this covenant shall not prohibit

          (1) the payment of any distribution within 60 days after the date of
     declaration thereof, if at such date of declaration such payment would
     comply with the provisions of this Statement of Resolution;

          (2) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of
     any shares of Capital Stock of the Company by conversion into, or by or in
     exchange for, shares of Capital Stock of the Company (other than
     Disqualified Capital Stock), or out of the Net Proceeds of the
     substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company)
     of other shares of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified
     Capital Stock);

          (3) distributions to SW Acquisition, L.P. by the Company for the
     purpose of (a) enabling the partners of SW Acquisition, L.P. to pay their
     tax liabilities and (b) enabling SW Acquisition, L.P. to pay management,
     consulting and financial advisory fees and reimburse expenses in an amount
     in the case of this clause (b) not to exceed $2.0 million in the aggregate
     in any fiscal year;

          (4) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of
     any shares of Disqualified Capital Stock out of the Net Proceeds of the
     substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company)
     of other shares of Disqualified Capital Stock; provided, however, that the
     amounts of the redemption obligations of the Disqualified Capital Stock
     being issued shall not exceed the amounts of the redemption obligations of,
     and such Disqualified Capital Stock shall have redemption obligations no
     earlier than those required by, the Disqualified Capital Stock being
     refinanced;

          (5) the repurchase, redemption, retirement or acquisition of Capital
     Stock of the Company from employees or directors of the Company upon such
     employees' or directors' death, retirement or termination of employment or
     otherwise in accordance with any employment agreement, employee or director
     stock option plan or agreement or employee or director equity subscription
     agreement, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2.0 million in any
     calendar year, plus the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company
     during such calendar year from any issuance of such Capital Stock to
     employees or directors of the Company, plus the portion of such $2.0
     million which remains unused at the end of the prior calendar year, but in
     no event to exceed $3.0 million in any calendar year; provided, that the
     cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company from employees or
     directors in connection with a repurchase of Capital Stock of the Company
     will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment; and
<PAGE>

                                     -18-


          (6) Investments constituting Restricted Payments made as a result of
     the receipt of non-cash consideration from any Asset Sale.

     In calculating the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made subsequent
to the Issue Date for purposes of clause (3) of the first paragraph above,
amounts expended pursuant to clauses (1), (2) and (5) of the immediately
preceding paragraph will be included in such calculation.

     (iii) Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates. The Company shall not,
and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or
indirectly, enter into any transaction or series of related transactions
(including, without limitation, the sale, purchase, exchange or lease of assets,
property or services) with or for the benefit of any Affiliate (each an
"Affiliate Transaction") or extend, renew, waive or otherwise amend or modify
the terms of any Affiliate Transaction entered into prior to the Issue Date
unless

          (1) such Affiliate Transaction is between or among the Company and one
     or more of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; or

          (2) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are at least as favorable
     as the terms which could be obtained by the Company or such Restricted
     Subsidiary, as the case may be, in a comparable transaction made on an
     arm's-length basis between unaffiliated parties.

     In any Affiliate Transaction (or any series of related Affiliate
Transactions which are similar or part of a common plan) involving an amount or
having a fair market value in excess of $2.0 million which is not permitted
under clause (1) above, the Company must obtain a board resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Company (and approved by at least a majority of the
disinterested directors) certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies
with clause (2) above. In any Affiliate Transaction (or any series of related
Affiliate Transactions which are similar or part of a common plan) involving an
amount or having a fair market value in excess of $5.0 million which is not
permitted under clause (1) above, the Company must obtain a favorable written
opinion as to the fairness of such transaction or transactions, as the case may
be, from an Independent Financial Advisor.

     The foregoing provisions shall not apply to

          (1) any Restricted Payment that is not prohibited by the provisions
     described under paragraph (k)(ii);

          (2) fees and compensation paid to, indemnity provided on behalf of,
     and employee benefit arrangements for, officers, directors or employees of
     the Company or
<PAGE>

                                     -19-


     any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as determined in good faith by
     the Company's Board of Directors or senior management;

          (3) any transactions with and any fees paid to Laurel Hill Capital
     Partners LLC and its Affiliates and CIBC World Markets Corp. and its
     Affiliates relating to advisory, banking and investment banking services
     provided to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

          (4) distributions to SW Acquisition, L.P. by the Company for the
     purpose of (a) enabling the partners of SW Acquisition, L.P. to pay their
     tax liabilities and (b) enabling SW Acquisition, L.P. to pay management,
     consulting and financial advisory fees and reimburse expenses in an amount
     in the case of this clause (b) not to exceed $2.0 million in the aggregate
     in any fiscal year;

          (5) loans or advances to employees of the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, but in any event not to
     exceed $2.0 million in the aggregate outstanding at any time;

          (6) any employment agreement entered into by the Company or any of its
     Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business approved in good
     faith by the Company's Board of Directors; or

          (7) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment
     thereto or any transaction contemplated thereby (including pursuant to any
     amendment thereto) in any replacement agreement thereto so long as any such
     amendment or replacement agreement is not more disadvantageous to the
     holders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on
     the Issue Date.

          (iv) Limitation on Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries. The
     Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any
     Regulated Restricted Subsidiary) to issue any Preferred Stock (except
     Preferred Stock issued to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the
     Company) or permit any Person (other than the Company or a Wholly Owned
     Subsidiary of the Company) to hold any such Preferred Stock unless such
     Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to incur or assume Indebtedness
     (other than Permitted Indebtedness) in compliance with paragraph (k)(i) in
     the aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation value of
     the Preferred Stock to be issued.

          (v) Limitation on Asset Sales. (A) The Company shall not, and shall
     not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Regulated
     Restricted Subsidiary) to, consummate an Asset Sale (excluding any sale of
     interests in an Unrestricted Subsidiary) unless
<PAGE>

                                     -20-


               (1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
          be, receives consideration at the time of such sale or other
          disposition at least equal to the fair market value of the assets sold
          or otherwise disposed of; and

               (2) not less than 75% of the consideration received by the
          Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the
          form of cash and Cash Equivalents other than in the case where the
          Company is undertaking a Permitted Asset Swap; provided that the
          following shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this clause (2):

                    (a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company's or such
               Restricted Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet), of the
               Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent
               liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinate
               in right of payment to the Senior Preferred Stock) that are
               assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a
               customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such
               Restricted Subsidiary from further liability; and

                    (b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by
               the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such
               transferee that are contemporaneously (subject to ordinary
               settlement periods) converted by the Company or such Restricted
               Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received in that
               conversion).

     (B) The Asset Sale Proceeds received by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary may be applied to one or more of the following purposes in such
combination as the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary shall elect:

          (1) to the extent the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary, as
     the case may be, elects, or is required, to prepay, repay or purchase
     Indebtedness under any then existing Indebtedness of the Company or any
     such Restricted Subsidiary within 270 days following the receipt of the
     Asset Sale Proceeds from any Asset Sale; provided that any such repayment
     shall result in a permanent reduction of the commitments thereunder in an
     amount equal to the principal amount so repaid; and

          (2) (i) to an Investment in Property or other assets (including
     Capital Stock or other securities purchased in connection with the
     acquisition of Capital Stock or Property of another Person) or (ii) to the
     cash collateralization of letters of credit or bankers acceptances designed
     to facilitate the purchase of property and services; provided that any cash
     collateral released to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary upon the
     expiration of such letters of credit, bankers acceptances or other
     instruments
<PAGE>

                                     -21-


     or arrangements shall be deemed Asset Sale Proceeds received on the date of
     such release; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) and (ii)
     above, such applications of Asset Sale Proceeds must be made in compliance
     with paragraph (k)(x) within 270 days following the receipt of such Asset
     Sale Proceeds; and

          (3) to the reimbursement of the Company or any such Restricted
     Subsidiary within 270 days following the receipt of insurance proceeds for
     expenditures made, and costs incurred, to repair, rebuild, replace or
     restore property subject to loss, damage or taking to the extent that the
     Asset Sale Proceeds consist of insurance proceeds received on account of
     such loss, damage or taking.

     The aggregate Asset Sale Proceeds from any Asset Sale made by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any such Asset Sale Proceeds
received by any Regulated Restricted Subsidiary that are not paid as a dividend
to the Company) that have not been applied in accordance with the preceding
paragraph, and that have not yet been the basis for an Excess Proceeds Offer in
accordance with the following paragraph, are referred to herein as "Available
Asset Sale Proceeds."

     If the Available Asset Sale Proceeds exceed $10.0 million, the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, must apply an amount equal to
the Available Asset Sale Proceeds to an offer to repurchase the Senior Preferred
Stock, at a purchase price in cash equal to 100% of the liquidation preference
thereof plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, to the purchase date (an
"Excess Proceeds Offer").

     (C) If the Company is required to make an Excess Proceeds Offer, the
Company shall mail, within 30 days following the date specified in clause (B)(2)
above, a notice to the Holders. Such notice shall be sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, to the Transfer Agent and to each Holder, at the address
appearing in the register maintained by the Transfer Agent, and shall state:

          (1) that the Excess Proceeds Offer is being made by the Company or
     such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this paragraph (k)(v);

          (2) that such Holders have the right to require the Company or such
     Restricted Subsidiary to apply the Available Asset Sale Proceeds to
     repurchase such Senior Preferred Stock at a purchase price in cash equal to
     100% of the liquidation preference thereof plus accumulated and unpaid
     dividends, if any, to the purchase date which shall be no earlier than 30
     days and not later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the
     "Excess Proceeds Payment Date");
<PAGE>

                                     -22-


          (3) that any share of Senior Preferred Stock not tendered or accepted
     for payment will continue to accumulate dividends;

          (4) that any Senior Preferred Stock accepted for payment pursuant to
     the Excess Proceeds Offer shall cease to accumulate dividends after the
     Excess Proceeds Payment Date;

          (5) that Holders accepting the offer to have their Senior Preferred
     Stock purchased pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer will be required to
     surrender their certificates representing the Senior Preferred Stock to the
     Company, properly endorsed for transfer together with such customary
     documents as the Company and the transfer agent may reasonably require, in
     the manner and at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of
     business on the Business Day preceding the Excess Proceeds Payment Date;

          (6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their acceptance of the
     Excess Proceeds Offer if the Company receives, not later than the close of
     business on the third Business Day preceding the Excess Proceeds Payment
     Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
     name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Senior Preferred Stock
     delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his
     election to have such Senior Preferred Stock purchased;

          (7) that if the aggregate liquidation preference of Senior Preferred
     Stock surrendered by Holders exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, Company
     shall select the Senior Preferred Stock to be purchased on a pro rata
     basis;

          (8) that Holders whose shares of Senior Preferred Stock are being
     purchased only in part will be issued new certificates representing the
     number of shares of Senior Preferred Stock equal to the unpurchased portion
     of the certificates surrendered;

          (9) the calculations used in determining the amount of Available Asset
     Sale Proceeds to be applied to the purchase of such Senior Preferred Stock;
     and

          (10) any other procedures that a Holder must follow to accept an
     Excess Proceeds Offer or effect withdrawal of such acceptance.

     On the Excess Proceeds Payment Date, the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis
to the extent necessary, Senior Preferred Stock or portions thereof tendered
pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer. The Company shall promptly mail to each
Holder so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price for such
Senior Preferred Stock, and the Company shall execute
<PAGE>

                                     -23-


and issue to such Holder a new Senior Preferred Stock certificate equal in
liquidation preference to any unpurchased portion of the Senior Preferred Stock
surrendered.

     If an Excess Proceeds Offer is not fully subscribed, the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary may retain the portion of the Available Asset Proceeds not
required to repurchase Senior Preferred Stock.

     (D) In the event of the transfer of substantially all of the Property and
assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as an entirety to a Person
in a transaction permitted under paragraph (f)(iii), the successor Person shall
be deemed to have sold the Properties and assets of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries not so transferred for purposes of this paragraph
(k)(v), and shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (k)(v) with
respect to such deemed sale as if it were an Asset Sale.

     (E) The Company and any such Restricted Subsidiary shall comply with the
requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and other securities laws and
regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in
connection with the repurchase of Senior Preferred Stock pursuant to an Excess
Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with this paragraph (k)(v), the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and
shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this paragraph (k)(v)
by virtue thereof.

     (vi) Limitation on Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Regulated Restricted Subsidiary)
to, create, incur or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any
Liens of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) upon any Property or asset of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any shares of Capital Stock or
Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which owns Property or
assets, now owned or hereafter acquired.

     (vii) Limitation on Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company
shall not

          (1) sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise convey or dispose of any
     Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than any
     such transaction resulting in a Lien which constitutes a Permitted Lien);
     or

          (2) permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any Capital
     Stock, other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the
     Company.
<PAGE>

                                     -24-


     The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) an Asset Sale made in
compliance with paragraph (k)(v) (provided that if such Asset Sale is for less
than all of the outstanding Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary held by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, such Asset Sale must also
comply with paragraph (k)(ii)), (ii) the issuance of Preferred Stock in
compliance with paragraph (k)(iv) or (iii) if, immediately after giving effect
to such issuance, sale or other disposition, such Restricted Subsidiary would no
longer constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and any Investment in such Person
remaining after giving effect thereto would have been permitted to be made under
paragraph (k)(ii) if made on the date of such issuance, sale or other
disposition.

     (viii) Limitation on Transfer of Assets to Certain Subsidiaries. The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any of its assets or
property to any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

     (ix) Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or
suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the
ability of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to

          (1) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or
     any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company

               (a) on its Capital Stock or

               (b) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or
          measured by, its profits;

               (2) repay any Indebtedness or any other obligation owed to the
          Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

               (3) make loans or advances or capital contributions to the
          Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

               (4) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or
          any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,

except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of

               (1) encumbrances or restrictions existing or entered into on the
          Issue Date to the extent and in the manner such encumbrances and
          restrictions are in effect on the
<PAGE>

                                     -25-


          Issue Date, including, without limitation, the stipulation agreements
          entered into with the hearings held by the New Mexico Public
          Regulation Commission and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the
          restrictions to be included in the amended and restated articles of
          incorporation of TNP Enterprises, Inc. and the Texas-New Mexico Public
          Regulation Commission that will become effective on the date of the
          closing of the Merger, and any amendments, extensions or renewals
          thereof that are no more restrictive in any material respect with
          regard to the interests of the holders of Senior Preferred Stock than
          the restrictions and encumbrances in effect on the Issue Date;

               (2) any instrument governing Indebtedness of Regulated Restricted
          Subsidiaries; provided that such restrictions or encumbrances are no
          more restrictive in the aggregate than those contained in the
          instruments governing Indebtedness of Regulated Restricted
          Subsidiaries on the Issue Date;

               (3) any instrument governing Indebtedness of any Restricted
          Subsidiary that was a Regulated Restricted Subsidiary at any time
          after such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be a Regulated Restricted
          Subsidiary, to the extent and in the manner such encumbrances and
          restrictions are in effect on the date such Restricted Subsidiary
          ceases to be a Regulated Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such
          encumbrances and restrictions (together with encumbrances and
          restrictions that apply to all Regulated Restricted Subsidiaries and
          Restricted Subsidiaries that were Regulated Restricted Subsidiaries)
          are no more restrictive in the aggregate than those contained in the
          instruments governing Indebtedness of Regulated Restricted
          Subsidiaries on the Issue Date;

               (4) financial maintenance covenants;

               (5) the Indenture and the Notes;

               (6) applicable law or regulation;

               (7) any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness, which
          encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the
          properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the
          property or assets of the Person (including any Subsidiary of the
          Person), so acquired;

               (8) customary net worth or non-assignment provisions in leases or
          other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and
          consistent with past practices;
<PAGE>

                                     -26-


               (9) Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that such restrictions,
          including restricted payment baskets, are no more restrictive than
          those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being
          refunded, refinanced or extended;

               (10) customary restrictions in security agreements or mortgages
          securing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the
          extent such restrictions restrict the transfer of the property subject
          to such security agreements and mortgages;

               (11) customary restrictions with respect to a Restricted
          Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been
          entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all
          of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;

               (12) the Senior Preferred Stock; or

               (13) any preferred stock that refinances the Senior Preferred
          Stock; provided that such restrictions, including restricted payment
          baskets, are no more restrictive than those that apply to the Senior
          Preferred Stock.

     (x) Limitation on Conduct of Business. The Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries shall not engage in any businesses which are not the same, similar,
ancillary or related to the businesses in which the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries are engaged in on the Issue Date. No Regulated Restricted
Subsidiary will own any capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a
Regulated Restricted Subsidiary.

     (xi) Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Company shall not,
and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any
Regulated Restricted Subsidiary) to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back
Transaction; provided that the Company may enter into a Sale and Lease-Back
Transaction if:

          (1) the Company could have

               (a) incurred Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) in
     an amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness relating to such Sale and
     Lease-Back Transaction under paragraph (k)(i); and

               (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to
     paragraph (k)(vii);

          (2) the gross cash proceeds of that Sale and Lease-Back Transaction
     are at least equal to the fair market value of the Property sold; and
<PAGE>

                                     -27-


          (3) the transfer of assets in that Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is
     permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in
     compliance with paragraph (k)(iv).

     (xii) Payments for Consent. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any
consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any holder of
Senior Preferred Stock for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or
amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Statement of Resolution or
the Senior Preferred Stock unless such consideration is offered to be paid or
agreed to be paid to all holders of Senior Preferred Stock that so consent,
waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents
relating to such consent, waiver or amendment.

     (xiii) Reports. Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any shares
of Senior Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Company shall furnish to the
holders of Senior Preferred Stock, within 15 days of the time periods specified
in the SEC's rules and regulations:

          (1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be
     required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if
     the Company were required to file such Forms, including a "Management's
     Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"
     and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual
     financial statements by the Company's certified independent accountants;
     and

          (2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the
     SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

     If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by
the preceding paragraph shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either
on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in a
management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and
results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

                  In addition, whether or not required by the SEC, the Company
shall file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses
(1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within 15 days of the
time periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations (unless the SEC will
not accept such a filing) and make such information available to prospective
investors upon request. The Company shall also furnish to holders of Senior
Pre-
<PAGE>

                                     -28-


ferred Stock and prospective investors upon request the information required to
be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

     (l) Definitions. As used in this Statement of Resolution, the following
terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular
having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the
context otherwise requires:

     "Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person (including an
Unrestricted Subsidiary) existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with any other Person or which is
assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person and, in
each case, whether or not incurred by such Person in connection with, or in
anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary
or such merger, consolidation or acquisition.

     "Additional Dividends" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.

     "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specific Person, any other Person
that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. For the
purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings,
the terms "controlling," "controlled by," and "under common control with"), as
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or
otherwise; provided that, for purposes of the covenant described under paragraph
(k)(iii) beneficial ownership of at least 10% of the voting securities of a
Person, either directly or indirectly, will be deemed to be control.

     "Articles of Incorporation" means the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Company.

     "Asset Acquisition" means

          (1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company in any other Person pursuant to which such Person becomes a
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company, or is merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
     of the Company; or

          (2) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of
     the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of
     such Person or comprise
<PAGE>

                                     -29-


     any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or
     assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course of business.

          "Asset Sale" means any direct or indirect sale, issuance, conveyance,
assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition (including any sale and lease-
back transaction), other than to the Company or any of its Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries, in any single transaction or series of related transactions of

          (1) any Capital Stock of or other equity interest in any Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company; or

          (2) any other property or assets of the Company or of any Restricted
     Subsidiary thereof;

provided that Asset Sales do not include

          (1) a transaction or series of related transactions that involves
     assets having a fair market value or for which the Company or its
     Restricted Subsidiaries receive aggregate consideration of less than $1.0
     million;

          (2) sales of inventory and vehicles in the ordinary course of business
     and consistent with past practices;

          (3) the sale, lease, conveyance, disposition or other transfer of all
     or substantially all of the assets of the Company as permitted under
     paragraph (f)(iii);

          (4) a disposition of obsolete, worn-out, damaged or otherwise
     unsuitable or unnecessary equipment or other obsolete assets;

          (5) dispositions with respect to sales of excess energy, capacity and
     rights of use in the Company's distribution network in the ordinary course
     of the electricity transmission and distribution business and the
     electricity generation business;

          (6) a sale-leaseback of assets within one year of the acquisition of
     such assets; and

          (7) a transaction or series of transactions that results in a Change
     of Control.

          "Asset Sale Proceeds" means, with respect to any Asset Sale,
<PAGE>

                                     -30-


          (1) cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company from such Asset Sale (including cash received as consideration for
     the assumption of liabilities incurred in connection with or in
     anticipation of such Asset Sale), after

               (a) provision for all income or other taxes measured by or
          resulting from such Asset Sale,

               (b) payment of all brokerage commissions, underwriting and other
          fees and expenses related to such Asset Sale,

               (c) provision for minority interest holders in any Restricted
          Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such Asset Sale,

               (d) repayment of Indebtedness that is secured by the assets
          subject to such Asset Sale or otherwise required to be repaid in
          connection with such Asset Sale, and

               (e) deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the
          Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a reserve, in
          accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the
          assets sold or disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the
          Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale, including,
          without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit
          liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or
          against any indemnification obligations associated with the assets
          sold or disposed of in such Asset Sale; and

          (2) promissory notes and other noncash consideration received by the
     Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such Asset Sale or
     other disposition upon the liquidation or conversion of such promissory
     notes or noncash consideration into cash.

     "Attributable Indebtedness" in respect of a sale and lease-back transaction
means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the
rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with
GAAP) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the
remaining term of the lease included in such sale and lease-back transaction
(including any period for which such lease has been extended).

     "Available Asset Sale Proceeds" shall have the meaning provided in
paragraph (k)(v)(B).
<PAGE>

                                     -31-


     "Board of Directors" means, as to any Person, the board of directors of
such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or
other governing body of the general partner (or, if there is more than one
general partner of such person, the general partner or general partners which
may take the applicable action pursuant to the partnership agreement of such
Person) of such Person or, if such Person is a limited liability company, the
board of managers of such company) or similar governing body or any duly
authorized committee thereof.

     "Business Day" means a day that is not a Legal Holiday. A "Legal Holiday"
is a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which (i) commercial banks in The City
of New York are authorized or required by law to close or (ii) the New York
Stock Exchange is not open for trading.

     "Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether
or not voting) of corporate stock, partnership or limited liability company
interests or any other participation, right or other interest in the nature of
an equity interest in such Person including, without limitation, Common Stock
and Preferred Stock of such Person, or any option, warrant or other security
convertible into any of the foregoing.

     "Capitalized Lease Obligations" means with respect to any Person,
Indebtedness represented by obligations under a lease that is required to be
capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the
amount of such Indebtedness will be the capitalized amount of such obligations
determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Cash Equivalents" means

          (1) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally
     guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency or
     instrumentality thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the
     United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of
     acquisition thereof;

          (2) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United
     States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any
     public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of
     acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two
     highest ratings obtainable from either Standard & Poor's Corporation
     ("S&P") or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's");

          (3) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of
     creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at
     least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody's;
<PAGE>

                                     -32-


          (4) certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances maturing within
     one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any bank organized
     under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the
     District of Columbia or any U.S. branch of a foreign bank having at the
     date of acquisition thereof combined capital and surplus of not less than
     $500.0 million;

          (5) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for
     underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) above entered
     into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4)
     above; and

          (6) investments in money market funds which invest substantially all
     their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through
     (5) above.

     A "Change of Control" of the Company will be deemed to have occurred at
such time as

          (1) any Person or group of related Persons for purposes of Section
     13(d) of the Exchange Act (a "Group"), other than a Permitted Holder,
     becomes the beneficial owner (as defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor
     rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, except that a Person
     will be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such
     Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
     immediately or only after the passage of time) of more than 50% of the
     total voting power of the Company's Capital Stock;

          (2) there is consummated any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer
     (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or
     substantially all of the assets of the Company or TNMP to any Person or
     Group, together with any Affiliates thereof (whether or not otherwise in
     compliance with the provisions of the Indenture);

          (3) there is consummated any consolidation or merger of the Company or
     TNMP in which the Company or TNMP, as the case may be, is not the
     continuing or surviving Person or pursuant to which the Common Stock of the
     Company or TNMP, as the case may be, would be converted into cash,
     securities or other property, other than a merger or consolidation of the
     Company in which the holders of the Capital Stock of the Company
     outstanding immediately prior to the consolidation or merger hold, directly
     or indirectly, at least a majority of the Capital Stock of the surviving
     corporation immediately after such consolidation or merger;

          (4) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
     beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company
     or TNMP (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of
     Directors or whose
<PAGE>

                                     -33-


     nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company or TNMP, as the
     case may be, has been approved by 66 2/3% of the directors then still in
     office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose
     election or recommendation for election was previously so approved) cease
     for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the
     Company or TNMP, as the case may be, then in office;

          (5) the approval by the holders of Capital Stock of the Company or
     TNMP of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the
     Company or TNMP, as the case may be (whether or not otherwise in compliance
     with the provisions of the Indenture); or

          (6) any order, judgment or decree shall be entered against the Company
     or TNMP decreeing the dissolution or split-up of the Company or TNMP, as
     the case may be; provided that any sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer
     or other disposition of TNMP's assets to another Restricted Subsidiary in
     connection with the Company's compliance with Texas Senate Bill 7 shall not
     be deemed to be a Change of Control hereunder.

          "Change of Control Date" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph
     (h)(i).

          "Change of Control Offer" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph
     (h)(i).

          "Change of Control Payment Date" shall have the meanings provided in
     paragraph (h)(ii).

          "Common Stock" of any Person means all Capital Stock of such Person
     that is generally ntitled to

          (1) vote in the election of directors of such Person; or

          (2) if such Person is not a corporation, vote or otherwise participate
     in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that
     will control the management and policies of such Person.

     "Company" shall have the meanings provided in the first paragraph of this
Statement of Resolution.

     "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to any
Person, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person during the four full fiscal quarters
(the "Four Quarter Period") ending on or prior to the date of the transaction
giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio (the "Transaction Date") to Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for
the Four Quarter Period. In addition to and without limita-
<PAGE>

                                     -34-


tion of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, "EBITDA" and
"Consolidated Fixed Charges" will be calculated after giving effect on a pro
forma basis for the period of such calculation to

          (1) the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness of such Person or
     any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the issuance or redemption or other
     repayment of Preferred Stock of any such Restricted Subsidiary (and the
     application of the proceeds thereof) giving rise to the need to make such
     calculation and any incurrence or repayment of other Indebtedness and, in
     the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, the issuance or redemption or other
     repayment of Preferred Stock (and the application of the proceeds thereof),
     other than the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness in the ordinary
     course of business for working capital purposes pursuant to working capital
     facilities, occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time
     subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to
     the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence or repayment or issuance or
     redemption or other repayment, as the case may be (and the application of
     the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter
     Period; and

          (2) any Asset Sales or Asset Acquisitions (including, without
     limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such
     calculation as a result of such Person or one of its Restricted
     Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a
     result of the Asset Acquisition) incurring, assuming or otherwise being
     liable for Acquired Indebtedness and also including any EBITDA (provided
     that such EBITDA will be included only to the extent that Consolidated Net
     Income would be includable pursuant to the definition of "Consolidated Net
     Income") (including any pro forma expense and cost reductions calculated on
     a basis consistent with Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act) attributable to
     the assets which are the subject of the Asset Acquisition or Asset Sale
     during the Four Quarter Period) occurring during the Four Quarter Period or
     at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or
     prior to the Transaction Date, as if such Asset Sale or Asset Acquisition
     (including the incurrence, assumption or liability for any such Acquired
     Indebtedness) occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period.

     If such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly
guarantees Indebtedness of a third Person, the preceding sentence will give
effect to the incurrence of such guaranteed Indebtedness as if such Person or
any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person had directly incurred or otherwise
assumed such guaranteed Indebtedness. Furthermore, in calculating "Consolidated
Fixed Charges" for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the
numerator) of this "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio,"
<PAGE>

                                     -35-


          (1) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating
     basis as of the Transaction Date and which will continue to be so
     determined thereafter will be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per
     annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the
     Transaction Date;

          (2) if interest on any Indebtedness actually incurred on the
     Transaction Date may optionally be determined at an interest rate based
     upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered
     rate, or other rates, then the interest rate in effect on the Transaction
     Date will be deemed to have been in effect during the Four Quarter Period;
     and

          (3) notwithstanding clause (1) above, interest on Indebtedness
     determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered
     by one or more agreements in respect of Hedging Obligations, will be deemed
     to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the
     operation of such agreements.

     "Consolidated Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person, for any
period, the sum, without duplication, of

     (1) Consolidated Interest Expense, plus

     (2) the product of


               (a) the amount of all dividend payments (whether or not in cash)
          on any series of Preferred Stock of such Person and its Restricted
          Subsidiaries (other than dividends paid in Capital Stock (other than
          Disqualified Capital Stock)) paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or
          accrued during such period times

               (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator
          of which is one minus the then current effective consolidated federal,
          state and local tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal.

     "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person, for any
period, the aggregate amount of interest expense which, in conformity with GAAP,
would be set forth opposite the caption "interest expense" or any like caption
on an income statement for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis including, but not limited to,

          (1) imputed interest included in Capitalized Lease Obligations and
     Attributable Indebtedness;
<PAGE>

                                     -36-


          (2) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with
     respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance financing;

          (3) the net payment obligations associated with Hedging Obligations;

          (4) amortization of financing fees and expenses and the write-off of
     deferred financing costs;

          (5) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation;

          (6) amortization of discount or premium, if any;

          (7) all non-cash interest expense (other than interest amortized to
     cost of sales);

          (8) all capitalized interest for such period; and

          (9) all interest incurred or paid under any guarantee of Indebtedness
     (including a guarantee of principal, interest or any combination thereof)
     of any Person.

     "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, for any
period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP; provided, however, that

          (1) the portion of Net Income of any Person, other than a Restricted
     Subsidiary of the referent Person, will be included only to the extent of
     the amount of dividends or distributions paid to the referent Person or a
     Restricted Subsidiary of such referent Person;

          (2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Person in
     question that is subject to any restriction or limitation on the payment of
     dividends or the making of other distributions will be excluded to the
     extent of, and for only the period of time that, such restriction or
     limitation actually prohibits the payment of such dividends or the making
     of such other distributions;

          (3) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests
     transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition will be
     excluded;

          (4) any net gain (but not loss) resulting from an Asset Sale by the
     Person in question or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than in the
     ordinary course of business will be excluded;
<PAGE>

                                     -37-


          (5) extraordinary gains and losses will be excluded;

          (6) income or loss attributable to discontinued operations (including,
     without limitation, operations disposed of during such period whether or
     not such operations were classified as discontinued) will be excluded; and

          (7) in the case of a successor to the referent Person by consolidation
     or merger or as a transferee of the referent Person's assets, any earnings
     of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or
     transfer of assets will be excluded.

     "Cumulative Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, as
of any date of determination, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person from
April 1, 2000 to the end of such Person's must recently ended full fiscal
quarter prior to such date, taken as a single accounting period.

     "Disqualified Capital Stock" means any Capital Stock of a Person or a
Restricted Subsidiary thereof which, by its terms (or by the terms of any
security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the
option of the holder), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or
is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or
prior to the mandatory redemption date of the Senior Preferred Stock, for cash
or securities constituting Indebtedness. Without limitation of the foregoing,
Disqualified Capital Stock will be deemed to include any Preferred Stock of a
Person under the terms of such Preferred Stock, by agreement or otherwise, such
Person is obligated to pay current dividends or distributions in cash during the
period prior to the mandatory redemption date of the Senior Preferred Stock;
provided, however, that Preferred Stock of a Person that is issued with the
benefit of provisions requiring a change of control offer to be made for such
Preferred Stock in the event of a change of control of such Person which
provisions have substantially the same effect as the provisions described under
paragraph (h) above, will not be deemed to be Disqualified Capital Stock solely
by virtue of such provisions. Without limitation of the foregoing, Disqualified
Capital Stock shall be deemed to include (i) any Preferred Stock of a Restricted
Subsidiary of any Person and (ii) any Senior Securities and Parity Securities.

     "Dividend Payment Date" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph
(c)(i).

     "Dividend Period" means the Initial Dividend Period, and, thereafter, each
semi-annual period from a Dividend Payment Date to the next following Dividend
Payment Date (but without including such Dividend Payment Date).

     "EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
for any period, an amount equal to
<PAGE>

                                     -38-


          (1) the sum of

               (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus

               (b) the provision for taxes for such period based on income or
          profits to the extent such income or profits were included in
          computing Consolidated Net Income and any provision for taxes utilized
          in computing net loss under clause (a) hereof, plus

               (c) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, plus

               (d) depreciation for such period on a consolidated basis, plus

               (e) amortization of intangibles for such period on a consolidated
          basis, plus

               (f) any other non-cash items reducing Consolidated Net Income for
          such period, other than non-cash items that represent accruals of, or
          reserves for, cash disbursements to be made in any future period;
          minus

          (2) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income (other than
     any non-cash items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business)
     for such period, all for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
     determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;

provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating EBITDA during any fiscal
quarter, cash income from a particular Investment (other than a Restricted
Subsidiary) of such Person will be included only

          (1) if cash income has been received by such Person with respect to
     such Investment during each of the previous four fiscal quarters, or

          (2) if the cash income derived from such Investment is attributable to
     Cash Equivalents.

     "Excess Proceeds Offer" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph
(k)(v)(B).

     "Excess Proceeds Payment Date" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph
(k)(v)(C)(2).
<PAGE>

                                     -39-


     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

     "fair market value" means, with respect to any asset or property, the price
which could be negotiated in an arm's-length, free market transaction, for cash,
between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under
undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair market value will
be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in
good faith and shall be evidenced by a board resolution of such Board of
Directors.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
as in effect in the United States from time to time.

     "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the net payment
obligations of such Person under (a) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (b) other agreements
or arrangements entered into in order to protect such Person against
fluctuations in commodity, electricity or fuel prices, interest rates or
currency exchange rates.

     "Holder" means a holder of shares of Senior Preferred Stock as reflected in
the register maintained by the Transfer Agent for the Senior Preferred Stock.

     "incur" means, with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation of any
Person, to create, issue, incur (by conversion, exchange or otherwise), assume,
guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of such Indebtedness or other
obligation or the recording, as required pursuant to GAAP or otherwise, of any
such Indebtedness or other obligation on the balance sheet of such Person (and
"incurrence," "incurred," "incurable," and "incurring" will have meanings
correlative to the foregoing); provided that a change in GAAP that results in an
obligation of such Person that exists at such time becoming Indebtedness will
not be deemed an incurrence of such Indebtedness.

     "Indebtedness" means (without duplication), with respect to any Person, any
indebtedness at any time outstanding, secured or unsecured, contingent or
otherwise, which is for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the
lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion
thereof), or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or
representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
property if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness would appear as
a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with
GAAP, and will also include, to the extent not otherwise included

          (1) any Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;
<PAGE>

                                     -40-


          (2) obligations secured by a lien to which the property or assets
     owned or held by such Person is subject, whether or not the obligation or
     obligations secured thereby have been assumed;

          (3) guarantees of (or obligations with respect to letters of credit
     supporting) items of other Persons which would be included within this
     definition for such other Persons (whether or not such items would appear
     upon the balance sheet of the guarantor);

          (4) all obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter
     of credit, banker's acceptance or similar credit transaction;

          (5) Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person or any Restricted
     Subsidiary thereof and any Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of
     such Person incurred under paragraph (k)(iv); and

          (6) hedging obligations of any such Person applicable to any of the
     foregoing (if and to the extent such hedging obligations would appear as a
     liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with
     GAAP).

     The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date will be the
outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described
above and, with respect to contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon
the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation; provided that

          (1) the amount outstanding at any time of any Indebtedness issued with
     original issue discount is the principal amount of such Indebtedness less
     the remaining unamortized portion of the original issue discount of such
     Indebtedness at such time as determined in conformity with GAAP; and

          (2) Indebtedness will not include

               (a) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes, and

               (b) any accounts payable, trade payables and other accrued
          liabilities arising from the purchase of goods or materials or for
          services obtained in the ordinary course of business.

     "Indenture" means the indenture governing the Notes.

     "Independent Financial Advisor" means an investment banking firm of
national reputation in the United States
<PAGE>

                                     -41-


          (1) which does not, and whose directors, officers and employees or
     Affiliates do not, have a direct or indirect financial interest in the
     Company, and

          (2) which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company,
     is otherwise independent and qualified to perform the task for which it is
     to be engaged.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, CIBC World Markets Corp. and its Affiliates shall
be deemed to be Independent Financial Advisors.

     "Initial Dividend Period" means the dividend period commencing on the Issue
Date and ending on the first Dividend Payment Date to occur thereafter.

     "Investment Grade Rating" means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or
the equivalent) and BBB- (or the equivalent) by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
(or any successor to the rating agency business thereof) and Standard & Poor's
Ratings Service, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc. (or any successor to the rating
agency business thereof), respectively.

     "Investments" means, with respect of any Person, directly or indirectly,
any advance, account receivable (other than an account receivable arising in the
ordinary course of business of such Person), loan or capital contribution to (by
means of transfers of property to others, payments for property or services for
the account or use of others or otherwise), the purchase of any Capital Stock,
bonds, notes, debentures, partnership or joint venture interests or other
securities of, the acquisition, by purchase or otherwise, of all or
substantially all of the business or assets or stock or other evidence of
beneficial ownership of, any Person or the making of any investment in any
Person. Investments exclude

          (1) extensions of trade credit on commercially reasonable terms in
     accordance with normal trade practices of such Person; and

          (2) the repurchase of securities of any Person by such Person.

For the purposes of the paragraph (k)(ii) covenant, (1) "Investments" (a)
include and are valued at the fair market value of the net assets of any
Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated
an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (b) exclude the fair market value of the net
assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time that such Unrestricted
Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, provided, that, in no event
may such amount exceed the net amount of any Investments constituting Restricted
Payments made in such Subsidiary after the Issue Date and (2) the amount of any
Investment will be the original cost of such Investment plus the cost of all
additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups,
write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment, reduced by the (i)
amount re-
<PAGE>

                                     -42-


turned in cash with respect to such Investment whether through interest
payments, principal payments, dividends or other distributions and (ii) proceeds
received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the
disposition, retirement or redemption of all or any portion of such Investment;
provided that the aggregate of all such reductions may not exceed the amount of
such initial Investment plus the cost of all additional Investments; provided,
further, that no such payment of distributions or receipt of any such other
amounts may reduce the amount of any Investment if such payment of distributions
or receipt of any such amounts would be included in Consolidated Net Income. If
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise
disposes of any Common Stock of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, the
Company no longer owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding Common
Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to have made an
Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair market
value of the Common Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.

     "Issue Date" means April 7, 2000.

     "Junior Securities" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph (b).

     "LIBOR" means the rate determined on the basis of the offered rates for
deposits in U.S. Dollars for a period of three months which appear on the
Reuters Screen LIBO Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Issue Date. If at
least two rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page, LIBOR will be the
arithmetic mean of such rates rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/16
of 1%. If fewer than two rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page, then
LIBOR shall equal the arithmetic mean (rounded upward to the nearest 1/16 of 1%)
of the interest rates per annum at which deposits in U.S. Dollars for a period
of three months are offered by CIBC World Markets Corp. or its designee at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Issue Date to first class banks in
the London interbank market.

     "Lien" means, with respect to any Property or assets of any Person, any
mortgage or deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit
arrangement, security interest, lien, charge, easement, encumbrance, preference,
priority, or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or
nature whatsoever on or with respect to such Property or assets (including
without limitation, any Capitalized Lease Obligation, conditional sales, or
other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as
any of the foregoing).

     "Mandatory Redemption Price" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph
(e)(ii).
<PAGE>

                                     -43-


     "Merger" means the merger of ST Acquisition Corp. with and into TNP
Enterprises, Inc. with TNP Enterprises, Inc. as the survivor of the merger.

     "Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the net
income (loss) of such Person determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Net Proceeds" means

          (1) in the case of any sale of Capital Stock by or equity contribution
     to any Person, the aggregate net cash proceeds received by such Person,
     after payment of expenses, commissions and the like incurred in connection
     therewith;

          (2) in the case of any exchange, exercise, conversion or surrender of
     outstanding securities of any kind for or into shares of Capital Stock of
     the Company which is not Disqualified Capital Stock, the net book value of
     such outstanding securities on the date of such exchange, exercise,
     conversion or surrender (plus any additional amount required to be paid by
     the holder to such Person upon such exchange, exercise, conversion or
     surrender, less any and all payments made to the holders, e.g., on account
     of fractional shares and less all expenses incurred by such Person in
     connection therewith); and

          (3) in the case of any issuance of any Indebtedness by the Company or
     any Restricted Subsidiary, the aggregate net cash proceeds received by such
     Person after the payment of expenses, commissions, underwriting discounts
     and the like incurred in connection therewith.

     "NMPRC" means the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.

     "Notes" means $275.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.25% senior
subordinated notes due 2010 of the Company issued on the Issue Date pursuant to
the Indenture and any exchange notes issued pursuant to the registration rights
agreement relating thereto.

     "Parity Securities" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph (b).

     "Permitted Asset Swap" means, with respect to any Person, the substantially
concurrent exchange of assets of such Person for assets of another Person which
are useful to the business of such aforementioned Person.

     "Permitted Holders" means Laurel Hill Capital Partners LLC, Caravelle
Investment Fund, L.L.C., CIBC WG Argosy Merchant Fund 2, L.L.C., Co-Investment
Merchant
<PAGE>

                                     -44-


Fund 3, L.L.C., Continental Casualty Company and their respective affiliates,
other than their portfolio companies.

     "Permitted Indebtedness" means:

          (1) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising
     under or in connection with the Senior Credit Facility in an aggregate
     principal amount not to exceed $185.0 million at any time outstanding less
     any mandatory prepayment actually made thereunder (to the extent, in the
     case of payments of revolving credit borrowings, that the corresponding
     commitments have been permanently reduced) or scheduled payments actually
     made thereunder;

          (2) Indebtedness under the Notes and the Indenture;

          (3) Indebtedness not covered by any other clause of this definition
     which is outstanding on the Issue Date reduced by the amount of any
     mandatory prepayments, permanent reductions or scheduled payments actually
     made thereunder;

          (4) Indebtedness of the Company to any Wholly Owned Subsidiary and
     Indebtedness of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the Company or another
     Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

          (5) Purchase Money Indebtedness and Capitalized Lease Obligations
     incurred to acquire property in the ordinary course of business which
     Purchase Money Indebtedness and Capitalized Lease Obligations do not in the
     aggregate exceed $10.0 million at any one time outstanding;

          (6) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising
     from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check,
     draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight
     overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of
     business;

          (7) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
     Hedging Obligations that are incurred in the ordinary course of business of
     the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and not for speculative purposes;
     provided that, in the case of any Hedging Obligation that relates to

               (a) interest rate risk, the notional principal amount of such
          Hedging Obligation does not exceed the principal amount of the
          Indebtedness to which such Hedging Obligation relates and
<PAGE>

                                     -45-


               (b) currency risk, such Hedging Obligation does not increase the
          Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
          outstanding other than as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency
          exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation
          payable thereunder;

          (8) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Regulated
     Restricted Subsidiary) of the Company assumed by the Company to the extent
     such Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by such Restricted
     Subsidiary at the time of incurrence thereof;

          (9) Refinancing Indebtedness;

          (10) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a
     Restricted Subsidiary of the Company providing for indemnification,
     adjustment of purchase price, earn out or other similar obligations, in
     each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any
     business, assets or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, other than
     guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any
     portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose
     of financing such acquisition; provided that the maximum assumable
     liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the
     gross proceeds actually received by the Company and its Restricted
     Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

          (11) Indebtedness consisting of performance and other similar bonds
     and reimbursement obligations incurred by the Company in the ordinary
     course of business securing the performance of contractual, franchise,
     license or other obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

          (12) Indebtedness of a Receivables Subsidiary that is not recourse to
     the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than with respect to
     Standard Securitization Undertakings) in connection with a Qualified
     Receivables Transaction;

          (13) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
     constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to bankers' acceptances
     and letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business in respect
     of workers' compensation claims or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness
     with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers'
     compensation claims; provided, however, that obligations arising upon the
     drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness
     are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence;
<PAGE>

                                     -46-


          (14) the accrual of interest, the issuance of additional Indebtedness
     in the form of additional promissory notes or otherwise in lieu of the
     payment of cash interest and the accretion of accreted value; and

          (15) additional Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted
     Subsidiaries (other than its Regulated Restricted Subsidiaries) not to
     exceed $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount at any one time
     outstanding (which may be, but shall not be required to be, in the form of
     additional Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility).

     "Permitted Investments" means Investments made on or after the Issue Date
consisting of

          (1) Investments by the Company, or by a Restricted Subsidiary thereof,
     in the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

          (2) Investments by the Company, or by a Restricted Subsidiary thereof,
     in a Person, if as a result of such Investment

               (a) such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company
          or

               (b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or
          into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or
          is liquidated into, the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary thereof;

          (3) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

          (4) reasonable and customary loans made to employees not to exceed
     $2.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

          (5) an Investment that is made by the Company or a Restricted
     Subsidiary thereof in the form of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes,
     debentures, partnership or joint venture interests or other securities that
     are issued by a third party to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
     solely as partial consideration for the consummation of an Asset Sale that
     is otherwise permitted under paragraph f(iii);

          (6) Investments in securities of trade creditors or customers received
     pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the
     bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors or customers;

          (7) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of the
     Company's or its Restricted Subsidiaries' business and not for speculative
     purposes;
<PAGE>

                                     -47-


          (8) any Investment solely in exchange for the issuance of equity
     interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company;

          (9) any Investment constituting Permitted Securities of a Person
     issued in exchange for trade or other claims against such Person in
     connection with a financial reorganization or restructuring of such Person
     or as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
     with respect to any secured Investment in default;

          (10) the contribution by the Company of any portion or all of the
     undeveloped sites located on the 2,700 acres adjacent to TNP One to any
     Person in exchange for an equity interest in such Person; provided that
     such Person may not be a Subsidiary of the Company; and

          (11) additional Investments not to exceed $10.0 million at any one
     time outstanding.

     "Permitted Liens" means

          (1) Liens on Property or assets of, or any shares of Capital Stock of
     or secured Indebtedness of, any Person existing at the time such Person
     becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or at the time such Person
     is merged into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided
     that such Liens

               (a) are not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of,
          such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or merging
          into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and

               (b) do not extend to or cover any Property, assets, Capital Stock
          or Indebtedness other than those of such Person at the time such
          Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into the Company
          or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

          (2) Liens securing Indebtedness which Indebtedness is outstanding on
     the Issue Date or incurred in compliance with paragraph (k)(i);

          (3) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

          (4) Liens securing the Notes and Liens in favor of the trustee under
     the Indenture or the Transfer Agent and any Lien granted in respect of
     amounts owed to such trustee or to any trustee or similar institution under
     any indenture for Indebtedness permitted under the Indenture or to the
     Transfer Agent;
<PAGE>

                                     -48-


          (5) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that any such
     Lien does not extend to or cover any Property, asset, Capital Stock or
     Indebtedness other than the Property, asset, Capital Stock or Indebtedness
     so refunded, refinanced or extended;

          (6) Liens in favor of the Company or any of its Restricted
     Subsidiaries (other than any Regulated Restricted Subsidiary);

          (7) Liens to secure Purchase Money Indebtedness that is otherwise
     permitted under this Statement of Resolution; provided that

               (a) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien
          does not exceed 100% of the purchase price, or the cost of
          installation, construction or improvement, of the Property or asset to
          which such Purchase Money Indebtedness relates,

               (b) such Lien does not extend to or cover any Property or asset
          other than such item of Property or asset and any improvements on such
          Property or asset, and

               (c) such Lien is created at the time of such acquisition or
          within 100 days of such acquisition or the completion of such
          installation, construction or improvement, as the case may be;

          (8) statutory liens or landlords', carriers', warehouseman's,
     mechanics', suppliers', materialmen's, repairmen's or other like Liens
     imposed by law arising in the ordinary course of business which do not
     secure any Indebtedness and with respect to amounts not yet delinquent or
     being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, if a reserve or
     other appropriate provision, if any, as is required in conformity with GAAP
     have been made therefor;

          (9) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges that are
     being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

          (10) Liens securing Capitalized Lease Obligations permitted to be
     incurred under clause (5) of the definition of "Permitted Indebtedness";
     provided that such Lien does not extend to any Property other than that
     subject to the underlying lease;

          (11) easements, rights-of-way, zoning restrictions and other similar
     charges or encumbrances in respect of real property not interfering in any
     material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company
     or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
<PAGE>

                                     -49-


          (12) Liens incurred on deposits made in the ordinary course of
     business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance
     and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of
     tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases,
     governmental contracts, performance, completion and return-of-money bonds
     and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of
     borrowed money) or to secure obligations arising from statutory,
     regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements;

          (13) judgment Liens so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any
     appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the
     review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the
     period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have
     expired;

          (14) Liens relating to Hedging Obligations;

          (15) Liens in favor of the Company securing intercompany Indebtedness
     issued by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company;

          (16) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters
     of credit incurred in the ordinary course which encumber documents and
     other property relating to such letters of credit and the products and
     proceeds thereof; provided, the Indebtedness represented thereby is
     permitted under the Inden ture;

          (17) Liens on Capital Stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

          (18) other Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course
     of business which obligations do not exceed $1.0 million in the aggregate
     at any one time outstanding;

          (19) any extensions, substitutions, replacements or renewals of the
     foregoing; and

          (20) Liens permitted under the Notes and the Indenture.

     "Permitted Securities" means equity securities or debt securities of the
Company as reorganized or readjusted or securities of the Company or any other
company, trust, corporation or partnership provided for by a plan of
reorganization or readjustment.

     "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or government (including any agency or political subdivision
thereof).
<PAGE>

                                     -50-


     "Preferred Stock" means any Capital Stock of a Person, however designated,
which entitles the holder thereof to a preference with respect to dividends,
distributions or liquidation proceeds of such Person over the holders of other
Capital Stock issued by such Person.

     "Property" of any Person means all types of real, personal, tangible,
intangible or mixed property owned by such Person whether or not included in the
most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries under
GAAP.

     "Public Equity Offering" means a public offering by the Company of shares
of its Common Stock (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) and
any and all rights, warrants or options to acquire such Common Stock.

     "PUCT" means the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

     "Purchase Agreement" means the purchase agreement dated April 7, 2000 among
the Company, CIBC Inc., CIBC World Markets Corp., Chase Securities Inc.,
Continental Casualty Company and Laurel Hill Capital Partners LLC.

     "Purchase Money Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of any Person incurred in
the normal course of business of such Person for the purpose of financing all or
any part of the purchase price, or the cost of installation, construction or
improvement of, any property or asset.

     "Qualified Receivables Transaction" means any transaction or series of
transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary pursuant to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell,
convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a
transfer by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) and (b) any other Person
(in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security
interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the
future) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any asset related
thereto, including, without limitation, all collateral securing the accounts
receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of
the accounts receivable, proceeds of the accounts receivable and other assets
which are customarily transferred, or in respect of which security interests are
customarily granted, in connection with asset securitization transactions
involving accounts receivable. In addition, "Qualified Receivables Transaction"
shall include any financing transaction by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary under Chapter 39, Subchapter G of the Texas Public Utility Regulatory
Act or any analogous law which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is
subject to.
<PAGE>

                                     -51-


     "Rating Agencies" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, a division of
McGraw Hill, Inc., and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the
respective rating agency businesses thereof.

     "Receivables Subsidiary" means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company
which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of
accounts receivable and which is designated by a board resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary:

          (1) has no portion of the Indebtedness or any other Obligations
     (contingent or otherwise) of which

               (a) is guaranteed by the Company or any other Restricted
          Subsidiary (excluding guarantees of obligations pursuant to Standard
          Securitization Undertakings),

               (b) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any other
          Restricted Subsidiary in any way other than pursuant to Standard
          Securitization Undertakings, or

               (c) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any other
          Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or
          otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to
          Standard Securitization Undertakings;

          (2) with which neither the Company nor any other Restricted Subsidiary
     of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or
     understanding (except in connection with a Qualified Receivables
     Transaction) other than on terms no less favorable to the Company or such
     other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company than those that might be
     obtained at the time from persons that are not Affiliates of the Company,
     other than fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection
     with servicing accounts receivable; and

          (3) to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary of the
     Company has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity's financial
     condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating
     results.

     "Redeemable Dividend" means, for any dividend or distribution paid in cash
with regard to Preferred Stock, the quotient of the dividend or distribution
divided by the difference between one and the maximum statutory federal income
tax rate (expressed as a decimal number between 1 and 0) then applicable to the
issuer of such Preferred Stock.
<PAGE>

                                     -52-


     "Redemption Date", with respect to any shares of Senior Preferred Stock,
means the date on which such shares of Senior Preferred Stock are redeemed by
the Company.

     "Redemption Notice" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph (e)(iii).

     "Refinancing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness that refunds, refinances or
extends any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding
on the Issue Date or other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Company
or its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, but only
to the extent that

          (1) the Refinancing Indebtedness is scheduled to mature either

               (a) no earlier than the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced
          or extended, or

               (b) after the mandatory redemption date of the Senior Preferred
          Stock;

          (2) such Refinancing Indebtedness is in an aggregate principal amount
     that is equal to or less than the sum of

               (a) the aggregate principal amount then outstanding under the
          Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or extended,

               (b) the amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and
          premiums owed, if any, not in excess of preexisting prepayment
          provisions on such Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or
          extended, and

               (c) the amount of customary fees, expenses and costs related to
          the incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness; and

          (3) such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred by the same Person (or
     its successor) that initially incurred the Indebtedness being refunded,
     refinanced or extended.

     "Registration Rights Agreement" means the registration rights agreement
dated April 7, 2000 among the Company, CIBC Inc.,
CIBC World Markets Corp., Chase Securities Inc., Continental Casualty Company
and Laurel Hill Capital Partners LLC.

     "Regulated Restricted Subsidiary" means a Restricted Subsidiary that is
regulated or certified by the PUCT or the NMPRC or any successor thereto or any
analogous regulatory body of any state of the United States or the District of
Columbia.
<PAGE>

                                     -53-


     "Restricted Payment" means any of the following:

          (1) the declaration or payment of any dividend or any other
     distribution or payment on Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted
     Subsidiary of the Company or any payment made to the direct or indirect
     holders (in their capacities as such) of Capital Stock of the Company or
     any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than (a) dividends or
     distributions in respect of Senior Securities of the Company, (b) dividends
     or distributions payable solely in Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
     Capital Stock) or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such
     Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock), and (c) in the case
     of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, dividends or distributions
     payable to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

          (2) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for
     value of any Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted
     Subsidiaries (other than (a) Senior Securities of the Company and (b)
     Capital Stock owned by the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the
     Company, excluding Disqualified Capital Stock) or any option, warrants or
     other rights to purchase such Capital Stock;

          (3) the making of any Investment or guarantee of any Investment in any
     Person other than a Permitted Investment;

          (4) any designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary
     (valued at the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary on
     the date of designation); and

          (5) the forgiveness of any Indebtedness of an Affiliate of the Company
     to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

     "Restricted Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Company other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary and includes all of the Subsidiaries of the Company
existing as of the Issue Date. The Board of Directors of the Company may
designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary if immediately
after giving effect to such action (and treating any Acquired Indebtedness as
having been incurred at the time of such action),

          (1) the Company could have incurred at least $1.00 of additional
     Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to paragraph
     (k)(i); and

          (2) no Voting Rights Triggering Event has occurred and is continuing
     or results therefrom.
<PAGE>

                                     -54-


     "Sale and Lease-Back Transaction" means any arrangement with any Person
providing for the leasing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is
to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such
Person in contemplation of such leasing.

     "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

     "Senior Credit Facility" means the Credit Agreement dated as of April 7,
2000, among ST Acquisition Corp., whose rights and obligations thereunder will
be assumed by the Company upon consummation of the Merger, the lenders party
thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder, Canadian Imperial Bank of
Commerce, as administrative agent, and CIBC World Markets Corp. and Chase
Securities Inc., as co-arrangers and co-book managers, together with the related
documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and
security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including
any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity of, refinancing,
replacing or otherwise restructuring (including increasing the amount of
available borrowings thereunder (provided that such increase in borrowings is
permitted under paragraph (k)(i)) or adding Restricted Subsidiaries of the
Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of
the Indebtedness under such agreement or any successor or replacement agreement
and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

     "Senior Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph (a).

     "Senior Securities" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph (b).

     "Standard Securitization Undertakings" means representations, warranties,
covenants and indemnities entered into by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company which are reasonably customary in an accounts
receivable securitization transaction.

     "Subsidiary" of any specified Person means any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association or other business entity,
whether now existing or hereafter organized or acquired,

          (1) in the case of a corporation, of which more than 50% of the total
     voting power of the Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the
     occurrence of any contin-
<PAGE>

                                      -55-


     gency) to vote in the election of directors, officers or trustees thereof
     is held by such first-named Person or any of its Subsidiaries; or

          (2) in the case of a partnership, limited liability company, joint
     venture, association or other business entity, with respect to which such
     first-named Person or any of its Subsidiaries has the power to direct or
     cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity by
     contract or otherwise or if in accordance with GAAP such entity is
     consolidated with the first-named Person for financial statement purposes.

     "Suspended Covenants" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph (k).

     "Texas Senate Bill 7" means Senate Bill 7 of the State of Texas signed in
June 1999 by Texas Governor George W. Bush which implements competition in Texas
retail electric markets.

     "TIA" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph (g)(i).

     "TNMP" means the Texas-New Mexico Power Company, a Texas corporation.

     "Transactions" shall have the meaning provided to such term in the Purchase
Agreement.

     "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means

          (1) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

          (2) any Subsidiary of the Company which is designated after the Issue
     Date as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by a board resolution of the Board of
     Directors of the Company;

          provided that a Subsidiary may be so designated as an Unrestricted
     Subsidiary only if

          (a) such designation is in compliance with paragraph (k)(ii); and

          (b) neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary will at any time

               (i) provide a guarantee of, or similar credit support to, any
          Indebtedness of such Subsidiary (including any undertaking, agreement
          or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness),
<PAGE>

                                     -56-


               (ii) be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness of
          such Subsidiary or

               (iii) be directly or indirectly liable for any other Indebtedness
          which provides that the holder thereof may (upon notice, lapse of time
          or both) declare a default thereon (or cause the payment thereof to be
          accelerated or payable prior to its final scheduled maturity) upon the
          occurrence of a default with respect to any other Indebtedness that is
          Indebtedness of such Subsidiary (including any corresponding right to
          take enforcement action against such Subsidiary),

except in the case of clause (i) or (ii) to the extent

          (i) that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could otherwise
     provide such a guarantee or incur such Indebtedness (other than as
     Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to paragraph (k)(i) and

          (ii) the provision of such guarantee and the incurrence of such
     Indebtedness otherwise would be permitted under paragraph (k)(ii).

     "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary, all of the
outstanding voting securities (other than directors' qualifying shares and, in
the case of TNMP, other than shares of preferred stock outstanding on the Issue
Date) of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
<PAGE>

                                     -57-


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said ST Acquisition Corp. has caused this Statement of
Resolution to be signed by _________, its _______, this 7th day of April, 2000.


                                        ST ACQUISITION CORP.


                                        By:
                                             ----------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title: