Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Nos. 333-59942
333-59942-01
333-59942-02
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to an +
+effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, but are +
+not complete and may be changed. This prospectus supplement and the +
+accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not +
+soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or +
+sale is not permitted. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject to Completion, Dated November 7, 2001
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated June 1, 2001)
1,200,000 Trust Preferred Securities
Gulf Power Capital Trust III
% Trust Preferred Securities (TruPS(R))
($25 liquidation amount per Trust Preferred Security)
fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as set forth herein, by
--------
A brief description of the % Trust Preferred Securities (TruPS(R)) (the
"Preferred Securities") can be found under "Prospectus Supplement Summary" in
this Prospectus Supplement.
Application has been made to list the Preferred Securities on the New York
Stock Exchange. If approved, we expect trading of the Preferred Securities to
begin within 30 days after they are first issued.
We urge you to carefully read the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page S-
6, where we describe specific risks associated with these Preferred Securities,
along with this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus, before you make your
investment decision.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if
this Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus to which it relates is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
--------
Per Trust
Preferred Security Total
------------------ -----------
Public offering price.......................... $25.00 $30,000,000
Underwriting commissions to be paid by Gulf
Power Company................................. (1) (1)
Proceeds to Gulf Power Capital Trust III....... $25.00 $30,000,000
- -----
(1) Underwriting commissions of $ per Preferred Security (or $ for all
Preferred Securities) will be paid by Gulf Power Company.
We expect that the Preferred Securities will be ready for delivery in book-
entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about November ,
2001.
"TruPS(R)" is a registered service mark of Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
--------
Salomon Smith Barney
UBS Warburg
Raymond James
November , 2001
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus. We have not, and
the Underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with
different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent
information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the Underwriters are
not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the
offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information
appearing in this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus, as well as
information we previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date on the front cover
of this Prospectus Supplement only. Our business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Prospectus Supplement
Prospectus Supplement Summary............................................ S-3
Risk Factors............................................................. S-6
Gulf Power Capital Trust III............................................. S-9
Selected Financial Information........................................... S-10
Accounting Treatment..................................................... S-10
Use of Proceeds.......................................................... S-11
Recent Results of Operations; Recent Developments........................ S-11
Description of the Preferred Securities.................................. S-12
Description of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes.................... S-22
Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee.................................... S-23
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences.................................. S-25
Underwriting............................................................. S-29
Legal Opinions........................................................... S-30
Prospectus
About this Prospectus.................................................... 2
Available Information.................................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.......................... 2
Selected Information..................................................... 4
Gulf Power Company....................................................... 5
The Trusts............................................................... 5
Accounting Treatment of Trusts........................................... 6
Use of Proceeds.......................................................... 6
Description of the Senior Notes.......................................... 6
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes............................. 10
Description of the Preferred Securities.................................. 15
Description of the Guarantees............................................ 16
Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Junior Subordinated
Notes and the Guarantees................................................ 18
Plan of Distribution..................................................... 19
Legal Matters............................................................ 20
Experts.................................................................. 20
S-2
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
Questions and Answers
The following information supplements, and should be read together with, the
information contained in other parts of this Prospectus Supplement and in the
accompanying Prospectus. This summary highlights selected information from this
Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus to help you understand
the Preferred Securities. You should carefully read this Prospectus Supplement
and the accompanying Prospectus to understand fully the terms of the Preferred
Securities as well as the tax and other considerations that are important to
you in making a decision about whether to invest in the Preferred Securities.
You should pay special attention to the "Risk Factors" section beginning on
page S-6 of this Prospectus Supplement to determine whether an investment in
the Preferred Securities is appropriate for you.
What are the Preferred Securities?
Each Preferred Security represents an undivided beneficial interest in the
assets of Gulf Power Capital Trust III (the "Trust"). Each Preferred Security
will entitle the holder to receive quarterly cash distributions as described in
this Prospectus Supplement. The Trust is offering 1,200,000 Preferred
Securities at a price of $25 for each Preferred Security.
Who is the Trust?
The Trust is a Delaware business trust. The mailing address of its principal
place of business is c/o Gulf Power Company, One Energy Place, Pensacola,
Florida 32520-0100, and its telephone number is (850) 444-6111.
The Trust will sell its Preferred Securities to the public and its common
securities (the "Common Securities") to Gulf Power Company (the "Company"). The
Trust will use the proceeds from these sales to buy a series of % junior
subordinated deferrable interest notes due September 30, 2041 (the "Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes") from the Company with the same financial terms as
the Preferred Securities. The Company will guarantee payments made on the
Preferred Securities as described herein.
The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as property trustee (the "Property
Trustee") of the Trust. Two officers of the Company also will act as trustees
(the "Administrative Trustees") of the Trust. Chase Manhattan Bank USA,
National Association will be an additional trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") of
the Trust. The Chase Manhattan Bank also will act as trustee (the "Indenture
Trustee") under the Subordinated Note Indenture (the "Subordinated Note
Indenture") pursuant to which the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will be
issued and will act as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee") under the Guarantee
(as defined below). The Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee and Administrative
Trustees are sometimes referred to as the "Securities Trustees."
Who is Gulf Power Company?
The Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maine
on November 2, 1925, and admitted to do business in Florida on January 15,
1926, in Mississippi on October 25, 1976 and in Georgia on November 20, 1984.
The mailing address of the Company's principal executive offices is One Energy
Place, Pensacola, Florida 32520-0100, and the telephone number is (850) 444-
6111. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Southern Company.
The Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation,
transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy within an approximately
7,400 square mile service area within the northwestern portion of the State of
Florida.
When will you receive quarterly distributions?
If you purchase the Preferred Securities, you are entitled to receive
cumulative cash distributions at an annual rate of % (the "Securities Rate")
of the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security.
S-3
Distributions will accumulate from the date the Trust issues the Preferred
Securities (the "Issue Date") and will be paid quarterly in arrears on March
31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each, a "Distribution
Date"), beginning March 31, 2002.
When can payment of your distributions be deferred?
The Company can, on one or more occasions, defer interest payments on the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods.
A deferral of interest payments cannot extend, however, beyond the maturity
date of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes (which is September 30, 2041).
If the Company defers interest payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated
Notes, the Trust will also defer distributions on the Preferred Securities.
During this deferral period, distributions will continue to accrue on the
Preferred Securities at an annual rate of % of the liquidation amount of $25
per Preferred Security. Also, the deferred distributions will themselves accrue
interest at an annual rate of % (to the extent permitted by law). Once the
Company makes all interest payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes,
with accrued interest, it can again postpone interest payments on the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes.
During any period in which the Company defers interest payments on the Series
D Junior Subordinated Notes, the Company will not be permitted to (with limited
exceptions):
. pay a dividend or make any distributions on its capital stock or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment on any of its capital
stock, or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing; or
. make an interest, principal or premium payment on, or repurchase or
redeem, any of its debt securities that rank equal with or junior to the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes.
If the Company defers payments of interest on the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Preferred Securities will, from the time of deferral,
be treated as being issued with original issue discount ("OID") for United
States federal income tax purposes. This means you will be required to
recognize interest income with respect to distributions and include such
amounts in your gross income for United States federal income tax purposes even
though you will not have received any cash distributions relating to such
interest income. You should consult with your own tax advisor regarding the tax
consequences of an investment in the Preferred Securities. See "Certain Federal
Income Tax Considerations--Original Issue Discount."
When can the Trust redeem the Preferred Securities?
The Trust must redeem all of the outstanding Preferred Securities and Common
Securities (together, the "Trust Securities") when the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes are paid at maturity on September 30, 2041. In addition, if
the Company redeems any Series D Junior Subordinated Notes before their
maturity, the Trust will use the cash it receives from the redemption to
redeem, on a pro rata basis, Preferred Securities and Common Securities having
a combined liquidation amount equal to the principal amount of the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed.
The Company can redeem some or all of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
before their maturity at 100% of their principal amount on one or more
occasions any time on or after November , 2006. The Company also has the
option to redeem the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, in whole, but not in
part, at any time if certain changes in tax or investment company law occur and
certain other conditions are satisfied, as more fully described under
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption;
Distribution of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes." In any case, the Company
will pay accrued interest to the date of redemption.
S-4
What is the Company's guarantee of the Preferred Securities?
The Company will guarantee the Preferred Securities based on:
. its obligations to make payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated
Notes;
. its obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee (the
"Guarantee"); and
. its obligations under the Trust Agreement and the Agreement as to
Expenses and Liabilities (as defined below).
The payment of distributions on the Preferred Securities is guaranteed by the
Company under the Guarantee, but only to the extent the Trust has funds legally
and immediately available to make distributions.
The Company's obligations under the Guarantee are:
.subordinate and junior in right of payment to its other liabilities;
.equal in rank to its most senior preferred stock; and
. senior to its common stock.
When could the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes be distributed to you?
The Company has the right to terminate the Trust at any time. If the Company
terminates the Trust, the Trust will liquidate by distributing the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes to holders of the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities on a pro rata basis. If the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are
distributed, the Company will use its best efforts to list the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (or any other
exchange on which the Preferred Securities are then listed) in place of the
Preferred Securities. For a discussion of the Company's ability to distribute
the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, see "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Special Event Redemption; Distribution of Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes" and "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution."
Will the Preferred Securities be listed on a stock exchange?
Application has been made to list the Preferred Securities on the NYSE. If
approved, trading of the Preferred Securities is expected to begin within 30
days after they are first issued.
Will holders of the Preferred Securities have any voting rights?
Generally, the holders of the Preferred Securities will not have any voting
rights. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Voting Rights."
In what form will the Preferred Securities be issued?
The Preferred Securities will be represented by one or more global securities
that will be deposited with and registered in the name of The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC") or its nominee. This means that you will not receive a
certificate for your Preferred Securities and that your broker will maintain
your position in the Preferred Securities. The Company expects that the
Preferred Securities will be ready for delivery through DTC on or about
November , 2001.
S-5
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the Preferred Securities will involve certain risks. You
should carefully consider the following discussion of risks, and the other
information in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus,
before deciding whether an investment in the Preferred Securities is suitable
for you.
The Company's Obligations under the Guarantee and the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes Are Subordinated.
The Company's obligations under the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will
rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company's Senior Indebtedness
(as defined under "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--
Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus). This means that the Company
cannot make any payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes if it
defaults on a payment of Senior Indebtedness and does not cure such default
within the applicable grace period or if the Senior Indebtedness becomes
immediately due because of a default and has not yet been paid in full. The
Company's Senior Indebtedness was approximately $489,000,000 as of June 30,
2001.
The Company's obligations under the Guarantee will rank in priority of
payment as follows:
. subordinate and junior in right of payment to its other liabilities;
. equal in rank to its most senior preferred stock; and
. senior to its common stock.
This means that the Company cannot make any payments on the Guarantee if it
defaults on a payment on any of its other liabilities. In addition, in the
event of the bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of the Company, its assets
would be available to pay obligations under the Guarantee only after the
Company made all payments on its other liabilities.
Neither the Preferred Securities, the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes nor
the Guarantee limit the ability of the Company to incur additional
indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks senior in priority of payment
to the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee. See "Description
of the Guarantees-- Subordination" and "Description of the Junior Subordinated
Notes--Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The Guarantee Only Covers Payments if the Trust Has Cash Available.
The ability of the Trust to pay scheduled distributions on the Preferred
Securities, the redemption price of the Preferred Securities and the
liquidation amount of each Preferred Security is solely dependent upon the
Company making the related payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
when due.
If the Company defaults on its obligations to pay principal or interest on
the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will not have sufficient
funds to pay distributions, the redemption price or the liquidation amount of
each Preferred Security. In those circumstances, you will not be able to rely
upon the Guarantee for payment of these amounts.
Instead, you:
. may directly sue the Company or seek other remedies to collect your pro
rata share of payments owed; or
. may rely on the Property Trustee to enforce the Trust's rights under the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes.
Deferral of Distributions Would Have Tax Consequences for You and May Affect
the Trading Price of the Preferred Securities.
The Company can, on one or more occasions, defer interest payments on the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods.
If the Company defers interest payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated
Notes, the Trust will defer distributions on the Preferred Securities during
any deferral period. However, distributions would still accumulate and such
deferred distributions would themselves accrue interest at the annual rate of
% per annum (to the extent permitted by law).
S-6
If the Company defers payments of interest on the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes, you will be required to recognize interest income for
United States federal income tax purposes (based on your pro rata share of the
interest on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes held by the Trust) before
you receive any cash relating to such interest. In the event of a deferral,
this income would constitute OID. In addition, you will not receive such cash
if you sell the Preferred Securities before the end of any deferral period or
before the record date relating to distributions which are paid. Instead, the
accrued distributions will be paid to the holder of record on the record date,
regardless of who the holder of record may have been on any other date during
the extension period. Moreover, the accrued OID will be added to your adjusted
tax basis in the Preferred Securities but might not be reflected in the amount
you realize on the sale. To the extent the amount realized on a sale is less
than your adjusted tax basis, you will recognize a capital loss for United
States federal income tax purposes. The deduction of capital losses is subject
to limitations.
The Company has no current intention of deferring interest payments on the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. However, if the Company exercises its
right in the future, the Preferred Securities may trade at a price that does
not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest on the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes. If you sell the Preferred Securities during an
interest deferral period, you may not receive the same return on investment as
someone else who continues to hold the Preferred Securities. In addition, the
existence of the Company's right to defer payments of interest on the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes may mean that the market price for the Preferred
Securities (which represent an undivided beneficial interest in the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes) may be more volatile than other securities that do
not have these rights.
See "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations" for more information
regarding the tax consequences of purchasing, holding and selling the
Preferred Securities.
Preferred Securities May Be Redeemed at Any Time if Certain Changes in Tax or
Investment Company Law Occur.
If certain changes in tax or investment company law occur and are
continuing, and certain other conditions are satisfied, the Company has the
right to redeem the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, in whole, but not in
part, at any time. Any such redemption will cause a mandatory redemption of
all Preferred Securities and Common Securities at a redemption price equal to
$25 per security plus any accrued and unpaid distributions. See "Description
of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption; Distribution of Series
D Junior Subordinated Notes."
Preferred Securities May Be Redeemed at the Option of the Company.
At the option of the Company, the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes may be
redeemed, in whole, at any time, or in part, from time to time, on or after
November , 2006 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount to be
redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. See
"Description of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes--Optional Redemption."
You should assume that the Company will exercise its redemption option if the
Company is able to refinance at a lower interest rate or it is otherwise in
the interest of the Company to redeem the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes.
If the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemed, the Trust must redeem
the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities having an aggregate
liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes to be redeemed. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Redemption."
There Can Be No Assurance as to the Market Prices for the Preferred Securities
or the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed
in exchange for Preferred Securities upon a termination of the Trust.
Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor may purchase, whether
pursuant to the offer made by this Prospectus Supplement or in the secondary
market, or the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes that a holder of Preferred
Securities may receive upon a termination of the Trust, may trade at a
discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred
Securities offered by this Prospectus Supplement. As a result of the Company's
right
S-7
to defer interest payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, the
market price of the Preferred Securities (which represent undivided beneficial
ownership interests in the Trust, substantially all the assets of which
consist of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes) may be more volatile than
the market prices of other securities that are not subject to such optional
deferrals.
The Company May Terminate the Trust at Any Time.
The Company has the right to terminate the Trust at any time. If the Company
decides to exercise its right to terminate the Trust, the Trust will liquidate
by distributing the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes to holders of the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities on a pro rata basis.
Under current United States federal income tax law, a distribution of Series
D Junior Subordinated Notes to you upon the dissolution of the Trust should
not be a taxable event to you. However, if the Trust is characterized for
United States federal income tax purposes as an association taxable as a
corporation at the time it is dissolved or if there is a change in law, the
distribution of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes to you may be a taxable
event to you.
The Company has no current intention of causing the termination of the Trust
and the distribution of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. The Company
anticipates that it would consider exercising this right in the event that
expenses associated with maintaining the Trust were substantially greater than
currently expected such as if certain changes in tax law or investment company
law occurred. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event
Redemption; Distribution of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes." The Company
cannot predict the other circumstances under which this right would be
exercised.
Although the Company will use its best efforts to list the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes on the NYSE (or any other exchange on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed) if they are distributed, we cannot assure you that
the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will be approved for listing or that a
trading market will exist for those securities.
You Have Limited Voting Rights.
You will have limited voting rights. In particular, subject to certain
exceptions, only the Company can appoint or remove any of the Securities
Trustees. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Voting Rights."
S-8
GULF POWER CAPITAL TRUST III
The Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant
to the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State
on November 26, 1997. The Trust's business is defined in a trust agreement,
executed by the Company, as Depositor, and the Delaware Trustee thereunder.
This trust agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety on the Issue
Date substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus
form a part (the "Trust Agreement"). The Trust Agreement has been qualified as
an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939
Act"). The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust
Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Series
D Junior Subordinated Notes, and (iii) engaging in only those other activities
necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental thereto. The Trust has a term
of approximately 45 years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the Trust
Agreement.
Upon issuance of the Preferred Securities, the purchasers thereof will own
all of the Preferred Securities. The Company will acquire all of the Common
Securities, which will have an aggregate liquidation amount equal to
approximately 3% of the total capital of the Trust. The Common Securities will
rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the
Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of a
Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default (as defined below), the rights of
the holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to
the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities.
The Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by the Securities
Trustees, which shall be appointed by the Company as the holder of the Common
Securities. Two officers of the Company initially will serve as Administrative
Trustees. The Chase Manhattan Bank will serve as Property Trustee and will
hold legal title to the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes issued by the
Company on behalf of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities. Chase
Manhattan Bank USA, National Association will serve as Delaware Trustee. In
certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities will be entitled to appoint a substitute Property
Trustee. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Voting Rights."
The Property Trustee will hold legal title to the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes for the benefit of the Trust and the holders of the Trust
Securities and will have the power to exercise all rights, powers and
privileges under the Subordinated Note Indenture as the holder of the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes. The Property Trustee will make payments of
distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the
holders of the Trust Securities. Subject to the right of the holders of the
Preferred Securities to appoint a Substitute Property Trustee in certain
instances, the Company, as the holder of all of the Common Securities, will
have the right to appoint, remove or replace all the Securities Trustees.
The Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will constitute substantially all of
the assets of the Trust. Other assets that may constitute "Trust Property" (as
that term is defined in the Trust Agreement) include any cash on deposit in,
or owing to, the payment account as established under the Trust Agreement, as
well as any other property or assets held by the Property Trustee pursuant to
the Trust Agreement. In addition, the Trust may, from time to time, receive
cash pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities.
The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic
rights, rights to information and voting rights, are as set forth in the Trust
Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act and the 1939 Act. See "Description
of the Preferred Securities."
The Trust's registered office in the State of Delaware is c/o Chase
Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, c/o JPMorgan Chase, 500 Stanton
Christiana Road, Building 4, 3rd Floor, Newark, Delaware 19713. The mailing
address of the principal place of business of the Trust shall be c/o the
Company, One Energy Place, Pensacola, Florida 32520-0100, telephone (850) 444-
6111, Attn: Treasurer.
S-9
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following data is qualified in its entirety by reference to and,
therefore, should be read together with the detailed information and financial
statements appearing herein, in the accompanying Prospectus or in the
documents incorporated herein by reference.
Twelve Months
Year Ended December 31, Ended
-------------------------------------------- September 30,
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------------
(Thousands, except ratios) (unaudited)
Operating Revenues...... $634,365 $625,856 $650,518 $674,099 $714,319 $733,243
Earnings Before Interest
and Income Taxes....... 131,856 124,428 120,946 119,576 116,892 123,468
Net Income After
Dividends on Preferred
Stock.................. 57,845 57,610 56,521 53,667 51,843 59,448
Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges(1)....... 4.29 4.18 3.83 3.62 3.38 3.82
Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges
Plus Preferred Dividend
Requirements
(Pre-Income Tax
Basis)(2).............. 3.31 3.53 3.72 3.58 3.34 3.78
Capitalization
As of June 30, 2001
-------------------------
Actual As Adjusted(3)
-------- ----------------
(Thousands, except
percentages)
Common Stock Equity................................ $495,544 $495,544 45.6%
Cumulative Preferred Stock......................... 4,236 4,236 0.4
Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred
Securities of Subsidiary Trusts Holding Company
Junior Subordinated Notes......................... 85,000 115,000 10.6
Senior Notes....................................... 98,002 233,002 21.5
Other Long-Term Debt............................... 268,092 238,092 21.9
-------- ---------- -----
Total............................................ $950,874 $1,085,874 100.0%
======== ========== =====
- --------
(1) This ratio is computed as follows: (i) "Earnings" have been calculated by
adding to "Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes" the debt portion of
allowance for funds used during construction; and (ii) "Fixed Charges"
consist of "Net Interest Charges" plus the debt portion of allowance for
funds used during construction.
(2) In computing this ratio, "Preferred Dividend Requirements" represent the
before tax earnings necessary to pay such dividends, computed at the
effective tax rates for the applicable periods.
(3) Reflects (i) the issuance in August 2001 of $60,000,000 aggregate
principal amount Series C 4.69% Senior Notes due August 1, 2003; (ii) the
redemption in September 2001 of $30,000,000 principal amount of First
Mortgage Bonds, 6 1/8% Series due July 1, 2003; (iii) the issuance in
October 2001 of $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Series D
6.10% Senior Notes due September 30, 2016; and (iv) the issuance of the
Preferred Securities offered hereby.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
For financial reporting purposes, the Trust will be treated as a subsidiary
of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of the Trust will be included in
the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The Preferred Securities
will be presented as a separate line item in the consolidated balance sheet of
the Company, and appropriate disclosures concerning the Preferred Securities,
the Guarantee and the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will be included in
the notes to the consolidated financial statements. For financial reporting
purposes, the Company will record distributions payable on the Preferred
Securities as an expense.
S-10
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Trust will invest all of the proceeds from the sale of the Preferred
Securities in Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds received by
the Company from such investment will be used by it to prepay in the first
quarter of 2002 a $25,000,000 bank loan which matures in July 2002 and bears
interest at the one-month London interbank offered rate plus 0.375% and to
repay a portion of its outstanding short-term indebtedness, which aggregated
approximately $35,000,000 as of November 6, 2001. The Company used the bank
loan and a portion of its short-term indebtedness to provide interim financing
of portions of the capital expenditures related to Plant Smith Unit 3, the
Company's 574 megawatt combined cycle facility currently under construction.
RECENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS; RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
For the twelve months ended September 30, 2001, "Operating Revenues,"
"Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes" and "Net Income After Dividends on
Preferred Stock" were $733,243,000, $123,468,000 and $59,448,000,
respectively. In the opinion of the management of the Company, the above
amounts for the twelve months ended September 30, 2001 reflect all adjustments
(which were only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the
results of operations for such periods. The "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges" and the "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred Dividend
Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis)" for the twelve months ended September 30,
2001 were 3.82 and 3.78, respectively.
On September 10, 2001, the Company filed a request for a base rate increase
of $69,867,000, based on a return on equity of 13.0%, with the Florida Public
Service Commission (the "Florida PSC"). The requested increase is designed to
cover costs associated with the commercial operation of the Company's Plant
Smith Unit 3 and other operating costs. The Florida PSC is expected to issue
its decision in early May 2002. There can be no assurance that the request, as
submitted by the Company, will be approved by the Florida PSC.
For information related to the Company's existing rate order, reference is
made to Note 3 to the financial statements of the Company in Item 8 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2000.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Preferred Securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Trust
Agreement. The Trust Agreement has been qualified as an indenture under the
1939 Act. The Property Trustee will act as the indenture trustee with respect
to the Trust, as well as the Guarantee, for purposes of compliance with the
provisions of the 1939 Act. The terms of the Preferred Securities will include
those stated in the Trust Agreement and the Delaware Business Trust Act and
those made part of the Trust Agreement by the 1939 Act. The following summary
of the principal terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the Trust Agreement, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the
accompanying Prospectus are a part, as well as the 1939 Act.
General
The Trust Agreement authorizes the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the
Trust, to issue the Preferred Securities, which represent preferred undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, and the Common Securities,
which represent common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust. All of the Common Securities will be owned by the Company. The Common
Securities rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon on a pro rata
basis, with the Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence of a
Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default, the rights of the holders of the
Common Securities to receive payment of periodic distributions and payments
upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights
of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Trust Agreement does not
permit the issuance by the Trust of any securities other than the Trust
Securities or the incurrence of any indebtedness by the Trust. Pursuant to the
Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee will own and hold the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes for the benefit of the Trust and the holders of the Trust
Securities. The payment of distributions out of money held by the Trust, and
payments upon redemption of the Preferred Securities or liquidation of the
Trust, are guaranteed by the Company on a subordinated basis as and to the
extent described under "Description of the Guarantees" in the accompanying
Prospectus. The Guarantee does not cover payment of distributions on the
Preferred Securities when the Trust does not have legally and immediately
available funds sufficient to make such distributions. In such event, the
remedy of a holder of Preferred Securities is to direct the Property Trustee
to enforce its rights under the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. In
addition, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of
payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the
due dates specified in the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. The above
mechanisms and obligations, together with the Company's obligations under the
Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, constitute a full and unconditional
guarantee by the Company of payments due on the Preferred Securities. See "--
Voting Rights" below.
Distributions
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be fixed at the Securities
Rate and will accrue from the Issue Date and, except in the event of an
Extension Period (as defined below), will be payable quarterly in arrears on
March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing March
31, 2002. In the event that any date on which distributions are to be made on
the Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
distributions payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect
of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding
Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such
date. A "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, a day
on which banks in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to remain closed or a day on which the principal corporate
trust office of the Property Trustee or the Indenture Trustee is closed for
business.
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Distributions payable on any Distribution Date will be payable to the
holders of record on the Record Date for such Distribution Date. "Record Date"
means, (i) as long as the Preferred Securities remain in book-entry form only,
the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding a Distribution
Date or (ii) if the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry form, the
close of business on the fifteenth calendar day preceding a Distribution Date.
Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the Trust
Agreement, each such payment will be made as described under "--Book-Entry
Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company" below. The amount of
distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Company has the right under the Subordinated Note Indenture to defer
payments of interest on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes by extending
the interest payment period from time to time on the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes (each, an "Extension Period") which, if exercised, would
defer quarterly distributions on the Preferred Securities during any such
extended interest payment period. Deferred installments of interest on the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will bear interest, compounded quarterly,
at a rate per annum equal to the Securities Rate. If distributions are
deferred, the deferred distributions and accrued interest thereon shall be
paid, if funds are legally available therefor, to holders of record of the
Preferred Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on
the Record Date next following the termination of such Extension Period. See
"Description of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes--Interest" and "--
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period."
Distributions on the Preferred Securities must be paid on the Distribution
Dates to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available
for the payment of such distributions. The Trust's funds available for
distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities will be limited to
payments received under the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. See
"Description of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes."
Redemption
The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment
of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes at maturity or their earlier
redemption. The Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on September
30, 2041 and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the
Company, at any time on or after November , 2006 or at any time in whole,
but not in part, upon the occurrence of a Special Event (as defined below).
Upon the repayment of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, whether at
maturity or upon redemption, the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall
simultaneously be applied to redeem a like amount of Trust Securities upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the Redemption Price (as
defined below). See "Description of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes--
Optional Redemption." If a partial redemption of the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities,
the Company may only redeem the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes in whole.
In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding Trust Securities are to be
redeemed, the Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be selected as
described under "--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company"
below. If the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry only form, the
Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be selected by such method as the
Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the
selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or integral multiples
thereof) of the aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred Securities of a
denomination larger than $25; provided, however, that before undertaking the
redemption of the Preferred Securities on other than a pro rata basis, the
Property Trustee shall have received an opinion of counsel that the status of
the Trust as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes would not be
adversely affected.
The Redemption Price for each Preferred Security shall equal the stated
liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the
date of payment.
Special Event Redemption; Distribution of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
Upon the occurrence of a Special Event at any time, the Company will have
the option to redeem the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes in whole, but not
in part (and thus cause the redemption of the Preferred Securities in whole).
A Special Event is either an Investment Company Act Event or a Tax Event.
S-13
An "Investment Company Act Event" means that the Administrative Trustees and
the Company shall have received an opinion of independent counsel (which may
be counsel to the Company) to the effect that, as a result of a change in law
or regulation or a written change in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority after the Issue Date, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
the Trust is or will be considered an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
"Tax Event" means that the Administrative Trustees and the Company shall
have received an opinion from independent tax counsel experienced in such
matters (which may be counsel to the Company) to the effect that, as a result
of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective
change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or
any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (b) any
amendment to, or change in, an interpretation or application of such laws or
regulations, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust would
be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income accrued
or received on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) interest payable
on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes would not be deductible by the
Company for United States federal income tax purposes or (iii) the Trust would
be subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental charges, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after
the Issue Date.
The Company will have the right at any time to terminate the Trust and,
after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, if any, cause the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the holders of the
Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See "--Liquidation
Distribution Upon Dissolution" below. This right is optional and wholly within
the discretion of the Company. Circumstances under which the Company may
determine to exercise such right could include the occurrence of an Investment
Company Act Event or a Tax Event, adverse tax consequences to the Company or
the Trust that are not within the definition of a Tax Event because they do
not result from an amendment or change described in such definition, and
changes in the accounting requirements applicable to the Preferred Securities
as described under "Accounting Treatment."
If Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the
Preferred Securities, the Company will use its best efforts to have the Series
D Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the NYSE or on such other exchange as
the Preferred Securities are then listed. After the date for any distribution
of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes upon termination of the Trust, (i) the
Preferred Securities and the Guarantee will no longer be deemed to be
outstanding, (ii) the depositary or its nominee, as the record holder of the
Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or
certificates representing the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes to be
delivered upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing
Preferred Securities and the Guarantee not held by the depositary or its
nominee will be deemed to represent Series D Junior Subordinated Notes having
an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount
of, with an interest rate identical to the Securities Rate of, and accrued and
unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, such Preferred
Securities, until such certificates are presented to the Company or its agent
for transfer or reissuance.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed
in exchange for the Preferred Securities if a termination and liquidation of
the Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an
investor may purchase, or the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes that the
investor may receive on termination and liquidation of the Trust, may trade at
a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred
Securities offered hereby.
Redemption Procedures
In the event that the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemed in
part, the Trust will redeem, on a pro rata basis, Preferred Securities and
Common Securities having a combined liquidation amount equal to the principal
amount of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed.
The Preferred Securities redeemed on each redemption date shall be redeemed
at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption
of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. The Redemption
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Price of Preferred Securities shall be deemed payable on each redemption date
only to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available
for payment of such Redemption Price.
If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of Preferred
Securities (which notice will be irrevocable), then, by 2:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the redemption date, subject to the immediately preceding
paragraph, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the securities
depositary, so long as the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form,
sufficient funds to pay the applicable Redemption Price. See "--Book-Entry
Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company" below. If the Preferred
Securities are no longer in book-entry only form, the Property Trustee,
subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, shall irrevocably deposit with
the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and
will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions to pay the Redemption
Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their Preferred Securities
certificates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds
deposited as required, then immediately prior to the close of business on the
date of such deposit, distributions will cease to accrue and all rights of
holders of such Preferred Securities so called for redemption will cease,
except the right of the holders of such Preferred Securities to receive the
Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price. In the event
that any date fixed for redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business
Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on
the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or
other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day
falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in
respect of Preferred Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid
either by the Trust or by the Company pursuant to the Guarantee, distributions
on such Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable
rate, from such redemption date originally established by the Trust for such
Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid. See
"--Events of Default" below, "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee" below and "Description
of the Guarantees--Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus.
Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including, without
limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Company or its
affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding
Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company
DTC will act as the initial securities depositary for the Preferred
Securities. The Preferred Securities will be issued only as fully registered
securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC's nominee. One or more
fully registered global Preferred Securities certificates will be issued,
representing in the aggregate the total number of Preferred Securities, and
will be deposited with DTC.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC holds securities that its participants
("Participants") deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among
Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in
deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in
Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
securities certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations ("Direct Participants"). DTC is owned by a number of its Direct
Participants and by the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is
also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and
trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a
Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants").
The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
S-15
Purchases of Preferred Securities within the DTC system must be made by or
through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Preferred
Securities on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser
of Preferred Securities ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the
Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but Beneficial Owners are
expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the
transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the
Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased
Preferred Securities. Transfers of ownership interests in the Preferred
Securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants
acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive
certificates representing their ownership interests in Preferred Securities,
except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Preferred
Securities is discontinued.
DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Preferred
Securities. DTC's records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants
to whose accounts such Preferred Securities are credited, which may or may not
be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed
by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Preferred
Securities are being redeemed, DTC will reduce the amount of the interest of
each Direct Participant in the Preferred Securities in accordance with its
procedures.
Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities is limited, in
those cases where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself
consent or vote with respect to Preferred Securities. Under its usual
procedures, DTC would mail an Omnibus Proxy to the Trust as soon as possible
after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or
voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Preferred
Securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached
to the Omnibus Proxy).
Distribution payments on the Preferred Securities will be made to DTC. DTC's
practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment
date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records
unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such
payment date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed
by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with
securities held for the account of customers registered in "street name," and
will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the Trust, any
trustee or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as
may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions to DTC is the
responsibility of the Trust, disbursement of such payments to Direct
Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments
to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect
Participants.
Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner in a global Preferred Security
will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Preferred Securities.
Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to
exercise any rights under the Preferred Securities. The laws of some
jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to
transfer beneficial interests in a global Preferred Security.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to the Preferred Securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to
the Trust. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities
depositary is not obtained, Preferred Securities certificates will be printed
and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, the Company may decide
to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a
successor depositary) with respect to the Preferred Securities. In that event,
certificates for the Preferred Securities will be printed and delivered to the
holders of record.
S-16
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Company and the Trust believe to be
reliable, but the Company and the Trust take no responsibility for the
accuracy thereof. The Trust has no responsibility for the performance by DTC
or its Participants of their respective obligations as described herein or
under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.
Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust shall terminate on December 31,
2042, or earlier upon (i) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event (as defined in
the Trust Agreement) in respect of the Company, dissolution or liquidation of
the Company, or dissolution of the Trust pursuant to a judicial decree; (ii)
the delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by the Company, as
Depositor, at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the
discretion of the Company, as Depositor) to terminate the Trust and distribute
the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of the Preferred
Securities in liquidation of the Trust (see "--Special Event Redemption;
Distribution of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes" above); or (iii) the
payment at maturity or redemption of all of the Series D Junior Subordinated
Notes, and the consequent payment of the Trust Securities.
If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i) or (ii) above, the
Trust shall be liquidated, and the Property Trustee shall distribute to each
holder of Preferred Securities and Common Securities a like amount of Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes, unless in the case of an event described in clause
(i) such distribution is determined by the Administrative Trustees not to be
practical, in which event such holders will be entitled to receive, out of the
assets of the Trust available for distribution to holders after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal to the aggregate of the stated
liquidation preference of $25 per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid
distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
"Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only
in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the
aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then subject to the next succeeding
sentence, the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the Trust Securities
shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The holder of the Common Securities will be
entitled to receive distributions upon any such dissolution pro rata with the
holders of the Preferred Securities, except that if a Subordinated Note
Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the holders of
Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the holders of Common
Securities.
Events of Default
Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under the
Trust Agreement ("Trust Agreement Event of Default") with respect to the Trust
Securities issued thereunder (whatever the reason for such Event of Default,
and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation
of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order,
rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(i) the occurrence of an "Event of Default" as defined in Section 501 of
the Subordinated Note Indenture ("Subordinated Note Indenture Event of
Default") (see "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Events of
Default" in the accompanying Prospectus); or
(ii) default by the Trust in the payment of any distribution when it
becomes due and payable, and the continuation of such default for a period
of 30 days; or
(iii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any
Preferred Security or Common Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(iv) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of the Securities Trustees in the Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or
warranty a default in performance of which or the breach of which is dealt
with in clause (ii) or (iii) above), and continuation of such default or
breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or
certified mail, to such Securities Trustees by the holders of at least 10%
in liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities a written
notice specifying
S-17
such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that
such notice is a "Notice of Default" under the Trust Agreement; or
(v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
respect to the Trust.
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Trust Agreement Event of Default,
the Property Trustee shall transmit notice of any default known to the
Property Trustee to the holders of Trust Securities and the Company, unless
such Trust Agreement Event of Default shall have been cured or waived.
If a Trust Agreement Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then,
pursuant to the Trust Agreement, holders of a majority in aggregate
liquidation amount of Preferred Securities have the right to direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the
Trust Agreement, including the right to direct the Property Trustee under the
Trust Agreement to exercise the remedies available to it as holder of the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce
its rights under the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, a holder of Preferred
Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce its rights under the
Trust Agreement without first instituting any legal proceeding against the
Property Trustee or the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of
Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property
Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such
holder of principal of or interest on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of
the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in
the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Relationship Among the Preferred
Securities, the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee" herein
and "Description of the Guarantees--Events of Default" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
Unless a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, the Securities Trustees may be removed at any time by act
of the holder of the Common Securities. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Securities Trustee may be
removed at such time by act of the holders of a majority in liquidation amount
of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the appropriate Securities Trustee
(in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). No resignation or
removal of any Securities Trustee and no appointment of a successor shall be
effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in
accordance with the requirements of the Trust Agreement.
If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the holders of Preferred Securities shall have a preference over
the holders of Common Securities upon dissolution of the Trust as described
above. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution."
Voting Rights
Except as provided below and under "Description of the Guarantees--
Amendments and Assignment" in the accompanying Prospectus and as otherwise
required by law and the Trust Agreement, the holders of the Preferred
Securities will have no voting rights.
If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the
Securities Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred
Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or otherwise,
or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than
pursuant to the Trust Agreement, then the holders of outstanding Preferred
Securities will be entitled to vote as a class on such amendment or proposal
of the Securities Trustees, and such amendment or proposal shall not be
effective except with the approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in
liquidation amount of such outstanding Preferred Securities.
So long as any Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are held by the Property
Trustee, the Securities Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture
Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee
with respect to the Series D
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Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under
Section 513 of the Subordinated Note Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes shall be due and payable, or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Subordinated Note Indenture or the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes, where such consent shall be required, or to any
other action, as the holder of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, under
the Subordinated Note Indenture, without, in each case, obtaining the prior
approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of the
outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent
under the Subordinated Note Indenture would require the consent of each holder
of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby, no such consent shall
be given by the Securities Trustees without the prior consent of each holder
of Preferred Securities. The Securities Trustees shall not revoke any action
previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the Preferred
Securities, except pursuant to a subsequent vote of such holders. The Property
Trustee shall notify all holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of
default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of
the holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Securities Trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be
classified as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes on
account of such action.
Any required approval of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a
separate meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose
or pursuant to written consent. The Administrative Trustees will cause a
notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to
vote to be given to each holder of record of Preferred Securities in the
manner set forth in the Trust Agreement.
Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred
Securities that are owned by the Company, the Securities Trustees or any
affiliate of the Company or any Securities Trustee shall, for purposes of such
vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
Co-Property Trustees and Separate Property Trustee
At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of
the 1939 Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) may at the time be located, the holder of
the Common Securities and the Property Trustee shall have power to appoint,
and upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Company, as
Depositor, shall for such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the
execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements
necessary or proper to appoint, one or more persons approved by the Property
Trustee either to act as co-property trustee, jointly with the Property
Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate
trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be
provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or
persons in such capacity, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary
or desirable, subject to the provisions of the Trust Agreement. If the
Company, as Depositor, does not join in such appointment within 15 days after
the receipt by it of a request so to do, or in case a Subordinated Note
Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property
Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment.
Amendment of the Trust Agreement
The Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Company and the
Securities Trustees without the consent of the holders of the Trust Securities
(i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision therein which
may be inconsistent with any other provision therein, or to make any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Trust
Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of the
Trust Agreement, provided that the amendment does not adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of any holder of Trust Securities, or (ii) to
modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to such
extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be classified
as other than
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a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes. Except as provided in the
succeeding paragraph, other amendments to the Trust Agreement may be made (i)
upon approval of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in aggregate liquidation
amount of the Trust Securities then outstanding and (ii) upon receipt by the
Securities Trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment
will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust or the Trust's exemption
from the 1940 Act.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each affected holder
of Trust Securities, the Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the
amount or timing of any distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise
adversely affect the amount of any distribution required to be made in respect
of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) restrict the right of a
holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such date or (iii) change the consent required to amend
the Trust Agreement.
Mergers, Consolidations or Amalgamations
The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as
described below. The Trust may at the request of the Company, with the consent
of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of the
Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced
by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, that (i)
such successor entity either (A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of
the Trust with respect to the Trust Securities or (B) substitutes for the
Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as
the Trust Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor
Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank in priority with respect
to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii)
the Company expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing
the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of the Series
D Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor
Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon
notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other
organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, (iv) such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not cause the
Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by
any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Trust Securities
(including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such
successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust,
(vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the
Company has received an opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Trust Securities
(including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (B)
following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the
Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an investment
company under the 1940 Act, and (viii) the Company guarantees the obligations
of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent
provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not,
except with the consent of holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Trust
Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any
other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or
replacement would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as
other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes.
Any corporation or other body into which any of the Property Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person
may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation or other body resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which any such Securities Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation or other body succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate
trust business of any such Securities Trustee, shall be the successor of such
Securities Trustee under the Trust Agreement, provided such corporation is
otherwise qualified and eligible under the Trust Agreement.
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Payment and Paying Agent
So long as DTC is acting as securities depositary for the Preferred
Securities, payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made to
DTC, which is to credit the relevant accounts at DTC on the applicable
Distribution Dates. If the Preferred Securities are not held by DTC, such
payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled
thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register (as such term
is defined in the Trust Agreement). The Paying Agent shall initially be the
Property Trustee. The Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying
Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the
Company. In such event, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor
to act as Paying Agent.
Registrar and Transfer Agent
It is anticipated that the Property Trustee, or one of its affiliates, will
act as registrar and transfer agent (the "Securities Registrar") for the
Preferred Securities.
Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment in respect of any tax or
other governmental charges which may be imposed in relation to it.
The Securities Registrar will not be required to register or cause to be
registered any transfer of Preferred Securities after they have been called
for redemption.
Information Concerning the Property Trustee
The Property Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a Trust Agreement Event of
Default with respect to the Trust Securities, undertakes to perform only such
duties as are specifically set forth in the Trust Agreement and, after
default, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would
exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions,
the Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers
vested in it by the Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Preferred
Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby.
The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Property Trustee, also serves as Indenture
Trustee and Guarantee Trustee. The Company and/or certain of its affiliates
maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan
Bank. The Chase Manhattan Bank serves as trustee under other indentures
pursuant to which securities of the Company and affiliates of the Company are
outstanding.
Governing Law
The Trust Agreement and the Trust Securities will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware;
provided that the immunities and standard of care of the Property Trustee
shall be governed by New York law.
Miscellaneous
The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to operate the Trust
so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to
be registered under the 1940 Act or taxed as other than a grantor trust for
federal income tax purposes and so that the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
will be treated as indebtedness of the Company for federal income tax
purposes. In this connection, the Administrative Trustees and the Company are
authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the
Trust's certificate of trust or the Trust Agreement, that the Administrative
Trustees and the Company determine in their discretion to be necessary or
desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not materially and
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Preferred Securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES D JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes. This description supplements, and should be read
together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the
Junior Subordinated Notes set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the
caption "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes." The following
description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the description in the accompanying
Prospectus and the Subordinated Note Indenture.
General
The Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as a series of Junior
Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes will be limited in aggregate principal amount to
$30,927,850, such amount being the approximate aggregate liquidation amount of
the Trust Securities.
The entire principal amount of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will
mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, including Additional Interest (see "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes--Additional Interest" in the accompanying
Prospectus), if any, on September 30, 2041. The Series D Junior Subordinated
Notes are not subject to any sinking fund provision.
The terms of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes correspond to those of
the Preferred Securities, as described herein.
Optional Redemption
The Company shall have the right to redeem the Series D Junior Subordinated
Notes, in whole or in part, without premium, from time to time, on or after
November , 2006, or at any time in whole, but not in part, upon the
occurrence of a Special Event as described under "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Special Event Redemption; Distribution of Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes," upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at a
Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any
accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date. If a partial redemption of the Series D Junior Subordinated
Notes would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, the Company
may only redeem the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes in whole.
Interest
Each Series D Junior Subordinated Note shall bear interest at the Securities
Rate from the Issue Date, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing March 31, 2002, to the
person in whose name such Series D Junior Subordinated Note is registered at
the close of business (i) on the Business Day immediately preceding an
interest payment date if the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form
or if the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes have been distributed to holders
of the Trust Securities and such Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are in
book-entry only form or (ii) on the fifteenth calendar day preceding an
interest payment date if both the Preferred Securities and the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes are not in book-entry only form. The amount of interest
payable will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Series
D Junior Subordinated Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the
interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is
a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any
such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding
Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such
date.
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period
The Company shall have the right at any time, and from time to time, to
defer payments of interest on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes by
extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly
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periods, but not beyond the stated maturity date. At the end of an Extension
Period, the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together
with interest thereon at the Securities Rate, compounded quarterly, to the
extent permitted by applicable law) and all Additional Interest; provided,
that if the Company shall have given notice of its election to select an
Extension Period, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or
distribution on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of its capital stock or make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing, and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities (including guarantees other than the Guarantee) issued by the
Company which rank pari passu with or junior to the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the
Company may further defer payments of interest by extending the interest
payment period, provided that such Extension Period, together with all such
previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarterly periods. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the
payment of all amounts then due, the Company may select a new Extension
Period, subject to the above requirements. The Company has no present
intention of exercising its rights to defer payments of interest by extending
the interest payment period on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. See
"Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations--Original Issue Discount."
The Company shall give the holder or holders of the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Indenture Trustee notice of its selection or
extension of an Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the
earlier of (i) the record date relating to the interest payment date on which
the Extension Period is to commence or relating to the interest payment date
on which an Extension Period that is being extended would otherwise terminate
or (ii) the date the Company or the Trust is required to give notice to the
NYSE or other applicable self-regulatory organization of the record date or
the date such distributions are payable.
Book-Entry and Issuance
If distributed to holders of Trust Securities in connection with the
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust,
the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are expected to be issued in the form
of one or more global certificates registered in the name of the securities
depositary or its nominee. In such event, the procedures applicable to the
transfer and payment of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are expected to
be substantially similar to those described with respect to the Preferred
Securities in "Description of the Preferred Securities--Book-Entry Only
Issuance--The Depository Trust Company."
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES,
THE SERIES D JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND THE GUARANTEE
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, such payments will be sufficient to cover
distributions and payments due on the Trust Securities primarily because (i)
the aggregate principal amount of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will be
equal to the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Trust
Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes will match the distribution rate and
distribution and other payment dates for the Preferred Securities; (iii) the
Company shall pay for all costs and expenses of the Trust pursuant to the
Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities; and (iv) the Trust Agreement
provides that the Securities Trustees shall not cause or permit the Trust to,
among other things, engage in any activity that is not consistent with the
purposes of the Trust.
Payments of distributions (to the extent funds therefor are legally and
immediately available) and other payments due on the Preferred Securities (to
the extent funds therefor are legally and immediately available) are
guaranteed by the Company as and to the extent set forth under "Description of
the Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. If the Company does not make
interest payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, it is not
expected that the Trust will have sufficient funds to pay distributions on the
Preferred Securities.
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The Guarantee is a guarantee from the time of its issuance, but does not apply
to any payment of distributions unless and until the Trust has sufficient
funds legally and immediately available for the payment of such distributions.
If the Company fails to make interest or other payments on the Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes when due (taking into account any Extension Period),
the Trust Agreement provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred
Securities may appoint a substitute Property Trustee. Such holders may also
direct the Property Trustee to enforce its rights under the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes, including proceeding directly against the Company to
enforce the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails
to enforce its rights under the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any holder of Preferred Securities
may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the
Property Trustee's rights under the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes without
first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any
other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or
any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of
principal of or interest on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes.
If the Company fails to make payments under the Guarantee, the Guarantee
provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities may
direct the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights thereunder. In addition,
any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under the
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity.
The Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Trust Agreement and the Agreement as to Expenses and
Liabilities, as described above, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee
by the Company of the payments due on the Preferred Securities.
Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of
the Trust, unless the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed in
connection therewith, the holders of Preferred Securities will be entitled to
receive, out of assets legally available for distribution to holders, the
Liquidation Distribution in cash. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." Upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company, the Property Trustee, as
holder of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, would be a subordinated
creditor of the Company, subordinated in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal and
interest before any stockholders of the Company receive payments or
distributions. Because the Company is guarantor under the Guarantee and has
agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trust (other than
the Trust's obligations to holders of the Preferred Securities) pursuant to
the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, the positions of a holder of
Preferred Securities and a holder of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
relative to other creditors and to stockholders of the Company in the event of
liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company would be substantially the same.
A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness would not
constitute a default or Event of Default under the Subordinated Note
Indenture. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration
of, Senior Indebtedness, the subordination provisions of the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes provide that no payments may be made in respect of the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes until such Senior Indebtedness has been
paid in full or any payment default thereunder has been cured or waived.
Failure to make required payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
would constitute an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture
except that failure to make interest payments on the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes will not be an Event of Default during an Extension Period;
provided, however, that any Extension Period may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarterly periods or extend beyond the stated maturity of the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes.
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CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax
consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Preferred Securities, but
does not purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax
considerations relating thereto. Unless otherwise stated, this summary deals
only with Preferred Securities held as capital assets by Holders (as defined
herein). The tax treatment of a Holder may vary depending on its
particular situation. This summary does not deal with special classes of
Holders, such as, for example, dealers in securities or currencies, banks,
thrifts, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies,
insurance companies, tax exempt organizations, persons holding Preferred
Securities as part of a straddle or as part of a hedging or conversion
transaction or other integrated investment, or persons whose functional
currency is not the United States dollar. Further, it does not include any
description of alternative minimum tax consequences or the tax laws of any
state, local or foreign government that may be applicable to the Preferred
Securities. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with
regard to the application of any state, local or other tax laws. This summary
is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the
Treasury regulations thereunder and administrative and judicial
interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof, and all of which are
subject to change (possibly on a retroactive basis). The authorities on which
this summary is based are subject to various interpretations, and it is
therefore possible that the federal income tax treatment of the ownership and
disposition of the Preferred Securities may differ from the treatment
described below. The Company has not sought any ruling from the Internal
Revenue Service (the "IRS") with respect to the statements made and the
conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance
that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions. In addition, the
IRS is not precluded from successfully adopting a contrary position. This
summary does not consider the effect of any applicable foreign, state, local
or other tax laws.
As used herein, the term "Holder" means a beneficial owner of Preferred
Securities, that is for United States federal income tax purposes: (i) a
citizen or resident (as defined in Section 7701(b) of the Code) of the United
States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized
under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, (iii)
an estate the income of which is subject to federal income taxation regardless
of its source, or (iv) a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able
to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and (b)
one or more United States persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust.
Treatment of the Trust and Preferred Securities for Federal Income Tax
Purposes
The Trust will be treated as a "grantor trust" and not as an association
taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Thus, for federal
income tax purposes, each Holder will be treated as the beneficial owner of a
pro rata undivided interest in the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes and,
consequently, will be required to include in income the Holder's pro rata
share of the entire income from the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. Each
Holder generally will determine its net income or loss with respect to the
Trust in accordance with its own method of accounting, although income arising
from original issue discount ("OID"), if any, must be taken into account under
the accrual method of accounting even if the Holder otherwise would use the
cash receipts and disbursements method (See "Original Issue Discount" below).
Payment of Interest
Except as set forth below with respect to OID, if any, stated interest on a
Series D Junior Subordinated Note will generally be taxable to a Holder as
ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with the
Holder's own method of tax accounting.
Original Issue Discount
The terms of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes permit the Company to
defer the payment of interest on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes at any
time and from time to time by extending the interest payment
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period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods with respect to each
Extension Period; provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend
beyond the stated maturity date of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes.
Under applicable Treasury regulations, a remote contingency that stated
interest will not be timely paid is ignored in determining whether a debt
instrument is issued with OID. While the law is not entirely clear, because
the Company's exercise of the option to defer payments of stated interest on
the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes would prevent the Company from paying
dividends on any class of equity stock, the Company believes that the
likelihood of its exercising its option to defer payments is remote within the
meaning of the regulations. As a result, each Holder should include in gross
income such Holder's allocable share of interest in the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes in accordance with such Holder's method of tax accounting.
It should be noted that these regulations have not yet been addressed in any
rulings or other interpretations by the IRS. Accordingly, it is possible that
the IRS could take a position contrary to the interpretations described
herein.
Should the Company exercise its option to defer payments of interest, the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes would, at that time, be treated as issued
with OID. Thereafter, the sum of the remaining interest payments on the Series
D Junior Subordinated Notes would be treated as OID, which a Holder would be
required to accrue and include in taxable income on an economic accrual basis
(regardless of the Holder's method of accounting for income tax purposes) over
the remaining term of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes (including any
period of interest deferral), without regard to the timing of payments under
the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. The amount a Holder would include in
taxable income would be determined on the basis of a constant yield method
over the remaining term of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes and the
actual receipt of future payments of stated interest on the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes would no longer be separately reported as taxable income.
The total amount of OID that would accrue during the deferred interest period
would be approximately equal to the amount of the cash payment due at the end
of such period. Any OID included in income would increase a Holder's adjusted
tax basis in their Preferred Securities, and a Holder's actual receipt of cash
would reduce such Holder's basis in the Preferred Securities.
Market Discount and Premium
A purchaser of a Preferred Security at a discount from the liquidation
amount at maturity of such purchaser's pro rata share of the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes acquires such Preferred Security with "market discount."
However, market discount with respect to a Preferred Security will be
considered to be zero if it is de minimis. Market discount will be de minimis
with respect to a Preferred Security if it is less than the product of (i)
0.25% of the adjusted issue price of the purchaser's pro rata share of the
Series D Subordinated Notes multiplied by (ii) the number of complete years to
maturity of such Series D Subordinated Notes after the date of purchase. The
purchaser of a Preferred Security with more than a de minimis amount of market
discount generally will be required to treat any gain on the sale, exchange,
redemption or other disposition of all or part of the Preferred Securities (or
related Series D Junior Subordinated Notes) as ordinary income to the extent
of accrued (but not previously taxed) market discount. Market discount
generally will accrue ratably during the period from the date of purchase of
such Preferred Security to the maturity date of the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes unless the Holder irrevocably elects to accrue such market
discount on the basis of a constant interest rate.
A Holder who has acquired a Preferred Security at a market discount
generally will be required to defer any deductions of interest expense
attributable to any indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry
the Preferred Security, to the extent such interest expense exceeds the
related interest income. Any such deferred interest expense generally will be
allowable as a deduction not later than the year in which the related market
discount income is recognized. As an alternative to the inclusion of market
discount in income upon disposition of all or a portion of a Preferred
Security of the related Series D Junior Subordinated Notes (including
redemptions thereof), a Holder may make an election (which may not be revoked
without the IRS's consent) to include market discount in income as it accrues
on all market discount instruments acquired by the Holder during or after the
taxable year for which the election is made. In that case, the preceding
deferral rule for interest expense will not apply.
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In lieu of the foregoing treatment of market discount and interest expense,
a Holder may elect to treat any market discount (including a de minimis
amount) as OID and accrue such discount on a constant-yield basis in the same
manner as the Holder accrues OID.
Prior to the exercise by the Company of its option to defer payments of
stated interest on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, a Holder that
acquires a Preferred Security for an amount that is greater than its
Redemption Price will be considered to have purchased the Preferred Security
at a "premium" equal to such excess and may elect (in accordance with
applicable Code provisions) to amortize such premium on a constant yield basis
over the remaining term of the Preferred Security (subject to special rules
concerning early call provisions). If an election to amortize the premium on a
Preferred Security, if any, is not made, the premium will decrease the gain or
increase the loss otherwise recognized on a taxable disposition of the
Preferred Security. Following the exercise by the Company of its option to
defer payments of stated interest on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes, a
Holder that has acquired a Preferred Security for a purchase price in excess
of its "adjusted issue price" may generally apply such "acquisition premium"
to reduce the amount of OID required to be included in income. The "adjusted
issue price" will generally be equal to the original issue price of a
Preferred Security increased by the amount of OID previously includible in the
gross income of any Holder and decreased by any payments made after the
Company has exercised its option to defer payments.
Corporate U.S. Holders
Corporate U.S. Holders of Preferred Securities will not be entitled to a
dividends-received deduction for any income from the Preferred Securities.
Sale of Preferred Securities
Upon the sale, retirement (including redemption) or other taxable
disposition of all or part of a Preferred Security, a Holder thereof will
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on
such sale, retirement or other disposition and such Holder's adjusted tax
basis in the Preferred Security or part thereof. If the Holder disposes of a
Preferred Security prior to the occurrence of an Extension Period, any portion
of the amount received that is attributable to accrued interest will be
treated as interest income to the Holder and will not be treated as part of
the amount realized for purposes of determining gain or loss on the
disposition of the Preferred Security. Any recognized gain or loss will be
capital gain or loss, except to the extent of any accrued market discount (see
"Market Discount and Premium" above). The capital gain or loss will be long-
term if the holding period for the Preferred Security is more than one year at
the time of sale, retirement or other disposition. A Holder's adjusted tax
basis in a Preferred Security acquired by purchase will equal the cost of such
Preferred Security to the Holder, increased by the amount of any related
accrued OID and market discount included in taxable income by the Holder and
reduced by any prior payments on the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
distributed on the Preferred Security. The redemption of only part of a
Preferred Security will require an allocation of the Holder's adjusted tax
basis in his pro rata share of the related Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
between the portion of the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed and
retained by the Holder in order to determine gain or loss.
Receipt of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes Upon Liquidation of the Trust
As described under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event
Redemption; Distribution of Series D Junior Subordinated Notes," Series D
Junior Subordinated Notes may be distributed to Holders in exchange for the
Preferred Securities and in liquidation of the Trust. Such a distribution
would be treated as a non-taxable event to each Holder and each Holder would
receive an aggregate tax basis in the Holder's Series D Junior Subordinated
Notes equal to the Holder's aggregate tax basis in its Preferred Securities. A
Holder's holding period with respect to the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes
so received in liquidation of the Trust would include the period for which the
Preferred Securities were held by such Holder.
S-27
Information and Backup Withholding
Income on the Preferred Securities will be reported to Holders on Form 1099,
which form should be mailed to Holders of Preferred Securities by January 31
following each calendar year. In addition, a Holder may be subject to "backup
withholding" under certain circumstances. Backup withholding applies to a
Holder if the Holder, among other things, (i) fails to furnish his social
security number or other taxpayer identification number ("TIN") to the payor
responsible for backup withholding (for example, the Holder's securities
broker), (ii) furnishes such payor an incorrect TIN, (iii) fails to provide
such payor with a certified statement, signed under penalties of perjury, that
the TIN provided to the payor is correct and that the Holder is not subject to
backup withholding, or (iv) fails to report properly interest and dividends on
his tax return. Backup withholding, however, does not apply to payments made
to certain exempt recipients, such as corporations and tax-exempt
organizations. Backup withholding applies to "reportable payments," which
generally will include distributions of interest and principal payments on the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes. Currently, the backup withholding tax rate
is 30.5%, but will be gradually reduced to 28% by 2006.
THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO A
HOLDER, DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER'S PARTICULAR SITUATION, AND THEREFORE EACH
HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT HIS TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE
EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAW.
S-28
UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the Underwriting Agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), each Underwriter named below (the
"Underwriters"), for whom Salomon Smith Barney Inc. is acting as
representative (the "Representative"), has severally agreed to purchase from
the Trust, and the Trust has agreed to sell to such Underwriter, the number of
Preferred Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter below.
Number of
Name Preferred Securities
---- --------------------
Salomon Smith Barney Inc. ...........................
UBS Warburg LLC......................................
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. ....................
---------
Total.............................................. 1,200,000
=========
The Underwriters are obligated to take and pay for the total number of
Preferred Securities offered hereby if any such Preferred Securities are
purchased. In the event of default by any Underwriter, the Underwriting
Agreement provides that, in certain circumstances, purchase commitments of the
non-defaulting Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement may
be terminated.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Trust and the Company will
indemnify the several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Company's expenses associated with the offer and sale of the Preferred
Securities are estimated to be $ .
In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred
Securities will ultimately be used to purchase the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes of the Company, the Underwriting Agreement provides that
the Company will pay as compensation to the Underwriters $ per Preferred
Security for the accounts of the several Underwriters ($ in the aggregate).
The Underwriters propose to offer the Preferred Securities, in part,
directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, and to certain dealers at such price
less a concession of $ per Preferred Security. The Underwriters may allow,
and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $ per Preferred
Security to certain brokers and dealers. After the Preferred Securities are
released for sale to the public, the offering price and other selling terms
may from time to time be varied by the Representative of the Underwriters.
Application has been made to list the Preferred Securities on the NYSE. If
approved, trading of the Preferred Securities on the NYSE is expected to
commence within a 30-day period after the initial delivery of the Preferred
Securities. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the
Preferred Securities. In order to meet one of the requirements for listing the
Preferred Securities on the NYSE, the Underwriters will undertake to sell lots
of 100 or more Preferred Securities to a minimum of 400 beneficial holders.
The Company and the Trust have agreed, during the period of 15 days from the
date of the Underwriting Agreement, not to sell, offer to sell, grant any
option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of any Preferred Securities, any
security convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for Preferred
Securities or the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes or any debt securities
substantially similar to the Series D Junior Subordinated Notes or equity
securities substantially similar to the Preferred Securities (except for the
Series D Junior Subordinated Notes and the Preferred Securities issued
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement), without the prior written consent of
the Representative.
S-29
In order to facilitate the offering of the Preferred Securities, the
Underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise
affect the price of the Preferred Securities. Specifically, the Underwriters
may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in
the Preferred Securities for their own account. In addition, to cover
overallotments or to stabilize the price of the Preferred Securities, the
Underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the Preferred Securities in the open
market. Finally, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions
allowed to an Underwriter or a dealer for distributing the Preferred
Securities in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases previously
distributed Preferred Securities in transactions to cover syndicate short
positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities
may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Preferred Securities above
independent market levels. The Underwriters are not required to engage in
these activities, and if commenced, may end any of these activities at any
time.
Certain of the Underwriters and their affiliates have in the past provided,
and may in the future provide, investment and/or commercial banking services
to the Company and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
LEGAL OPINIONS
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred
Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company and the Trust by
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware
counsel to the Company and the Trust. The validity of the Series D Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Guarantee and certain matters relating thereto will be
passed upon on behalf of the Company by Beggs & Lane, Pensacola, Florida, and
by Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Troutman Sanders LLP will also pass
upon certain matters relating to United States federal income tax
considerations. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters
by Dewey Ballantine LLP, New York, New York.
S-30
PROSPECTUS
$350,000,000
Gulf Power Company
Senior Notes
Junior Subordinated Notes
----------------
Gulf Power Capital Trust III
Gulf Power Capital Trust IV
Trust Preferred Securities
Fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as set forth herein, by
Gulf Power Company
a subsidiary of The Southern Company
----------------
We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to
this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable prospectus
supplement carefully before you invest.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if
this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.
June 1, 2001
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This Prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") using a "shelf"
registration process under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act"). Under the shelf process, Gulf Power Company (the "Company") may sell,
in one or more transactions,
. senior notes (the "Senior Notes")
. junior subordinated notes (the "Junior Subordinated Notes")
and Gulf Power Capital Trust III and Gulf Power Capital Trust IV
(individually, a "Trust" and collectively, the "Trusts") may sell
. trust preferred securities or capital securities (the "Preferred
Securities")
in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $350,000,000. This
Prospectus provides a general description of those securities. Each time the
Company sells securities, the Company will provide a prospectus supplement
that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering
("Prospectus Supplement"). The Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or
change information contained in this Prospectus. You should read this
Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement together with additional
information under the heading "Available Information."
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company and the Trusts have filed with the Commission a combined
registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement," which term
encompasses any amendments thereof and exhibits thereto) under the 1933 Act.
As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration
Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, to which reference is hereby
made.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and in accordance therewith
files reports and other information with the Commission. Such reports and
other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices at 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor,
New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can also be obtained at
prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The Commission maintains a
Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants including the Company that file
electronically at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, reports and other material
concerning the Company can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
No separate financial statements of any Trust are included herein. The
Company considers that such statements would not be material to holders of the
Preferred Securities because each Trust has no independent operations and
exists for the sole purpose of investing the proceeds of the sale of its Trust
Securities (as defined below) in Junior Subordinated Notes.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents have been filed with the Commission pursuant to the
1934 Act and are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this
Prospectus:
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2000; and
(b) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 28, 2001.
2
All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Prospectus from the
date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent
that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document
which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not
be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a
copy of any or all documents incorporated herein by reference (other than the
exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated
by reference). Such requests should be directed to Warren E. Tate, Secretary
and Treasurer, Gulf Power Company, One Energy Place, Pensacola, Florida 32520,
telephone: (850) 444-6111.
3
SELECTED INFORMATION
The following material, which is presented herein solely to furnish limited
introductory information regarding the Company, has been selected from, or is
based upon, the detailed information and financial statements appearing in the
documents incorporated herein by reference or elsewhere in this Prospectus, is
qualified in its entirety by reference thereto and, therefore, should be read
together therewith.
Gulf Power Company
Business..................... Generation, transmission, distribution and sale
of electric energy
Service Area................. Approximately 7,400 square miles within the
northwestern portion of the State of Florida
Service Area Population
(1990 Census)............... Approximately 740,000
Customers at December 31,
2000........................ 370,119
Generating Capacity at
December 31, 2000 2,188,150
(kilowatts).................
Sources of Generation during
2000 (kilowatt-hours)....... Coal (98%), Gas and Oil (2%)
Sources of Generation
Estimated for 2001 Coal (98%), Gas and Oil (2%)
(kilowatt-hours)............
Certain Ratios
The following table sets forth the Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax
Basis) for the periods indicated.
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)................. 4.29 4.18 3.83 3.62 3.38
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred
Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis)(2)...... 3.31 3.53 3.72 3.58 3.34
- --------
(1) This ratio is computed as follows: (i) "Earnings" have been calculated by
adding to "Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes" the debt portion of
allowance for funds used during construction, and (ii) "Fixed Charges"
consist of "Net Interest Charges" plus the debt portion of allowance for
funds used during construction.
(2) In computing this ratio, "Preferred Dividend Requirements" represent the
before tax earnings necessary to pay such dividends, computed at the
effective tax rates for the applicable periods.
4
GULF POWER COMPANY
The Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maine
on November 2, 1925, and was admitted to do business in Florida on January 15,
1926, in Mississippi on October 25, 1976 and in Georgia on November 20, 1984.
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 500 Bayfront
Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32501, and the telephone number is (850) 444-6111.
The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Southern Company, a holding
company registered under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended. The Company is engaged, within the northwestern portion of the State
of Florida, in the generation and purchase of electricity and the distribution
and sale of such electricity at retail in 71 communities as well as in rural
areas, and at wholesale to a nonaffiliated utility and to a municipality.
THE TRUSTS
Each Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant
to the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State
on November 26, 1997, with respect to Gulf Power Capital Trust III, and April
25, 2001, with respect to Gulf Power Capital Trust IV. Each Trust's business
is defined in a trust agreement, executed by the Company, as Depositor, and
the Delaware Trustee thereunder. This trust agreement of each Trust will be
amended and restated in its entirety substantially in the form filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part
(the "Trust Agreement"). Each Trust Agreement will be qualified as an
indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act").
The Company will own all of the common securities (the "Common Securities"
and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities") of each
Trust. The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the respective Trusts. Each Trust exists for the exclusive purposes
of (i) issuing its Trust Securities representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of such Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds of
its Trust Securities in a related series of Junior Subordinated Notes, and
(iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, appropriate,
convenient or incidental thereto. The payment of periodic cash distributions
on the Preferred Securities of each Trust and payments on liquidation and
redemption with respect to the Preferred Securities of each Trust, in each
case to the extent each Trust has funds legally and immediately available
therefor, will be guaranteed by the Company (individually, a "Guarantee" and
collectively, the "Guarantees") to the extent set forth under "Description of
the Guarantees."
Each Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by its trustees, which
shall be appointed by the Company as the holder of the Common Securities: two
employees of the Company as Administrative Trustees; The Chase Manhattan Bank
as Property Trustee; and Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association as
Delaware Trustee (collectively, the "Securities Trustees"). The Property
Trustee of each Trust will act as the indenture trustee with respect to such
Trust for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the 1939 Act.
The principal place of business of each Trust shall be c/o the Company, 500
Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32501, telephone (850) 444-6111, Attn:
Treasurer.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Preferred
Securities of a Trust for further information concerning such Trust.
5
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF TRUSTS
For financial reporting purposes, the Trusts will be treated as subsidiaries
of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of the Trusts will be included
in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The Preferred
Securities will be presented as a separate line item in the consolidated
balance sheet of the Company, and appropriate disclosures concerning the
Preferred Securities, the Guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be
included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. For financial
reporting purposes, the Company will record distributions payable on the
Preferred Securities as an expense.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Each Trust will invest the proceeds received from the sale of its Preferred
Securities in Junior Subordinated Notes. Except as may be otherwise described
in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds received by the
Company from such investment and any proceeds received from the sale of its
Senior Notes or other sales of its Junior Subordinated Notes will be used in
connection with its ongoing construction program, to pay scheduled maturities
and/or refundings of its securities, to repay short-term indebtedness to the
extent outstanding and for other general corporate purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES
Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Senior Notes.
The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Senior Note Indenture,
dated as of January 1, 1998, between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank,
as trustee (the "Senior Note Indenture Trustee"), as to be supplemented by a
supplemental indenture thereto establishing the Senior Notes of each series
(the Senior Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as
the "Senior Note Indenture"), the forms of which are filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The terms of the
Senior Notes will include those stated in the Senior Note Indenture and those
made a part of the Senior Note Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act. Certain
capitalized terms used herein are defined in the Senior Note Indenture.
General
The Senior Notes will be issued as unsecured senior debt securities under
the Senior Note Indenture and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured
and unsubordinated debt of the Company. The Senior Notes will be effectively
subordinated to all secured debt of the Company, including its first mortgage
bonds, aggregating approximately $254,700,000 outstanding at December 31,
2000. The Senior Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount
of Senior Notes that may be issued thereunder and provides that Senior Notes
may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture
supplemental to the Senior Note Indenture. The Senior Note Indenture gives the
Company the ability to reopen a previous issue of Senior Notes and issue
additional Senior Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this
Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Senior Notes being offered
thereby: (i) the title of such Senior Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate
principal amount of such Senior Notes; (iii) the date or dates on which the
principal of such Senior Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which
such Senior Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such
rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest
will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be
payable, and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest
payment date; (v) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest, if any, on such Senior Notes shall be payable; (vi) the
period or periods within which, the price or prices at which
6
and the terms and conditions on which such Senior Notes may be redeemed, in
whole or in part, at the option of the Company; (vii) the obligation, if any,
of the Company to redeem or purchase such Senior Notes; (viii) the
denominations in which such Senior Notes shall be issuable; (ix) if other than
the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of such
Senior Notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof; (x) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the
Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Senior Note
Indenture pertaining to such Senior Notes; (xi) whether such Senior Notes
shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; and
(xii) any other terms of such Senior Notes.
The Senior Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of
Senior Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction
involving the Company.
Events of Default
The Senior Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following
described events with respect to the Senior Notes of any series, which has
occurred and is continuing, constitutes an "Event of Default" with respect to
the Senior Notes of such series:
(a) failure for 10 days to pay interest on the Senior Notes of such
series, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon
earlier redemption; or
(b) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest on the
Senior Notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier
redemption; or
(c) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment
when due by the terms of a Senior Note of such series; or
(d) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the
Company in the Senior Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty
which has expressly been included therein solely for the benefit of one or
more series of Senior Notes other than such series) for 90 days after
written notice to the Company from the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes
of such series; or
(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
Company.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Senior Notes of any series have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Senior Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the Senior Notes of such series.
If a Senior Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with
respect to the Senior Notes of any series, then the Senior Note Indenture
Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Senior Notes of such series may declare the principal amount
thereof due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and
to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any
such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and
payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
the Senior Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree
for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of
the Senior Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of such series may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has
been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Senior
Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of
interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or
advanced by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable
compensation and expenses of the Senior Note Indenture Trustee.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Senior Notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all
the Senior Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such
series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a
default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the
Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended thereunder without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note of such series affected
thereby.
7
Registration and Transfer
The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or
exchange Senior Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately
preceding the date notice is given identifying the Senior Notes of such series
called for redemption, or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Senior
Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
portion of any Senior Note being redeemed in part.
Payment and Paying Agent
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of any Senior Notes will be made only against surrender to the
Paying Agent of such Senior Notes. Principal of and interest on Senior Notes
will be payable subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office
of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate from time
to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest
may be made by wire transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person
entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register with
respect to the Senior Notes. Payment of interest on Senior Notes on any
interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Senior
Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the
record date for such interest payment.
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Senior Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the
Senior Notes. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents
or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the
office through which any Paying Agent acts.
All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the
principal of or interest on the Senior Notes of any series which remain
unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest shall have
become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such
Senior Notes will thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof.
Modification
The Senior Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Senior Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less
than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of each
series affected thereby, to modify the Senior Note Indenture or the rights of
the holders of the Senior Notes of such series; provided, that no such
modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior
Note affected thereby, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or
any installment of principal of or interest on, any Senior Note, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium
payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the
rate of interest thereon, or impair the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity thereof (or,
in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce
the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of any
series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental
indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of
compliance with certain provisions of the Senior Note Indenture or certain
defaults thereunder and their consequences) provided for in the Senior Note
Indenture, or (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture
relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of
certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that
certain other provisions of the Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or
waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note
affected thereby.
In addition, the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee may execute,
without the consent of any holders of Senior Notes, any supplemental indenture
for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of
senior notes.
8
Consolidation, Merger and Sale
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any
state thereof or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person
expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the
Senior Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest on all the Senior Notes and the performance of every
covenant of the Senior Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be
performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such
transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse
of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be
continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Senior Note Indenture
Trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that
such transaction complies with the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture
governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all
conditions precedent thereto have been complied with.
Information Concerning the Senior Note Indenture Trustee
The Senior Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect
to Senior Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to Senior
Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the
Senior Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to Senior
Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with
respect to Senior Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent
individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to
such provision, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to
exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Senior Note Indenture at the
request of any holder of Senior Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable
indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which
might be incurred thereby. The Senior Note Indenture Trustee is not required
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of its duties if the Senior Note Indenture Trustee reasonably
believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, also serves as
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, as Property Trustee and as Guarantee
Trustee. The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts
and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan
Bank also serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which
securities of the Company and affiliates of the Company are outstanding.
Governing Law
The Senior Note Indenture and the Senior Notes will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
Miscellaneous
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or
obligations under the Senior Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-
owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any such
assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such obligations.
Subject to the foregoing, the Senior Note Indenture will be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors
and assigns.
9
DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete
and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the
Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1997, between the Company
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Subordinated Note Indenture
Trustee"), as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture thereto
establishing the Junior Subordinated Notes of each series (the Subordinated
Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the
"Subordinated Note Indenture"), the forms of which are filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The terms of
the Junior Subordinated Notes will include those stated in the Subordinated
Note Indenture and those made a part of the Subordinated Note Indenture by
reference to the 1939 Act. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined
in the Subordinated Note Indenture.
General
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as unsecured junior
subordinated debt securities under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The
Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Notes that may be issued thereunder and provides that
Junior Subordinated Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more
series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Subordinated Note
Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture gives the Company the ability to
reopen a previous issue of Junior Subordinated Notes and issue additional
Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this
Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Junior Subordinated Notes
being offered thereby: (i) the title of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (ii)
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes;
(iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such Junior Subordinated
Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Junior Subordinated
Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates
will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue,
the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, and the
regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; (v)
the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest,
if any, on such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or
periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and
conditions on which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be redeemed, in whole
or in part, at the option of the Company; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the
Company to redeem or purchase such Junior Subordinated Notes; (viii) the
denominations in which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issuable; (ix)
if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal
amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes which shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof; (x) any deletions from,
modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the
Company as provided in the Subordinated Note Indenture pertaining to such
Junior Subordinated Notes; (xi) whether such Junior Subordinated Notes shall
be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; (xii) the
right, if any, of the Company to extend the interest payment periods of such
Junior Subordinated Notes; and (xiii) any other terms of such Junior
Subordinated Notes. The terms of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes
issued to a Trust will correspond to those of the related Preferred Securities
of such Trust as described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
Preferred Securities.
The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford
holders of Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a highly
leveraged transaction involving the Company.
Subordination
The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company. No
payment of principal of (including redemption payments, if any), or premium,
if any, or interest on (including Additional Interest (as defined below)) the
Junior Subordinated Notes may be made if (a) any Senior Indebtedness is not
paid when due and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has
ended with such default not being cured or waived or otherwise ceasing to
exist, or (b) the
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maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default,
or (c) notice has been given of the exercise of an option to require
repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or otherwise. Upon any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company to creditors upon any liquidation,
dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, marshalling of assets or liabilities, or any bankruptcy, insolvency
or similar proceedings of the Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness
shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become
due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive or retain any payment or
distribution. Subject to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness, the
rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be subrogated to
the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and
distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing
on the Junior Subordinated Notes are paid in full.
The term "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the Company, (i) any
payment due in respect of indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at
the date of execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture or thereafter
incurred, created or assumed, (a) in respect of money borrowed (including any
financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and
(b) evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds, notes or other similar
instruments issued by the Company that, by their terms, are senior or senior
subordinated debt securities including, without limitation, all obligations
under its indentures with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease
obligations; (iii) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase
price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations of the
Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts
payable arising in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase
obligations); (iv) all obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of
credit, banker's acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit
transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i)
through (iv) above of other persons the payment of which the Company is
responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all
obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other
persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether
or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any such
indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or pari passu with the
Junior Subordinated Notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness between or among
the Company or its affiliates. Such Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be
Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination
provisions contained in the Subordinated Note Indenture irrespective of any
amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of
Senior Indebtedness that may be issued by the Company. As of December 31,
2000, Senior Indebtedness of the Company aggregated approximately
$416,000,000.
Additional Interest
"Additional Interest" is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture as (i)
such additional amounts as may be required so that the net amounts received
and retained by a holder of Junior Subordinated Notes (if the holder is a
Trust) after paying taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of
whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or
any other taxing authority will not be less than the amounts the holder would
have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments, or other governmental
charges been imposed; and (ii) any interest due and not paid on an interest
payment date, together with interest thereon from such interest payment date
to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each interest payment date.
Certain Covenants
The Company covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for the benefit of
the holders of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes, that, (i) if at such
time the Company shall have given notice of its election to extend an interest
payment period for such series of Junior Subordinated Notes and such extension
shall be continuing, (ii) if at such time the Company shall be in default with
respect to its payment or other obligations under the Guarantee with respect
to the Trust Securities, if any, related to such series of Junior Subordinated
Notes, or (iii) if at such time an Event of Default thereunder with respect to
such series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and be
continuing, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or make any
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distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b) the
Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any,
on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees
other than the Guarantees) issued by the Company which rank pari passu with or
junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. None of the foregoing, however, shall
restrict (i) any of the actions described in the preceding sentence resulting
from any reclassifications of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or
conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another
class or series of the Company's capital stock, or (ii) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the
conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being
converted or exchanged.
The Subordinated Note Indenture further provides that, for so long as the
Trust Securities of any Trust remain outstanding, the Company covenants (i) to
directly or indirectly maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities of
such Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company
under the Subordinated Note Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership
of such Common Securities, and (ii) to use its reasonable efforts to cause
such Trust (a) to remain a statutory business trust, except in connection with
the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust
Securities in liquidation of such Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust
Securities of such Trust, or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations,
each as permitted by the related Trust Agreement, and (b) to otherwise
continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income
tax purposes.
Events of Default
The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the
following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of
any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an "Event of
Default" with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series:
(a) failure for 10 days to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series, including any Additional Interest (as defined in clause
(ii) of the definition thereof in the Subordinated Note Indenture) in
respect thereof, when due on an interest payment date other than at
maturity or upon earlier redemption; provided, however, that a valid
extension of the interest payment period by the Company shall not
constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or
(b) failure for 10 days to pay Additional Interest (as defined in clause
(i) of the definition thereof in the Subordinated Note Indenture); or
(c) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest, including
Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition thereof in
the Subordinated Note Indenture), on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such
series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or
(d) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment
when due by the terms of a Junior Subordinated Note of such series; or
(e) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the
Company in the Subordinated Note Indenture (other than a covenant or
warranty which has expressly been included therein solely for the benefit
of one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes other than such series)
for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Subordinated Note
Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; or
(f) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
Company.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes of such series. If a Subordinated Note Indenture
Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series, then the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee
or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount
of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may declare the principal
amount thereof due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company
(and to the
12
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any
such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and
payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series had been made and before a
judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided
in Article Five of the Subordinated Note Indenture, the holders of not less
than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series may rescind and annul such declaration and
its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has
paid or deposited with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including any
Additional Interest) and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all
sums paid or advanced by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, including
reasonable compensation and expenses of the Subordinated Note Indenture
Trustee.
A holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to
such holder of principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of
the related series having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the
due dates specified in the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series may, on behalf of the
holders of all the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, waive any past
default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of
principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision
which under Article Nine of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified
or amended thereunder without the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Junior Subordinated Note of such series affected thereby.
Registration and Transfer
The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or
exchange Junior Subordinated Notes of any series during a period of 15 days
immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series called for redemption, or (ii) register the
transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so selected for
redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Junior
Subordinated Note being redeemed in part.
Payment and Paying Agent
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of any Junior Subordinated Notes will be made only against
surrender to the Paying Agent of such Junior Subordinated Notes. Principal of
and interest on Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable, subject to any
applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying
Agents as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the
option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or
by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address
shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes. Payment of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes on any interest
payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Junior Subordinated
Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the
record date for such interest payment.
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to
the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Company may at any time designate
additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or
approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.
All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the
principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series which
remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest
shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the
holder of such Junior Subordinated Notes will thereafter look only to the
Company for payment thereof.
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Modification
The Subordinated Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company
and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders
of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes of each series affected thereby, to modify the Subordinated
Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent
of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected thereby,
(i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
principal of or interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (including Additional
Interest) thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or
change the method of calculating the rate of interest thereon, or impair the
right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after
the stated maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the consent of whose
holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of
whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain
provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture or certain defaults thereunder
and their consequences) provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture, or
(iii) modify any of the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating
to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of certain
covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
other provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or
waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Note affected thereby, or (iv) modify the provisions of the
Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Junior
Subordinated Notes in a manner adverse to such holder.
In addition, the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee may
execute, without the consent of any holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, any
supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the
creation of any new series of junior subordinated notes.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any
state thereof or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person
expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest) on all the
Junior Subordinated Notes and the performance of every covenant of the
Subordinated Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or
observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event
of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the
Company has delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee an officers'
certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction
complies with the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture governing
consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions
precedent thereto have been complied with.
Information Concerning the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee
The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with
respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, undertakes to perform,
with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, only such duties as
are specifically set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture and, in case an
Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has
occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent
individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to
such provision, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation
to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Subordinated Note Indenture
at the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Notes of any series,
unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses
and liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The Subordinated Note
Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise
incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or
adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
14
The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, also
serves as Senior Note Indenture Trustee, as Property Trustee and as Guarantee
Trustee. The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts
and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan
Bank also serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which
securities of the Company and affiliates of the Company are outstanding.
Governing Law
The Subordinated Note Indenture and Junior Subordinated Notes will be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State
of New York.
Miscellaneous
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or
obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture to a direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any
such assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such
obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Subordinated Note Indenture will be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their
respective successors and assigns.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
Each Trust may issue only one series of Preferred Securities having terms
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. The Trust Agreement
of each Trust will authorize the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the
Trust, to issue the Preferred Securities of such Trust. The Preferred
Securities of each Trust will have such terms, including distributions,
redemption, voting, liquidation rights and such other preferred, deferral or
other special rights or such restrictions as shall be set forth in the Trust
Agreement of such Trust. Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the Preferred Securities of a Trust for specific terms, including
(i) the distinctive designation of such Preferred Securities; (ii) the number
of Preferred Securities issued by such Trust; (iii) the annual distribution
rate (or method of determining such rate) for Preferred Securities of such
Trust and the date or dates on which such distributions shall be payable; (iv)
whether distributions on such Preferred Securities shall be cumulative and, in
the case of Preferred Securities having cumulative distribution rights, the
date or dates, or method of determining the date or dates, from which
distributions on such Preferred Securities shall be cumulative; (v) the amount
or amounts that shall be paid out of the assets of such Trust to the holders
of the Preferred Securities of such Trust upon voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Trust; (vi) the obligation, if
any, of such Trust to purchase or redeem such Preferred Securities and the
price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms
and conditions upon which such Preferred Securities shall be purchased or
redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; (vii) the voting
rights, if any, of such Preferred Securities in addition to those required by
law, including the number of votes per Preferred Security and any requirement
for the approval by the holders of Preferred Securities as a condition to
specified action or amendments to the Trust Agreement of such Trust; (viii)
the rights, if any, to defer distributions on the Preferred Securities by
extending the interest payment period on the related Junior Subordinated
Notes; and (ix) any other relative rights, preferences, privileges,
limitations or restrictions of such Preferred Securities not inconsistent with
the Trust Agreement of such Trust or applicable law. All Preferred Securities
offered hereby will be guaranteed by the Company to the extent set forth under
"Description of the Guarantees." Any material United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to an offering of Preferred Securities will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
15
DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES
Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the Guarantees that
will be executed and delivered by the Company for the benefit of the holders
of Preferred Securities of the respective Trusts from time to time. Each
Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the 1939 Act. The Chase
Manhattan Bank will act as indenture trustee under each Guarantee (the
"Guarantee Trustee") for purposes of the 1939 Act. The terms of the respective
Guarantees will be those set forth therein and those made part thereof by the
1939 Act. The following summary does not purport to be complete and is subject
in all respects to the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the Guarantees, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, and the 1939
Act. Each Guarantee will be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of
holders of the Preferred Securities to which it relates.
General
Pursuant to each Guarantee, the Company will irrevocably and unconditionally
agree, to the extent set forth therein, to pay in full, to the holders of the
related Preferred Securities, the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein), to
the extent not paid by, or on behalf of, the related Trust, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Company may have or assert
against any person. The following payments or distributions with respect to
the Preferred Securities of any Trust to the extent not paid or made by, or on
behalf of, such Trust will be subject to the Guarantee related thereto
(without duplication): (i) any accrued and unpaid distributions required to be
paid on the Preferred Securities of such Trust but if and only if and to the
extent that such Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor,
(ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to
the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), with respect to any Preferred
Securities called for redemption by such Trust, but if and only to the extent
such Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, and (iii)
upon a dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Trust (other than in
connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders
of Trust Securities of such Trust or the redemption of all of the Preferred
Securities of such Trust), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation
amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Securities of
such Trust to the date of payment, to the extent such Trust has funds legally
and immediately available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of such Trust
remaining available for distribution to holders of Preferred Securities of
such Trust in liquidation of such Trust (the "Guarantee Payments"). The
Company's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct
payment of the required amounts by the Company to the holders of the related
Preferred Securities or by causing the related Trust to pay such amounts to
such holders.
Each Guarantee will be a guarantee of the Guarantee Payments with respect to
the related Preferred Securities from the time of issuance of such Preferred
Securities, but will not apply to the payment of distributions and other
payments on such Preferred Securities when the related Trust does not have
sufficient funds legally and immediately available to make such distributions
or other payments. If the Company does not make interest payments on the
Junior Subordinated Notes held by the Property Trustee under any Trust, such
Trust will not make distributions on its Preferred Securities.
Subordination
The Company's obligations under each Guarantee to make the Guarantee
Payments will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Company and will rank
(i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the
Company, including the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those obligations or
liabilities made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu
with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by
the Company and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the
Company in respect of any preferred or preference securities of any affiliate
of the Company, and (iii) senior to all common stock of the Company. The terms
of the Preferred Securities will provide that each holder of Preferred
Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the subordination provisions and
other terms of the Guarantee related thereto. The Company has outstanding
preferred stock that ranks pari passu to the Guarantees and common stock that
ranks junior to the Guarantees.
16
Each Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection
(that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the guarantor to enforce its rights under the guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity).
Amendments and Assignment
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially and adversely
affect the rights of holders of the related Preferred Securities (in which
case no consent will be required), each Guarantee may be amended only with the
prior approval of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in liquidation amount
of such outstanding Preferred Securities. The manner of obtaining any such
approval of holders of the Preferred Securities will be as set forth in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement. All guarantees and agreements contained in
each Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the holders
of the related Preferred Securities then outstanding.
Termination
Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect as to
the related Preferred Securities upon full payment of the Redemption Price of
all such Preferred Securities, upon distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes
to the holders of such Preferred Securities, or upon full payment of the
amounts payable upon liquidation of the related Trust. Each Guarantee will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any holder of the related Preferred Securities must restore payment of
any sums paid with respect to such Preferred Securities or under such
Guarantee.
Events of Default
An event of default under each Guarantee will occur upon the failure by the
Company to perform any of its payment obligations thereunder. The holders of a
majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities to which any
Guarantee relates have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in
respect of such Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under such Guarantee. Any holder of the
related Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Company to enforce its rights under such Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any other
person or entity. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of Preferred
Securities of any series may, by vote, on behalf of the holders of all the
Preferred Securities of such series, waive any past event of default and its
consequences.
Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
The Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of any event of default with
respect to any Guarantee and after the curing or waiving of all events of
default with respect to such Guarantee, undertakes to perform only such duties
as are specifically set forth in such Guarantee and, in case an event of
default has occurred, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent
individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to
such provisions, the Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any
of the powers vested in it by any Guarantee at the request of any holder of
the related Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity against
the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby.
The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Guarantee Trustee, also serves as Property
Trustee, as Senior Note Indenture Trustee and as Subordinated Note Indenture
Trustee. The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts
and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan
Bank serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of
the Company and affiliates of the Company are outstanding.
Governing Law
Each Guarantee will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
internal laws of the State of New York.
17
The Agreements as to Expenses and Liabilities
Pursuant to an Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities to be entered into
by the Company under each Trust Agreement, the Company will irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom each Trust becomes
indebted or liable the full payment of any indebtedness, expenses or
liabilities of such Trust, other than obligations of such Trust to pay to the
holders of the related Preferred Securities or other similar interests in such
Trust the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of such Preferred
Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND
THE GUARANTEES
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on each
series of Junior Subordinated Notes issued to a Trust, such payments will be
sufficient to cover distributions and payments due on the related Trust
Securities of such Trust primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount
of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes will be equal to the sum of the
aggregate stated liquidation amount of the related Trust Securities; (ii) the
interest rate and interest and other payment dates on each series of Junior
Subordinated Notes will match the distribution rate and distribution and other
payment dates for the related Preferred Securities; (iii) the Company shall
pay for all costs and expenses of each Trust pursuant to the Agreements as to
Expenses and Liabilities; and (iv) each Trust Agreement provides that the
Securities Trustees thereunder shall not cause or permit the Trust to, among
other things, engage in any activity that is not consistent with the purposes
of the Trust.
Payments of distributions (to the extent funds therefor are legally and
immediately available) and other payments due on the Preferred Securities (to
the extent funds therefor are legally and immediately available) will be
guaranteed by the Company as and to the extent set forth under "Description of
the Guarantees." If the Company does not make interest payments on any series
of Junior Subordinated Notes, it is not expected that the related Trust will
have sufficient funds to pay distributions on its Preferred Securities. Each
Guarantee is a guarantee from the time of its issuance, but does not apply to
any payment of distributions unless and until the related Trust has sufficient
funds legally and immediately available for the payment of such distributions.
If the Company fails to make interest or other payments on any series of
Junior Subordinated Notes when due (taking into account any extension period
as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), the Trust Agreement
provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the related Preferred Securities
may appoint a substitute Property Trustee. Such holders may also direct the
Property Trustee to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series, including proceeding directly against the Company to enforce such
Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights
under any series of Junior Subordinated Notes, to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, any holder of related Preferred Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Property
Trustee's rights under such series of Junior Subordinated Notes without first
instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or
any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of
principal of or interest on Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of
the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in
the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series.
If the Company fails to make payments under any Guarantee, such Guarantee
provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities to which
such Guarantee relates may direct the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights
thereunder. In addition, any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Guarantee
Trustee's rights under the related Guarantee without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity.
18
Each Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Junior Subordinated
Notes of the related series, the related Trust Agreement and the related
Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, as described above, constitute a
full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the payments due on the
related series of Preferred Securities.
Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of
any Trust, unless Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series are
distributed in connection therewith, the holders of Preferred Securities of
such Trust will be entitled to receive, out of assets legally available for
distribution to holders, a liquidation distribution in cash as described in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company, the Property Trustee, as holder of
the related series of Junior Subordinated Notes, would be a subordinated
creditor of the Company, subordinated in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal and
interest, before any stockholders of the Company receive payments or
distributions. Because the Company is guarantor under each Guarantee and has
agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of each Trust (other
than the Trust's obligations to holders of the Preferred Securities) pursuant
to the related Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, the positions of a
holder of Preferred Securities and a holder of Junior Subordinated Notes of
the related series relative to other creditors and to stockholders of the
Company in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company would be
substantially the same.
A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness would not
constitute a default or Event of Default under the Subordinated Note
Indenture. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration
of, Senior Indebtedness, the subordination provisions of the Junior
Subordinated Notes provide that no payments may be made in respect of the
Junior Subordinated Notes until such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full
or any payment default thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make
required payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series would
constitute an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series except that failure to
make interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series will
not be an Event of Default during an extension period as described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell the Senior Notes and the Junior Subordinated Notes and
the Trusts may sell the Preferred Securities in one or more of the following
ways from time to time: (i) to underwriters for resale to the public or to
institutional investors; (ii) directly to institutional investors; or (iii)
through agents to the public or to institutional investors. The Prospectus
Supplement with respect to each series of Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated
Notes or Preferred Securities will set forth the terms of the offering of such
Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities, including the
name or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price of such Senior
Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities and the proceeds to
the Company or the applicable Trust from such sale, any underwriting discounts
or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents'
compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which
such Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities may be
listed.
If underwriters participate in the sale, such Senior Notes, Junior
Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities will be acquired by the
underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one
or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public
offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.
Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of
the underwriters to purchase any series of Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated
Notes or Preferred Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent
and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of
Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities, if any are
purchased.
19
Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with
the Company and/or the applicable Trust to indemnification against certain
civil liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act. Underwriters and
agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company
in the ordinary course of business.
Each series of Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred
Securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established
trading market. Any underwriters to whom Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated
Notes or Preferred Securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a
market in such Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred
Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The Senior Notes,
Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities may or may not be listed on
a national securities exchange.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred
Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company and the Trusts by
Richards, Layton & Finger, Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel to
the Company and the Trusts. The validity of the Senior Notes, the Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Guarantees and certain matters relating thereto will
be passed upon on behalf of the Company by Beggs & Lane, Pensacola, Florida,
and by Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will be
passed upon for the Underwriters by Dewey Ballantine LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and schedules of the Company included in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000,
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been audited by Arthur
Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports
with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said
reports.
20
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1,200,000 Trust Preferred Securities
Gulf Power Capital Trust III
% Trust Preferred Securities (TruPS(R))
($25 liquidation amount per Trust Preferred Security)
fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as set forth herein, by
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
November , 2001
(Including Prospectus
dated June 1, 2001)
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Salomon Smith Barney
UBS Warburg
Raymond James
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