File Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Nos. 333-45069
333-45069-01
333-45069-02
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated February 9, 1998)
1,400,000 Trust Preferred Securities
Mississippi Power Capital Trust II
7.20% Trust Originated Preferred Securities/SM/ ("TOPrS/SM/")
(Liquidation Amount $25 per Preferred Security)
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed to the Extent Set Forth Herein by
[LOGO] MISSISSIPPI POWER
(A SOUTHERN COMPANY)
-------------
Mississippi Power Capital Trust II is a Delaware business trust that will:
. sell trust preferred securities to the public;
. sell common securities to Mississippi Power Company;
. use the proceeds from these sales to buy an equal principal amount of 7.20%
junior subordinated notes due December 30, 2041 of Mississippi Power
Company; and
. distribute the cash payments it receives from Mississippi Power Company on
the junior subordinated notes to the holders of the trust preferred
securities and the common securities.
Quarterly Distributions:
. For each trust preferred security that you own, you will receive cumulative
cash distributions, accumulating from the date of original issuance at an
annual rate of 7.20% of the liquidation amount of $25 per trust preferred
security, on March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year
beginning June 30, 2002.
. Mississippi Power Company may defer interest payments on the junior
subordinated notes on one or more occasions, for up to 20 consecutive
quarters. If Mississippi Power Company does defer interest payment on the
junior subordinated notes, Mississippi Power Capital Trust II will also
defer payment of distributions on the trust preferred securities. However,
deferred distributions will themselves accumulate interest at an annual
rate of 7.20%, to the extent permitted by law.
Optional Redemption:
Mississippi Power Capital Trust II may redeem some or all of the trust
preferred securities on or after March 22, 2007, or all of the trust preferred
securities at any time upon the occurrence of a special event as discussed
herein at a redemption price equal to $25 per trust preferred security plus
accumulated distributions, if any.
Mississippi Power Company:
Mississippi Power Company will guarantee the payment by Mississippi Power
Capital Trust II of amounts due on the trust preferred securities as discussed
in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus.
Mississippi Power Capital Trust II plans to apply for the listing of the
trust preferred securities on the New York Stock Exchange. If approved, trading
of the trust preferred securities on the New York Stock Exchange is expected to
begin within 30 days after they are first issued.
Investing in the trust preferred securities involves certain risks that are
described in the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page S-6 of this
prospectus supplement.
-------------
Per TOPrS Total
--------- -----
Public offering price(1)........................................ $ 25.00 $35,000,000
Underwriting commissions to be paid by Mississippi Power Company $.7875 $1,102,500
Proceeds, before expenses, to Mississippi Power Capital Trust II $ 25.00 $35,000,000
(1) Plus accumulated distributions, if any, from the date of original issuance
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined
whether this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful
or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The trust preferred securities will be ready for delivery in book-entry form
only through The Depository Trust Company on or about March 22, 2002.
-------------
Merrill Lynch & Co.
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey
-------------
The date of this prospectus supplement is March 15, 2002.
- --------
"Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks of
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus. The Company and the
Trust 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. The Company and the
Trust 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 the Company 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. The
Company's 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
Mississippi Power Capital Trust II........................................................... S-9
Selected Financial Information............................................................... S-10
Accounting Treatment......................................................................... S-10
Use of Proceeds.............................................................................. S-11
Recent Results of Operations................................................................. S-11
Description of the Preferred Securities...................................................... S-12
Description of the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes........................................ S-22
Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes and
the Guarantee.............................................................................. S-23
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences...................................................... S-25
Underwriting................................................................................. S-29
Legal Opinions............................................................................... S-31
Experts...................................................................................... S-31
Prospectus
Available Information........................................................................ 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.............................................. 2
Selected Information......................................................................... 3
Mississippi Power Company.................................................................... 4
The Trusts................................................................................... 5
Accounting Treatment......................................................................... 5
Use of Proceeds.............................................................................. 5
Recent Results of Operations................................................................. 5
Description of the Senior Notes.............................................................. 6
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes................................................. 9
Description of the Preferred Securities...................................................... 14
Description of the Guarantees................................................................ 15
Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantees 17
Plan of Distribution......................................................................... 19
Legal Matters................................................................................ 19
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 7.20% Trust Originated Preferred Securities (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 Mississippi Power Capital Trust II (the "Trust"). Each Preferred
Security will entitle the holder to receive quarterly cash distributions as
described in this Prospectus Supplement. The Trust is offering 1,400,000
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 Mississippi Power Company, 2992 West Beach Boulevard,
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501, and its telephone number is (228) 864-1211.
The Trust will sell its Preferred Securities to the public and its common
securities (the "Common Securities") to Mississippi Power Company (the
"Company"). The Trust will use the proceeds from these sales to buy a series of
7.20% junior subordinated deferrable interest notes due December 30, 2041 (the
"Series B 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.
Bankers Trust Company 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. Bankers Trust (Delaware) will be an
additional trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") of the Trust. Bankers Trust Company
also will act as trustee (the "Indenture Trustee") under the Subordinated Note
Indenture (the "Subordinated Note Indenture") pursuant to which the Series B
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 Mississippi Power Company?
This Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi on
July 12, 1972, was admitted to do business in Alabama on November 28, 1972 and,
effective December 21, 1972, by the merger into it of the predecessor
Mississippi Power Company, succeeded to the business and properties of the
latter company. The predecessor Mississippi Power Company was incorporated
under the laws of the State of Maine on November 24, 1924 and was admitted to
do business in Mississippi on December 23, 1924 and in Alabama on December 7,
1962. The Company has its principal office at 2992 West Beach Boulevard,
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501, telephone number (228) 864-1211. The Company is a
wholly owned subsidiary of The Southern Company.
The Company is engaged in the generation and purchase of electric energy and
the distribution and sale of such energy within 23 counties of southeastern
Mississippi, at retail in 123 communities (including Biloxi, Gulfport,
Hattiesburg, Laurel, Meridian and Pascagoula), as well as in rural areas, and
at wholesale to one municipality, six rural electric distribution cooperative
associations and one generating and transmitting cooperative.
S-3
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 7.20% (the "Securities
Rate") of the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security. Distributions
will accumulate from the date the Trust issues the Preferred Securities (the
"Issue Date") and will be paid quarterly in arrears on March 30, June 30,
September 30 and December 30 of each year (each, a "Distribution Date"),
beginning June 30, 2002.
When can payment of your distributions be deferred?
The Company can, on one or more occasions, defer interest payments on the
Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes (which is December 30, 2041).
If the Company defers interest payments on the Series B 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 7.20% of the liquidation amount of
$25 per Preferred Security. Also, the deferred distributions will themselves
accrue interest at an annual rate of 7.20% (to the extent permitted by law).
Once the Company makes all interest payments on the Series B Junior
Subordinated Notes, with accrued interest, it can again postpone interest
payments on the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes.
During any period in which the Company defers interest payments on the
Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes.
If the Company defers payments of interest on the Series B 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 Consequences--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 B Junior
Subordinated Notes are paid at maturity on December 30, 2041. In addition, if
the Company redeems any Series B 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 B
Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed.
The Company can redeem some or all of the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes
before their maturity at 100% of their principal amount on one or more
occasions any time on or after March 22, 2007. The Company also has the option
to redeem the Series B 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 B
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 B 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 B 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 B
Junior Subordinated Notes to holders of the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities on a pro rata basis. If the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes are
distributed, the Company will use its best efforts to list the Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes, see "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Special Event Redemption; Distribution of Series B Junior
Subordinated Notes" and "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution."
Will the Preferred Securities be listed on a stock exchange?
Application will be 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
March 22, 2002.
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 B Junior
Subordinated Notes Are Subordinated.
The Company's obligations under the Series B 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 B 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 $331,000,000 as of December 31, 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 B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes
when due.
If the Company defaults on its obligations to pay principal or interest on
the Series B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods.
If the Company defers interest payments on the Series B 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
7.20% per annum (to the extent permitted by law).
S-6
If the Company defers payments of interest on the Series B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B Junior
Subordinated Notes may mean that the market price for the Preferred Securities
(which represent an undivided beneficial interest in the Series B Junior
Subordinated Notes) may be more volatile than other securities that do not have
these rights.
See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences" 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.
Certain tax law changes have been proposed from time to time which could
affect the deductibility of interest paid on the Series B Junior Subordinated
Notes. None of these proposals has become law. 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes" and
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Effect of Possible Tax Law Changes on
the Preferred Securities."
Preferred Securities May Be Redeemed at the Option of the Company.
At the option of the Company, the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes may be
redeemed, in whole, at any time, or in part, from time to time, on or after
March 22, 2007 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes. If
the Series B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes that a holder of
S-7
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 to defer interest payments on the Series B 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 B 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 B 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
B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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
MISSISSIPPI POWER CAPITAL TRUST II
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
January 24, 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
B 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 equally, 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. Bankers Trust Company will serve as Property Trustee and will hold
legal title to the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes issued by the Company on
behalf of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities. Bankers Trust
(Delaware) 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 B 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 B
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 B 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 Bankers Trust
(Delaware), 1001 Jefferson Street, Suite 550, Wilmington, Delaware 19801-1457.
The mailing address of the principal place of business of the Trust shall be
c/o the Company, 2992 West Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501,
telephone (228) 864-1211, 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.
Year Ended December 31,
--------------------------------------------
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(Thousands, except ratios)
Operating Revenues............................... $543,588 $595,131 $633,004 $687,602 $796,065
Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes........ 113,149 118,232 121,620 122,270 132,671
Net Income After Dividends on Preferred Stock.... 54,010 55,105 54,809 54,972 63,887
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)............ 4.62 4.47 3.96 3.97 5.05
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred
Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis)(2) 3.85 4.00 3.60 3.59 4.51
Capitalization
As of December 31, 2001
------------------------------
Actual As Adjusted(3)
-------- ------------------
(Thousands, except percentages)
Common Stock Equity........................................................ $491,680 $491,680 56.4%
Cumulative Preferred Stock................................................. 31,809 31,809 3.6
Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary
Trusts Holding Company Junior Subordinated Notes......................... 35,000 35,000 4.0
Senior Notes............................................................... 87,178 167,178 19.2
Other Long-Term Debt....................................................... 146,575 146,575 16.8
-------- -------- -----
Total, excluding amounts due within one year............................ $792,242 $872,242 100.0%
======== ======== =====
- --------
(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 proposed issuance in March 2002 of $80,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of Series D Floating Rate Senior Notes due March 12, 2004;
(ii) the proposed redemption in April 2002 of $35,000,000 aggregate
liquidation amount of Mississippi Power Capital Trust I 7.75% Trust
Originated Preferred Securities issued for the benefit of the Company; and
(iii) 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes. The net proceeds received by
the Company from such investment will be used by it to redeem in April 2002 the
$35,000,000 outstanding aggregate liquidation amount of 7.75% Trust Originated
Preferred Securities issued by Mississippi Power Capital Trust I for the
benefit of the Company. Such redemption is subject to the Company's closing the
sale of the Preferred Securities offered hereby.
RECENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2001, "Operating Revenues,"
"Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes" and "Net Income After Dividends on
Preferred Stock" were $796,065,000, $132,671,000 and $63,887,000, respectively.
In the opinion of the management of the Company, the above amounts for the
twelve months ended December 31, 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 December 31, 2001 were 5.05
and 4.51, respectively.
S-11
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 equally, 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year, commencing June
30, 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.
S-12
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 B Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the
interest payment period from time to time on the Series B 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 B 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 B
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 B Junior Subordinated Notes. See
"Description of the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes."
Redemption
The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment
of the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes at maturity or their earlier
redemption. The Series B Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on December 30,
2041 and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at
any time on or after March 22, 2007, 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes--Optional Redemption."
If a partial redemption of the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes would result
in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, the Company may only redeem the
Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes
Upon the occurrence of a Special Event at any time, the Company will have
the option to redeem the Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) interest payable on
the Series B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the
Preferred Securities, the Company will use its best efforts to have the Series
B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes. The Redemption
S-14
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 B
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 (the "1934 Act"). 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 (the "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 B Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of the Preferred
Securities in liquidation of the Trust (see "--Special Event Redemption;
Distribution of Series B Junior Subordinated Notes" above); or (iii) the
payment at maturity or redemption of all of the Series B 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 B
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 B Junior
Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under
the Series B 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 B 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 B Junior
Subordinated Notes. See "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the
Series B 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 B 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 B
S-18
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 B 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 B
Junior Subordinated Notes, where such consent shall be required, or to any
other action, as the holder of the Series B 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 B 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 B 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
S-19
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
B 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.
S-20
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.
Bankers Trust Company, 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 Bankers Trust Company.
Bankers Trust Company 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 B 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.
S-21
DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES B JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Series B
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 B Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as a series of Junior
Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Series B Junior
Subordinated Notes will be limited in aggregate principal amount to
$36,082,475, such amount being the approximate aggregate liquidation amount of
the Trust Securities.
The entire principal amount of the Series B 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 December 30, 2041. The Series B Junior Subordinated Notes are not
subject to any sinking fund provision.
The terms of the Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated
Notes, in whole or in part, without premium, from time to time, on or after
March 22, 2007, 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated
Notes would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, the Company
may only redeem the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes in whole.
Interest
Each Series B Junior Subordinated Note shall bear interest at the Securities
Rate from the Issue Date, payable quarterly in arrears on March 30, June 30,
September 30 and December 30 of each year, commencing June 30, 2002, to the
person in whose name such Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes have been distributed to holders of the
Trust Securities and such Series B 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 B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes by
extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly
S-22
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 equally with or junior to the Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences--Original Issue Discount."
The Company shall give the holder or holders of the Series B 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 B 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 B 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 B JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND THE GUARANTEE
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Series B 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 B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes, it is not expected
that the Trust will have sufficient funds to pay distributions on the Preferred
Securities.
S-23
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 B
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 B Junior
Subordinated Notes, including proceeding directly against the Company to
enforce the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails
to enforce its rights under the Series B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated
Notes provide that no payments may be made in respect of the Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes would constitute an Event of
Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture except that failure to make
interest payments on the Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes.
S-24
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 asserting 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 B 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 B 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 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes permit the Company to
defer the payment of interest on the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes at any
time and from time to time by extending the interest payment
S-25
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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes would, at that time, be treated as issued
with OID. Thereafter, the sum of the remaining interest payments on the Series
B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes (including any
period of interest deferral), without regard to the timing of payments under
the Series B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes and the actual
receipt of future payments of stated interest on the Series B 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 B 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 B Subordinated Notes multiplied by (ii) the number of complete years to
maturity of such Series B 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 B 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 B 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 B 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.
S-26
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 B 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 B 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 B 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 B Junior Subordinated Notes between the portion of the Series B
Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed and retained by the Holder in order to
determine gain or loss.
Receipt of Series B Junior Subordinated Notes Upon Liquidation of the Trust
As described under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event
Redemption; Distribution of Series B Junior Subordinated Notes," Series B
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 B 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 B 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 B Junior
Subordinated Notes. Currently, the backup withholding tax rate is 30%, but will
be gradually reduced to 28% by 2006.
Effect of Possible Tax Law Changes on the Preferred Securities
On January 24, 2002, legislation was proposed in Congress that generally
would deny an interest deduction for interest paid or accrued on debt
instruments that are not shown as part of the total liabilities in the
certified annual report of an issuer. If this provision were to apply to the
Series B Junior Subordinated Notes, the Company would not be able to deduct
interest payments on the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes. This provision is
proposed to be effective for instruments issued on or after the date of
enactment of such legislation. Consequently, as drafted, the proposed
legislation would not affect the Preferred Securities or the Series B Junior
Subordinated Notes or otherwise affect the tax treatment of the transaction
described in this Prospectus Supplement. However, there can be no assurance
that the final terms of the proposed legislation, if adopted, or other further
legislative proposals will not adversely affect our ability to deduct interest
on the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes. If such an event were to occur, the
Company would be permitted to redeem the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes.
Such redemption would cause a mandatory redemption of the Preferred Securities
at a redemption price equal to their liquidation amount plus accumulated and
unpaid distributions and would constitute a taxable event. See "Risk
Factors--Preferred Securities May Be Redeemed at Any Time if Certain Changes in
Tax or Investment Company Law Occur."
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
Subject to the terms and conditions of an underwriting agreement (the
"Underwriting Agreement"), the Trust has agreed to sell to each underwriter
named below (the "Underwriters"), and each of the Underwriters, for whom
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is acting as representative
(the "Representative"), has severally, but not jointly, agreed to purchase from
the Trust, the number of Preferred Securities set forth opposite the name of
each Underwriter below.
Number of Trust
Underwriter Preferred Securities
----------- --------------------
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated.............. 1,190,000
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc........ 210,000
---------
Total................................ 1,400,000
=========
In the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters have agreed, subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, to purchase all
the Preferred Securities offered hereby if any of the Preferred Securities are
purchased. In the event of a default by an Underwriter, the Underwriting
Agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting
Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.
The Company and the Trust have agreed with the Underwriters to indemnify
them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Underwriters are offering the Preferred Securities, subject to prior
sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of
legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the Preferred
Securities, and other conditions contained in the Underwriting Agreement, such
as the receipt by the Underwriters of officer's certificates and legal
opinions. The Underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify
offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
The Underwriters and their affiliates have in the past and may in the future
engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company and its
affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses.
Commissions and Discounts
The Underwriters have advised the Company that they propose to offer the
Preferred Securities to the public initially at $25 per Preferred Security and
to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $.50 per Preferred
Security. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount
not in excess of $.30 per Preferred Security to certain dealers. After the
initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may
be changed.
Because the proceeds from the sale of the Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities will be used to purchase the Series B Junior Subordinated
Notes, the Company has agreed to pay to the Underwriters an underwriting
commission of $.7875 per Preferred Security (or a total of $1,102,500).
The Company will pay all expenses, estimated to be approximately $235,000,
associated with the offer and sale of the Preferred Securities.
S-29
New York Stock Exchange Listing
Before this offering, there was no established public trading market for the
Preferred Securities. The Trust will apply for the listing of the Preferred
Securities on the NYSE. If approved, trading of the Preferred Securities on the
NYSE is expected to begin within 30 days after they are first issued. As part
of the requirements for listing the Preferred Securities on the NYSE, the
Underwriters have agreed to sell the Preferred Securities to a minimum of 400
beneficial holders. The Representative has advised the Company and the Trust
that it intends to make a market in the Preferred Securities prior to the
commencement of trading on the NYSE. However, the Representative is not
obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without
notice. No assurance is given that a liquid trading market for the Preferred
Securities will be available.
No Sales of Similar Securities
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 B Junior Subordinated Notes or any debt securities
substantially similar to the Series B Junior Subordinated Notes or equity
securities substantially similar to the Preferred Securities (except for the
Series B Junior Subordinated Notes and the Preferred Securities issued pursuant
to the Underwriting Agreement), without the prior written consent of the
Representative.
Settlement
It is expected that delivery of the Preferred Securities will be made
against payment therefor on or about the date specified in the last paragraph
of the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement.
Price Stabilization and Short Positions
In connection with the sale of the Preferred Securities, rules of the
Commission permit the Underwriters to engage in transactions that stabilize the
price of the Preferred Securities. These transactions may include purchases for
the purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the Preferred Securities.
The Underwriters may create a short position in the Preferred Securities in
connection with this offering. That means they may sell a larger number of the
Preferred Securities than is shown on the cover page of this Prospectus
Supplement. If they create a short position, the Underwriters may purchase
Preferred Securities in the open market to reduce the short position.
If the Underwriters purchase the Preferred Securities to stabilize the price
or to reduce their short position, the price of the Preferred Securities could
be higher than it might be if they had not made such purchases. The
Underwriters make no representation or prediction about any effect that the
purchases may have on the price of the Preferred Securities.
The Underwriters may suspend any of these activities at any time.
Penalty Bids
The Representative may also impose a penalty bid on certain underwriters and
selling group members. This means that, if the Representative purchases
Preferred Securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters' short
position or to stabilize the price of the Preferred Securities, it may reclaim
the amount of the selling concession from the underwriters and the selling
group members who sold those Preferred Securities as part of this offering.
S-30
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 B Junior Subordinated
Notes, the Guarantee and certain matters relating thereto will be passed upon
on behalf of the Company by Balch & Bingham LLP, Gulfport, Mississippi, 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.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of the Company included in the Company's Current
Report on Form 8-K dated February 13, 2002, incorporated by reference herein,
have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as
indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein in
reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing
in giving said report.
S-31
================================================================================
1,400,000 Trust Preferred Securities
Mississippi Power Capital Trust II
7.20% Trust Originated Preferred Securities/SM/ (TOPrS/SM/)
(Liquidation Amount $25 per Preferred Security)
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed to the Extent Set Forth Herein by
[LOGO] MISSISSIPPI POWER
(A SOUTHERN COMPANY)
------------------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
------------------------
Merrill Lynch & Co.
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey
March 15, 2002
"Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks of
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
================================================================================