************************************ * A Powerful Southeastern Presence * ************************************ [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Today's Presenters - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Cavanaugh III - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Carolina Power & Light Company Richard Korpan - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Florida Progress Corporation Glenn E. Harder - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Carolina Power & Light Company [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Safe Harbor Language - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; these forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. . Discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations may include factors that are beyond the companies' ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market conditions, the behavior of other market participants and the actions of Federal and state regulators. . Other factors include, but are not limited to, actions in the financial markets, weather conditions, economic conditions in the two companies' service territories, fluctuations in energy-related commodity prices, conversion activity, other marketing efforts and other uncertainties. . Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in the two companies' SEC reports. . The press release also contains further discussion of factors affecting the companies. [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] ****************************** * Overview * ****************************** Key Transaction Terms - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Offer Price: $54 per Florida Progress share Premium to FPC: 30%, based upon 20-day average closing price ending 8/20/99 Total Transaction Value: $8.0 billion, including the assumption of $2.7 billion of Florida Progress net debt and preferred Consideration: 65% Cash, 35% Common Stock of CP&L Holdings (subject to proration and collar) Governance: 14 Board members --10 from CP&L --4 from Florida Progress [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Two High-Quality Energy Companies - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dollars in Millions CP&L Florida Progress ------- ---------------- Market Value $ 6,000 $ 4,400 Enterprise Value $ 9,120 $ 7,130 Total Assets $ 8,863 $ 6,302 1998 Revenues $ 3,130 $ 3,620 1998 EBIT $ 898 $ 600 1998 Net Income $ 399 $ 282 Generation Capacity (MWs) 10,288 8,232 Customers (000's) 1,400 1,300 [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Combination Creates One of the Largest Energy Companies - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CP&L U.S. New U.S. Standalone Ranking Company Ranking ------------ ------- ------------ ------- Equity Market Value $ 6 Billion 18 $ 8 Billion 13 Total Assets $ 9 Billion 24 $ 15 Billion 14 Generation Capacity (MWs) 10,228 MW 17 18,520 MW 9 Customers 1.4 Million 25 2.7 Million 16 [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Combined - A Super Regional Powerhouse - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Highlights - ---------- . $6.7 billion total revenues . $15.2 billion total assets [Map of Southeastern United States with CP&L and Florida Progress Corporation market areas highlighted county-by-county] . 18,520 MWs power generation . 2.7 million customers . 7-8% EPS growth [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] A Strategically Sound Transaction - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . Two strong companies . High-growth region . Significant scale . Greater access to competitive markets . Constructive regulatory environments [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Financial Benefits - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . Accretive -- Annual synergies of $100-$175 million . Platform for growth -- Earnings growth of 7-8% -- Improved cash flow . Secure dividend . Favorable risk/return opportunity [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Strengthing the Foundation for Growth - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . Superior financial performance -- Top-line revenue growth -- Focused cost management . Core strengths -- Generation assets and wholesale marketing -- Distribution of electricity and natural gas . Regulatory transition for shareholders . Enhance profitability through non-regulated business -- Domestic investments -- Focused diversification [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Continued Focus on Maximizing Shareholder Value - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Bar Chart showing Total Return (%) over 3-Year, 5-Year and 10-Year periods for CP&L, Florida Progress and S&P Electrics as indicated in the following table] 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year ------- ------- -------- Carolina P&L 16.5% 15.4% 16.2% Florida Progress 16.0% 13.3% 14.2% S&P Electrics 13.2% 10.6% 13.4% [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] ************************************* * A Powerful Southeastern Presence * ************************************* [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] ************************************* * A Profile of the * * New Company * ************************************* Favorable Customer Mix - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues by Customer Class [Pie Charts showing revenues by Customer Class as indicated in the following table] Carolina Power & Light Florida Progress New Company ----------------------- ----------------- ----------- Residential 33% 54% 42% Commercial 21% 23% 22% Industrial 23% 8% 16% Wholesale/Other 23% 15% 20% Source: 1998 10-Ks and Annual Reports [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Balanced Generation Portfolio - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Instralled Capacity [Pie Charts showing Installed Capacity as indicated in the following table] Carolina Power & Light Florida Progress New Company ----------------------- ----------------- ------------ Total 10,228 MWs 8,232 MWs 18,520 MWs Nuclear 31% 9% 21% Coal 52% 28% 41% Gas/Oil 15% 63% 37% Hydro 2% 0% 1% Source: 1998 10-Ks and Annual Reports [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] A Strong Commitment to Nuclear Excellence - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 License Facility Megawatts Capacity Factor Expiration -------- --------- --------------- ---------- Robinson #2 683 92% 2010 Harris 860 89% 2026 Brunswick #1 820 89% 2016 Brunswick #2 811 98% 2014 Crystal River 835 90% 2016 Recent Highlights - ----------------- . Carolina Power & Light's nuclear plants set a combined generation record for the fifth consecutive year; during that time, O&M costs have been lowered by one-third . Carolina Power & Light's plants have consistently been rated among the industry leaders in terms of plant safety . Crystal River nuclear unit has produced more than 100% of its rated capacity since its restart in February 1998 [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Attractive Non-Regulated Businesses - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Logos of Progress Rail Services, Memco Barge Lines, Inc., Strategic Resource Solutions, Interpath Communications Inc., Progress Telecommunications Corporation and Electric Fuels Corporation] [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] ************************************* * Financial Terms * * and Benefits * ************************************* Key Transaction Terms - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Offer Price: $54 per Florida Progress share Premium to FPC: 30%, based upon 20-day average closing price ending 8/20/99 Total Transaction Value: $8.0 billion, including the assumption of $2.7 billion of Florida Progress net debt and preferred Consideration: 65% Cash, 35% Common Stock of CP&L Holdings Taxable to Florida Progress Shareholders Collar: Fixed Value at CP&L prices of $37.13 to $45.39 per share Accounting Treatment: Purchase Timing: Expected to close within 12 months Regulatory Approvals: SEC, FERC, NRC NC and SC state approvals required to form holding company [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Regulatory Approvals/Filings - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two Steps Holding Company Formation Merger Approval * SEC * CP&L and * FERC FPC Shareholders * NRC * SEC * NCUC * FERC * SCPSC * NRC * Dept. of Justice * NCUC/SCPSC/FPSC, as required Early 2000 Within 12 Months [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Commitment to Credit Quality - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ . Establish a holding company with a funding subsidiary . Access debt capital markets for acquisition financing -- Expected holding company debt rating of BBB+ . Maintain current Carolina Power & Light and Florida Power utility ratings . Reduce leverage over time to strengthen holding company ratings -- Utilize hybrid preferred securities [Graph showing projected FFO/Total Interest Expense from 2001 to 2004] [Graph showing projected Debt/Capitalization from 2001 to 2004] [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] $100 - $175 Million of Annual Synergies - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Pie Chart showing Annual Synergies and represented in the following table] Description Percent ----------- ------- Shared Services 44% Energy Supply 20% Revenue Synergies 14% Energy Delivery 14% Retail 8% [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] Pro Forma Earnings Impact Scenario - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dollars in Millions, Except per Share Data 2001 2002 ---- ---- CP&L Standalone Estimated Net Income (1) $523 $547 FPC Standalone Net Income (1) 338 355 CP&L Incremental After-Tax Interest Expense (@7.50%) (160) (158) Goodwill (83) (83) Assumed Annual Synergies to Shareholders (Net of Tax) (2) 60 70 -- -- Pro Forma Net Income $678 $731 ---- ---- Average Fully Diluted Pro Forma Shares Outst. (mm) 199 199 Pro Forma Fully Diluted EPS $3.41 $3.67 CP&L Standalone Fully Diluted EPS $3.40 $3.56 Accretion ($) $0.01 $0.11 Accretion (%) -- 3.1% (1) Based on Merrill Lynch Research and assumes EPS growth rates of 4.8% for CP&L and 5.5% for FPC. (2) Assumes the recognition of a full year of synergies. [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] ****************************** * Conclusions * ****************************** A Compelling Combination - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- . Achieves goal of becoming a super regional utility . Asset-based regionally focused strategy . Conservative synergies lead to accretion in first full year . Outstanding platform to deliver accelerated earnings growth [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo] ************************************* * A Powerful Southeastern Presence * ************************************* [CP&L Logo] [Florida Progress Corporation Logo]