Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Nos. 333-126348
333-126348-01
333-126348-02
333-126348-03
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated July 19, 2005)
6,000,000 Shares
5.625% Series Preference Stock
Non-Cumulative, Par Value $1 Per Share
(Stated Capital $25 Per Share)
This is a public offering by Alabama Power
Company of 6,000,000 shares of 5.625% Series Preference Stock,
Non-Cumulative, Par Value $1 Per Share (Stated Capital $25
Per Share).
On or after January 1, 2012, Alabama Power
Company may redeem shares of the new Preference Stock, in whole
or in part, at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share plus
any accrued and unpaid dividends for the current quarterly
dividend period.
When, as and if declared by Alabama Power
Company, dividends on the new Preference Stock will be payable
quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1 and
October 1 of each year, beginning January 1, 2007.
Dividends on the new Preference Stock are not cumulative and,
accordingly, if Alabama Power Company does not declare a
dividend or declares less than a full dividend on the new
Preference Stock for a quarterly dividend period, holders of the
new Preference Stock will have no right to receive a dividend or
the full dividend, as the case may be, for that period, and
Alabama Power Company will have no obligation to pay a dividend
for that period, whether or not Alabama Power Company pays
dividends in full or has sufficient funds to pay dividends in
the future.
The new Preference Stock will rank junior to
Alabama Power Companys preferred stock and Class A
preferred stock and senior to Alabama Power Companys
common stock. The new Preference Stock will not have any voting
rights, except as set forth under Certain Terms of the new
Preference Stock Voting Rights.
See RISK FACTORS on page S-3
for a description of certain risks associated with investing in
the new Preference Stock.
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Public |
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Proceeds to |
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Offering |
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Underwriting |
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Alabama Power Company |
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Price(l) |
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Discount |
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Before Expenses |
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Per Share
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$ |
25.00 |
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$ |
0.4375 |
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$ |
24.5625 |
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Total
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$ |
150,000,000 |
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$ |
2,625,000 |
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$ |
147,375,000 |
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(1) |
Plus accrued dividends, if any, from the date of
original issuance.
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The new Preference Stock should be delivered in
book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company on or about
December 13, 2006.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission
nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of
these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this
Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying Prospectus. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Joint Book-Running Managers
Co-Managers
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BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC |
WACHOVIA SECURITIES |
December 5, 2006
In making your investment decision, you should
rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus Supplement, the accompanying
Prospectus and any written communication from Alabama Power
Company or the underwriters specifying the final terms of the
offering. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized
anyone to provide you with any other information. If you receive
any unauthorized information, you must not rely on it.
We are offering to sell the new Preference Stock
only in places where sales are permitted.
You should not assume that the information
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus
Supplement, the accompanying Prospectus or any written
communication from Alabama Power Company or the underwriters
specifying the final terms of this offering, including
information incorporated by reference, is accurate as of any
date other than its respective date.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Prospectus Supplement
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S-3 |
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S-3 |
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S-4 |
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S-5 |
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S-5 |
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S-10 |
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S-11 |
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Prospectus
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About this Prospectus
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2 |
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Risk Factors
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2 |
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Available Information
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2 |
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Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
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3 |
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Alabama Power Company
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Selected Information
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The Trusts
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Accounting Treatment of the Trusts
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Use of Proceeds
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6 |
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Description of the New Bonds
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6 |
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Description of the New Stock
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9 |
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Description of the Preference Stock
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Description of the Depositary Shares
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11 |
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Description of the Senior Notes
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Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes
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Description of the Preferred Securities
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22 |
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Description of the Guarantees
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23 |
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Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the
Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantees
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25 |
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Plan of Distribution
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26 |
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Legal Matters
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27 |
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Experts
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27 |
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S-2
RISK FACTORS
Investing in the new Preference Stock involves
risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully
consider the following risk factors as well as other information
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus
Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. The risks and
uncertainties not presently known to Alabama Power Company or
that Alabama Power Company currently deems immaterial may also
impair its business operations, its financial results and the
value of the new Preference Stock.
Risks Related to Alabama Power Companys
Business
For a discussion of risks to consider with
respect to Alabama Power Companys business, see the risk
factors in Alabama Power Companys Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, along
with the disclosure related to risk factors contained in Alabama
Power Companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and
September 30, 2006, which are all incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus.
Risks Related to the new Preference
Stock
Rating agencies may change rating
methodologies, including their views on notching
practices.
The rating methodologies for securities with
features similar to the new Preference Stock are still
developing and the rating agencies may change their
methodologies in the future. This may include, for example, the
relationship between ratings assigned to an issuers senior
securities and ratings assigned to securities with features
similar to the new Preference Stock, sometimes called
notching. If the rating agencies were to change
their practices for rating such securities in the future and the
ratings of the new Preference Stock were to be subsequently
lowered, this may have a negative impact on the trading price of
the new Preference Stock. For example, on November 20,
2006, Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
(Moodys) released a publication entitled
Rating Preferred Stock and Hybrid Securities-Request for
Comment that discusses a possible alternative approach to
notching in Moodys ratings analysis and requests comment
from market participants, with the comment period expiring on
December 31, 2006. The methodology described in that
publication, if adopted, would result in a one notch reduction
of the credit rating assigned by Moodys to certain types
of securities having characteristics similar to the new
Preference Stock.
THE COMPANY
Alabama Power Company (the Company)
is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Alabama on November 10, 1927, by the consolidation of a
predecessor Alabama Power Company, Gulf Electric Company and
Houston Power Company. The Company has its principal office at
600 North 18th Street, Birmingham, Alabama 35291, telephone
(205) 257-1000. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of
The Southern Company (Southern).
The Company is a regulated public utility engaged
in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of
electric energy within an approximately 44,500 square mile
service area comprising most of the State of Alabama.
S-3
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following selected financial data for the
years ended December 31, 2001 through December 31,
2005 has been derived from the Companys audited financial
statements and related notes and the unaudited selected
financial data, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus
Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. The following
selected financial data for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006 has been derived from the Companys
unaudited financial statements and related notes, incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying
Prospectus. The information set forth below is qualified in its
entirety by reference to and, therefore, should be read together
with managements discussion and analysis of results of
operations and financial condition, the financial statements and
related notes and other financial information incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying
Prospectus.
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Nine |
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Months |
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Year Ended December 31, |
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Ended |
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September 30, |
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2001 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2004 |
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2005 |
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2006(1) |
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(Millions, except ratios) |
Operating Revenues
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$ |
3,586 |
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3,711 |
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3,960 |
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$ |
4,236 |
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$ |
4,648 |
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$ |
3,895 |
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Earnings Before Income Taxes
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650 |
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768 |
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781 |
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818 |
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817 |
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737 |
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Net Income After Dividends on Preferred Stock
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387 |
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461 |
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473 |
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481 |
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508 |
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438 |
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(2)
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3.31 |
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3.98 |
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4.29 |
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4.76 |
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4.67 |
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4.82 |
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred
Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis)(3)
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3.05 |
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3.66 |
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3.83 |
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4.06 |
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4.01 |
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4.19 |
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Actual |
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Capitalization |
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As of September 30, |
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2006 |
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As Adjusted(4 |
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(Millions, except |
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percentages |
Common Stockholders Equity
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$ |
3,942 |
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3,944 |
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42.9 |
% |
Cumulative Preferred Stock
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465 |
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465 |
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5.1 |
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Non-Cumulative Preference Stock
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150 |
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1.6 |
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Senior Notes
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3,785 |
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3,785 |
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41.1 |
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Long-term Debt Payable to Affiliated Trusts
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309 |
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309 |
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3.4 |
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Other Long-Term Debt
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551 |
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551 |
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5.9 |
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Total, excluding amounts due within one year
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$ |
9,052 |
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$ |
9,204 |
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100.0 |
% |
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(1) |
Due to seasonal variations in the demand for
energy, operating results for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006 do not necessarily indicate operating
results for the entire year.
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(2) |
This ratio is computed as follows:
(i) Earnings have been calculated by adding to
Earnings Before Income Taxes Interest expense,
net of amounts capitalized, Interest expense to
affiliate trusts, Distributions on mandatorily
redeemable preferred securities and the debt portion of
allowance for funds used during construction; and
(ii) Fixed Charges consist of Interest
expense, net of amounts capitalized, Interest
expense to affiliate trusts, Distributions on
mandatorily redeemable preferred securities and the debt
portion of allowance for funds used during construction.
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(3) |
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.
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(4) |
Reflects: (i) an increase in capital of
approximately $2,000,000 in October 2006 related to
contributions from Southern and (ii) the proposed issuance
of the new Preference Stock offered hereby.
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S-4
USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds from the sale of the new Preference
Stock will be used by the Company to repay a portion of its
outstanding short-term indebtedness, which aggregated
approximately $135,000,000 as of December 5, 2006, and for
other general corporate purposes, including the Companys
continuous construction program.
CERTAIN TERMS OF THE NEW PREFERENCE
STOCK
The following is a summary of the terms of the
5.625% Series Preference Stock, Non-Cumulative, Par Value $1 Per
Share (Stated Capital $25 Per Share) (the new Preference
Stock). This summary is not complete and should be read
together with the general terms and provisions of the Preference
Stock in the accompanying Prospectus under the caption
Description of the Preference Stock. To the extent
this summary is inconsistent with information in the
accompanying Prospectus, this summary controls.
Dividends
Dividends on the new Preference Stock will be
payable, when, as and if declared by the Companys Board of
Directors out of funds legally available, at a rate per annum
equal to 5.625%.
Dividends on the new Preference Stock are payable
on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1
of each year, commencing on January 1, 2007, when, as and
if declared by the Board of Directors, or, if any such date is
not a business day, on the next business day.
Dividends on the new Preference Stock are not
cumulative, and accordingly, if the Board of Directors of the
Company does not declare a dividend or declares less than a full
dividend on the new Preference Stock for a quarterly dividend
period, holders of the new Preference Stock will have no right
to receive a dividend or the full dividend, as the case may be,
for that period, and the Company will have no obligation to pay
a dividend for that period, whether or not the Company pays
dividends in full or has sufficient funds to pay dividends in
the future.
So long as any shares of the Companys
preferred stock (the Preferred Stock) or Class A
Preferred Stock (the Class A Preferred Stock) are
outstanding, no dividends may be declared on the Companys
common stock or on any other kind of stock over which the
Preferred Stock and Class A Preferred Stock have preference
as to the payment of dividends, including the new Preference
Stock, unless full cumulative dividends upon such Preferred
Stock and Class A Preferred Stock for all past dividend
periods and for the then current dividend period shall have been
paid or declared and set apart for payment.
Ranking
The new Preference Stock will rank junior to the
Preferred Stock and the Class A Preferred Stock with
respect to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon
the Companys liquidation, dissolution or winding up. As of
September 30, 2006, the Company had 475,115 outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock and 12,001,250 outstanding shares of
Class A Preferred Stock.
The new Preference Stock will rank senior to the
Companys common stock and to any other equity securities
that the Company may issue in the future that by their terms
rank junior to the new Preference Stock with respect to the
payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon the
Companys liquidation, dissolution and winding up.
The new Preference Stock will rank equally with
any other shares of Preference Stock and with any of the
Companys other equity securities that the Company may
issue in the future, the terms of which provide that such shares
or securities will rank equally with the Preference Stock with
respect to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon
the Companys liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
S-5
Redemption
The Company shall have the right to redeem the
new Preference Stock, in whole or in part, without premium, from
time to time, on or after January 1, 2012, upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption
price equal to $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid
dividends (whether or not declared) from the immediately
preceding dividend payment date to but excluding the redemption
date (without accumulation of accrued and unpaid dividends for
any prior dividend periods). For any shares of new Preference
Stock to be redeemed, dividends will cease to accrue and all
rights of holders of such shares, except the right to receive
the redemption price, will cease as of the redemption date.
No sinking fund will be provided for the purchase
or redemption of the new Preference Stock.
It is the Companys intention to redeem or
repurchase shares of the new Preference Stock only from proceeds
from the receipt of capital contributions or the issuance of new
capital offerings whose equity treatment at the time of such
redemption or repurchase is equal to, or greater than, the
shares of new Preference Stock being redeemed or repurchased,
which proceeds are received within 180 days prior to the
applicable redemption or repurchase date.
Liquidation Rights
Upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation of the
Company, the holders of the new Preference Stock, without any
preference over the holders of any other series of Preference
Stock, out of the Companys assets available for
distribution to the holders of the Preference Stock following
the satisfaction of all claims ranking senior to the Preference
Stock, including the claims of the holders of any outstanding
shares of the Preferred Stock or the Class A Preferred
Stock, shall be entitled to receive $25.00 per share, plus
accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) for the
then current quarterly dividend period, accrued to but excluding
the date of such liquidation payment, but without accumulation
of unpaid dividends on the new Preference Stock for any prior
dividend periods, before any distribution of assets may be made
to the holders of the Companys common stock. Available
assets, if insufficient to pay the amounts payable on all
outstanding series of Preference Stock, are to be distributed
pro rata to the payment, first of the amount per share payable
on each outstanding series of Preference Stock, second of
accrued dividends, if any, with respect to each series of
Preference Stock, and third of any premium.
Transfer Agent, Registrar and Paying
Agent
Southern Company Services, Inc. will be the
transfer agent, registrar and paying agent for the new
Preference Stock.
Voting Rights
Except as hereinafter set forth or when some
mandatory provision of law is controlling, the holders of the
new Preference Stock will have no voting power.
The holders of the new Preference Stock are not
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
However, the Companys Board of Directors and the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Companys
common stock may amend the Companys Articles of
Incorporation to provide that the holders of the new Preference
Stock will be entitled to vote in the election of directors,
with each outstanding share of the new Preference Stock to be
entitled to one-tenth of a vote. Each outstanding share of the
common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of
directors, each outstanding share of the Preferred Stock is
entitled to two-fifths of a vote in the election of directors,
each outstanding share of the Class A Preferred Stock with
a stated value of $25.00 is entitled to one-tenth of a vote in
the election of directors and each outstanding share of
Class A Preferred Stock with a stated value of $100,000 is
entitled to 400 votes in the election of directors.
In the event that any six quarterly dividends
(whether or not consecutive and whether or not earned and
declared) have not been paid in full on the new Preference
Stock, the holders of such new Preference Stock will have the
right, voting together as a single class with holders of shares
of any one or more other series of Preference Stock upon which
like voting rights are then exercisable, to elect two members of
the Board of
S-6
Directors of the Company, and the size of the
Companys Board of Directors will be increased accordingly
to effect such election. The rights of such holders of new
Preference Stock to elect (voting together as a single class
with the holders of any one or more other series of Preference
Stock upon which like voting rights are then exercisable) two
members of the Board of Directors of the Company will continue
until such time as full dividends on such new Preference Stock
have been paid or declared and set apart regularly for at least
one year (i.e., four consecutive full quarterly dividend
periods), at which time such right will terminate, subject to
revesting in the event of a subsequent failure to pay dividends
of the character described above. Upon termination of the right
of the holders of shares of Preference Stock to vote together as
a single class to elect two directors, the term of office of the
two directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a
single class will terminate immediately.
In addition, the affirmative vote of at least a
majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of all
series of Preference Stock will be required for:
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the increase of the authorized shares of
Preferred Stock or Class A Preferred Stock or the
authorizations or creation of any other class of stock preferred
as to dividends or assets over the Preference Stock; or
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any change of the rights and preferences of the
then outstanding Preference Stock in any manner so as to affect
adversely the holders thereof; provided, however, that if any
change would affect adversely the holders of only one or more
series of the Preference Stock, but not other series of the
Preference Stock, only the vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the
series so affected shall be required.
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The Company may create and issue new series of
Preference Stock, Preferred Stock or Class A Preferred
Stock without the consent of the holders of the new Preference
Stock.
Book-Entry Only Issuance The
Depository Trust Company
The Depository Trust Company (DTC)
will act as the initial securities depository for the new
Preference Stock. The new Preference Stock will be issued only
as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede
& Co., DTCs partnership nominee, or such other name as
may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One or
more fully registered global new Preference Stock certificates
will be issued, representing in the aggregate the total stated
amount of the new Preference Stock, and will be deposited with
Southern Company Services, Inc. on behalf of DTC.
DTC, the worlds largest depository, 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 and
provides asset servicing for over 2.2 million issues of
U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt
issues and money market instruments from over 100 countries
that DTCs participants (Direct Participants)
deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement
among Direct Participants of sales and other securities
transactions in deposited securities, through electronic
computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct
Participants accounts. This eliminates the need for
physical movement of securities certificates. Direct
Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers
and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and
certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
(DTCC). DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of
Direct Participants of DTC and members of the National
Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing
Corporation and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation (NSCC,
FICC and EMCC, also subsidiaries of DTCC), as well as by the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC and
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to
the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and
non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies
and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either
directly or indirectly (Indirect Participants). DTC
has Standard & Poors, a division of The McGraw
Hill Companies, Inc., highest rating: AAA. The DTC rules
S-7
applicable to its Direct and Indirect
Participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. More information about DTC can be found at
www.dtcc.com and www.dtcc.org.
Purchases of new Preference Stock under the DTC
system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which
will receive a credit for the new Preference Stock on DTCs
records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of new
Preference Stock (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. Beneficial Owners are, however, 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 new Preference Stock. Transfers of
ownership interests in the new Preference Stock are to be
accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect
Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial
Owners will not receive certificates representing their
ownership interests in new Preference Stock, except in the event
that use of the book-entry system for the new Preference Stock
is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, the new
Preference Stock deposited by Direct Participants with DTC is
registered in the name of DTCs partnership nominee,
Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by
an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the new
Preference Stock with DTC and its registration in the name of
Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any
changes in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the
actual Beneficial Owners of the new Preference Stock. DTCs
records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to
whose accounts such new Preference Stock is credited, which may
or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect
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 will be sent to DTC. If less
than all of the shares of new Preference Stock are being
redeemed, DTCs practice is to determine by lot the number
of shares of new Preference Stock of each Direct Participant to
be redeemed.
Although voting with respect to the new
Preference Stock is limited, in those cases where a vote is
required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC
nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the new Preference
Stock. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to
the Company 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
new Preference Stock is credited on the record date (identified
in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Payments on the new Preference Stock will be made
to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be
requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTCs
practice is to credit Direct Participants accounts upon
DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding detail information
from the Company on the relevant payment date in accordance with
their respective holdings shown on DTCs records. Payments
by Direct or Indirect 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 Direct or Indirect Participant and not of
DTC or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment to
Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an
authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of the
Company, 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 of
the global new Preference Stock will not be entitled to receive
physical delivery of the new Preference Stock. Accordingly, each
Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise
any rights under the new Preference Stock. The laws of some
jurisdictions
S-8
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
the global new Preference Stock.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as
securities depository with respect to the new Preference Stock
at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Company. Under
such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities
depositary is not obtained, new Preference Stock 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 new Preference Stock. The
Company understands, however, that under current industry
practices, DTC would notify its Direct and Indirect Participants
of the Companys decision, but will only withdraw
beneficial interests from a global new Preference Stock at the
request of each Direct or Indirect Participant. In that event,
certificates for the new Preference Stock will be printed and
delivered to the applicable Direct and Indirect Participants.
The information in this section concerning DTC
and DTCs book-entry system has been obtained from sources
that the Company believes to be reliable, but the Company takes
no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. The Company has no
responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Direct or
Indirect Participants of their respective obligations as
described herein or under the rules and procedures governing
their respective operations.
S-9
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions of an
underwriting agreement (the Underwriting Agreement),
the Company has agreed to sell to the underwriters (the
Underwriters) and each of the Underwriters has
severally agreed to purchase from the Company the number of
shares of new Preference Stock set opposite its name below:
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Number of |
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Shares of |
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New |
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Preference |
Name |
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Stock |
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J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
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2,400,000 |
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Lehman Brothers Inc.
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2,400,000 |
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Banc of America Securities LLC
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600,000 |
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Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
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600,000 |
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Total
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6,000,000 |
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|
In the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters
have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
therein, to purchase all of the new Preference Stock offered
hereby if any of the new Preference Stock is purchased.
The Underwriters propose initially to offer all
or part of the new Preference Stock to the public at the public
offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus
Supplement and may offer the new Preference Stock to certain
securities dealers at such price less a concession not in excess
of $0.250 per share of the new Preference Stock. The
Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount
not in excess of $0.125 per share of the new Preference
Stock to certain brokers and dealers. After the initial public
offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may
be changed.
The new Preference Stock is a new issue of
securities with no established trading market. The new
Preference Stock will not be listed on any securities exchange
or on any automated dealer quotation system. The Underwriters
may make a market in the new Preference Stock after completion
of the offering, but will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market-making activities at any time without
notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the
trading market for the new Preference Stock or that an active
public market for the new Preference Stock will develop. If an
active public trading market for the new Preference Stock does
not develop, the market price and liquidity of the new
Preference Stock may be adversely affected.
The Company has agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Companys expenses associated with the
offer and sale of the new Preference Stock are estimated to be
$260,000.
The Company has 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 Preference Stock of the Company, any security
convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for the
Preference Stock of the Company or any securities substantially
similar to the new Preference Stock (except for the new
Preference Stock issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement),
without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
and Lehman Brothers Inc.
In order to facilitate the offering of the new
Preference Stock, the Underwriters or their affiliates may
engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise
affect the price of the new Preference Stock. Specifically, the
Underwriters or their affiliates may over-allot in connection
with this offering, creating short positions in the new
Preference Stock for their own accounts. In addition, to cover
over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the new Preference
Stock, the Underwriters or their affiliates may bid for and
purchase new Preference Stock in the open market. Finally, the
Underwriters or their affiliates may reclaim selling
S-10
concessions allowed to a dealer for distributing
new Preference Stock in this offering, if the Underwriters or
their affiliates repurchase previously distributed new
Preference Stock in transactions that cover syndicate short
positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of
these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of
the new Preference Stock above independent market levels. The
Underwriters and their affiliates are not required to engage in
these activities and may end any of these activities at any time
without notice.
In general, purchases of a security for the
purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could
cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in
the absence of such purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid
might also have an effect on the price of a security to the
extent that it were to discourage resales of the security.
Neither the Company nor any Underwriter makes any
representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of
any effect that the transactions described above may have on the
price of the new Preference Stock. In addition, neither the
Company nor any Underwriter makes any representation that such
transactions will be engaged in or that such transactions, once
commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
It is expected that delivery of the new
Preference Stock will be made, against payment for the new
Preference Stock, on or about December 13, 2006, which will
be the sixth business day following the date of pricing of the
new Preference Stock. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the
1934 Act, purchases or sales of securities in the secondary
market generally are required to settle within three business
days (T+3), unless the parties to any such transactions
expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers of the new
Preference Stock who wish to trade the new Preference Stock on
the date of this Prospectus Supplement or the next two
succeeding business days will be required, because the new
Preference Stock initially will settle within six business days
(T+6), to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of
any such trade to prevent failed settlement. Purchasers of the
new Preference Stock who wish to trade on the date of this
Prospectus Supplement or the next two succeeding business days
should consult their own legal advisors.
Certain of the Underwriters and their affiliates
have engaged in and may in the future engage in transactions
with, and, from time to time, have performed and may perform
investment banking and/or commercial banking services for, the
Company and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business,
for which they have received and will receive customary
compensation.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and related financial
statement schedule incorporated in this Prospectus Supplement
and the accompanying Prospectus by reference from the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2005 have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are
incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated
in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-11
PROSPECTUS
$2,300,000,000
Alabama Power Company
First Mortgage Bonds
Class A Preferred Stock
Cumulative, Par Value $1 Per Share
Preference Stock
Depositary Preference Shares,
each representing a fraction of a share of Preference
Stock
Senior Notes
Junior Subordinated Notes
Alabama Power Capital Trust VI
Alabama Power Capital Trust VII
Alabama Power Capital Trust VIII
Trust Preferred Securities
Fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as set forth herein,
by
Alabama Power Company
a subsidiary of The Southern Company
We will provide the specific terms of these securities in
supplements to this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus
and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you
invest.
See Risk Factors on page 2 for information on
certain risks related to the purchase of these securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
This Prospectus is dated July 19, 2005
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This Prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) using a shelf registration
process under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
1933 Act). Under the shelf process, Alabama Power
Company (the Company) may sell, in one or more
transactions,
first mortgage bonds (the new Bonds)
class A preferred stock (the new Stock)
preference stock (the Preference Stock)
depositary preference shares, each representing a
fraction of a share of Preference Stock (the Depositary
Shares)
senior notes (the Senior Notes)
junior subordinated notes (the Junior
Subordinated Notes)
and Alabama Power Capital Trust VI, Alabama Power Capital Trust
VII and Alabama Power Capital Trust VIII (individually, a
Trust and collectively, the Trusts) may
sell,
trust preferred securities (the Preferred
Securities)
in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of
$2,300,000,000. This Prospectus provides a general description
of those securities. Each time the Company sells securities, the
Company will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain
specific information about the terms of that offering
(Prospectus Supplement). The Prospectus Supplement
may also add, update or change information contained in this
Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable
Prospectus Supplement together with additional information under
the heading Available Information.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in the Companys securities involves risk. Please
see the risk factors described in the Companys Annual
Report on
Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, along with the
disclosure related to risk factors contained in the
Companys Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2005, which are incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus. Before making an investment
decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as
other information contained or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described are not the
only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties
not presently known to the Company or that the Company deems
immaterial may also impair its business operations, its
financial results and the value of its securities.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company and the Trusts have filed with the Commission a
combined registration statement on
Form S-3 (the
Registration Statement, which term encompasses any
amendments of and exhibits to the Registration Statement) under
the 1933 Act. As permitted by the rules and regulations of
the Commission, this Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement and the
exhibits and schedules to the Registration Statement, to which
reference is made.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934
Act), and in accordance with the 1934 Act files reports
and other information with the Commission. Such reports and
other information can be inspected and copied at the Public
Reference Room of the Commission at 100 F. Street, N.E., Room
1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commissions
Regional Offices at 175 W. Jackson Boulevard, Suite 900,
Chicago, Illinois 60604, 801 Brickell Avenue,
Suite 1800, Miami, Florida 33131 and
233 Broadway, New York, New York 10279. Information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by
calling the Commission at
1-800-SEC-0330.
2
Copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates
by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
100 F. Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C.
20549. The Commission maintains a Web site that contains
reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants including the Company that file
electronically at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, reports and
other material concerning the Company can be inspected at the
offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005, on which Exchange certain of the
Companys securities are listed.
No separate financial statements of any Trust are included in
this Prospectus. The Company considers that such statements
would not be material to holders of the Preferred Securities
because each Trust has no independent operations and exists for
the sole purpose of investing the proceeds of the sale of its
Trust Securities (as defined below) in Junior Subordinated Notes.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents have been filed with the Commission
pursuant to the 1934 Act and are incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus and made a part of this Prospectus:
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(a) |
the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004; |
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(b) |
the Companys Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2005; and |
|
|
(c) |
the Companys Current Reports on
Form 8-K dated
February 21, 2005, March 8, 2005, May 5, 2005 and
June 10, 2005. |
All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act
subsequent to the date of the initial filing of the Registration
Statement and prior to the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement and subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and
prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference and made a part of
this Prospectus from the date of filing of such documents;
provided, however, the Company is not incorporating any
information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any
Current Report on Form 8-K unless specifically stated
otherwise. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this
Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which
also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to each person to
whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral
request of any such person, a copy of any or all documents
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference (other than the
exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference). Such requests should be directed to
William E. Zales, Jr., Vice President and Corporate Secretary,
Alabama Power Company, 600 North 18th Street, Birmingham,
Alabama 35291, telephone:
(205) 257-2714.
3
ALABAMA POWER COMPANY
The Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Alabama on November 10, 1927, by the consolidation
of the predecessor Alabama Power Company, Gulf Electric Company
and Houston Power Company. The predecessor Alabama Power Company
had a continuous existence since its incorporation in 1906. The
principal executive offices of the Company are located at
600 North 18th Street, Birmingham, Alabama 35291, and
the telephone number is (205) 257-1000.
The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Southern
Company, a holding company registered under the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the 1935
Act). The Company is engaged, within the State of Alabama,
in the generation and purchase of electricity and the
distribution and sale of such electricity at retail in over
1,000 communities (including Anniston, Birmingham, Gadsden,
Mobile, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa), and at wholesale to
15 municipally owned electric distribution systems,
11 of which are served indirectly through sales to the
Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, and two rural distributing
cooperative associations. The Company also supplies steam
service in downtown Birmingham. The Company owns coal reserves
near its Gorgas Steam Electric Generating Plant and uses the
output of coal from the reserves in its generating plants. It
also sells, and cooperates with dealers in promoting the sale
of, electric appliances.
The Company and one of its affiliates, Georgia Power Company
(GEORGIA), each own 50% of the common stock of
Southern Electric Generating Company (SEGCO). SEGCO
owns generating units with an aggregate capacity of 1,019,680
kilowatts at the Ernest C. Gaston Steam Plant (Plant
Gaston) on the Coosa River near Wilsonville, Alabama. The
Company and GEORGIA are each entitled to one-half of the
capacity and energy of these units. The Company acts as
SEGCOs agent in the operation of SEGCOs units and
furnishes coal to SEGCO as fuel for its units. SEGCO also owns
three 230,000 volt transmission lines extending from Plant
Gaston to the Georgia state line.
SELECTED INFORMATION
The following material, which is presented in this Prospectus
solely to furnish limited introductory information regarding the
Company, has been selected from, or is based upon, the detailed
information and financial statements appearing in the documents
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference or elsewhere in
this Prospectus, is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such documents and, therefore, should be read together with
those documents.
Alabama Power Company
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Business |
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Generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric
energy |
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Service Area |
|
Approximately 45,000 square miles comprising most of the State
of Alabama |
|
Customers at December 31, 2004 |
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1,385,374 |
|
Generating Capacity at December 31, 2004 (kilowatts) |
|
12,215,743 |
|
Sources of Generation during 2004 (kilowatt-hours) |
|
Coal (65%), Nuclear (19%), Gas (10%), Hydro (6%) |
4
Certain Ratios
The following table sets forth the Ratios of Earnings to Fixed
Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred Dividend
Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis) for the periods indicated.
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Three | |
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Months | |
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Year Ended December 31, | |
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Ended | |
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| |
|
March 31, | |
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|
2000 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2005(1) | |
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| |
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| |
|
| |
|
| |
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| |
|
| |
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(2)
|
|
|
3.46 |
|
|
|
3.31 |
|
|
|
3.98 |
|
|
|
4.29 |
|
|
|
4.76 |
|
|
|
3.15 |
|
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus
Preferred Dividend Requirements
(Pre-Income Tax Basis)(3)
|
|
|
3.18 |
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|
|
3.05 |
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|
|
3.66 |
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|
|
3.83 |
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|
|
4.06 |
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|
2.78 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Due to seasonal variations in the demand for energy, operating
results for the three months ended March 31, 2005 do not
necessarily indicate operating results for the entire year. |
(2) |
This ratio is computed as follows: (i) Earnings
have been calculated by adding to Earnings Before Income
Taxes Interest expense, net of amounts
capitalized, Interest expense to affiliate
trusts, Distributions on mandatorily redeemable
preferred securities and the debt portion of allowance for
funds used during construction; and (ii) Fixed
Charges consist of Interest expense, net of amounts
capitalized, Interest expense to affiliate
trusts, Distributions on mandatorily redeemable
preferred securities and the debt portion of allowance for
funds used during construction. |
(3) |
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. |
THE TRUSTS
Each Trust is a statutory trust created under Delaware law
pursuant to the filing of a certificate of trust with the
Delaware Secretary of State on October 21, 2002. Each
Trusts business is defined in a trust agreement, executed
by the Company, as Depositor, and the Delaware Trustee of each
Trust. This trust agreement of each Trust will be amended and
restated in its entirety substantially in the form filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
forms a part (the Trust Agreement). Each Trust
Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the 1939 Act).
The Company will own all the common securities (the Common
Securities and, together with the Preferred Securities,
the Trust Securities). The Trust Securities
represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
respective Trusts. Each Trust exists for the exclusive purposes
of (i) issuing its Trust Securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of such Trust,
(ii) investing the gross proceeds of its Trust Securities
in a related series of Junior Subordinated Notes, and
(iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary,
appropriate, convenient or incidental to these purposes. The
payment of periodic cash distributions on the Preferred
Securities of each Trust and payments on liquidation and
redemption with respect to the Preferred Securities of each
Trust, in each case to the extent each Trust has funds legally
and immediately available for these purposes, will be guaranteed
by the Company (individually, a Guarantee and
collectively, the Guarantees). See Description
of the Guarantees.
Each Trusts business and affairs will be conducted by its
trustees, which shall be appointed by the Company as the holder
of the Common Securities: two employees of the Company as
Administrative Trustees; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly
known as The Chase Manhattan Bank) as Property Trustee; and
Chase Bank USA, National Association as Delaware Trustee
(collectively, the Securities Trustees). The
Property Trustee of each Trust will act as the indenture trustee
with respect to such Trust for purposes of compliance with the
provisions of the 1939 Act.
The principal place of business of each Trust shall be
c/o the Company, 600 North 18th Street, Birmingham, Alabama
35291, telephone (205)
257-2714, Attn:
Corporate Secretary.
5
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
Preferred Securities of each Trust for further information
concerning such Trust.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF THE TRUSTS
For financial reporting purposes, each Trust is a variable
interest entity. The Company does not meet the definition of
primary beneficiary and, therefore, accounts for its investment
in each Trust under the equity method in accordance with
Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation
No. 46R, Consolidation of Variable Interest
Entities. The Junior Subordinated Notes payable to each
Trust will be presented as a separate line item in the
Companys balance sheet. Interest related to the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be reflected as a separate line item on
the Companys income statement and appropriate disclosures
concerning the Preferred Securities, the Guarantees and the
Junior Subordinated Notes will be included in the notes to the
Companys financial statements.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Each Trust will invest the proceeds received from the sale of
its Preferred Securities in Junior Subordinated Notes. Except as
may be otherwise described in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the net proceeds received by the Company from such
investment and any proceeds received from the sale of its new
Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares or Senior
Notes or other sales of its Junior Subordinated Notes will be
used in connection with its ongoing construction program, to pay
scheduled maturities and/or refundings of its securities, to
repay short-term indebtedness to the extent outstanding and for
other general corporate purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW BONDS
Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the
Companys new Bonds. The following description does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified by
reference to, the Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1942,
between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly
known as The Chase Manhattan Bank (as successor to Chemical Bank
and Trust Company)), as trustee (the First Mortgage Bond
Trustee), as to be supplemented by a supplemental
indenture (the Supplemental Indenture) establishing
the new Bonds of each series (the Indenture, as so supplemented,
is referred to as the First Mortgage Bond
Indenture), the forms of which are filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a
part. The terms of such new Bonds will include those stated in
the First Mortgage Bond Indenture and those made a part of the
First Mortgage Bond Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act.
Certain capitalized terms used in this Prospectus are defined in
the First Mortgage Bond Indenture.
The new Bonds will mature on the date shown in their title as
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
The new Bonds in definitive form will be issued only as
registered bonds without coupons in denominations of $1,000 or
authorized multiples of $1,000 or in such other denominations as
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. New Bonds will be
exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of new Bonds
of other authorized denominations, and are transferable, at the
principal corporate trust office of the First Mortgage Bond
Trustee in New York City, or at such other office or agency of
the Company as the Company may from time to time designate,
without payment of any charge other than for any tax or taxes or
other governmental charge.
Any proposed listing of the new Bonds on a securities exchange
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement.
Except as otherwise may be indicated in the Prospectus
Supplement, there are no provisions of the First Mortgage Bond
Indenture which are specifically intended to afford holders of
the new Bonds protection in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction involving the Company.
6
Interest Rate Provisions: The Prospectus Supplement will
set forth the interest rate provisions of the new Bonds,
including payment dates, the record dates and the rate or rates,
or the method of determining the rate or rates (which may
involve periodic interest rate settings through remarketing or
auction procedures or pursuant to one or more formulae, as
described in the Prospectus Supplement).
Redemption Provisions: The redemption provisions
applicable to the new Bonds will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement.
Priority and Security: The new Bonds will rank equally as
to security with the bonds of other series presently outstanding
under the First Mortgage Bond Indenture, which is a direct first
lien on substantially all of the Companys fixed property
and franchises, used or useful in its public utility business,
subject only to excepted encumbrances, as defined in the First
Mortgage Bond Indenture (Section 1.02).
The First Mortgage Bond Indenture permits, within certain
limitations specified in Section 7.05, the acquisition of
property subject to prior liens. Under certain conditions
specified in Section 7.14, additional indebtedness secured
by such prior liens may be issued to the extent of 60% of the
cost to the Company or the fair value at date of acquisition,
whichever is less, of the net property additions made by the
Company to the property subject to such prior lien.
Replacement Requirement: By Section 4 of the
Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1981, the
Company is required to certify to the First Mortgage Bond
Trustee unfunded net property additions or to deposit with the
First Mortgage Bond Trustee cash or bonds in an amount equal to
the amount by which annual expenditures for renewals and
replacements are less than 2.25% of the average annual amount of
depreciable mortgaged property or such revised percentage as
shall be authorized or approved by the Commission, or any
successor commission, under the 1935 Act. Any available
replacement credit may be carried forward and deposited cash or
bonds may be withdrawn, used or applied in accordance with the
provisions of such Section 4.
Any limitation on the right of the Company to redeem new Bonds
through the operation of the replacement provisions of the First
Mortgage Bond Indenture will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement.
The First Mortgage Bond Indenture (Section 7.16) provides for an
examination of the mortgaged property by an independent engineer
at least once every five years. The Company covenants to make
good any maintenance deficiency shown by the certificate of such
engineer and to record retirements as called for by the First
Mortgage Bond Indenture.
Issuance of Additional Bonds: Additional bonds may be
issued under the First Mortgage Bond Indenture (a) under
Article IV to the extent of 60% of the cost or fair value
at date of acquisition, whichever is less, of unfunded net
property additions, as defined in the First Mortgage Bond
Indenture (Sections 1.08 through 1.11, as amended), or
(b) under Article V against the retirement of other
bonds outstanding under the First Mortgage Bond Indenture, or
(c) under Article VI against the deposit of cash equal
to the principal amount of bonds to be issued. Such additional
bonds, however, may be issued, except in certain cases when
issued under Article V, only if, for a period of twelve
consecutive calendar months within the fifteen preceding
calendar months, the net earnings of the Company, as defined in
the First Mortgage Bond Indenture (Section 1.03, as
amended), shall have been at least twice the interest
requirements for one year on all bonds outstanding, including
the additional bonds applied for and all outstanding prior lien
bonds and other indebtedness of the character described in the
First Mortgage Bond Indenture. Such net earnings are computed,
in effect, after making certain deductions including
(i) all operating expenses other than income and excess
profits taxes and (ii) the amount, if any, by which the
aggregate charges to expense or income to provide for
depreciation are less than 2.25% of the average amount of
depreciable mortgaged property. Under this provision, no amount
is included in interest requirements on account of $18,700,000
principal amount of first mortgage bonds (out of a total of
$132,900,000 principal amount) issued and outstanding as of
March 31, 2005, as collateral for certain obligations for
which such bonds are pledged as security. No interest is payable
on any such bonds unless and until default occurs on such
obligations.
7
Cash deposited as the basis for the issuance of bonds may be
applied to the retirement of bonds or be withdrawn against the
deposit of bonds or be withdrawn to the extent of 60% of the
cost or fair value, whichever is less, of unfunded net property
additions (Article VI).
Release and Substitution of Property: The First Mortgage
Bond Indenture (Article X) provides that, subject to
various limitations, property may be released from the lien of
the First Mortgage Bond Indenture when sold or exchanged, upon
the basis of cash deposited with the First Mortgage Bond
Trustee, bonds or purchase money obligations delivered to the
First Mortgage Bond Trustee, prior lien bonds delivered to the
First Mortgage Bond Trustee or reduced or assumed, property
additions acquired in exchange for the property released or
unfunded net property additions certified to the First Mortgage
Bond Trustee.
The First Mortgage Bond Indenture (Section 10.05) permits
the cash proceeds of released property and other funds to be
withdrawn either upon a showing that unfunded net property
additions exist or against the deposit of bonds and also permits
such proceeds and other funds to be applied to the retirement of
bonds.
Restrictions on Common Stock Dividends: There are various
restrictions on Common Stock dividends in the First Mortgage
Bond Indenture (which are to remain in effect so long as certain
series of bonds are outstanding). Any restrictions on dividends
and distributions on Common Stock in the Supplemental Indenture
will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
Amendments to the First Mortgage Bond Indenture: By
Section 6(g) of the Supplemental Indenture dated as of
October 1, 1981, the First Mortgage Bond Indenture may be
modified with the consent of the holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the bonds at the time
outstanding which would be affected by the action proposed to be
taken. However, the bondholders shall have no power (i) to
extend the fixed maturity of any bonds, or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest on any bonds, or reduce
the principal amount of any bonds, without the express consent
of the holder of each bond which would be so affected, or
(ii) to reduce the percentage of bonds as mentioned above,
the holders of which are required to consent to any such
modification, without the consent of the holders of all bonds
outstanding, or (iii) to permit the creation by the Company
of any mortgage or pledge or lien in the nature of any bonds,
not otherwise permitted under the First Mortgage Bond Indenture,
ranking prior to or equal with the lien of the First Mortgage
Bond Indenture on any of the mortgaged and pledged property, or
(iv) to deprive the holder of any bond outstanding under
the First Mortgage Bond Indenture of the lien of the First
Mortgage Bond Indenture on any of the mortgaged and pledged
property. The First Mortgage Bond Trustee shall not be obligated
to enter into a supplemental indenture which would affect its
own rights, duties or immunities under the First Mortgage Bond
Indenture or otherwise.
Regarding the First Mortgage Bond Trustee: JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A., the First Mortgage Bond Trustee, also serves as
Senior Note Indenture Trustee, as Subordinated Note Indenture
Trustee, as Property Trustee and as Guarantee Trustee. The
Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts
and banking relationships with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. also serves as trustee under other
indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and
affiliates of the Company are outstanding.
Enforcement Provisions: The First Mortgage Bond Indenture
(Section 11.05) provides that, upon the occurrence of certain
events of default, the First Mortgage Bond Trustee or the
holders of not less than 20% in principal amount of outstanding
bonds may declare the principal of all outstanding bonds
immediately due and payable, but that, upon the curing of any
such default, the holders of a majority in principal amount of
outstanding bonds may waive such default and its consequences.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding
bonds may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for the enforcement of the First Mortgage Bond
Indenture (Sections 11.01 and 11.12). No holder of any bond
has any right to institute any proceedings to enforce the First
Mortgage Bond Indenture or any remedy under the First Mortgage
Bond Indenture, unless such holder shall previously have given
to the First Mortgage Bond Trustee written notice of a default,
and unless such holder or holders shall have tendered to the
First Mortgage Bond Trustee indemnity against costs, expenses
and liabilities, and unless the holders of not less than 20% in
principal amount of outstanding bonds shall have tendered such
8
indemnity and requested the First Mortgage Bond Trustee to take
action and the First Mortgage Bond Trustee shall have failed to
take action within 60 days (Section 11.14).
Defaults: By Section 11.01 of the First Mortgage Bond
Indenture, the following events are defined as
defaults: failure to pay principal; failure for 60
days to pay interest; failure for 90 days to pay any sinking or
other purchase fund installment; certain events in bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization; and failure for 90 days after
notice to perform other covenants. By Section 9.03 of the
First Mortgage Bond Indenture, a failure by the Company to
deposit or direct the application of money for the redemption of
bonds called for redemption also constitutes a default.
Evidence as to Compliance with Conditions and Covenants:
The First Mortgage Bond Indenture requires the Company to
furnish to the First Mortgage Bond Trustee, among other things,
a certificate of officers and an opinion of counsel as evidence
of compliance with conditions precedent provided for in the
First Mortgage Bond Indenture; a certificate of an engineer
(who, in certain instances, must be an independent engineer)
with respect to the fair value of property certified or
released; and a certificate of an accountant (who, in certain
instances, must be an independent public accountant) as to
compliance with the earnings and replacement requirements.
Various certificates and other documents are required to be
filed periodically or upon the happening of certain events;
however, no general periodic evidence is required by the First
Mortgage Bond Indenture to be furnished as to the absence of
default or as to compliance with the terms of the First Mortgage
Bond Indenture in general.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW STOCK
Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the new
Stock. The statements in this Prospectus concerning the new
Stock are an outline and do not purport to be complete. Such
statements make use of defined terms and are qualified in their
entirety by express reference to the cited provisions of the
charter of the Company, as amended (the charter), a
copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The general
provisions which apply to the preferred stock of the Company of
all classes, which are now or may at a later time be authorized
or created, are set forth in the charter.
General: The new Stock is to be established by
resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
Resolutions), a copy of which is an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (or incorporated by reference). The
Resolutions shall include a provision fixing the stated capital
of the new Stock.
At March 31, 2005, there were outstanding 12,000,000 shares
of Class A Preferred Stock with a stated capital of $25 per
share and 1,250 shares of Flexible Money Market
Class A Preferred Stock with a stated capital of $100,000
per share. Additionally, at March 31, 2005, the Company had
outstanding 475,115 shares of Preferred Stock which have a
par value of $100 per share. The Class A Preferred Stock
ranks on a parity as to dividends and assets with the
outstanding Preferred Stock and has the same general rights and
preferences as the outstanding Preferred Stock. On all matters
submitted to a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock and
the Class A Preferred Stock (other than a change in the
rights and preferences of only one, but not the other, such kind
of stock), both kinds of stock vote together as a single class,
and each share of Preferred Stock and Class A Preferred
Stock shall have the relative voting rights described in
Voting Rights in this Prospectus.
The new Stock will not be subject to further calls or to
assessment by the Company.
Any proposed listing of the new Stock on a securities exchange
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement.
Transfer Agent and Registrar: Unless otherwise indicated
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the new Stock will be
transferable at the office of Southern Company Services, Inc.,
270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, which
will also serve as the Registrar.
Dividend Rights: The holders of the Preferred Stock and
Class A Preferred Stock of each class are entitled to
receive cumulative dividends, payable when and as declared by
the Board of Directors, at the rates
9
determined for the respective classes, before any dividends may
be declared or paid on the Preference Stock or the Common Stock.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock and Class A Preferred
Stock must have been or be contemporaneously declared and set
apart for payment, or paid, on the Preferred Stock and
Class A Preferred Stock of all classes for all dividend
periods terminating on the same or an earlier date
(Charter A. Preferred Stock 2.
General Provisions a and b).
The Prospectus Supplement will set forth the dividend rate
provisions of the new Stock, including the payment dates and the
rate or rates, or the method of determining the rate or rates
(which may involve periodic dividend rate settings through
remarketing or auction procedures or pursuant to one or more
formulae, as described in the Prospectus Supplement). Dividends
payable on the new Stock will be cumulative from the date of
original issue.
Redemption Provisions: The redemption provisions
applicable to the new Stock will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement.
The charter provides that the Company shall not redeem, purchase
or otherwise acquire any shares of Preferred Stock or
Class A Preferred Stock if, at the time of such redemption,
purchase or other acquisition, dividends payable on the
Preferred Stock or Class A Preferred Stock of any class
shall be in default in whole or in part unless, prior to or
concurrently with such redemption, purchase or other
acquisition, all such defaults shall be cured or unless such
action has been ordered, approved or permitted under the 1935
Act by the Commission or any successor commission or regulatory
authority of the United States of America (Charter
A. Preferred Stock 2. General Provisions
d).
Voting Rights: The voting rights applicable to the
Preferred Stock and Class A Preferred Stock will be described in
the Prospectus Supplement.
Liquidation Rights: Upon voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock and Class A
Preferred Stock of each class, without preference between
classes, will be entitled to receive the amounts specified to be
payable on the shares of such class (which, in the case of the
new Stock, is an amount equal to the stated capital per share on
involuntary liquidation, or an amount equal to the then current
regular redemption price per share on voluntary liquidation,
plus accrued dividends in each case) before any distribution of
assets may be made to the holders of the Preference Stock or the
Common Stock. Available assets, if insufficient to pay such
amounts to the holders of the Preferred Stock and Class A
Preferred Stock, are to be distributed pro rata to the payment,
first, of the amount per share payable in the event of
involuntary liquidation, second, of accrued dividends, and
third, of any premium (Charter A. Preferred
Stock 2. General
Provisions c.).
Sinking Fund: The terms and conditions of a sinking fund
or purchase fund, if any, for the benefit of the holders of the
new Stock will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
Other Rights: The holders of the new Stock do not have
any preemptive or conversion rights unless otherwise indicated
in the Prospectus Supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERENCE STOCK
Preference Stock is a proposed new class of capital stock of the
Company that will rank junior to the Preferred Stock and
Class A Preferred Stock and senior to the Common Stock. An
amendment to the Companys charter establishing the
Preference Stock is required to be submitted for adoption by the
shareholders of the Company, and, if adopted, the Company will
be authorized to issue Preference Stock. The Board of Directors
will determine the specific terms, rights, preferences,
limitations and restrictions of each series of Preference Stock
and such provisions will be included in a subsequent amendment
to the Companys charter for each series. The Prospectus
Supplement for a series of Preference Stock will describe the
terms, rights, preferences, limitations and restrictions of the
Preference Stock offered by that Prospectus Supplement. A copy
of such amendments to the Companys charter will be filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part.
10
The terms, rights, preferences, limitations and restrictions of
the Preference Stock to be determined and set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement include the following:
(i) the total number of shares of Preference Stock
authorized to be issued, (ii) the designation of the
series; (iii) the total number of shares of a series being
offered; (iv) the general or special voting rights of such
shares, if any; (v) the price or prices at which shares
will be offered and sold; (vi) the dividend rate, period
and payment date or method of calculation applicable to the
Preference Stock; (vii) the date from which dividends on
the Preference Stock accumulate, if applicable; (viii) the
mandatory or optional sinking fund, purchase fund or similar
provisions, if any; (ix) the dates, prices and other terms
of any optional or mandatory redemption; (x) the relative
ranking and preferences of the Preference Stock as to dividend
rights and rights upon liquidation (whether voluntary or
involuntary), dissolution or winding up of the Companys
affairs; (xi) the procedures for auction and remarketing,
if any, of the shares; (xi) any listing of the shares on a
securities exchange; and (xii) any other specific terms,
preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES
Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the
Depositary Shares. The statements in this Prospectus concerning
the Depositary Shares and the Deposit Agreement (as defined
below) are an outline and do not purport to be complete. Such
statements make use of defined terms and are qualified in their
entirety by express reference to the Deposit Agreement (which
contains the form of Depositary Receipt (as defined below)), a
form of which is an exhibit to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus forms a part or incorporated by reference
to the Registration Statement.
General: The Company may, at its option, elect to offer
Depositary Shares. Each Depositary Share will represent a
fraction of a share of Preference Stock as described in the
Prospectus Supplement. The shares of Preference Stock
represented by the Depositary Shares will be deposited under a
Deposit Agreement (the Deposit Agreement), among the
Company, the Depositary named in the Deposit Agreement (the
Depositary) and all holders from time to time of the
depositary receipts (the Depositary Receipts) issued
under the Deposit Agreement. Subject to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share is entitled,
proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges
of the Preference Stock (including dividend, voting and
liquidation rights) and subject, proportionately, to all of the
limitations of the Preference Stock contained in the charter
summarized under Description of the Preference Stock
in this Prospectus. The Depositary Shares are evidenced by
Depositary Receipts issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.
Any proposed listing of the Depositary Shares on a securities
exchange will be described in the Prospectus Supplement.
Issuance of Depositary Receipts: Immediately following
the issuance of the Preference Stock, the Company will deposit
the Preference Stock with the Depositary, which will then
execute and deliver the Depositary Receipts to the Company. The
Company will, in turn, deliver the Depositary Receipts to the
underwriters or purchasers. Depositary Receipts will be issued
evidencing only whole Depositary Shares.
Withdrawal of Preference Stock: Upon surrender of
Depositary Receipts at the corporate trust office of the
Depositary, the owner of the Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Depositary Receipts is entitled to delivery at such office of
certificates evidencing the number of shares of Preference Stock
(but only in whole shares of Preference Stock) represented by
such Depositary Shares. If the Depositary Receipts delivered by
the holder evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of
the number of whole shares of Preference Stock to be withdrawn,
the Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a
new Depositary Receipt evidencing such excess number of
Depositary Shares. The Company does not expect that there will
be any public trading market for the Preference Stock, except as
represented by the Depositary Shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares: The Depositary Shares
will be redeemed, upon not less than 15 nor more than
60 days notice, using the cash proceeds received by
the Depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in
part, at the Companys option, but subject to the
applicable terms and conditions, of shares of Preference Stock
held by the Depositary. The redemption price per Depositary
Share will be equal to the
11
fraction of the redemption price per share applicable to the
Preference Stock. Whenever the Company redeems shares of the
Preference Stock held by the Depositary, the Depositary will
redeem as of the same redemption date the number of Depositary
Shares representing the shares of Preference Stock so redeemed.
If less than all the outstanding Depositary Shares are to be
redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be selected
pro rata (as nearly as may be) or by lot or by such other
equitable method as the Depositary may determine.
Dividends and Other Distributions: The Depositary will
distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions
received in respect of Preference Stock to the record holders of
Depositary Receipts in proportion, insofar as practicable, to
the number of Depositary Shares owned by such holders. In the
event of a distribution other than in cash, the Depositary will
distribute property received by it to the record holders of
Depositary Receipts entitled to such property, unless the
Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such
distribution, in which case the Depositary may, with the
approval of the Company, adopt such method as it deems equitable
and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution,
including the sale (at public or private sale) of such property
and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such
holders. The amount distributed in any of the foregoing cases
will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the
Company or the Depositary on account of taxes or otherwise
required pursuant to law, regulation or court process.
Record Date: Whenever (i) any cash dividend or other
cash distribution shall become payable, any distribution other
than cash shall be made, or any rights, preferences or
privileges shall be offered with respect to the Preference Stock
or (ii) the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting
at which holders of Preference Stock are entitled to vote or of
which holders of Preference Stock are entitled to notice, the
Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which
shall be the record date fixed by the Company with respect to
the Preference Stock) for the determination of the holders of
Depositary Receipts who shall be entitled to (y) receive
such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges
or the net proceeds of such sale or (z) give instructions
for the exercise of voting rights at such meeting or receive
notice of such meeting.
Voting Preference Stock: Upon receipt of notice of any
meeting at which the holders of Preference Stock are entitled to
vote, the Depositary will mail the information contained in such
notice of meeting to the record holders of Depositary Receipts.
The record holders of Depositary Receipts on the record date
(which will be the same date as the record date for the
Preference Stock) will be entitled to instruct the Depositary as
to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of
Preference Stock represented by their respective Depositary
Receipts. The Depositary will endeavor insofar as practicable to
vote or cause to be voted the amount of Preference Stock
represented by such Depositary Receipts in accordance with such
instructions, and the Company has agreed to take all action
which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to
enable the Depositary to do so. The Depositary will abstain from
voting the Preference Stock to the extent it does not receive
specific instructions from the holders of the Depositary
Receipts.
Amendment and Termination of Deposit Agreement: The form
of the Depositary Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit
Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended or
modified in any respect by agreement between the Company and the
Depositary. Any amendment which imposes any fees or charges
(other than taxes, fees and charges provided for in the Deposit
Agreement) on the holders of Depositary Receipts, or which
otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders
of Depositary Receipts, will not become effective as to
outstanding Depositary Receipts until the expiration of
90 days after notice of such amendment shall have been
given to the record holders of outstanding Depositary Receipts.
Every holder of an outstanding Depositary Receipt at the time
any such amendment so becomes effective shall be deemed, by
continuing to hold such Depositary Receipt, to consent and agree
to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as
amended. In no event may any amendment impair the right of the
holder of any Depositary Receipt, subject to the conditions of
the Deposit Agreement, to surrender such Depositary Receipt and
receive the Preference Stock represented by such Depositary
Receipt, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of
applicable law.
Whenever so directed by the Company, the Depositary will
terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such
termination to the record holders of all Depositary Receipts
then outstanding at least 30 days
12
prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The
Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit Agreement if at
any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary
shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its
election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have
been appointed and accepted its appointment. If any Depositary
Receipts remain outstanding after the date of termination, the
Depositary will discontinue the transfer of Depositary Receipts,
will suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders of
Depositary Receipts and will not give any further notices (other
than notice of such termination) or perform any further acts
under the Deposit Agreement except that the Depositary will
continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining
to the Preference Stock and deliver Preference Stock together
with such dividends and distributions and the net proceeds of
any sale of any rights, preferences, privileges or other
property in exchange for Depositary Receipts surrendered. At any
time after the expiration of two years from the date of
termination, the Depositary may sell the Preference Stock then
held by it at public or private sale at such place or places and
upon such terms as its deems proper and may thereafter hold the
net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then
held by it, without liability for interest, for the pro rata
benefit of the holders of Depositary Receipts which have not
been surrendered. Any such moneys unclaimed by the holders of
Depositary Receipts more than two years from the date of
termination of the Deposit Agreement will, upon request of the
Company, be paid to it, and after such payment, the holders of
Depositary Receipts entitled to the funds so paid to the Company
shall look only to the Company for payment without interest. The
Company does not intend to terminate the Deposit Agreement or to
permit the resignation of the Depositary without appointing a
successor depositary.
Charges of Depositary: The Company will pay all charges
of the Depositary including charges for the initial deposit of
the Preference Stock and delivery of Depositary Receipts and
withdrawals of Preference Stock by the holders of Depositary
Receipts, except for taxes (including transfer taxes, if any)
and such charges as are expressly provided in the Deposit
Agreement to be at the expense of the persons depositing
Preference Stock or holders of Depositary Receipts.
Miscellaneous: The Depositary will make available for
inspection by holders of Depositary Receipts at its corporate
trust office any reports and communications received from the
Company which are made generally available to the holders of
Preference Stock by the Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is
prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its
control in performing its obligations under the Deposit
Agreement. The obligations of the Depositary and the Company
under the Deposit Agreement are limited to performance in good
faith of their duties under the Deposit Agreement, and they are
not obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in
respect of the Preference Stock, the Depositary Receipts or the
Depositary Shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished.
The Depositary and the Company may rely upon advice of or
information from counsel, accountants or other persons believed
to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
The Depositary may at any time resign or be removed by the
Company, effective upon the acceptance by its successor of its
appointment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES
Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the
Senior Notes. The following description does not purport to be
complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the Senior Note Indenture, dated as of
December 1, 1997, between the Company and JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as
trustee (the Senior Note Indenture Trustee), as to
be supplemented by a supplemental indenture establishing the
Senior Notes of each series (the Senior Note Indenture, as
supplemented, is referred to as the Senior Note
Indenture), the forms of which are filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a
part. The terms of the Senior Notes will include those stated in
the Senior Note Indenture and those made a part of the Senior
Note Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act. Certain capitalized
terms used in this Prospectus are defined in the Senior Note
Indenture.
13
General
The Senior Notes will be issued as unsecured senior debt
securities under the Senior Note Indenture and will rank equally
with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Company.
The Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to all secured
debt of the Company, including its first mortgage bonds,
aggregating approximately $286,000,000 outstanding at
March 31, 2005. The Senior Note Indenture does not limit
the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes that may be
issued under the Senior Note Indenture and provides that Senior
Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series
pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Senior Note
Indenture. The Senior Note Indenture gives the Company the
ability to reopen a previous issue of Senior Notes and issue
additional Senior Notes of such series, unless otherwise
provided.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will
accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series
of Senior Notes being offered by such Prospectus Supplement:
(i) the title of such Senior Notes; (ii) any limit on
the aggregate principal amount of such Senior Notes;
(iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such
Senior Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which
such Senior Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by
which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates
from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates
on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record
date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
(v) the place or places where the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Senior Notes
shall be payable; (vi) the period or periods within which,
the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on
which such Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at
the option of the Company or at the option of the holder prior
to their maturity; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the
Company to redeem or purchase such Senior Notes; (viii) the
denominations in which such Senior Notes shall be issuable;
(ix) if other than the principal amount of such Senior
Notes, the portion of the principal amount of such Senior Notes
which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity of such Senior Notes; (x) any deletions from,
modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or
covenants of the Company as provided in the Senior Note
Indenture pertaining to such Senior Notes; (xi) whether
such Senior Notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the
form of a Global Security; and (xii) any other terms of
such Senior Notes.
The Senior Note Indenture does not contain provisions that
afford holders of Senior Notes protection in the event of a
highly leveraged transaction involving the Company.
Events of Default
The Senior Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the
following described events with respect to the Senior Notes of
any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an
Event of Default with respect to the Senior Notes of
such series:
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(a) failure for 10 days to pay interest on the Senior
Notes of such series, when due on an interest payment date other
than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or |
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(b) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or
interest on the Senior Notes of such series when due at maturity
or upon earlier redemption; or |
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(c) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking
fund payment when due by the terms of a Senior Note of such
series; or |
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(d) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or
warranty of the Company in the Senior Note Indenture (other than
a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the
Senior Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more
series of Senior Notes other than such series) for 90 days
after written notice to the Company from the Senior Note
Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of such series; or |
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(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of the Company. |
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Senior Notes of any series have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy
14
available to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee with respect to
the Senior Notes of such series. If a Senior Note Indenture
Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the
Senior Notes of any series, then the Senior Note Indenture
Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of such series
may declare the principal amount of the Senior Notes due and
payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to
the Senior Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and
upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become
immediately due and payable. At any time after such a
declaration of acceleration with respect to the Senior Notes of
any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in
Article Five of the Senior Note Indenture, the holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount
of the Senior Notes of such series may rescind and annul such
declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured
or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Senior
Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by
acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Senior Note
Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and
expenses of the Senior Note Indenture Trustee.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Senior Notes of any series may, on
behalf of the holders of all the Senior Notes of such series,
waive any past default with respect to such series, except
(i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or
(ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which
under Article Nine of the Senior Note Indenture cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Senior Note of such series affected.
Registration and Transfer
The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register
the transfer of or exchange Senior Notes of any series during a
period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given
identifying the Senior Notes of such series called for
redemption, or (ii) issue, register the transfer of or
exchange any Senior Notes so selected for redemption, in whole
or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Senior Note
being redeemed in part.
Payment and Paying Agent
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement, payment of principal of any Senior Notes will be
made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Senior
Notes. Principal of and interest on Senior Notes will be
payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the
office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may
designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the
Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or
by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an
interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security
Register with respect to the Senior Notes. Payment of interest
on Senior Notes on any interest payment date will be made to the
person in whose name the Senior Notes (or predecessor security)
are registered at the close of business on the record date for
such interest payment.
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying
Agent with respect to the Senior Notes. The Company may at any
time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the
designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the
office through which any Paying Agent acts.
All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment
of the principal of or interest on the Senior Notes of any
series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such
principal or interest shall have become due and payable will be
repaid to the Company, and the holder of such Senior Notes from
that time forward will look only to the Company for payment of
such principal and interest.
Modification
The Senior Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the
Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent
of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount
of the outstanding Senior Notes of each series that is affected,
to modify the Senior Note Indenture or the rights of the holders
of
15
the Senior Notes of such series; provided, that no such
modification may, without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Senior Note that is affected, (i) change the
stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
principal of or interest on, any Senior Note, or reduce the
principal amount of any Senior Note or the rate of interest on
any Senior Note or any premium payable upon the redemption of
any Senior Note, or change the method of calculating the rate of
interest on any Senior Note, or impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
stated maturity of any Senior Note (or, in the case of
redemption, on or after the redemption date), or
(ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the
outstanding Senior Notes of any series, the consent of whose
holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the
consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of
compliance with certain provisions of the Senior Note Indenture
or certain defaults under the Senior Note Indenture and their
consequences) provided for in the Senior Note Indenture, or
(iii) modify any of the provisions of the Senior Note
Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past
defaults, or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any
such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of
the Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without
the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note that
is affected.
In addition, the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee
may execute, without the consent of any holders of Senior Notes,
any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes,
including the creation of any new series of senior notes.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other
corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless
(1) such other corporation or person is a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any
state in the United States or the District of Columbia and such
other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental
indenture executed and delivered to the Senior Note Indenture
Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on all the Senior Notes and the performance of
every covenant of the Senior Note Indenture on the part of the
Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after
giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no
event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Senior Note Indenture
Trustee an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel,
each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions
of the Senior Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger,
conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent
to the transaction have been complied with.
Information Concerning the Senior Note Indenture Trustee
The Senior Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default
with respect to Senior Notes of any series, undertakes to
perform, with respect to Senior Notes of such series, only such
duties as are specifically set forth in the Senior Note
Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to
Senior Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall
exercise, with respect to Senior Notes of such series, the same
degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision,
the Senior Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to
exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Senior Note
Indenture at the request of any holder of Senior Notes of any
series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder
against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be
incurred by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The Senior Note
Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of its duties if the Senior Note Indenture Trustee
reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not
reasonably assured to it.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan
Bank), the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, also serves as First
Mortgage Bond Trustee, as Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee,
as Property Trustee and as Guarantee Trustee. The Company and
certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking
relationships with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A. also serves as trustee under other indentures
pursuant to which securities of the Company and affiliates of
the Company are outstanding.
16
Governing Law
The Senior Note Indenture and the Senior Notes will be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the
State of New York.
Miscellaneous
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of
its rights or obligations under the Senior Note Indenture to a
direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company
will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject
to the foregoing, the Senior Note Indenture will be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties to the Senior Note
Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.
DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the
Junior Subordinated Notes. The following description does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to, the Subordinated Note Indenture,
dated as of January 1, 1997, between the Company and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan
Bank), as trustee (the Subordinated Note Indenture
Trustee), as to be supplemented by a supplemental
indenture to the Subordinated Note Indenture establishing the
Junior Subordinated Notes of each series (the Subordinated Note
Indenture, as so supplemented, is referred to as the
Subordinated Note Indenture), the forms of which are
filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part. The terms of the Junior Subordinated
Notes will include those stated in the Subordinated Note
Indenture and those made a part of the Subordinated Note
Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act. Certain capitalized
terms used in this Prospectus are defined in the Subordinated
Note Indenture.
General
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as unsecured junior
subordinated debt securities under the Subordinated Note
Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the
aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes that may
be issued under the Subordinated Note Indenture and provides
that Junior Subordinated Notes may be issued from time to time
in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to
the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture
gives the Company the ability to reopen a previous issue of
Junior Subordinated Notes and issue additional Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will
accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series
of Junior Subordinated Notes being offered by such Prospectus
Supplement: (i) the title of such Junior Subordinated
Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of
such Junior Subordinated Notes; (iii) the date or dates on
which the principal of such Junior Subordinated Notes is
payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Junior
Subordinated Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by
which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates
from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates
on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record
date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
(v) the place or places where the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Junior
Subordinated Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or
periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms
and conditions on which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or
at the option of the holder prior to their maturity;
(vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or
purchase such Junior Subordinated Notes; (viii) the
denominations in which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be
issuable; (ix) if other than the principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Notes, the portion of the principal amount
of such Junior Subordinated Notes which shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Notes; (x) any deletions from, modifications
of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the
Company as provided in the Subordinated Note Indenture
pertaining to such Junior Subordinated Notes; (xi) whether
such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issued in whole or in
part in the form of a Global
17
Security; (xii) the right, if any, of the Company to extend
the interest payment periods of such Junior Subordinated Notes;
and (xiii) any other terms of such Junior Subordinated
Notes. The terms of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes
issued to a Trust will correspond to those of the related
Preferred Securities of such Trust as described in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Preferred Securities.
The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that
afford holders of Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the
event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company.
Subordination
The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below)
of the Company. No payment of principal of (including redemption
payments, if any), or premium, if any, or interest on (including
Additional Interest (as defined below)) the Junior Subordinated
Notes may be made if (a) any Senior Indebtedness is not
paid when due and any applicable grace period with respect to
such default has ended with such default not being cured or
waived or otherwise ceasing to exist, or (b) the maturity
of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a
default, or (c) notice has been given of the exercise of an
option to require repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or
otherwise. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the
Company to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, marshalling of assets or liabilities, or any
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company,
the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive
payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in
respect of all Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive or retain any
payment or distribution. Subject to the prior payment of all
Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be subrogated to the rights of the
holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and
distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all
amounts owing on the Junior Subordinated Notes are paid in full.
The term Senior Indebtedness means, with respect to
the Company, (i) any payment due in respect of indebtedness
of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of execution of
the Subordinated Note Indenture or incurred, created or assumed
after such date, (a) in respect of money borrowed
(including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract
or similar instrument) and (b) evidenced by securities,
debentures, bonds, notes or other similar instruments issued by
the Company that, by their terms, are senior or senior
subordinated debt securities including, without limitation, all
obligations under its indentures with various trustees;
(ii) all capital lease obligations; (iii) all
obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations
of the Company under any title retention agreement (but
excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course
of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all
obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit,
bankers acceptance, security purchase facility or similar
credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons the
payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as
obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations
of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of
other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of
the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the
Company), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by
its terms subordinated to or that ranks equally with the Junior
Subordinated Notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness
between or among the Company or its affiliates. Such Senior
Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be
entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions
contained in the Subordinated Note Indenture irrespective of any
amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior
Indebtedness.
The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate
amount of Senior Indebtedness that may be issued by the Company.
As of March 31, 2005, Senior Indebtedness of the Company
aggregated approximately $4,335,000,000.
Additional Interest
Additional Interest is defined in the Subordinated
Note Indenture as (i) such additional amounts as may be
required so that the net amounts received and retained by a
holder of Junior Subordinated Notes (if
18
the holder is a Trust) after paying taxes, duties, assessments
or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or any other
taxing authority will not be less than the amounts the holder
would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments, or
other governmental charges been imposed; and (ii) any
interest due and not paid on an interest payment date, together
with interest from such interest payment date to the date of
payment, compounded quarterly, on each interest payment date.
Certain Covenants
The Company covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for
the benefit of the holders of each series of Junior Subordinated
Notes, that, (i) if at such time the Company shall have
given notice of its election to extend an interest payment
period for such series of Junior Subordinated Notes and such
extension shall be continuing, (ii) if at such time the
Company shall be in default with respect to its payment or other
obligations under the Guarantee with respect to the Trust
Securities, if any, related to such series of Junior
Subordinated Notes, or (iii) if at such time an Event of
Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to
such series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and
be continuing, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any
dividend or make any distributions with respect to, or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of its capital stock, and (b) the Company shall not
make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on
or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including
guarantees other than the Guarantees) issued by the Company
which rank equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated
Notes. None of the foregoing, however, shall restrict
(i) any of the actions described in the preceding sentence
resulting from any reclassification of the Companys
capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or
series of the Companys capital stock for another class or
series of the Companys capital stock, or (ii) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Companys
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions
of such capital stock or the security being converted or
exchanged.
The Subordinated Note Indenture further provides that, for so
long as the Trust Securities of any Trust remain outstanding,
the Company covenants (i) to directly or indirectly
maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities of such Trust;
provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company
under the Subordinated Note Indenture may succeed to the
Companys ownership of such Common Securities, and
(ii) to use its reasonable efforts to cause such Trust
(a) to remain a statutory trust, except in connection with
the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of
Trust Securities in liquidation of such Trust, the redemption of
all of the Trust Securities of such Trust, or certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the
related Trust Agreement, and (b) to otherwise continue to
be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal
income tax purposes.
Events of Default
The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that any one or more of
the following described events with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series, which has occurred and is
continuing, constitutes an Event of Default with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series:
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(a) failure for 10 days to pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series, including any Additional
Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition of
Additional Interest in the Subordinated Note Indenture) on such
unpaid interest, when due on an interest payment date other than
at maturity or upon earlier redemption; provided, however, that
a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company
shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for
this purpose; or |
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(b) failure for 10 days to pay Additional Interest (as
defined in clause (i) of the definition of Additional
Interest in the Subordinated Note Indenture); or |
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(c) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or
interest, including Additional Interest (as defined in clause
(ii) of the definition of Additional Interest in the
Subordinated Note Indenture), on the Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption;
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(d) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking
fund payment when due by the terms of a Junior Subordinated Note
of such series; or |
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(e) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or
warranty of the Company in the Subordinated Note Indenture
(other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been
included in the Subordinated Note Indenture solely for the
benefit of one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes other
than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the
Company from the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; or |
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(f) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of the Company. |
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series
have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series. If a Subordinated Note
Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect
to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, then the
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series may declare the principal
amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes due and payable
immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders),
and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become
immediately due and payable. At any time after such a
declaration of acceleration with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series has been made and before a
judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been
obtained as provided in Article Five of the Subordinated Note
Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series may rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the
Company has paid or deposited with the Subordinated Note
Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) and
principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid
or advanced by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee,
including reasonable compensation and expenses of the
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee.
A holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Company, without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or
any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such
holder of principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes of the related series having a principal amount equal to
the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in
the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series
may, on behalf of the holders of all the Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to
such series, except (i) a default in the payment of
principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a
covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the
Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Note of such series affected.
Registration and Transfer
The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register
the transfer of or exchange Junior Subordinated Notes of any
series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date
notice is given identifying the Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series called for redemption, or (ii) issue, register
the transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so
selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Junior Subordinated Note being
redeemed in part.
Payment and Paying Agent
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement, payment of principal of any Junior Subordinated
Notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of
such Junior Subordinated
20
Notes. Principal of and interest on Junior Subordinated Notes
will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations,
at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the
Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the
option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by
wire transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person
entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in
the Security Register with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes. Payment of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes on any
interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name
the Junior Subordinated Notes (or predecessor security) are
registered at the close of business on the record date for such
interest payment.
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee will act as
Paying Agent with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. The
Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or
rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change
in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.
All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment
of the principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years
after such principal or interest shall have become due and
payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such
Junior Subordinated Notes will from that time forward look only
to the Company for payment of such principal and interest.
Modification
The Subordinated Note Indenture contains provisions permitting
the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, with
the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of
each series affected, to modify the Subordinated Note Indenture
or the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series; provided, that no such modification may, without
the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Note affected, (i) change the stated maturity
of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or
interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note, or reduce the
principal amount of any Junior Subordinated Note or the rate of
interest (including Additional Interest) on any Junior
Subordinated Note or any premium payable upon the redemption of
any Junior Subordinated Note, or change the method of
calculating the rate of interest on any Junior Subordinated
Note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement
of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any
Junior Subordinated Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or
after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage
of principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes
of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any
such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is
required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions
of the Subordinated Note Indenture or certain defaults under the
Subordinated Note Indenture and their consequences) provided for
in the Subordinated Note Indenture, or (iii) modify any of
the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating to
supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of
certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to
provide that certain other provisions of the Subordinated Note
Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of
the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected
thereby, or (iv) modify the provisions of the Subordinated
Note Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Junior
Subordinated Notes in a manner adverse to such holder.
In addition, the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture
Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of
Junior Subordinated Notes, any supplemental indenture for
certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new
series of junior subordinated notes.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other
corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless
(1) such other corporation or person is a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any
state in the United States or the District of Columbia and such
other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental
indenture executed and delivered to the Subordinated Note
Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest (including Additional Interest) on all the
Junior Subordinated Notes and the performance of every covenant
of the Subordinated Note Indenture on the part of the Company to
be
21
performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect
to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which,
after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of
Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the
Company has delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee
an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each
stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of
the Subordinated Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger,
conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent
to the transaction have been complied with.
Information Concerning the Subordinated Note Indenture
Trustee
The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of
Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series,
undertakes to perform, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth
in the Subordinated Note Indenture and, in case an Event of
Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series
has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to
Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, the same degree of
care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of
his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to
exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Subordinated Note
Indenture at the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such
holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might
be incurred by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The
Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of its duties if the Subordinated Note Indenture
Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity
is not reasonably assured to it.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan
Bank), the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, also serves as
First Mortgage Bond Trustee, as Senior Note Indenture Trustee,
as Property Trustee and as Guarantee Trustee. The Company and
certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking
relationships with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A. also serves as trustee under other indentures
pursuant to which securities of the Company and affiliates of
the Company are outstanding.
Governing Law
The Subordinated Note Indenture and the Junior Subordinated
Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
internal laws of the State of New York.
Miscellaneous
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of
its rights or obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture
to a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company
will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject
to the foregoing, the Subordinated Note Indenture will be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to the
Subordinated Note Indenture and their respective successors and
assigns.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
Each Trust may issue only one series of Preferred Securities
having terms described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such Trust. The Trust Agreement of each Trust will authorize the
Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, to issue the
Preferred Securities of such Trust. The Preferred Securities of
each Trust will have such terms, including distributions,
redemption, voting, liquidation rights and such other preferred,
deferral or other special rights or such restrictions as shall
be set forth in the Trust Agreement of such Trust. Reference is
made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Preferred
Securities of a Trust for specific terms, including (i) the
distinctive designation of such Preferred Securities;
(ii) the number of Preferred Securities issued by such
Trust; (iii) the distribution rate (or method of
determining such rate) for Preferred Securities of such Trust
and the date or dates on which such distributions shall be
payable; (iv) whether distributions on such Preferred
Securities shall be cumulative and, in the case of Preferred
Securities having cumulative distribution rights, the date or
dates, or method of determining the date or dates,
22
from which distributions on such Preferred Securities shall be
cumulative; (v) the amount or amounts that shall be paid
out of the assets of such Trust to the holders of the Preferred
Securities of such Trust upon voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Trust;
(vi) the obligation, if any, of such Trust to purchase or
redeem such Preferred Securities and the price or prices at
which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and
conditions upon which such Preferred Securities shall be
purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
obligation; (vii) the voting rights, if any, of such
Preferred Securities in addition to those required by law,
including the number of votes per Preferred Security and any
requirement for the approval by the holders of Preferred
Securities as a condition to specified action or amendments to
the Trust Agreement of such Trust; (viii) the rights, if
any, to defer distributions on the Preferred Securities by
extending the interest payment period on the related Junior
Subordinated Notes; and (ix) any other relative rights,
preferences, privileges, limitations or restrictions of such
Preferred Securities not inconsistent with the Trust Agreement
of such Trust or applicable law. All Preferred Securities
offered by this Prospectus will be guaranteed by the Company to
the extent set forth under Description of the
Guarantees. Any material United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to an offering of Preferred Securities
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
Preferred Securities.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES
Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the
Guarantees that will be executed and delivered by the Company
for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of the
respective Trusts from time to time. Each Guarantee will be
qualified as an indenture under the 1939 Act. JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A. will act as indenture trustee under each Guarantee
(the Guarantee Trustee) for purposes of the 1939
Act. The terms of the respective Guarantees will be those set
forth in such Guarantee and those made part of such Guarantee by
the 1939 Act. The following summary does not purport to be
complete and is subject in all respects to the provisions of,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the
Guarantees, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part,
and the 1939 Act. Each Guarantee will be held by the Guarantee
Trustee for the benefit of holders of the Preferred Securities
to which it relates.
General
Pursuant to each Guarantee, the Company will irrevocably and
unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth in the Guarantee,
to pay in full, to the holders of the related Preferred
Securities, the Guarantee Payments (as defined below), to the
extent not paid by, or on behalf of, the related Trust,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that
the Company may have or assert against any person. The following
payments or distributions with respect to the Preferred
Securities of any Trust to the extent not paid or made by, or on
behalf of, such Trust will be subject to the Guarantee related
to the Preferred Securities (without duplication): (i) any
accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the
Preferred Securities of such Trust but if and only if and to the
extent that such Trust has funds legally and immediately
available for these distributions, (ii) the redemption
price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to the
date of redemption (the Redemption Price), with
respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by
such Trust, but if and only to the extent such Trust has funds
legally and immediately available to pay such Redemption Price,
and (iii) upon a dissolution, winding-up or termination of
such Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of
Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities of
such Trust or the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities
of such Trust), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the
liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on
the Preferred Securities of such Trust to the date of payment,
to the extent such Trust has funds legally and immediately
available for such purpose, and (b) the amount of assets of
such Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of
Preferred Securities of such Trust in liquidation of such Trust
(the Guarantee Payments). The Companys
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by
direct payment of the required amounts by the Company to the
holders of the related Preferred Securities or by causing the
related Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.
Each Guarantee will be a guarantee of the Guarantee Payments
with respect to the related Preferred Securities from the time
of issuance of such Preferred Securities, but will not apply to
the payment of
23
distributions and other payments on such Preferred Securities
when the related Trust does not have sufficient funds legally
and immediately available to make such distributions or other
payments. If the Company does not make interest payments on
the Junior Subordinated Notes held by the Property Trustee under
any Trust, such Trust will not make distributions on its
Preferred Securities.
Subordination
The Companys obligations under each Guarantee to make the
Guarantee Payments will constitute an unsecured obligation of
the Company and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company,
including the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those
obligations or liabilities made equal to or subordinate by their
terms, (ii) equal to the most senior preferred or
preference stock now issued by the Company or issued at a later
date by the Company and with any guarantee now entered into by
the Company or entered into at a later date by the Company in
respect of any preferred or preference securities of any
affiliate of the Company, and (iii) senior to all common
stock of the Company. The terms of the Preferred Securities will
provide that each holder of Preferred Securities by acceptance
of Preferred Securities agrees to the subordination provisions
and other terms of the Guarantee related to the Preferred
Securities. The Company has outstanding preferred stock that
ranks equal to the Guarantees and common stock that ranks junior
to the Guarantees.
Each Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection (that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the guarantor to enforce its rights
under the guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding
against any other person or entity).
Amendments and Assignment
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially and
adversely affect the rights of holders of the related Preferred
Securities (in which case no consent will be required), each
Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the
holders of not less than
662/3%
in liquidation amount of such outstanding Preferred Securities.
The manner of obtaining any such approval of holders of the
Preferred Securities will be as set forth in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement. All guarantees and agreements contained
in each Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers,
trustees and representatives of the Company and shall inure to
the benefit of the holders of the related Preferred Securities
then outstanding.
Termination
Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and
effect as to the related Preferred Securities upon full payment
of the Redemption Price of all such Preferred Securities, upon
distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of such
Preferred Securities, or upon full payment of the amounts
payable upon liquidation of the related Trust. Each Guarantee
will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case
may be, if at any time any holder of the related Preferred
Securities must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to
such Preferred Securities or under such Guarantee.
Events of Default
An event of default under each Guarantee will occur upon the
failure by the Company to perform any of its payment obligations
under such Guarantee. The holders of a majority in liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities to which any Guarantee
relates have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Guarantee Trustee in respect of such Guarantee or to direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee
Trustee under such Guarantee. Any holder of the related
Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company to enforce its rights under such Guarantee
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. The holders of
a majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities of any
series may, by vote, on behalf of the holders of all the
Preferred Securities of such series, waive any past event of
default and its consequences.
24
Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
The Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of any event of
default with respect to any Guarantee and after the curing or
waiving of all events of default with respect to such Guarantee,
undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set
forth in such Guarantee and, in case an event of default has
occurred, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent
individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own
affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Guarantee Trustee is
under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it
by any Guarantee at the request of any holder of the related
Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity
against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be
incurred by the Guarantee Trustee.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the Guarantee Trustee, also serves as
Property Trustee, as First Mortgage Bond Trustee, as Senior Note
Indenture Trustee and as Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee.
The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit
accounts and banking relationships with JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. serves as trustee under other
indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and
affiliates of the Company are outstanding.
Governing Law
Each Guarantee will be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
The Agreements as to Expenses and Liabilities
Pursuant to an Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities to be
entered into by the Company under each Trust Agreement, the
Company will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each
person or entity to whom each Trust becomes indebted or liable
the full payment of any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of
such Trust, other than obligations of such Trust to pay to the
holders of the related Preferred Securities or other similar
interests in such Trust the amounts due such holders pursuant to
the terms of such Preferred Securities or such other similar
interests, as the case may be.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES,
THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when
due on each series of Junior Subordinated Notes issued to a
Trust, such payments will be sufficient to cover distributions
and payments due on the related Trust Securities of such Trust
primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount of
each series of Junior Subordinated Notes will be equal to the
sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the related
Trust Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and
other payment dates on each series of Junior Subordinated Notes
will match the distribution rate and distribution and other
payment dates for the related Preferred Securities;
(iii) the Company shall pay for all costs and expenses of
each Trust pursuant to the Agreements as to Expenses and
Liabilities; and (iv) each Trust Agreement provides that
the Securities Trustees under each Trust Agreement 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 for such purpose
are legally and immediately available) and other payments due on
the Preferred Securities (to the extent funds for such purpose
are legally and immediately available) will be guaranteed by the
Company as and to the extent set forth under Description
of the Guarantees. If the Company does not make interest
payments on any series of Junior Subordinated Notes, it is not
expected that the related Trust will have sufficient funds to
pay distributions on its Preferred Securities. Each Guarantee is
a guarantee from the time of its issuance, but does not apply to
any payment of distributions unless and until the related Trust
has sufficient funds legally and immediately available for the
payment of such distributions.
If the Company fails to make interest or other payments on any
series of Junior Subordinated Notes when due (taking into
account any extension period as described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement),
25
the Trust Agreement provides a mechanism whereby the holders of
the related Preferred Securities may appoint a substitute
Property Trustee. Such holders may also direct the Property
Trustee to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series, including proceeding directly against the
Company to enforce such Junior Subordinated Notes. If the
Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under any series of
Junior Subordinated Notes, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, any holder of related Preferred Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to
enforce the Property Trustees rights under such series of
Junior Subordinated Notes without first instituting any legal
proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or
entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Company, without first instituting a legal proceeding against
the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for
enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or
interest on Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on
or after the due dates specified in the Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series.
If the Company fails to make payments under any Guarantee, such
Guarantee provides a mechanism that allows the holders of the
Preferred Securities to which such Guarantee relates to direct
the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights under such
Guarantee. In addition, any holder of Preferred Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to
enforce the Guarantee Trustees rights under the related
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against
the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity.
Each Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Junior
Subordinated Notes of the related series, the related Trust
Agreement and the related Agreement as to Expenses and
Liabilities, as described above, constitute a full and
unconditional guarantee by the Company of the payments due on
the related series of Preferred Securities.
Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of any Trust, unless Junior Subordinated Notes of
the related series are distributed in connection with such
action, the holders of Preferred Securities of such Trust will
be entitled to receive, out of assets legally available for
distribution to holders, a liquidation distribution in cash as
described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Upon any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the
Company, the Property Trustee, as holder of the related series
of Junior Subordinated Notes, would be a subordinated creditor
of the Company, subordinated in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness, but entitled to receive payment in full of
principal and interest, before any shareholders of the Company
receive payments or distributions. Because the Company is
guarantor under each Guarantee and has agreed to pay for all
costs, expenses and liabilities of each Trust (other than the
Trusts obligations to holders of the Preferred Securities)
pursuant to the related Agreement as to Expenses and
Liabilities, the positions of a holder of Preferred Securities
and a holder of Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series
relative to other creditors and to shareholders of the Company
in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company would
be substantially the same.
A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness
would not constitute a default or Event of Default under the
Subordinated Note Indenture. However, in the event of payment
defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Indebtedness, the
subordination provisions of the Junior Subordinated Notes
provide that no payments may be made in respect of the Junior
Subordinated Notes until such Senior Indebtedness has been paid
in full or any payment default of Senior Indebtedness has been
cured or waived. Failure to make required payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series would constitute an Event of
Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to
the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series except that failure
to make interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series will not be an Event of Default during an extension
period as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell the new Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock,
Depositary Shares, Senior Notes and the Junior Subordinated
Notes and the Trusts may sell the Preferred Securities in one or
more of the following ways from time to time: (i) to
underwriters for resale to the public or to institutional
investors;
26
(ii) directly to institutional investors; or
(iii) through agents to the public or to institutional
investors. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to each series
of new Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares,
Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities
will set forth the terms of the offering of such new Bonds, new
Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Senior Notes, Junior
Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities, including the name
or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price of
such new Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares,
Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities
and the proceeds to the Company or the applicable Trust from
such sale, any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other
items constituting underwriters or agents
compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts
or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any
securities exchange on which such new Bonds, new Stock,
Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Senior Notes, Junior
Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities may be listed.
If underwriters participate in the sale, such new Bonds, new
Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Senior Notes, Junior
Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities will be acquired by
the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from
time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated
transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying
prices determined at the time of sale.
Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the
obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of new
Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Senior
Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities will be
subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters
will be obligated to purchase all of such series of new Bonds,
new Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Senior Notes,
Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities, if any are
purchased.
Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered
into with the Company and/or the applicable Trust to
indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the 1933 Act. Underwriters and agents may
engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the
Company in the ordinary course of business.
Each series of new Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock,
Depositary Shares, Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or
Preferred Securities will be a new issue of securities and will
have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom new
Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Senior
Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities are
sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such new
Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Senior
Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities, but
such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The
new Bonds, new Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares,
Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities
may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the
Preferred Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the
Company and the Trusts by Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel to the
Company and the Trusts. The validity of the new Bonds, new
Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Senior Notes, Junior
Subordinated Notes, Guarantees and certain matters relating to
such securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company by
Balch & Bingham LLP, Birmingham, Alabama, and by Troutman
Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will
be passed upon for the underwriters by Dewey Ballantine LLP, New
York, New York. From time to time Dewey Ballantine LLP acts as
counsel to affiliates of the Company for some matters.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and the related financial statement
schedule incorporated by reference in this Prospectus by
reference from the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 have
been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports,
which are incorporated by reference and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon
their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
27
6,000,000 Shares
5.625% Series Preference Stock
Non-Cumulative, Par Value $1 Per
Share
(Stated Capital $25 Per Share)
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
December 5, 2006
Joint Book-Running Managers
Co-Managers
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BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC |
WACHOVIA SECURITIES |