e424b5
The
information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not
complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an
offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers
to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or
sale is not permitted.
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(B)(5)
File
No. 333-158200
and
333-158200-03
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED
JUNE 21, 2010
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated March 25, 2009)
20,000,000 Equity
Units
(Initially Consisting of
20,000,000 Corporate Units)
PPL Corporation
This is an offering of Equity Units by PPL Corporation. Each
Equity Unit will have a stated amount of $50 and will initially
be in the form of Corporate Units, each of which consists of a
purchase contract issued by us and, initially, a l/20, or 5.0%,
undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal
amount of PPL Capital Funding,
Inc.s % junior subordinated
notes due 2018, which we refer to as the notes. The notes will
be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by PPL Corporation
pursuant to subordinated guarantees of PPL Corporation.
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The purchase contract will obligate you to purchase from us, no
later than July 1, 2013, for a price of $50 in cash, the
following number of shares of our common stock, subject to
anti-dilution adjustments:
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if the applicable market value, which is the average volume
weighted average price, or VWAP, of our common stock over the
20-trading day period ending on the third scheduled trading day
prior to July 1, 2013, equals or exceeds
$ , shares
of our common stock;
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if the applicable market value is less than
$ but greater than $ , a number of
shares of our common stock having a value, based on the
applicable market value, equal to $50; and
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if the applicable market value is less than or equal to
$
, shares
of our common stock.
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The notes will initially bear interest at a rate
of % per year, payable quarterly on
January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year
(except where such date is not a business day, interest will be
payable as of the next subsequent business day, without
adjustment), commencing on October 1, 2010. The notes will
initially be subordinated to all of PPL Capital Funding
Inc.s existing and future Senior Indebtedness
(as defined under Description of the Notes
Subordination). In addition, the notes will be effectively
subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries (other than
those of PPL Capital Funding, Inc.). Prior to July 1, 2015,
PPL Capital Funding, Inc. will have the right to defer interest
payments on the notes one or more times for one or more
consecutive interest periods without giving rise to an event of
default. The notes will be remarketed in two tranches and will
be the senior or subordinated, unsecured obligations of PPL
Capital Funding as described in this prospectus supplement. We
may elect to remarket the notes as fixed-rate notes
and/or as
floating-rate notes and to modify certain other terms of the
notes in connection with the remarketing. If the remarketing is
successful, the interest rate on the notes will be reset and
thereafter, if any of the remarketed notes are fixed-rate notes,
interest on such notes will be payable semi-annually.
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We will also pay you quarterly contract adjustment payments at a
rate of % per year of the stated
amount of $50 per Equity Unit, or
$ per year, subject to our right
to defer contract adjustment payments, as described in this
prospectus supplement.
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Other than during a blackout period (as defined herein) or after
a successful remarketing, you can create Treasury Units from
Corporate Units by substituting Treasury securities for your
undivided beneficial ownership interest in the notes comprising
a part of the Corporate Units, and you can recreate Corporate
Units by substituting your undivided beneficial ownership
interest in the notes for the Treasury securities comprising a
part of the Treasury Units.
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Your ownership interest in the notes (or after a successful
optional remarketing, the applicable ownership interest in the
Treasury portfolio) or the Treasury securities, as the case may
be, will be pledged to us to secure your obligation under the
related purchase contract.
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If there is a successful optional remarketing of the notes as
described in this prospectus supplement, and you hold Corporate
Units, your applicable ownership interest in the Treasury
portfolio purchased with the proceeds from the remarketing will
be used to satisfy your payment obligations under the purchase
contract.
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If there is a successful final remarketing of the notes as
described in this prospectus supplement, and you hold Corporate
Units, the proceeds from the remarketing will be used to satisfy
your payment obligations under the purchase contract, unless you
have elected to settle with separate cash.
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Concurrently with this offering of Equity Units, we are
offering, by means of a separate prospectus supplement,
90,000,000 shares of our common stock (or
103,500,000 shares of our common stock if the underwriters
of that offering exercise in full their over-allotment option).
This offering of Equity Units is not contingent on the offering
of common stock and the offering of common stock is not
contingent upon this offering of Equity Units. See
Concurrent Common Stock Offering in this prospectus
supplement.
We expect trading of the Corporate Units on the New York Stock
Exchange to commence within 30 days of the date of initial
issuance of the Corporate Units under the symbol PPL PR
U. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market
for the Corporate Units.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol PPL. The closing price of our common
stock on June 18, 2010 was $26.06 per share.
Investing in the Equity Units involves certain risks. See
Risk Factors beginning on
page S-23
of this prospectus supplement, page 3 of the accompanying
prospectus and in Item 1A in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009.
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Per Corporate Unit
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Total
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Public offering price
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$
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50.00
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$
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Underwriting discounts and commissions
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$
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$
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Proceeds, before expenses, to us
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$
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$
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We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase from us
on a pro rata basis up to 3,000,000 additional Corporate Units
within 13 days of the closing date of this offering solely
to cover over-allotments, if any.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities
commission, nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any state securities commission determined that this prospectus
supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the Corporate Units to
purchasers in book-entry form only through The Depository
Trust Company on or
about ,
2010.
Joint Book-Running
Managers
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Credit
Suisse |
BofA Merrill Lynch |
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Barclays
Capital |
J.P. Morgan |
UBS Investment Bank |
Senior Co-Managers
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Citi |
Morgan Stanley |
Wells Fargo Securities |
The date of this prospectus
supplement
is ,
2010.
We have authorized only the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, and any free writing prospectus and you
should not assume we have verified any such information and we
take no responsibility for it to be delivered to you. Neither we
nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with
different or additional information and you should not assume we
have verified any such information and we take no responsibility
for it. We are not making an offer of these securities in any
state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume
that the information contained or incorporated by reference in
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is
accurate as of any date after the date of this prospectus
supplement.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Supplement
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S-iii
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S-iv
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S-vi
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S-1
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S-23
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S-32
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S-33
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S-34
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S-35
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S-36
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S-37
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S-42
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S-60
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S-65
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S-79
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S-88
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S-90
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S-94
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S-94
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Prospectus
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2
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3
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5
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6
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7
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10
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10
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As used in this prospectus supplement, the terms we,
our and us refer to PPL Corporation and
the term PPL Capital Funding refers to PPL Capital
Funding, Inc.
S-ii
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement
that PPL Corporation and PPL Capital Funding have filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) utilizing a
shelf registration process. Under this shelf
process, we are offering to sell the Equity Units, using this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This
prospectus supplement describes the specific terms of this
offering. The accompanying prospectus and the information
incorporated by reference therein describe our business and give
more general information, some of which may not apply to this
offering. Generally, when we refer only to the
prospectus, we are referring to both parts combined.
You should read this prospectus supplement together with the
accompanying prospectus before making a decision to invest in
the Equity Units. If the information in this prospectus
supplement or the information incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying
prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement or the
information incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement will apply and will supersede that information in the
accompanying prospectus.
Certain affiliates of PPL Corporation, specifically PPL Capital
Funding Inc., PPL Energy Supply, LLC and PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation, have also registered their securities on the
shelf registration statement referred to above.
However, the notes are solely obligations of PPL Capital
Funding, Inc. and, to the extent of the guarantees, PPL
Corporation, and not of any of PPL Corporations other
subsidiaries. Similarly, the purchase contracts are obligations
solely of PPL Corporation, and not any of its subsidiaries. None
of PPL Energy Supply, LLC or PPL Electric Utilities Corporation
or any of PPL Corporations other subsidiaries will
guarantee or provide any credit support for the notes or the
purchase contracts.
S-iii
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Available
Information
PPL Corporation files reports and other information with the
SEC. You may obtain copies of this information by mail from the
Public Reference Room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E.,
Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed
rates. Further information on the operation of the SECs
Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained
by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
PPL Corporation maintains an Internet Web site at
www.pplweb.com. On the Investor Center page of that Web site,
PPL Corporation provides access to its SEC filings free of
charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the
SEC. The information on PPL Corporations Web site is not
incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference, and you
should not consider it a part of this prospectus supplement. PPL
Corporations filings are also available at the SECs
Web site (www.sec.gov).
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on
Form S-3
with respect to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus
supplement does not contain all the information set forth in the
registration statement, parts of which are omitted in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further
information with respect to us and the securities offered
hereby, reference is made to the registration statement.
PPL Corporation Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE) (symbol: PPL), and reports, proxy
statements and other information concerning PPL Corporation can
also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE at 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005. In addition, proxy statements,
reports and other information concerning PPL Corporation can be
inspected at its offices at Two North Ninth Street, Allentown,
Pennsylvania
18101-1179.
Incorporation
by Reference
PPL Corporation will incorporate by reference
information into this prospectus supplement by disclosing
important information to you by referring you to another
document that it files separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this
prospectus supplement, and later information that we file with
the SEC will automatically update and supersede that
information. This prospectus supplement incorporates by
reference the documents set forth below that have been
previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important
information about PPL Corporation.
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SEC Filings
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Period/Date
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
(including information specifically incorporated by reference
into the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed
with the SEC on April 9, 2010)
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Year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on February 26,
2010
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Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
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Quarter ended March 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on May 6, 2010
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
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Filed with the SEC on May 24, 2010; June 14, 2010 and June 21,
2010
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Additional documents that PPL Corporation files with the SEC
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act), between the date of this prospectus supplement and
the termination of this offering of Equity Units are also
incorporated herein by reference. Unless specifically stated to
the contrary, none of the information that we disclose under
Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on
Form 8-K
that we have furnished or may from time to time furnish with the
SEC is or will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise
included in, this prospectus supplement.
S-iv
PPL Corporation will provide without charge to each person,
including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this
prospectus supplement has been delivered, a copy of any and all
of its filings with the SEC. You may request a copy of these
filings by writing or telephoning PPL Corporation at:
Two North
Ninth Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179
Attention: Investor Services Department
Telephone:
1-800-345-3085
We have not included or incorporated by reference any separate
financial statements of PPL Capital Funding herein. We do not
consider those financial statements to be material to holders of
the notes because (1) PPL Capital Funding is a wholly-owned
subsidiary that was formed for the primary purpose of providing
financing for PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries, (2) PPL
Capital Funding does not currently engage in any independent
operations and (3) PPL Capital Funding does not currently
plan to engage, in the future, in more than minimal independent
operations. See PPL Capital Funding in the
accompanying prospectus. PPL Capital Funding has received a
no action letter from the Staff of the SEC stating
that the Staff would not raise any objection if PPL Capital
Funding does not file periodic reports under Section 13 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we do not expect PPL
Capital Funding to file those reports.
S-v
FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
Statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement concerning expectations, beliefs, plans,
objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and
underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than
statements of historical fact are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the federal securities
laws. Although we believe that the expectations and assumptions
reflected in these statements are reasonable, there can be no
assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and
uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the
results discussed in forward-looking statements. In addition to
the specific factors discussed in Risk Factors set
forth below and in the accompanying prospectus, in
Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the following are
among the important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements.
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fuel supply cost and availability;
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weather conditions affecting generation, customer energy use and
operating costs;
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operation, availability and operating costs of existing
generation facilities;
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transmission and distribution system conditions and operating
costs;
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potential expansion of alternative sources of electricity
generation;
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potential laws or regulations to reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases;
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collective labor bargaining negotiations;
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the outcome of litigation against PPL and its subsidiaries;
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potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism, war or
other hostilities, or natural disasters;
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the commitments and liabilities of PPL and its subsidiaries;
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market demand and prices for energy, capacity, emission
allowances and delivered fuel;
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competition in retail and wholesale power markets;
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liquidity of wholesale power markets;
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defaults by counterparties under energy, fuel or other power
product contracts;
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market prices of commodity inputs for ongoing capital
expenditures;
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capital market conditions, including the availability of capital
or credit, changes in interest rates, and decisions regarding
capital structure;
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stock price performance of PPL;
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the fair value of debt and equity securities and the impact on
defined benefit costs and resultant cash funding requirements
for defined benefit plans;
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interest rates and their effect on pension, retiree medical and
nuclear decommissioning liabilities;
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the impact of the financial and economic market conditions in
general;
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the effect of electricity price deregulation beginning in 2010
in PPL Electric Utilities Corporations (PPL
Electric) service territory;
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the profitability and liquidity, including access to capital
markets and credit facilities, of PPL and its subsidiaries;
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new accounting requirements or new interpretations or
applications of existing requirements;
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S-vi
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changes in securities and credit ratings;
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foreign currency exchange rates;
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current and future environmental conditions, regulations and
other requirements and the related costs of compliance,
including environmental capital expenditures, emission allowance
costs and other expenses;
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political, regulatory or economic conditions in states, regions
or countries where PPL or its subsidiaries conduct business;
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receipt of necessary governmental permits, approvals and rate
relief;
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new state, federal or foreign legislation, including new tax
legislation;
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state, federal and foreign regulatory developments;
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the outcome of any rate cases by PPL Electric at the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission;
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the impact of any state, federal or foreign investigations
applicable to PPL and its subsidiaries and the energy industry;
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the effect of any business or industry restructuring;
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development of new projects, markets and technologies;
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performance of new ventures; and
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business or asset acquisitions and dispositions, including
PPLs pending acquisition of E.ON U.S. LLC and the
satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the completion of
that acquisition.
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Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in
light of such important factors and in conjunction with other
documents of PPL on file with the SEC.
New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in forward-looking statements emerge from
time to time, and it is not possible for PPL to predict all such
factors, or the extent to which any such factor or combination
of factors may cause actual results to differ from those
contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking
statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is
made, and PPL undertakes no obligation to update the information
contained in such statement to reflect subsequent developments
or information.
S-vii
SUMMARY
The following summary contains information about the offering
of the Equity Units. It does not contain all of the information
that may be important to you in making a decision to purchase
the Equity Units. For a more complete understanding of PPL
Capital Funding, PPL Corporation and the offering of the Equity
Units and the related guarantees, we urge you to read this
entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and
the documents incorporated by reference herein carefully,
including the Risk Factors sections and our
financial statements and the notes to those financial
statements.
PPL
Corporation
PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, PA, is an energy
and utility holding company that was incorporated in 1994.
Through its subsidiaries, PPL generates electricity from power
plants in the northeastern and western U.S., markets wholesale
or retail energy primarily in the northeastern and western
portions of the U.S. and delivers electricity to
approximately 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the
U.K. PPLs significant subsidiaries are shown below:
PPL
Capital Funding
PPL Capital Funding is a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of PPL Corporation. PPL Capital Fundings
primary business is to provide PPL Corporation with financing
for its operations.
Pending
Acquisition of the Kentucky Utility Group
On April 28, 2010, we, E.ON US Investments Corp., a
Delaware corporation (E.ON U.S. Investments), and
E.ON AG, a German corporation, entered into a Purchase and Sale
Agreement (the Agreement) providing for the sale to
us of E.ON U.S. LLC (E.ON U.S.), a wholly owned
subsidiary of E.ON U.S. Investments.
E.ON US, through its public utility subsidiaries Louisville Gas
and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky
Utilities Company (KU and together with LG&E,
the Kentucky Utility Group), provides electric
service to 941,000 customers, primarily in Kentucky, with some
customers in Virginia and Tennessee. LG&E also distributes
and sells natural gas to 321,000 customers in Kentucky. The
Kentucky Utility Group has 3,100 employees and owns and
operates approximately 8,100 MW of regulated electric
generation capacity. On a pro forma basis in 2009, we would have
had approximately $10 billion of annual revenues, served
five million electricity customers in the United States and the
United Kingdom, and owned or controlled approximately
20,000 MW of electricity generating capacity in the United
States.
Pursuant to the Agreement, at closing, we will acquire all of
the outstanding limited liability company interests of E.ON
U.S. for cash consideration of approximately
$2.1 billion (the Acquisition). In addition,
pursuant to the Agreement, we agreed to assume approximately
$925 million of pollution control bonds and to repay
indebtedness owed by E.ON U.S. and its subsidiaries to E.ON
U.S. Investments and its affiliates. Such affiliate
indebtedness is currently estimated to be approximately
$4.6 billion. The aggregate consideration payable by us on
closing, approximately $7.6 billion (including the assumed
indebtedness), is subject to adjustment for specified
incremental investment in E.ON U.S. that will potentially
be made by E.ON U.S. Investments and its affiliates prior
to closing.
S-1
We and E.ON U.S. Investments have made customary
representations and warranties and covenants in the Agreement.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions,
including the expiration or termination of the applicable
waiting period under the Hart Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement
Act of 1976, as amended (the HSR Act), receipt of
required regulatory approvals (including state regulators in
Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, and the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC)) and the absence of
injunctions or restraints imposed by governmental entities.
Subject to receipt of required approvals, the transaction is
expected to close by the end of 2010.
The Agreement also contains certain customary termination rights
for both E.ON U.S. Investments and us, including a termination
right for either party if the closing does not occur by
April 28, 2011 (provided that either party may postpone
such date to October 28, 2011 in the event that the only
closing condition that remains to be satisfied is the receipt of
regulatory approvals). In addition, E.ON U.S. Investments
has the right to terminate the Agreement if we have failed to
consummate the transaction when we were otherwise obligated to
do so. Upon such termination, subject to certain conditions, we
may be required to pay to E.ON U.S. Investments a
termination fee of $450 million.
Concurrently and in connection with entering into the Agreement,
we entered into a $6.5 billion
364-day
unsecured bridge facility (the Bridge Facility), the
proceeds of which may be used to fund the consideration for the
Acquisition and to pay certain fees and expenses in connection
with the Acquisition. The Bridge Facility will be used as a
backstop in the event that alternative forms of financing,
including proceeds from this offering and the concurrent common
stock offering, are not available at or prior to the closing of
the Acquisition. We do not currently intend to draw under the
Bridge Facility but instead plan to finance the Acquisition
through proceeds of this offering, the concurrent common stock
offering and the subsequent issuance of debt securities.
Acquisition
Rationale
The Acquisition is consistent with our stated strategy of
rebalancing our asset portfolio and growing regulated earnings.
We believe the acquisition provides us with significant benefits:
The
acquisition of the Kentucky Utility Group rebalances our
business mix and improves our credit profile
The Acquisition will significantly and immediately rebalance our
business mix to more regulated operations while allowing us to
retain upside to recovery in power markets. In addition, we
expect to have a stronger and more stable credit profile
resulting from an improved regulated and unregulated earnings
mix, greater geographic diversification and the constructive
regulatory framework in Kentucky. LG&E and KU are fully
regulated utilities operating primarily in Kentucky. On a
combined basis, the Acquisition will increase our total assets
by approximately 38% and more than double our regulated rate
base. The percentage of our EBITDA derived from regulated
operations is expected to increase from 30% in 2010 to between
55% and 60% in 2011 on a combined basis. As a result, we believe
the Acquisition will significantly reposition our business
profile.
LG&E
and KU have tangible growth opportunities
LG&E and KU are expected to experience significant rate
base growth over the next five years. Capital expenditures at
LG&E and KU are anticipated to total approximately
$3.4 billion between 2010 and 2014, resulting in expected
rate base growth of approximately $1.3 billion over that
period. A significant portion of the planned capital
expenditures is expected to be recovered through the
environmental cost recovery mechanism, a mechanism based on
Kentucky law that generally provides timely recovery of
regulatory approved costs associated with environmental
compliance for coal-fired generation. This mechanism includes
construction work in progress and a separate return on equity
between general rate cases, currently set at 10.63%.
Future
Combined Business
The combination creates a geographically diverse utility holding
company with pro forma 2009 revenues of over $10 billion.
The combined company will serve approximately 5.2 million
electricity customers in the United
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States and the United Kingdom, and own an unregulated generation
business with a total capacity of over 11,000 MW with a
diverse mix of fuel supply. We believe we will benefit from a
well-balanced business mix with significant scale, positioned in
attractive regulated and competitive markets, with visible
growth opportunities while preserving the upside potential of
higher energy prices. Our pro forma structure is shown below:
Regulated
Operations
PPL
Electric Utilities
PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, or PPL Electric, serves
approximately 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania and
enjoys attractive rate base investment opportunities to support
its infrastructure and maintain reliability. PPL Electrics
rate base is expected to grow by approximately $2.2 billion
between 2009 and 2014, with an estimated compound annual growth
rate of approximately 7% in its distribution rate base and
approximately 22% in its transmission rate base. PPL
Electrics transmission development projects include the
construction of the
150-mile,
500 kV Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line that is part of
Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Marylands (PJM)
Regional Transmission Expansion Program. PPL Electrics
portion of the line is expected to cost $510 million. The
FERC tariff for this project includes an approved 12.93% ROE.
Western
Power Distribution (WPD)
Our U.K. electricity distribution business, Western Power
Distribution, or WPD, which is an indirect subsidiary of PPL
Energy Supply, LLC, delivers electricity to approximately
2.6 million end users in the United Kingdom. WPDs
regulatory asset base, or RAB, is expected to increase from
$2.6 billion to $3.3 billion between 2010 and 2014.
WPD is allowed an average increase in total revenues, before
inflationary adjustments, of 6.9% for the five year period from
April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2015 based on the
outcome of the most recent
5-year
review of WPDs cost structure by the U.K. regulatory
authority. The utility has earned the U.K. Customer Excellence
Award for 18 consecutive years.
LG&E
and KU
LG&E and KU are vertically integrated utility companies.
LG&E delivers electricity and gas to approximately 717,000
customers in Kentucky and KU delivers electricity to
approximately 545,000 customers in Kentucky and Virginia. We
believe the companies operate in a constructive and fair
regulatory environment that is generally viewed as balancing the
interests of consumers and investors, generally providing timely
recovery of approved environmental investments, as well as
timely recovery for fuel costs and gas supply. These regulatory
mechanisms, together with periodic rate case filings, provide
the utilities the opportunity to earn their allowed ROEs.
LG&E and KU also have strong customer service records as
demonstrated by their first place J.D. Power regional awards for
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customer service in seven of the last ten years. The utilities
have among the lowest operating costs in the United States and
overall rates that are among the lowest rates in the nation,
with 2009 electric retail rates 30% below the Midwest average
and 32% below the overall U.S. average, according to the
Edison Electric Institute.
Competitive
Electric Generation Operations
PPL
Energy Supply
PPL Energy Supply owns a highly attractive baseload-oriented
competitive generation portfolio, with competitively positioned
gas, nuclear, hydro and efficient coal assets. Our coal and
nuclear fleet accounts for a total of 55% of 2010 installed
capacity and 83% of expected 2010 generation. Our nuclear and
hydro uprate / expansion projects are expected to add
an additional 239 MW by 2013. Approximately 40% of our
current generation output emits lower or no carbon dioxide to
the air and, as a result, PPL Energy Supply could be a potential
net beneficiary of certain carbon emission regulation. The
underlying value of PPL Energy Supply is strongly and positively
correlated to a recovery in natural gas prices because gas-fired
generation generally establishes the marginal clearing price for
electricity in the PJM Regional Transmission Interconnection
Area where PPL Energy Supply has significant generation
capacity. PPL Energy Supplys disciplined multi-year
hedging program is designed to mitigate against further weakness
in energy prices in the near term. As of March 31, 2010,
expected baseload volumes are hedged 100% for 2010, 96% for 2011
and 61% for 2012.
Concurrent
Common Stock Offering
Concurrently with this offering of Equity Units, we are
offering, by means of a separate prospectus supplement,
90,000,000 shares of our common stock (or
103,500,000 shares of our common stock if the underwriters
of that offering exercise in full their over-allotment option).
This offering of Equity Units is not contingent on the offering
of common stock and the offering of common stock is not
contingent upon this offering of Equity Units. See
Concurrent Common Stock Offering.
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THE
OFFERING
What are
Equity Units?
Equity Units may be either Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as
described below. The Equity Units will initially consist of
20,000,000 Corporate Units (or 23,000,000 Corporate Units if the
underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), each
with a stated amount of $50. You can create Treasury Units from
Corporate Units in the manner described below under How
can I create Treasury Units from Corporate Units?
What are
the components of a Corporate Unit?
Each Corporate Unit initially consists of a purchase contract
and a 1/20, or 5.0%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in
$1,000 principal amount of PPL Capital
Fundings % junior
subordinated notes due 2018. The undivided beneficial ownership
interest in the notes corresponds to $50 principal amount of PPL
Capital Fundings notes. The notes will be issued in
minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000, except in certain limited circumstances. Your undivided
beneficial ownership interest in the notes comprising part of
each Corporate Unit is owned by you, but will be pledged to us
through the collateral agent to secure your obligation under the
related purchase contract. Upon a successful optional
remarketing (as defined under What is an optional
remarketing?), the notes comprising part of the Corporate
Units will be replaced by the Treasury portfolio described below
under What is the Treasury Portfolio? and the
applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio will
then be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure
your obligation under the related purchase contract.
What is a
purchase contract?
Each purchase contract that is a component of an Equity Unit
obligates you to purchase, and obligates us to sell, on
July 1, 2013 (which we refer to as the purchase
contract settlement date), for $50 in cash, a number of
shares of our common stock equal to the settlement
rate. The settlement rate will be calculated, subject to
adjustment under the circumstances set forth in
Description of the Purchase Contracts
Anti-dilution Adjustments and Description of the
Purchase Contracts Early Settlement Upon a
Fundamental Change, as follows:
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if the applicable market value (as defined below) of our common
stock is equal to or greater than the threshold
appreciation price of $ , the
settlement rate will
be shares of our common stock
(we refer to such settlement rate as the minimum
settlement rate);
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if the applicable market value of our common stock is less than
the threshold appreciation price but greater than the
reference price of $ ,
the settlement rate will be a number of shares of our common
stock equal to $50 divided by the applicable market value,
rounded to the nearest ten thousandth of a share; and
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if the applicable market value of our common stock is less than
or equal to the reference price of
$ , the settlement rate will
be shares of our common stock
(we refer to such settlement rate as the maximum
settlement rate).
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We will not issue any fractional shares of our common stock upon
settlement of a purchase contract. Instead of a fractional
share, you will receive an amount of cash equal to this fraction
multiplied by the closing price of our common stock on the
trading day immediately preceding the purchase contract
settlement date.
Applicable market value means the average VWAP of
our common stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days
ending on the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding
the purchase contract settlement date. The terms trading
day and VWAP and closing price of
our common stock are defined under Description of the
Purchase Contracts Purchase of Common Stock.
The reference price is the public offering price of our common
stock in the concurrent common stock offering. The threshold
appreciation price represents a %
appreciation over the reference price.
You may satisfy your obligation to purchase our common stock
pursuant to the purchase contracts as described under How
can I satisfy my obligation under the purchase contracts?
below.
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Can I
settle the purchase contract early?
You can settle a purchase contract at any time prior to
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day
immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date,
other than, in the case of the Corporate Units, (i) from
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day
immediately following the date on which we give our notice of an
optional remarketing until the settlement date of such
remarketing or the date we announce that such remarketing was
unsuccessful and (ii) after 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the second business day immediately preceding the first
day of the final remarketing period (as defined under What
is a final remarketing?) (we refer to each such period as
a blackout period), by paying $50 in cash, in which
case shares of our common stock
will be issued to you pursuant to the purchase contract (subject
to adjustment as described below under Description of the
Purchase Contracts Anti-Dilution Adjustments
and Description of the Purchase Contracts
Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change). You may only
elect early settlement in integral multiples of 20 Corporate
Units and 20 Treasury Units; provided that if the Treasury
portfolio has replaced the notes as a component of the Corporate
Units as a result of a successful optional remarketing, holders
of Corporate Units may settle early only in integral multiples
of
Corporate Units. See Description of the Purchase
Contracts Early Settlement.
Your early settlement right is subject to the condition that, if
required under the U.S. federal securities laws, we have a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act, in
effect and an available prospectus covering the shares of common
stock and other securities, if any, deliverable upon settlement
of a purchase contract. We have agreed that, if required by
U.S. federal securities laws, we will use our commercially
reasonable efforts to have a registration statement in effect
and to provide a prospectus covering those shares of common
stock or other securities to be delivered in respect of the
purchase contracts being settled, subject to certain exceptions.
What is a
Treasury Unit?
A Treasury Unit is a unit created from a Corporate Unit and
consists of a purchase contract and a 1/20, or 5.0%, undivided
beneficial ownership interest in a zero-coupon
U.S. Treasury security with a principal amount at maturity
of $1,000 that matures on or prior to June 30, 2013 (CUSIP
No. 912820RA7), which we refer to as a Treasury
security. The ownership interest in the Treasury security
that is a component of a Treasury Unit will be owned by you, but
will be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure
your obligation under the related purchase contract.
How can I
create Treasury Units from Corporate Units?
Each holder of Corporate Units will have the right, at any time
other than during a blackout period or after a successful
remarketing, to substitute for the related undivided beneficial
ownership interest in notes held by the collateral agent,
Treasury securities with a total principal amount at maturity
equal to the aggregate principal amount of the notes underlying
the undivided beneficial ownership interests in notes for which
substitution is being made. Because Treasury securities and the
notes are issued in minimum denominations of $1,000, holders of
Corporate Units may make this substitution only in integral
multiples of 20 Corporate Units. Each of these substitutions
will create Treasury Units, and the notes underlying the
undivided beneficial ownership interest in notes will be
released to the holder and such notes will be separately
tradable from the Treasury Units. After a successful
remarketing, holders of Corporate Units may not create Treasury
Units.
How can I
recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units?
Each holder of Treasury Units will have the right, at any time
other than during a blackout period or after a successful
remarketing, to substitute for the related Treasury securities
held by the collateral agent, notes having a principal amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount at stated maturity of
the Treasury securities for which substitution is being made.
Because Treasury securities and the notes are issued in minimum
denominations of $1,000, holders of Treasury Units may make
these substitutions only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury
Units. Each of these substitutions will recreate Corporate Units
and the applicable Treasury securities will be released to the
holder and will be separately tradable from the Corporate Units.
If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a component
of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful optional
remarketing, holders of Treasury Units
S-6
may not recreate Corporate Units by substituting the applicable
ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio for Treasury
securities.
What
payments am I entitled to as a holder of Corporate
Units?
Subject to any deferral as described in Do we or does PPL
Capital Funding have the option to defer current payments?
below, holders of Corporate Units will be entitled to receive
quarterly cash distributions consisting of their pro rata share
of interest payments on the notes, equivalent to the rate
of % per year, on the undivided
beneficial ownership interest in notes (or distributions on the
applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio if the
notes have been replaced by the Treasury portfolio) and
quarterly contract adjustment payments payable by us at the rate
of % per year on the stated amount
of $50 per Corporate Unit until the earliest of the purchase
contract settlement date, the early settlement date (in the case
of early settlement upon a fundamental change) and the most
recent quarterly payment date on or before any early settlement
of the related purchase contracts (in the case of early
settlement other than upon a fundamental change). Our
obligations with respect to the contract adjustment payments
will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to our
obligations under any of our Senior Indebtedness (as defined
under Description of the Notes
Subordination).
What
payments will I be entitled to if I convert my Corporate Units
to Treasury Units?
Subject to any deferral as described in Do we or does PPL
Capital Funding have the option to defer current payments?
below, holders of Treasury Units will be entitled to receive
quarterly contract adjustment payments payable by us at the rate
of % per year on the stated amount
of $50 per Treasury Unit. There will be no distributions in
respect of the Treasury securities that are a component of the
Treasury Units, but the holders of the Treasury Units will
continue to receive the scheduled quarterly interest payments on
the notes that were released to them when they created the
Treasury Units as long as they continue to hold such notes,
subject to PPL Capital Fundings right to defer such
payments.
Do we or
does PPL Capital Funding have the option to defer current
payments?
We have the right to defer the payment of contract adjustment
payments until the purchase contract settlement date;
provided that in the event of an early settlement upon a
fundamental change or an early settlement other than upon a
fundamental change, each as described in this prospectus
supplement, we will pay deferred contract adjustment payments
to, but excluding, the early settlement date or to, but
excluding, the quarterly payment date immediately preceding the
early settlement of the purchase contracts, respectively. Any
deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional
contract adjustment payments at the rate of% per year until
paid, compounded quarterly, to, but excluding, the payment date.
We refer to additional contract adjustment payments that accrue
on deferred contract adjustment payments as compounded
contract adjustment payments. We may pay any such deferred
contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract
adjustment payments thereon) on any scheduled contract
adjustment payment date.
If we exercise our option to defer the payment of contract
adjustment payments, then until the deferred contract adjustment
payments (including compounded contract adjustment payments
thereon) have been paid, we will not declare or pay dividends
on, make distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
our capital stock, subject to the exceptions set forth under
Description of the Purchase Contracts Contract
Adjustment Payments.
In addition, PPL Capital Funding may elect at one or more times
to defer payment of interest on the notes for one or more
consecutive interest periods; provided that each deferred
interest payment may only be deferred until the earlier of
(x) the third anniversary of the interest payment date on
which the interest payment was originally scheduled to be paid
and (y) July 1, 2015. We or PPL Capital Funding may pay any
such deferred interest on any scheduled interest payment date
occurring on or prior to July 1, 2015. Deferred interest on
the notes will bear interest at the interest rate applicable to
the notes, compounded on each interest payment date, subject to
applicable law. In connection with any successful remarketing
during the final remarketing period, all accrued and unpaid
deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) will
be paid to the holders of the notes (whether or not such notes
were remarketed in such remarketing) on the purchase contract
settlement date in cash.
S-7
PPL Capital Funding will not be permitted to defer the interest
payable on the purchase contract settlement date with respect to
any notes that are successfully remarketed during the final
remarketing period.
In the event that PPL Capital Funding exercises the option to
defer the payment of interest, then until the deferred interest
payments (including compounded interest thereon) have been paid,
among other things, we generally will not (i) declare or
pay dividends on, make distributions with respect to, or redeem,
purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect
to, any of our capital stock or (ii) make a payment on any
of our indebtedness or on a guarantee that in each case ranks
pari passu with, or junior to, the guarantees (as of
their date of issuance and not taking into account the
modifications to the ranking of the notes in connection with a
successful remarketing), subject to certain exceptions. See
Description of the Notes Dividend and Other
Payment Stoppages During Interest Deferral and Under Certain
Other Circumstances.
For the avoidance of doubt, in all cases, including in the event
of a failed remarketing, we will have no right to defer the
payment of interest on the notes beyond July 1, 2015. In
connection with a successful remarketing, PPL Capital Funding
will remove the interest deferral provisions of the notes.
What are
the payment dates for the Corporate Units and Treasury
Units?
Subject to any deferral as described in Do we or does PPL
Capital Funding have the option to defer current payments?
above, the payments described above in respect of the Equity
Units will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 1,
April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year (except where
such date is not a business day, interest and contract
adjustment payments will be payable on the next subsequent
business day, without adjustment), commencing October 1, 2010.
We will make these payments to the person in whose name the
Equity Unit is registered at the close of business on the
fifteenth day of the month preceding the month in which the
payment date falls.
What is a
remarketing?
We refer to each of an optional remarketing and a
final remarketing as a remarketing,
whereby the notes that are a part of Corporate Units and any
separate notes whose holders have decided to participate in the
remarketing will be remarketed in two tranches, as described
below under What is an optional remarketing? or, if
no optional remarketing has occurred or is successful, in a
final remarketing as described below under What is a final
remarketing?
The notes to be remarketed will be divided into two tranches,
such that neither tranche will have an aggregate principal
amount of less than the lesser of $300 million and 50% of
the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be remarketed.
One tranche will mature on or about the third anniversary of the
settlement date of the remarketing and the other will mature on
or about the fifth anniversary of such settlement date. The
interest deferral provisions of the notes will not apply to the
notes remarketed in an optional remarketing or a final
remarketing. The subordination provisions of the notes and the
guarantees will not apply to the notes remarketed in a final
remarketing, unless we make an irrevocable election otherwise,
which shall apply to both tranches, by notice to the trustee at
any time on or prior
to ,
2010 (six months from the date of initial issuance of the
Corporate Units). Unless we so elect, the notes remarketed in
the final remarketing will be the senior, unsecured obligations
of PPL Capital Funding guaranteed on a senior, unsecured basis
by PPL Corporation. We will allocate the notes whose holders
elect not to participate in any remarketing, without any
requirement for the consent of such holders, into these two
tranches, such that neither tranche immediately after the
settlement date of the remarketing will have an aggregate
principal amount of less than the lesser of $300 million
and 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then
outstanding.
In order to remarket each tranche of notes, the remarketing
agent may reset the interest rate on the notes of such tranche
(either upward or downward) in order to produce the required
price in the remarketing. In connection with any successful
remarketing, PPL Capital Funding, in consultation with the
remarketing agent and without the consent of any holders of
notes, may, with respect to each tranche, elect to:
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extend the earliest redemption date on which PPL Capital Funding
may call the notes of such tranche for redemption from
July 1, 2015 to a later date or to eliminate the redemption
provisions of the notes of such tranche altogether; and /or
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calculate interest on the notes of such tranche on a fixed or
floating rate basis.
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S-8
During the applicable blackout period:
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you may not settle a purchase contract early;
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you may not create Treasury Units; and
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you may not recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units.
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We have agreed to enter into a remarketing agreement with one or
more nationally recognized investment banking firms (as the
remarketing agent(s)) and the purchase contract agent no later
than 30 days prior to the first day of the optional
remarketing period. We will separately pay a fee to the
remarketing agent for its services as remarketing agent. Holders
whose notes are remarketed will not be responsible for the
payment of any remarketing fee in connection with the
remarketing.
What is
an optional remarketing?
We may elect, at our option, to remarket the notes in two
tranches over a period of one or more dates selected by us that
fall during the period from and including March 28, 2013
(the second business day immediately preceding the interest
payment date prior to the purchase contract settlement date) and
ending on June 13, 2013 (the third business day prior to
the first day of the final remarketing period), whereby the
aggregate principal amount of the notes that are a part of
Corporate Units and any separate notes whose holders have
decided to participate in the optional remarketing will be
remarketed. We refer to this period as the optional
remarketing period, a remarketing that occurs during the
optional remarketing period as an optional
remarketing and the date we price the notes offered in an
optional remarketing as the optional remarketing
date. If we elect to conduct an optional remarketing, the
remarketing agent will use its reasonable efforts to obtain a
price for each tranche of notes to be remarketed that results in
proceeds of at least 100% of the relevant fraction (as defined
below) of the aggregate of the purchase price for the Treasury
portfolio described below under What is the Treasury
portfolio? and the separate notes purchase price described
under Description of the Notes Remarketing of
Notes That Are Not Included in Corporate Units. The
relevant fraction for a tranche of notes is a fraction the
numerator of which is the aggregate principal amount of the
notes in such tranche that are being remarketed and the
denominator of which is the aggregate principal amount of the
notes to be remarketed. If we elect to remarket the notes in the
optional remarketing period, the optional remarketing date will
be the same for both tranches and the settlements of both
tranches will be conditioned on each other. We will request that
the depositary notify its participants holding Corporate Units,
Treasury Units and separate notes of our election to conduct an
optional remarketing no later than 15 days prior to the
date we begin the optional remarketing. On the business day
following the optional remarketing date, we will notify holders
of separate notes who decided not to participate in the optional
remarketing how we will allocate their notes between the two
tranches.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, we may only elect to
conduct an optional remarketing if PPL Capital Funding is not
then deferring interest on the notes.
Following a successful optional remarketing of the notes, the
remarketing agent will purchase the Treasury portfolio at the
Treasury portfolio purchase price (as defined herein), and
deduct such price from the proceeds of the optional remarketing.
Any remaining proceeds will be remitted by the remarketing agent
to the purchase contract agent for the benefit of the holders
whose notes were remarketed.
The Corporate Unit holders applicable ownership interest
in the Treasury portfolio will be substituted for the
holders applicable ownership interest in the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units and will be pledged to us
through the collateral agent to secure the Corporate Unit
holders obligation under the related purchase contract. On
the purchase contract settlement date, a portion of the proceeds
from the Treasury portfolio equal to $50 will automatically be
applied to satisfy the Corporate Unit holders obligation
to purchase common stock under the purchase contract and
proceeds from the Treasury portfolio equal to the interest
payment (assuming no reset of the interest rate) that would have
been attributable to the applicable ownership interests in notes
on the purchase contract settlement date will be paid to the
Corporate Unit holders.
If we elect to conduct an optional remarketing and such
remarketing is successful:
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settlement of the remarketed notes will occur on the third
business day following the optional remarketing date (we refer
to such third business day as the optional remarketing
settlement date);
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the interest rate on each tranche of remarketed notes will be
reset on the optional remarketing settlement date, if applicable;
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your Corporate Units will consist of a purchase contract and the
applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, as
described above; and
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you may no longer create Treasury Units or recreate Corporate
Units from Treasury Units.
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If we do not elect to conduct an optional remarketing during the
optional remarketing period, or no optional remarketing succeeds
for any reason, the notes will continue to be a component of the
Corporate Units or will continue to be held separately and the
remarketing agent will use its reasonable efforts to remarket
the notes during the final remarketing period, as described
below.
What is a
final remarketing?
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful
optional remarketing, we will remarket the notes, in two
tranches, during the 7 business day period ending on
June 26, 2013 (the third business day immediately preceding
the purchase contract settlement date), whereby the aggregate
principal amount of the notes that are a part of Corporate Units
and any separate notes whose holders have decided to participate
in the remarketing will be remarketed. We refer to such period
as the final remarketing period, the remarketing
during this period as the final remarketing and the
date we price the notes offered in the final marketing as the
final remarketing date. The remarketing agent will
use its reasonable efforts to obtain a price for each tranche of
notes to be remarketed that results in proceeds of at least 100%
of the aggregate principal amount of such tranche of notes. We
will request that the depositary notify its participants holding
Corporate Units, Treasury Units and separate notes of the final
remarketing no later than the third business day prior to the
first day of the final remarketing period. On the business day
following the final remarketing date, we will notify holders of
separate notes who decided not to participate in the final
remarketing how we will allocate their notes between the two
tranches. We have the right to postpone the final remarketing in
our absolute discretion on any day prior to the last five
business days of the final remarketing period. The final
remarketing date will be the same for both tranches of notes and
settlements of both tranches will be conditioned on each other.
Following a successful remarketing during the final remarketing
period, the remarketing agent will remit the proceeds of the
remarketing directly to the purchase contract agent, and the
portion of the proceeds equal to the total principal amount of
the notes underlying the Corporate Units will automatically be
applied to satisfy in full the Corporate Unit holders
obligations to purchase common stock under the related purchase
contracts. Any excess proceeds will be remitted by the
remarketing agent to the purchase contract agent for the benefit
of the holders whose notes were remarketed.
Upon a successful final remarketing, settlement of the
remarketed notes will occur on the purchase contract settlement
date and, if applicable, the interest rate on each tranche of
the notes will be reset on such date.
What
happens if the notes are not successfully remarketed?
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful
optional remarketing, if (1) despite using its reasonable
efforts, the remarketing agent cannot remarket the notes during
the final remarketing period at a price equal to or greater than
100% of the aggregate principal amount of notes remarketed, or
(2) the final remarketing has not occurred because a
condition precedent to the remarketing has not been fulfilled,
in each case resulting in a failed remarketing,
holders of all notes will have the right to put their notes to
us for an amount equal to the principal amount of their notes,
plus accrued and unpaid interest (including deferred interest
and compounded interest thereon), on the purchase contract
settlement date. A holder of Corporate Units will be deemed to
have automatically exercised this put right with respect to the
notes underlying such Corporate Units unless, prior to
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day
immediately prior to the purchase contract settlement date, the
holder provides written notice of an intention to settle the
related purchase contracts with separate cash and on or prior to
the business day immediately preceding the purchase contract
settlement date delivers to the collateral agent $50 in cash per
purchase contract. This settlement with separate cash may only
be effected in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. Unless
a holder of
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Corporate Units has settled the related purchase contracts with
separate cash on or prior to the business day immediately
preceding the purchase contract settlement date, the holder will
be deemed to have elected to apply a portion of the proceeds of
the put price equal to the principal amount of the notes against
such holders obligations to us under the related purchase
contracts, thereby satisfying such obligations in full, and we
will deliver to the holder our common stock pursuant to the
related purchase contracts.
Do I have
to participate in the remarketing?
You may elect not to participate in any remarketing and to
retain the notes underlying the undivided beneficial ownership
interests in notes comprising part of your Corporate Units by
(1) creating Treasury Units at any time other than during a
blackout period, (2) settling the related purchase
contracts early at any time other than during a blackout period
or (3) in the case of a final remarketing, notifying the
purchase contract agent of your intention to pay cash to satisfy
your obligation under the related purchase contracts prior to
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day
immediately prior to the first day of the final remarketing
period, and delivering the cash payment required under the
purchase contracts to the collateral agent on or prior to
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day
immediately prior to the first day of the final remarketing
period. You can only elect to satisfy your obligation in cash in
increments of 20 Corporate Units. See Description of the
Purchase Contracts Notice to Settle with Cash.
Which
provisions will govern the notes following the
remarketing?
In the case of a final remarketing, the remarketed notes will be
senior, unsecured obligations of PPL Capital Funding, Inc. and
will be guaranteed on a senior, unsecured basis by PPL
Corporation unless we make an irrevocable election otherwise, by
notice to the trustee at any time on or prior
to ,
2010 (six months from the date of initial issuance of the
Corporate Units). These notes will be governed by an indenture
dated November 1, 1997 among us, PPL Capital Funding, Inc.
and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A.), as trustee, and a supplemental indenture thereto
reflecting any of the terms of the notes that we elect to modify
without the consent of any holders of notes in connection with
the remarketing. See Description of the Notes
Remarketing.
In the case of a final remarketing and we have made an
irrevocable election (as described above) or in the case of an
optional remarketing, the notes will continue to be subordinated
and to be governed by the indenture and the supplemental
indenture under which they were issued; however, we may modify
some of the terms of the notes without the consent of any
holders of notes in connection with the remarketing. See
Description of the Notes Remarketing.
If I am
holding a note as a separate security from the Corporate Units,
can I still participate in a remarketing of the notes?
If you hold notes separately, you may elect, in the manner
described in this prospectus supplement, to have your notes
remarketed by the remarketing agent along with the notes
underlying the Corporate Units. See Description of the
Notes Remarketing of Notes That Are Not Included in
Corporate Units. You may also participate in any
remarketing by recreating Corporate Units from your Treasury
Units at any time prior to such remarketing, other than during a
blackout period.
How can I
satisfy my obligation under the purchase contracts?
You may satisfy your obligations under the purchase contracts as
follows:
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in the case of the Corporate Units, through the automatic
application of the portion of the proceeds of the remarketing
equal to the principal amount of the notes underlying the
Corporate Units, as described under What is a final
remarketing? above;
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through early settlement as described under Can I settle
the purchase contract early? and under What happens
if there is early settlement upon a fundamental change?
below;
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in the case of Corporate Units, through cash settlement as
described under Do I have to participate in the
remarketing? above;
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through the automatic application of the proceeds of the
Treasury securities, in the case of the Treasury Units;
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in the case of Corporate Units, through the automatic
application of the portion of the proceeds from the Treasury
portfolio equal to the principal amount of the notes if the
Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a component of the
Corporate Units as a result of a successful optional
remarketing; or
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in the case of Corporate Units, through exercise of the put
right as described under What happens if the notes are not
successfully remarketed? above.
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In addition, the purchase contract and pledge agreement that
governs the Corporate Units and Treasury Units provides that
your obligations under the purchase contracts will be terminated
without any further action upon the termination of the purchase
contracts as a result of our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization.
If you settle a purchase contract early (other than pursuant to
your fundamental change early settlement right) you will be
entitled to receive any accrued and unpaid contract adjustment
payments (including any accrued and unpaid deferred contract
adjustment payments and compounded contract adjustment payments
thereon) to, but excluding, the quarterly payment date
immediately preceding the early settlement date. If your
purchase contract is terminated as a result of our bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization, you will have no right to receive
any accrued but unpaid contract adjustment payments (including
deferred contract adjustment payments and compounded contract
adjustment payments thereon). See Description of the
Purchase Contracts Early Settlement and
Description of the Purchase Contracts
Termination.
What
interest payments will I receive on the notes or on the
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the notes?
Subject to any deferral as described in Do we or does PPL
Capital Funding have the option to defer current payments?
above, the notes will bear interest at the rate
of % per year from the original
issuance date to the purchase contract settlement date or, if
earlier, the optional remarketing settlement date, initially
payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1,
July 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2010
(except where such date is not a business day, interest will be
payable as of the next subsequent business day, without
adjustment). On and after the purchase contract settlement date
or, if earlier, the optional remarketing settlement date,
interest on each note will be payable at the relevant reset
interest rate or, if the interest rate has not been reset, at
the initial interest rate of % per
year. Interest will be payable to the person in whose name the
note is registered at the close of business on the fifteenth day
of the month preceding the month in which the interest payment
date falls. In addition, if any of the remarketed notes are
fixed-rate notes, following a successful remarketing, interest
on such notes will be payable on a semi-annual basis.
When will
the interest rate on the notes be reset and what is the reset
rate?
The interest rate on each tranche of notes may be reset in
connection with a successful remarketing as described above
under What is an optional remarketing? and
What is a final remarketing?, respectively. The
reset rate will be the interest rate determined by the
remarketing agent as the rate the notes of such tranche should
bear in order for the aggregate principal amount of such tranche
of notes to have an aggregate market value on the optional
remarketing date of at least 100% of the relevant fraction of
the aggregate of the Treasury portfolio purchase price plus the
separate notes purchase price, if any, in the case of an
optional remarketing, or at least 100% of the aggregate
principal amount of the notes of such tranche being remarketed,
in the case of a final remarketing. In any case, a reset rate
may be higher or lower than the initial interest rate of the
notes depending on the results of the remarketing and market
conditions at that time. The interest rate on the notes will not
be reset if there is not a successful remarketing and the notes
will continue to bear interest at the initial interest rate. The
reset rate may not exceed the maximum rate, if any, permitted by
applicable law.
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When may
the notes be redeemed?
The notes may not be redeemed by PPL Capital Funding until
July 1, 2015. The notes will be redeemable thereafter, at
PPL Capital Fundings option, in whole but not in part, at
any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to
the principal amount thereof and any accrued and unpaid interest
to the date of redemption. PPL Capital Funding may at any time
irrevocably waive its right to redeem the notes for any
specified period (including the remaining term of the notes).
What
happens if there is early settlement upon a fundamental
change?
Prior to the purchase contract settlement date, if we are
involved in a transaction that constitutes a fundamental change,
as such term is defined under Description of the Purchase
Contracts Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental
Change, you will have the right, subject to certain
exceptions and conditions described in this prospectus
supplement, to accelerate and settle a purchase contract early
at the settlement rate described under Description of the
Purchase Contracts Early Settlement Upon a
Fundamental Change, plus an additional make-whole amount
of shares (such additional make-whole amount of shares being
hereafter referred to as the make-whole shares);
provided that at such time, if so required under the
U.S. federal securities laws, there is in effect a
registration statement covering the common stock and other
securities, if any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase
contracts being settled. We refer to this right as the
fundamental change early settlement right.
We will provide each of the holders with a notice of the
completion of a fundamental change within five business days
thereof. The notice will specify a date, which shall be at least
10 days after the date of the notice but no later than the
earlier of 20 days after the date of such notice and two
business days prior to the commencement of the optional
remarketing period, or, if we do not elect to conduct an
optional remarketing or the optional remarketing is not
successful, the commencement of the final remarketing period or,
if the final remarketing is not successful, the purchase
contract settlement date, by which each holders
fundamental change early settlement right must be exercised. The
notice will set forth, among other things, the applicable
settlement rate and the amount of the cash, securities and other
consideration receivable by the holder upon settlement. To
exercise the fundamental change early settlement right, you must
deliver to the purchase contract agent, no later than
4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day
before the early settlement date, the certificate evidencing
your Corporate Units or Treasury Units if they are held in
certificated form, and payment of the applicable purchase price
in immediately available funds less the amount of any accrued
and unpaid contract adjustment payments (including any deferred
contract adjustment payments and compounded contract adjustment
payments thereon) to, but excluding, the early settlement date.
If you exercise the fundamental change early settlement right,
we will deliver to you on the early settlement date the kind and
amount of securities, cash or other property that you would have
been entitled to receive if you had settled the purchase
contract immediately before the fundamental change at the
settlement rate described above, plus the make-whole shares. You
will also receive the notes, applicable ownership interests in
the Treasury portfolio or Treasury securities underlying the
Corporate Units or Treasury Units, as the case may be. If you do
not elect to exercise your fundamental change early settlement
right, your Corporate Units or Treasury Units will remain
outstanding and subject to normal settlement on the settlement
date. We have agreed that, if required under the
U.S. federal securities laws, we will use our commercially
reasonable efforts to (1) have in effect a registration
statement covering the common stock and other securities, if
any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase contracts being
settled and (2) provide a prospectus in connection
therewith, in each case in a form that may be used in connection
with the early settlement upon a fundamental change. In the
event that a holder seeks to exercise its fundamental change
early settlement right and a registration statement is required
to be effective in connection with the exercise of such right
but no such registration statement is then effective, the
holders exercise of such right shall be void unless and
until such a registration statement shall be effective and we
will have no further obligation with respect to any such
registration statement if, notwithstanding using our
commercially reasonable efforts, no registration statement is
then effective.
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units, holders of Corporate Units may
exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in
integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. If the Treasury
portfolio has replaced the notes as a component of Corporate
Units, holders of the
S-13
Corporate Units may exercise the fundamental change early
settlement right only in integral multiples
of
Corporate Units.
A holder of Treasury Units may exercise the fundamental change
early settlement right only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury
Units.
The number of make-whole shares applicable to a fundamental
change early settlement will be determined by reference to the
table set forth under Description of the Purchase
Contracts Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental
Change.
What is
the Treasury portfolio?
Upon a successful optional remarketing, the notes will be
replaced by the Treasury portfolio. The Treasury portfolio is a
portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities consisting of:
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U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips
thereof) that mature on or prior to the purchase contract
settlement date in an aggregate amount equal to the principal
amount of the notes underlying the applicable ownership
interests in the notes included in the Corporate Units; and
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U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips
thereof) that mature on or prior to the purchase contract
settlement date, in an aggregate amount at maturity equal to the
aggregate interest payment (assuming no reset of the interest
rate) that would have been due on the purchase contract
settlement date on the principal amount of the notes underlying
the applicable ownership interests in the notes included in the
Corporate Units.
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What is
the ranking of the notes?
The notes will initially be subordinated to all of PPL Capital
Fundings existing and future Senior Indebtedness. PPL
Capital Fundings obligations under the notes are also
effectively subordinated to all our subsidiaries
obligations (other than those of PPL Capital Funding).
See Description of the Notes
Subordination..
What are
the guarantees?
The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by PPL
Corporation as to payment of principal and interest pursuant to
subordinated guarantees of PPL Corporation. The
subordinated guarantees will be PPL Corporations unsecured
obligations and will be subordinated to all of PPL
Corporations Senior Indebtedness. The subordinated
guarantees will rank equally in right of payment with PPL
Corporations other unsecured and subordinated
indebtedness. As PPL Corporation is a holding company, its
obligations under the subordinated guarantees will be
effectively subordinated to all existing or future preferred
stock and indebtedness, guarantees and other liabilities of its
subsidiaries, including trade payables, and effectively
subordinated to any of its secured indebtedness to the extent of
the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. Since PPL
Corporation conducts many of its operations through its
subsidiaries, its right to participate in any distribution of
the assets of a subsidiary when it winds up its business is
subject to the prior claims of the creditors of the subsidiary.
This means that your rights under the subordinated guarantees
will also be subject to the prior claims of these creditors if a
subsidiary liquidates or reorganizes or otherwise winds up its
business. Unless we are considered a creditor of the subsidiary,
your claims will be recognized behind these creditors.
What are
the U.S. federal income tax consequences related to the Equity
Units and notes?
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in
Equity Units is not entirely clear. An owner of Equity Units
will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as
owning the purchase contract and the applicable ownership
interests in the notes, Treasury portfolio or Treasury
securities constituting the Equity Unit, as applicable. You must
allocate the purchase price of the Equity Units between the
notes and the purchase contract in proportion to their
respective fair market values, which will establish your initial
tax basis in the notes and the purchase contract. With respect
to each Corporate Unit purchased in the offering, we expect to
treat the fair market
S-14
value (as of the issue date) of each undivided interest in each
note as $50 and the fair market value (as of the issue date) of
the purchase contract as $0. This position generally will be
binding on each beneficial owner of Equity Units but not on the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, you will be required
to take into account interest payments on the notes at the time
they are paid or accrued in accordance with your regular method
of accounting for tax purposes. If the Treasury portfolio has
replaced the notes as a component of the Corporate Units as a
result of a successful optional remarketing, an owner of
Corporate Units will generally be required to include in gross
income its allocable share of acquisition discount (as described
under Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax
Consequences) on applicable ownership interest in the
Treasury portfolio.
We intend to treat contract adjustment payments as taxable
ordinary income to a U.S. holder (as defined in
Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax
Consequences) when received or accrued, in accordance with
the U.S. holders regular method of tax accounting. We
intend to treat any contract adjustment payments paid to a
non-U.S. holder
(as defined in Certain United States Federal Income and
Estate Tax Consequences) as amounts generally subject to
withholding tax at a 30% rate, unless an income tax treaty
reduces or eliminates such tax.
Although the IRS has issued a published ruling discussing
certain aspects of instruments similar to the Equity Units, the
Equity Units are complex financial instruments and there is no
statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly
addressing the tax treatment of securities with the terms of the
Equity Units. Please consult your own tax advisors concerning
the tax consequences of an investment in the Equity Units. For a
more extensive discussion of the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of an investment in the Equity Units, see
Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax
Consequences.
What are
the uses of proceeds from the offering?
We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the Equity
Units in this offering will be approximately $970 million
(approximately $1.12 billion if the underwriters exercise
their over-allotment option in full), after deducting the
underwriters discounts and commissions and estimated
offering expenses payable by us. In addition, we expect to
receive net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and
commissions and estimated offering expenses, of approximately
$2.27 billion from our concurrent common stock offering (or
approximately $2.62 billion if the underwriters of that
offering exercise in full their option to purchase additional
shares) based on the last reported price of 26.06 per share
on June 18, 2010.
We will use the net proceeds from this offering and the
concurrent common stock offering to finance the Acquisition and
pay certain fees and expenses relating to the Acquisition.
Pending that application of funds, we intend to invest the
proceeds from this offering in United States government
obligations, bank deposits or other highly-rated investments.
We currently intend to use the proceeds from the settlement of
the purchase contracts to repay debt as soon as practicable
following such settlement, and we have agreed not to use such
proceeds to repurchase shares of our common stock.
What are
the risks relating to the Equity Units?
See Risk Factors and other information included or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus for a discussion of factors you should
carefully consider before deciding to invest in the Equity Units.
S-15
The
Offering Explanatory Diagrams
The following diagrams illustrate some of the key features of
the purchase contracts and the undivided beneficial ownership
interests in notes, Corporate Units and Treasury Units.
The following diagrams assume that the notes are successfully
remarketed and priced during the final remarketing period and
the interest rate on each tranche of notes is reset on the
purchase contract settlement date.
Purchase
Contract
Corporate Units and Treasury Units both include a purchase
contract under which the holder agrees to purchase shares of our
common stock on the purchase contract settlement date. In
addition, these purchase contracts require us to make contract
adjustment payments as shown in the diagrams on the following
pages.
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Applicable Market
Value(6)
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Applicable Market
Value(6)
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Notes:
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(1) |
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If the applicable market value of our common stock is less than
or equal to the reference price of
$ , shares
of our common stock (subject to adjustment). |
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(2) |
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If the applicable market value of our common stock is between
the reference price and the threshold appreciation price of
$ , the number of shares of our
common stock to be delivered to a holder of an Equity Unit will
be calculated by dividing the stated amount of $50 by the
applicable market value, rounded to the nearest ten thousandth
of a share (subject to adjustment). |
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If the applicable market value of our common stock is greater
than or equal to the threshold appreciation price, the number of
shares of our common stock to be delivered to a holder of an
Equity Unit will
be shares
(subject to adjustment). |
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The reference price is the public offering price of
our common stock in the concurrent common stock offerings. |
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The threshold appreciation price represents
a % appreciation over the reference
price. |
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Expressed as a percentage of the reference price. The
applicable market value means the average VWAP of
our common stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days
ending on the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding
the purchase contract settlement date (subject to adjustment). |
S-16
Corporate
Units
A Corporate Unit consists of two components as described below:
Notes:
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(1) |
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Each owner of an undivided beneficial ownership interest in
notes will be entitled to 1/20, or 5.0%, of each interest
payment paid in respect of a $1,000 principal amount note. |
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(2) |
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Interest payments may be deferred as described in this
prospectus supplement. In connection with a successful
remarketing, the optional deferral provisions of the notes will
cease to apply. |
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(3) |
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Contract adjustment payments may be deferred as described in
this prospectus supplement. |
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(4) |
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Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000, except
in limited circumstances. Each undivided beneficial ownership
interest in notes represents a 1/20, or 5.0%, undivided
beneficial ownership interest in a $1,000 principal amount note. |
The holder of a Corporate Unit owns the
1/20
undivided beneficial ownership interest in notes that forms a
part of the Corporate Unit but will pledge it to us through the
collateral agent to secure its obligation under the related
purchase contract.
If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a result of
a successful optional remarketing prior to the final remarketing
period, the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury
portfolio will replace the notes as a component of the Corporate
Unit. Unless the purchase contract is terminated as a result of
our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the proceeds from
the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio will
be used to satisfy the holders obligation under the
related purchase contract.
S-17
Treasury
Units
A Treasury Unit consists of two components as described below:
(1)
The holder of a Treasury Unit owns the 1/20 undivided beneficial
ownership interest in the Treasury security that forms a part of
the Treasury Unit but will pledge it to us through the
collateral agent to secure its obligation under the related
purchase contract. Unless the purchase contract is terminated as
a result of our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or the
holder recreates a Corporate Unit, the proceeds from the
Treasury security will be used to satisfy the holders
obligation under the related purchase contract.
Notes:
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(1) |
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Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units, Treasury Units may only be
created with integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. As a
result, the creation of 20 Treasury Units will release $1,000
principal amount of the notes held by the collateral agent. |
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Contract adjustment payments may be deferred as described in
this prospectus supplement. |
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The
Notes
The notes have the terms described below:
Notes:
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(1) |
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Interest payments may be deferred as described in this
prospectus supplement. In connection with a successful
remarketing, the interest deferral provisions of the notes will
cease to apply. |
Transforming
Corporate Units into Treasury Units and Notes
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Because the notes and the Treasury securities are issued in
minimum denominations of $1,000, holders of Corporate Units may
only create Treasury Units in integral multiples of 20 Corporate
Units.
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To create 20 Treasury Units, a holder separates 20 Corporate
Units into their two components 20 purchase
contracts and a note and then combines the purchase
contracts with a Treasury security that matures on or prior to
June 30, 2013.
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The note, which is no longer a component of Corporate Units and
has a principal amount of $1,000, is released to the holder and
is tradable as a separate security.
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A holder owns the Treasury security that forms a part of the
Treasury Units but will pledge it to us through the collateral
agent to secure its obligation under the related purchase
contract.
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The Treasury security together with the 20 purchase contracts
constitute 20 Treasury Units.
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Following a successful remarketing, you may not create Treasury
Units or recreate Corporate Units.
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Unless there has been a successful remarketing, the holder can
also transform 20 Treasury Units and a $1,000 principal note
into 20 Corporate Units. Following that transformation, the
Treasury security, which will no longer be a component of the
Treasury Unit, will be released to the holder and will be
tradable as a separate security.
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Notes:
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(1) |
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Each holder will own a 1/20, or 5.0%, undivided beneficial
ownership interest in, and will be entitled to a corresponding
portion of each interest payment payable in respect of, a $1,000
principal amount note. |
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Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples thereof, except in limited circumstances. |
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(3) |
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Contract adjustment payments may be deferred as described in
this prospectus supplement. |
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(4) |
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Interest payments may be deferred as described in this
prospectus supplement. In connection with a successful
remarketing, the interest deferral provisions of the notes will
cease to apply. |
S-20
Illustrative
Remarketing Timeline
The following timeline is for illustrative purposes only. The
dates in this timeline are based on the time periods set forth
in the purchase contract and pledge agreement and the form of
remarketing agreement that will be an exhibit to the purchase
contract and pledge agreement. These dates are subject to change
based on changes in the number of business
and/or
trading days for the relevant periods. This timeline assumes
that we are remarketing the aggregate principal amount of notes
that are components of the Corporate Units and any separate
notes whose holders have decided to participate in the
remarketing on the first day of the optional remarketing period,
and that we will attempt to remarket such notes during the
optional remarketing period and final remarketing period.
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Date
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Event
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No later than March 13, 2013 (15 days prior to the
first day of the optional remarketing period)
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We will request that the depositary notify its participants
holding Corporate Units, Treasury Units and separate notes if we
elect to conduct an optional remarketing between March 28,
2013 and June 13, 2013. If we elect to conduct an optional
remarketing, we will give notice to holders of Corporate Units,
Treasury Units and separate notes as to the date or dates of and
procedures to be followed in the optional remarketing.
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March 15, 2013 (two business days following the date on
which we give notice of an optional remarketing)
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Last day prior to the optional
remarketing to create Treasury Units from Corporate Units and
recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units (holders may once
again be able to create and recreate units if the optional
remarketing is not successful);
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Last day prior to the optional
remarketing for holders of Corporate Units to settle the related
purchase contracts early (holders may once again be able to
early settle if the optional remarketing is not successful); and
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Last day for holders of separate notes
to give notice of their election to participate in the optional
remarketing.
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March 28, 2013 to June 13, 2013
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Optional remarketing period:
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if the optional remarketing is not
successful, we will issue a press release; or
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if the optional remarketing is
successful, the remarketing agent will purchase the Treasury
portfolio. If the optional remarketing is successful, settlement
of the remarketed notes will occur on the third business day
following the optional remarketing date.
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No later than June 13, 2013 (third business day prior to
the first day of the final remarketing period)
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We will request that the depositary notify its participants
holding Corporate Units, Treasury Units and separate notes of
the final remarketing between June 18, 2013 and
June 26, 2013. We will give notice to holders of Corporate
Units, Treasury Units and separate notes of the procedures to be
followed in the final remarketing.
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June 14, 2013 (two business days prior to the first day of
the final remarketing period)
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Last day to create Treasury Units from
Corporate Units and recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units;
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Last day for holders of Corporate Units
to give notice of desire to settle the related purchase
contracts with separate cash; and
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Last day for holders of separate notes
to give notice of their election to participate in the
remarketing.
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Date
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Event
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June 17, 2013 (one business day prior to the first day of
the final remarketing period)
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Last day for holders of Corporate Units
or Treasury Units to settle the related purchase contracts early;
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Last day for holders of Corporate Units
who have elected to settle the related purchase contracts with
separate cash to pay the purchase price; and
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Last day for holders of separate notes
to give notice of their withdrawal from participating in the
remarketing.
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June 18, 2013 to June 26, 2013 (final remarketing
period)
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We will attempt a remarketing during the final remarketing
period. We may elect to postpone the final remarketing on any
day other than one of the last five business days of the final
remarketing period.
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June 27, 2013 (two business days prior to the purchase
contract settlement date)
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If there has not been a successful final remarketing, last day
for holders of Corporate Units to elect to settle the related
purchase contracts with separate cash.
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June 28, 2013 (one business day prior to the purchase
contract settlement date)
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If there has not been a successful final remarketing, last day
for holders of Corporate Units who have elected to settle the
related purchase contracts with separate cash to pay the
purchase price.
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July 1, 2013
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Purchase contract settlement date and settlement date for any
successful final remarketing of the notes.
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RISK
FACTORS
Investing in the Equity Units involves a high degree of risk.
In addition to the other information contained in this
prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
information incorporated by reference herein and therein, you
should consider carefully the following factors relating to us
and the Equity Units before making an investment in the Equity
Units offered hereby. In addition to the risk factors set forth
below, please read the information included or incorporated by
reference under Risk Factors in the accompanying
prospectus, our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our Quarterly
Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. If any of the
following risks or those incorporated by reference actually
occur, our business, results of operations, financial condition,
cash flows or prospects could be materially adversely affected,
which in turn could adversely affect the trading price of the
Equity Units and our common stock. As a result, you may lose all
or part of your original investment.
The Corporate Units consist of a purchase contract to acquire
our common stock and notes issued by us. When considering an
investment in our Corporate Units, you are making an investment
decision with respect to our common stock and the notes as well
as the Corporate Units. You can create Treasury Units from
Corporate Units by substituting Treasury securities for the
notes. You should carefully review the information in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus about all
of these securities. As used in this section, we,
our, us, PPL and the
Company refer to PPL Corporation and not to any of
its subsidiaries.
Risks
Relating to the Equity Units
You
assume the risk that the market value of our common stock may
decline.
The number of shares of our common stock that you will receive
upon the settlement of a purchase contract is not fixed but
instead will depend on the average VWAP of our common stock on
each of the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the third
scheduled trading day immediately preceding the purchase
contract settlement date, which we refer to as the applicable
market value. There can be no assurance that the market value of
common stock received by you on the purchase contract settlement
date will be equal to or greater than the effective price per
share paid by you for our common stock on the date of issuance
of the Equity Units. If the applicable market value of the
common stock is less than the reference price of
$ , the market value of the common
stock issued to you pursuant to each purchase contract on the
purchase contract settlement date (assuming that the market
value on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as
the applicable market value of the common stock) will be less
than the effective price per share paid by you for the common
stock. Accordingly, you assume the risk that the market value of
our common stock may decline, and that the decline could be
substantial.
The
opportunity for equity appreciation provided by an investment in
the Equity Units is less than that provided by a direct
investment in our common stock.
Your opportunity for equity appreciation afforded by investing
in the Equity Units is less than your opportunity for equity
appreciation if you directly invested in our common stock. This
opportunity is less because the market value of the common stock
to be received by you pursuant to the purchase contract on the
purchase contract settlement date (assuming that the market
value on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as
the applicable market value of the common stock) will only
exceed the effective price per share paid by you for our common
stock if the applicable market value of the common stock exceeds
the threshold appreciation price (which represents an
appreciation of % over the
reference price). If the applicable market value of our common
stock exceeds the reference price but does not exceed the
threshold appreciation price, you will realize no equity
appreciation of the common stock for the period during which you
own the purchase contract. Furthermore, if the applicable market
value of our common stock exceeds the threshold appreciation
price, you would receive on the purchase contract settlement
date only approximately % of the
value of the shares of common stock in excess of the threshold
appreciation price.
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The
trading prices for the Corporate Units and Treasury Units will
be directly affected by the trading prices of our common
stock.
The trading prices of Corporate Units and Treasury Units in the
secondary market will be directly affected by the trading prices
of our common stock, the general level of interest rates and our
credit quality. It is impossible to predict whether the price of
our common stock or interest rates will rise or fall. Trading
prices of our common stock will be influenced by our operating
results and prospects and by economic, financial and other
factors. In addition, general market conditions, including the
level of, and fluctuations in, the trading prices of stocks
generally, and sales or other issuances of substantial amounts
of common stock (or securities convertible into, or that may
otherwise be settled in, shares of common stock) by us in the
market after the offering of the Equity Units, or the perception
that such sales or other issuances could occur, could affect the
price of our common stock. The price of our common stock could
also be affected by possible sales of our common stock by
investors who view the Equity Units as a more attractive means
of equity participation in us and by hedging or arbitrage
trading activity that may develop involving our common stock.
This trading activity could, in turn, affect the trading price
of the Corporate Units or the Treasury Units.
Concurrently with this offering of Equity Units, we are
offering, by means of a separate prospectus supplement,
90,000,000 shares of our common stock (or
103,500,000 shares of our common stock if the underwriters
of that offering exercise in full their over-allotment option).
Fluctuations
in interest rates may give rise to arbitrage opportunities,
which would affect the trading price of the Corporate Units,
Treasury Units, the notes and our common stock.
Fluctuations in interest rates may give rise to arbitrage
opportunities based upon changes in the relative value of the
common stock underlying the stock purchase contracts and of the
other components of the Equity Units. Any such arbitrage could,
in turn, affect the trading prices of the Corporate Units,
Treasury Units, the notes, and our common stock.
If you
hold Corporate Units or Treasury Units, you will not be entitled
to any rights with respect to our common stock, but you will be
subject to all changes made with respect to our common
stock.
If you hold Corporate Units or Treasury Units, you will not be
entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock
(including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to
receive any dividends or other distributions on the common
stock), but you will be subject to all changes affecting the
common stock. You will only be entitled to rights on the common
stock if and when we deliver shares of common stock in exchange
for Corporate Units or Treasury Units on the purchase contract
settlement date, or as a result of early settlement, as the case
may be, and if the applicable record date, if any, for the
exercise of such rights occurs on or after that date. For
example, in the event that an amendment is proposed to our
certificate of incorporation or by-laws requiring stockholder
approval and the record date for determining the stockholders of
record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to the
delivery date of our common stock under the stock purchase
contracts, you will not be entitled to vote on the amendment,
although you will nevertheless be subject to any changes in the
powers, preferences or special rights of our common stock.
The
delivery of make-whole shares upon a fundamental change early
settlement may not adequately compensate you.
If a fundamental change (as defined below under
Description of the Purchase Contracts Early
Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change) occurs and you
exercise your fundamental change early settlement right, you
will be entitled to receive additional value in respect of
make-whole shares unless the stock price, as defined below, is
in excess of $ , subject to
adjustment. A description of how the make-whole shares will be
determined is set forth under Description of the Purchase
Contracts Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental
Change Calculation of Make-Whole Shares.
Although the make-whole shares are designed to compensate you
for the lost value of your Equity Units as a result of the
fundamental change, this feature may not adequately compensate
you for such loss. In addition, if the effective date of the
fundamental change occurs after July 1, 2013, or if the
stock price is greater than
S-24
$ per share (subject to
adjustment), the fundamental change provisions in the purchase
contract will not compensate you for any additional loss
suffered in connection with a fundamental change.
You
may suffer dilution of our common stock issuable upon settlement
of your purchase contract.
The number of shares of our common stock issuable upon
settlement of your purchase contract is subject to adjustment
only for stock splits and combinations, stock dividends and
specified other transactions that significantly modify our
capital structure. See Description of the Purchase
Contracts Anti-dilution Adjustments. The
number of shares of our common stock issuable upon settlement of
each purchase contract is not subject to adjustment for other
events, such as certain employee stock option grants or
offerings of common stock for cash, or in connection with
acquisitions or other transactions that may adversely affect the
price of our common stock. There can be no assurance that an
event that adversely affects the value of the Equity Units, but
does not result in an adjustment to the settlement rate, will
not occur. The terms of the Equity Units do not restrict our
ability to offer common stock in the future or to engage in
other transactions that could dilute our common stock. We have
no obligation to consider the interests of the holders of the
Equity Units in engaging in any such offering or transaction. If
we issue additional shares of common stock, those issuances may
materially and adversely affect the price of our common stock
and, because of the relationship of the number of shares holders
are to receive on the purchase contract settlement date to the
price of our common stock, those issuances may adversely affect
the trading price of the Equity Units.
The
secondary market for the Corporate Units, Treasury Units or
notes may be illiquid.
It is not possible to predict how Corporate Units, Treasury
Units or notes will trade in the secondary market or whether the
market will be liquid or illiquid. There is currently no
secondary market for our Corporate Units, Treasury Units or
notes. We expect trading of the Corporate Units on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol PPL PR U
to commence within 30 days of the date of initial issuance
of the Corporate Units. If the Treasury Units or the notes are
separately traded to a sufficient extent that applicable
exchange listing requirements are met, we will try to list the
Treasury Units or the notes on the same exchange as the
Corporate Units. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity
of any market that may develop for the Corporate Units, the
Treasury Units or the notes, your ability to sell these
securities or whether a trading market, if it develops, will
continue. In addition, in the event a sufficient number of
holders of Equity Units were to convert their Treasury Units to
Corporate Units or their Corporate Units to Treasury Units, as
the case may be, the liquidity of Corporate Units or Treasury
Units could be adversely affected. There can be no assurance
that the Corporate Units will not be de-listed from the New York
Stock Exchange or that trading in the Corporate Units will not
be suspended as a result of your election to create Treasury
Units by substituting collateral, which could cause the number
of Corporate Units to fall below the requirement for listing
securities on the New York Stock Exchange.
Your
rights to the pledged securities will be subject to our security
interest and may be affected by a bankruptcy
proceeding.
Although you will be the beneficial owner of the applicable
ownership interests in notes, Treasury securities or applicable
ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio, as applicable,
those securities will be pledged to us through the collateral
agent to secure your obligations under the related purchase
contracts. Thus, your rights to the pledged securities will be
subject to our security interest. Additionally, notwithstanding
the automatic termination of the purchase contracts, in the
event that we become the subject of a case under the
U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the delivery of the pledged
securities to you may be delayed by the imposition of the
automatic stay under Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code or
by exercise of the bankruptcy courts power under
Section 105(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and claims arising
out of the notes, like all other claims in bankruptcy
proceedings, will be subject to the equitable jurisdiction and
powers of the bankruptcy court.
S-25
Upon a
successful remarketing of the notes, the terms of your notes may
be modified even if you elect not to participate in the
remarketing.
When we attempt to remarket the notes, the remarketing agent
will agree to use its reasonable efforts to sell the notes
included in the remarketing. In connection with the remarketing,
we and the remarketing agent will remarket the notes into two
tranches of debt securities maturing 3 years and
5 years, respectively from the settlement date of the
remarketing, and we and the remarketing agent may change the
terms of the notes, including the interest rate on the notes,
the method of calculating interest payments on the notes and the
optional redemption terms. If the remarketing is successful, the
modified terms will apply to all the notes, even if they were
not included in the remarketing. However, holders of the notes
must elect to participate in the remarketing before knowing what
the modified terms of the notes will be. Whenever we remarket
the notes, we will notify holders of Corporate Units, Treasury
Units and separate notes of such remarketing. On the business
day following the optional remarketing date or the final
remarketing date, as applicable, we will notify holders of
separate notes who decided not to participate in the remarketing
how we will allocate their notes between the two tranches. You
may determine that the revised terms are not as favorable to you
as you would deem appropriate.
The
purchase contract and pledge agreement will not be qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act and the obligations of the
purchase contract agent are limited.
The purchase contract and pledge agreement among us, the
purchase contract agent and the collateral agent will not be
qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, or the Trust Indenture Act, and the purchase contract
agent and collateral agent will not be required to qualify as a
trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Thus, you will not
have the benefit of the protection of the Trust Indenture
Act with respect to the purchase contract and pledge agreement
or the purchase contract agent. The notes constituting a part of
the Corporate Units will be issued pursuant to an indenture, as
amended and supplemented, which is qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act. Accordingly, if you hold Corporate
Units, you will have the benefit of the protections of the
Trust Indenture Act only to the extent applicable to the
applicable ownership interests in notes included in the
Corporate Units. The protections generally afforded the holder
of a security issued under an indenture that has been qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act include:
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disqualification of the indenture trustee for conflicting
interests, as defined under the Trust Indenture Act;
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provisions preventing a trustee that is also a creditor of the
issuer from improving its own credit position at the expense of
the security holders immediately prior to or after a default
under such indenture; and
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the requirement that the indenture trustee deliver reports at
least annually with respect to certain matters concerning the
indenture trustee and the securities.
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The
trading price of the Corporate Units or any separate notes may
not fully reflect the value of their accrued but unpaid
interest.
The Corporate Units and any separate notes may trade at a price
that does not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid
interest on the notes. If you dispose of Corporate Units or
separate notes between record dates for interest payments, you
will be required to include in gross income the interest accrued
through the date of disposition as ordinary income (to the
extent not previously included in income), which will have the
effect of reducing the gain or increasing the loss that you
would otherwise recognize on the disposition of the notes. To
the extent the selling price is less than your adjusted tax
basis, you will recognize a loss. A holders ability to
deduct capital losses may be limited.
You
may not be able to exercise your rights to settle a purchase
contract prior to the purchase contract settlement date unless a
registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect and
a prospectus is available covering the shares of common stock
deliverable upon early settlement of a purchase
contract.
The early settlement rights under the purchase contracts are
subject to the condition that, if required under the
U.S. federal securities laws, we have a registration
statement under the Securities Act in effect and an available
prospectus covering the shares of common stock and other
securities, if any, deliverable upon settlement of a purchase
contract. Although we have agreed to use our commercially
reasonable efforts to have such a registration
S-26
statement in effect and to provide a prospectus if so required
under the U.S. federal securities laws, any failure or
inability to maintain an effective registration statement or to
have available a prospectus covering the common stock, including
as a result of pending corporate events or announcements that
prevent the delivery of a current prospectus, may prevent or
delay an early settlement.
The
subordinated guarantee of the notes and the contract adjustment
payments are subordinated to our existing and future Senior
Indebtedness and are effectively subordinated to any existing or
future preferred stock and indebtedness, guarantees and other
liabilities of our subsidiaries. The notes are subordinated to
PPL Capital Fundings existing and future Senior
Indebtedness.
The subordinated guarantee of the notes and the contract
adjustment payments are subordinated to our existing and future
Senior Indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to
existing or future preferred stock and indebtedness, guarantees
and other liabilities, including trade payables, of our
subsidiaries. The notes are subordinated to PPL Capital
Fundings existing and future Senior Indebtedness. The
indenture governing the notes and the subordinated guarantee
will not restrict us or our subsidiaries from incurring
substantial additional unsecured indebtedness in the future.
Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities from
us. Our subsidiaries (other than PPL Capital Funding with
respect to the notes) have no obligation to pay any amounts due
on the notes, the subordinated guarantee of the notes or the
purchase contracts or to provide us or PPL Capital Funding with
funds to meet our respective payment obligations on the notes,
the subordinated guarantee of the notes or purchase contracts,
as applicable, whether in the form of dividends, distributions,
loans or other payments. In addition, any payment of dividends,
loans or advances by our subsidiaries could be subject to
statutory or contractual restrictions. Payments to us by our
subsidiaries will also be contingent upon the subsidiaries
earnings and business considerations. Our right to receive any
assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their bankruptcy,
liquidation or reorganization, and therefore the right of the
holders of the notes or purchase contracts to participate in
those assets, will be effectively subordinated to the claims of
that subsidiarys creditors, including trade creditors. In
addition, even if we are a creditor of any of our subsidiaries,
our right as a creditor would be subordinate to any security
interest in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness
of our subsidiaries senior to that held by us.
Recent
developments in the equity-linked and convertible securities
markets may adversely affect the market value of the Equity
Units.
Governmental actions that interfere with the ability of
equity-linked and convertible securities investors to effect
short sales of the underlying shares of common stock could
significantly affect the market value of the Equity Units. Such
government actions could make the convertible arbitrage strategy
that many equity-linked and convertible securities investors
employ difficult to execute for outstanding equity-linked or
convertible securities of any company whose shares of common
stock are subject to such actions. At an open meeting on
February 24, 2010 the SEC adopted a new short sale price
test. The new rule will restrict short selling only when a stock
price has triggered a circuit breaker by falling at least
10 percent from the prior days closing price, at
which point short sale orders can be displayed or executed only
if the order price is above the current national best bid for
the remainder of the day and the next trading day, subject to
certain limited exceptions. If such new price test precludes, or
is perceived to preclude, equity-linked and convertible
securities investors from executing the convertible arbitrage
strategy that they employ or other limitations are instituted by
the SEC or any other regulatory agencies, the market value of
the Equity Units could be adversely affected.
We may
defer contract adjustment payments under the purchase contracts,
and this may have an adverse effect on the trading prices of the
Equity Units.
We may at our option defer the payment of all or part of the
contract adjustment payments under the purchase contracts. If we
exercise our right to defer contract adjustment payments, the
market price of the Equity Units is likely to be adversely
affected. As a result of the existence of our deferral rights,
the market price of the Equity Units may be more volatile than
the market prices of other securities that are not subject to
these optional deferrals. Furthermore, you will be subject to
the risk that we may not be able to pay such deferred contract
adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment
payments thereon) in the future. In addition, if we make such
S-27
a deferral, and you use the accrual method of accounting for tax
purposes you may be required to continue to recognize income for
U.S. federal income tax purposes in respect of the purchase
contracts in advance of your receipt of any corresponding cash
distributions.
If PPL
Capital Funding exercises its right to defer interest payments
on the notes, the market price of the Corporate Units is likely
to be adversely affected.
Prior to July 1, 2015, PPL Capital Funding may at its
option defer interest payments on the notes for one or more
consecutive interest periods. During any such deferral
period (as defined below under Description of the
Notes Option to Defer Interest Payments),
holders of the notes will receive limited or no current payments
and, so long as we and PPL Capital Funding are otherwise in
compliance with our obligations, such holders will have no
remedies against us or PPL Capital Funding for nonpayment unless
we or PPL Capital Funding fail to pay all previously deferred
interest (including compounded interest thereon) in cash within
30 days of the date due. If PPL Capital Funding exercises
its right to defer interest, the market price of the Corporate
Units is likely to be adversely affected. As a result of the
existence of PPL Capital Fundings deferral rights, the
market price of the Corporate Units may be more volatile than
the market prices of other securities that are not subject to
optional interest deferrals. We and PPL Capital Funding may not
be able to pay such deferred interest (including compounded
interest thereon) in the future.
The
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership
and disposition of the Equity Units are unclear.
Although the IRS has issued a Revenue Ruling addressing the
treatment of units similar to the Equity Units, no statutory,
judicial or administrative authority directly addresses all
aspects of the treatment of the Equity Units or instruments
similar to the Equity Units for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, and no assurance can be given that the conclusions in
the Revenue Ruling would apply to the Equity Units. As a result,
the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of the Equity Units are unclear. In
addition, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will
agree with the characterization of the notes as indebtedness for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. You should consult with
your own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an
investment in the Equity Units. See Certain United States
Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences.
You
may have to pay taxes with respect to distributions on common
stock that you do not receive.
You may be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from
us with respect to the purchase contract if (1) the fixed
settlement rates are adjusted (or fail to be adjusted) and, as a
result of the adjustment (or failure to adjust), your
proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits is
increased, and (2) the adjustment (or failure to adjust) is
not made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution
formula. Thus, under certain circumstances, an increase in (or a
failure to decrease) the fixed settlement rates might give rise
to a taxable dividend to you even though you will not receive
any cash in connection with the increase in (or failure to
decrease) the fixed settlement rates. If you are a
non-U.S. holder
(as defined in Certain United States Federal Income and
Estate Tax Consequences), such deemed dividend may be
subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate or
such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty. See
Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax
Consequences U.S. Holders Purchase
Contracts Constructive Distributions and
Dividends and Non-U.S.
Holders U.S. Federal Withholding Tax.
We
will report contract adjustment payments as ordinary income and
we will withhold tax on payments made to
non-U.S.
holders.
We intend to treat contract adjustment payments as taxable
ordinary income to a U.S. holder (as defined in
Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax
Consequences) when received or accrued, in accordance with
the U.S. holders regular method of tax accounting. We
intend to treat any contract adjustment payments paid to a
non-U.S. holder
(as defined in Certain United States Federal Income and
Estate Tax Consequences) as amounts generally subject to
withholding tax at a 30% rate, unless an income tax treaty
reduces or eliminates such tax and the holder satisfies the
relevant certification requirements. However, contract
adjustment payments that are effectively connected with the
conduct of a trade or business by a
non-U.S. holder
within the United States (and, where a tax treaty applies, are
attributable to a United States permanent establishment of the
non-U.S. holder)
are
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not subject to the withholding tax, provided that the holder
satisfies the relevant certification requirements, but instead
are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net
income basis. See Certain United States Federal Income and
Estate Tax Consequences. Persons considering the purchase
of Equity Units should consult their own tax advisors concerning
the possible alternative characterization and tax treatment of
Equity Units and the contract adjustment payments.
You
may have to include interest in your taxable income before you
receive cash.
If PPL Capital Funding defers interest payments on the notes,
you will be required to accrue income, in the form of original
issue discount, for U.S. federal income tax purposes in respect
of your notes, even if you normally report income when received
and even though you may not receive the cash attributable to
that income during the deferral period. You will also not
receive from PPL Capital Funding the cash payment of any accrued
and unpaid interest if you sell your interest in the notes
before the record date for any such payment, even if you held
the interest in such notes on the date that the payments would
normally have been paid. See Certain United States Federal
Income and Estate Tax Consequences
U.S. Holders Notes Interest Income
and Original Issue Discount.
Risk
Factors Relating to Our Common Stock
We
have issued securities that contain provisions that could
restrict our payment of dividends.
We currently have outstanding $500,000,000 principal amount of
our junior subordinated notes, and pursuant to this offering
expect to issue $1 billion principal amount of our junior
subordinated notes (or $1.15 billion if the underwriters
exercise in full their over-allotment option), and we may in the
future issue additional junior subordinated notes or similar
securities, that in certain circumstances, including the failure
to pay current interest, would limit our ability to pay
dividends on our common stock. While we currently do not
anticipate that any of these circumstances will occur, no
assurance can be given that these circumstances will not occur
in the future.
There
may be future sales or other dilution of our equity, which may
adversely affect the market price of our common
stock.
Except as described under Underwriting, we are not
restricted from issuing additional shares of our common stock,
including any securities that are convertible into or
exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, our
common stock. The market price of our common stock could decline
as a result of sales of shares of our common stock or sales of
such other securities made after this offering or the perception
that such sales could occur.
The
price of our common stock may fluctuate
significantly.
The price of our common stock on the NYSE constantly changes. We
expect that the market price of our common stock will continue
to fluctuate.
Our stock price may fluctuate as a result of a variety of
factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors
include:
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periodic variations in our operating results or the quality of
our assets;
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operating results that vary from the expectations of securities
analysts and investors;
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changes in expectations as to our future financial performance;
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announcements of innovations, new products, strategic
developments, significant contracts, acquisitions, divestitures
and other material events by us or our competitors;
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the operating and securities price performance of other
companies that investors believe are comparable to us;
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future sales of our equity or equity-related securities; and
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changes in U.S. and global financial markets and economies and
general market conditions, such as interest or foreign exchange
rates, stock, commodity or real estate valuations or volatility.
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In addition, in recent years, the stock market in general has
experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This
volatility has had a significant effect on the market price of
securities issued by many companies, including for reasons
unrelated to their operating performance. These broad market
fluctuations may adversely affect our stock price regardless of
our operating results.
Risks
Relating to the Acquisition
We may
be unable to obtain the approvals required to complete the
Acquisition or may be subject to material restrictions or
conditions.
Governmental agencies may not approve the Acquisition or may
impose conditions on the completion, or require changes to the
terms of the Acquisition, including restrictions on the
business, operations or financial performance of the companies
to be acquired. These conditions or changes could also delay or
impose additional costs on the Acquisition or limit the revenues
of the acquired companies and the benefits we expect to achieve
from it.
If
completed, the Acquisition may not achieve its intended
results.
PPL has entered into the Agreement with the expectation that the
Acquisition will result in various benefits. Achieving the
anticipated benefits is subject to a number of uncertainties,
including whether the businesses to be acquired can be operated
in the manner PPL intends and whether PPLs costs to
finance the Acquisition will be consistent with our
expectations. Failure to achieve these anticipated benefits
could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of
expected revenues generated by the combined company and
diversion of managements time and energy.
The
Acquisition will expose us to additional risks and uncertainties
with respect to the acquired businesses and their
operations.
We expect that the Acquisition will rebalance our business mix
to a greater percentage of regulated operations. While we
believe this should mitigate our exposure to downturns in the
wholesale power markets, it will increase our coal-based
generation portfolio and our dependence on
rate-of-return
regulation. Although we are already exposed to risks relating to
use of coal and
rate-of-return
regulation, the Acquisition will increase these risks.
The acquired businesses will generally be subject to similar
risks that we are subject to in our existing businesses,
particularly our supply and distribution segments (as the
acquired businesses are integrated and both generate and
distribute power). In addition, they will be subject to the
following additional risks:
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Their profitability will depend largely on their ability to
recover costs from customers and changes in circumstances or in
the regulatory environment that may impair their ability to
recover costs from customers or achieve a certain rate of
return. For example, the Kentucky utilities currently have
pending rate cases which have not yet been approved and to which
there may be political and legal opposition in Kentucky.
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Rising energy prices could negatively impact these businesses.
Higher fuel costs could significantly impact results of
operations, particularly if requests for cost-recovery are
unsuccessful or there is a reduction in customer demand or an
increase in bad debt expense, which could also have a material
impact on their results of operations.
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Their natural gas distribution activities involve numerous risks
that may result in accidents and other operating costs. There
are inherent in natural gas distribution activities a variety of
hazards and operating risks, such as leaks, fires and mechanical
problems, which could cause financial losses and exposure,
significant damage to property, environmental pollution and
impairment of operations.
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Environmental costs and liabilities associated with aspects of
the acquired businesses may differ from those of our existing
business, including with respect to natural gas distribution and
certain former operations, as well as with governmental and
other third party proceedings.
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S-30
We
will be subject to business uncertainties while the Acquisition
is pending.
The preparation required to complete the Acquisition may place a
significant burden on management and internal resources. The
additional demands on management and any difficulties
encountered in completing the Acquisition and with the
transition and integration process could affect our financial
results.
Failure
to complete the Acquisition could negatively affect PPLs
stock price as well as our future business and financial
results.
If the Acquisition is not completed, PPL will be subject to a
number of risks, including:
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We may be required to pay E.ON U.S. Investments, under specified
circumstances set forth in the Agreement, a termination fee of
$450 million.
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We must pay costs related to the Acquisition including, among
others, legal, accounting, financial advisory, filing and
printing costs, as well as fees and expenses with respect to the
committed Bridge Facility, whether the Acquisition is completed
or not.
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We could be subject to litigation related to the failure to
complete the Acquisition or other factors, which may adversely
affect our business, financial results and stock price.
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In addition, if the Acquisition is not completed, PPL intends to
use the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent common
stock offering to repurchase its securities, including common
stock, and for general corporate purposes. We would be subject
to significant earnings per share dilution if we do not
repurchase all or a portion of the newly issued securities,
including common stock, or find other attractive investment
opportunities.
We
will incur significant transaction and Acquisition-related costs
in connection with the financing of the Acquisition, and may be
unable to complete alternative financing before
closing.
We expect to incur, until the closing of the Acquisition,
significant non-recurring costs associated with the financing of
the Acquisition, including obtaining and maintaining the
committed bridge financing that assures our ability to pay the
Acquisition purchase price. In addition, we will be subject to
numerous market risks in connection with our plan to raise
alternative financing to fund the purchase price of the
Acquisition prior to closing, including risks related to general
economic conditions, changes in the costs of capital and of the
demand for securities of the types we will seek to offer to
raise the alternative financing, including the securities being
offered hereunder. In the event less than all of the Acquisition
purchase price is available to us at the time of closing, we
will be required to draw under the Bridge Facility in order to
complete the Acquisition, and the costs to do so are likely to
be significant.
S-31
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We expect that net proceeds from this offering, after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering
expenses payable by us, from the sale of the Equity Units will
be approximately $970 million (approximately
$1.12 billion if the underwriters over-allotment
option is exercised in full). In addition, we expect to receive
net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and
commissions and estimated offering expenses, of approximately
$2.27 billion from our concurrent common stock offering
($2.62 billion if the underwriters over-allotment
option is exercised in full) based on the last reported sale
price of $26.06 per share on June 18, 2010.
We will use the net proceeds from this offering and the
concurrent common stock offering to finance the Acquisition and
pay certain fees and expenses relating to the Acquisition.
Pending that application of funds, we intend to invest the
proceeds from this offering in United States government
obligations, bank deposits or other highly-rated investments.
We currently intend to use the proceeds from the settlement of
the purchase contracts to repay debt as soon as practicable
following such settlement, and we have agreed not to use such
proceeds to repurchase shares of our common stock.
S-32
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the historical unaudited
consolidated cash and cash equivalents and capitalization of PPL
Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries as of
March 31, 2010:
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on an actual basis; and
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on an as-adjusted basis to reflect the issuance and sale of the:
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the Equity Units, including the notes, offered hereby (assuming
no exercise of the underwriters over-allotment
option); and
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the common stock offered in the concurrent common stock offering
(assuming no exercise of the underwriters over-allotment
option for the common stock offering).
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This table should be read in conjunction with the section of
this prospectus supplement entitled Use of Proceeds;
the consolidated financial statements of PPL Corporation and its
consolidated subsidiaries and the notes related thereto; and the
financial and operating data incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including
our current report on
Form 8-K
filed June 21, 2010 for the unaudited historical
consolidated financial data of E.ON US and unaudited pro
forma combined financial data and accompanying disclosures.
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As of March 31, 2010
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Actual
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As Adjusted
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(In millions)
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Cash and cash equivalents(1)
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$
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1,724
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$
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4,968
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Long-term debt, including current portion
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$
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7,652
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$
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7,652
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% Junior subordinated notes due 2018(2)
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1,000
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Total long-term debt
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7,652
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8,652
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Noncontrolling interests
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319
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319
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Shareowners common equity
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5,892
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8,001
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(3)
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Total equity
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6,211
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8,320
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Total capitalization
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$
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13,863
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$
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16,972
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(1) |
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The as adjusted cash and cash equivalents amount includes net
proceeds of approximately $970 million from this offering
and net proceeds of approximately $2.27 billion from the
concurrent common stock offering based on the last reported sale
price of $26.06 per share on June 18, 2010. |
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(2) |
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The % junior subordinated
notes due 2018 are a component of the Equity Units offered
hereby. As adjusted amount will be $1.15 billion if the
underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full. |
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(3) |
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Reflects an adjustment of approximately $140 million
representing the estimated present value of the contract
adjustments payable in connection with the Equity Units. |
S-33
PRICE
RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol
PPL. The following table sets forth on a per share
basis the high and low sales prices for consolidated trading in
our common stock as reported on the NYSE and dividends for the
quarters indicated. The closing price of our common stock on
June 18, 2010 was $26.06.
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Price Range of Common Stock
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Dividend Paid
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High
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Low
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per Share
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Fiscal Year 2008
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First Quarter
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$
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55.23
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$
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44.72
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$
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0.305
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Second Quarter
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$
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54.00
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$
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46.04
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$
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0.335
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Third Quarter
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$
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53.78
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$
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34.95
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$
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0.335
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Fourth Quarter
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$
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37.88
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$
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26.84
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$
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0.335
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Fiscal Year 2009
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First Quarter
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$
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33.54
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$
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24.25
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$
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0.335
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Second Quarter
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$
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34.42
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$
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27.40
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$
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0.345
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Third Quarter
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$
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34.21
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$
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28.27
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$
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0.345
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Fourth Quarter
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$
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33.05
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$
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28.82
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$
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0.345
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Fiscal Year 2010
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First Quarter
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$
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32.77
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$
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27.47
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$
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0.345
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Second Quarter (through June 18, 2010)
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$
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28.80
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$
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23.75
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$
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0.350
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The number of registered shareholders of our common stock at
June 10, 2010, was 72,216. We expect to continue our policy
of paying regular cash dividends, although there is no assurance
as to future dividends because they are dependent on future
earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and any
contractual restriction or restrictions that may be imposed by
our existing or future debt instruments.
S-34
CONCURRENT
COMMON STOCK OFFERING
Concurrently with this offering, under a separate prospectus
supplement dated the date hereof, we are offering
90,000,000 shares (103,500,000 shares if the
underwriters over-allotment option is exercised in full)
of our common stock in an underwritten public offering. The
common stock offering is not contingent on the completion of
this offering and the this offering is not contingent upon the
completion of the common stock offering. We plan to use the
proceeds from the common stock offering and the proceeds of this
offering to finance the Acquisition. See Use of
Proceeds.
The foregoing description and other information regarding the
common stock offering is included herein solely for
informational purposes. Nothing in this prospectus supplement
should be construed as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of
an offer to buy, any shares of our common stock included in the
common stock offering.
S-35
ACCOUNTING
TREATMENT
The net proceeds from the sale of the Corporate Units will be
allocated between the purchase contracts and the notes in our
financial statements based on the underlying fair value of each
instrument at the time of issuance taking into consideration the
contract adjustment payments. The fair value of the purchase
contract is expected to approximate the present value of the
Corporate Units contract adjustment payments and will be
initially recorded as a reduction to shareowners common
equity (common stock and capital in excess of par value), with
an offsetting credit to liabilities. This liability is accreted
over three years by interest charges to the income statement
based on a constant rate calculation. Subsequent contract
adjustment payments will reduce this liability.
The purchase contracts are forward transactions in our common
stock. Upon settlement of each purchase contract, we will
receive $50 pursuant to that purchase contract and will issue
the requisite number of shares of our common stock. The $50 we
receive will be credited to shareowners common equity
(common stock and capital in excess of par value).
Before the issuance of shares of our common stock upon
settlement of the purchase contracts, the purchase contracts
will be reflected in our diluted earnings per share calculations
using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number
of shares of our common stock used in calculating diluted
earnings per share, based on the settlement formula applied at
the end of each reporting period, is deemed to be increased by
the excess, if any, of the number of shares that would be issued
upon settlement of the purchase contracts less the number of
shares that could be purchased by us in the market, at the
average market price during the period, using the proceeds
receivable upon settlement. Consequently, we anticipate there
will be no dilutive effect on our earnings per share except
during periods when the average market price of our common stock
is above the threshold appreciation price of
$ .
Both the Financial Accounting Standards Board and its Emerging
Issues Task Force continue to study the accounting for financial
instruments and derivative instruments, including instruments
such as the Corporate Units. It is possible that our accounting
for the purchase contracts and the notes could be affected by
any new accounting rules that might be issued by these groups or
other accounting standard setting groups or in the event of any
other change in any law or regulation of any accounting rule,
pronouncement or interpretation.
S-36
DESCRIPTION
OF THE EQUITY UNITS
The following is a summary of some of the terms of the Equity
Units. This summary, together with the summary of the terms of
the purchase contracts, the purchase contract and pledge
agreement and the notes set forth under the captions
Description of the Purchase Contracts, Certain
Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement
and Description of the Notes in this prospectus
supplement, contain a description of all of the material terms
of the Equity Units, but are not complete. This summary is
subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions
of the purchase contract and pledge agreement, the indenture,
the supplemental indenture, the notes and the form of
remarketing agreement, including the definitions of certain
terms used therein, which has been attached as an exhibit to the
purchase contract and pledge agreement, which has been filed as
an exhibit to the registration statement of which this
prospectus forms a part.
General
We will issue the Equity Units under the purchase contract and
pledge agreement among us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
purchase contract agent (the purchase contract
agent), and The Bank of New York Mellon, as collateral
agent, custodial agent and securities intermediary (the
collateral agent). The Equity Units may be either
Corporate Units or Treasury Units. The Equity Units will
initially consist of 20,000,000 Corporate Units (up to
23,000,000 Corporate Units if the underwriters exercise their
over-allotment option in full), each with a stated amount of $50.
Each Corporate Unit offered will consist of:
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a purchase contract under which
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the holder will agree to purchase from us, and we will agree to
sell to the holder, no later than on July 1, 2013, which we
refer to as the purchase contract settlement date,
or upon early settlement, for $50, a number of shares of our
common stock equal to the applicable settlement rate described
under Description of the Purchase Contracts
Purchase of Common Stock, Description of the
Purchase Contracts Early Settlement or
Description of the Purchase Contracts Early
Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change, as the case may
be; and
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we will pay the holder quarterly contract adjustment payments at
the rate of % per year on the
stated amount of $50, or $ per
year, subject to our right to defer such contract adjustment
payments, and
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either:
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a 1/20, or 5.0%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in a
$1,000 principal amount % junior
subordinated note due 2018 issued by PPL Capital Funding, and
under which PPL Capital Funding will pay to the holder 1/20, or
5.0%, of the interest payment on a $1,000 principal amount note
at the initial rate of %, or
$ per year per $1,000 principal
amount of notes, subject to PPL Capital Fundings right to
defer such interest payments; or
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following a successful optional remarketing, the applicable
ownership interest in a portfolio of U.S. Treasury
securities, which we refer to as the Treasury
portfolio.
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Applicable ownership interest means, with respect to
a Corporate Unit and the U.S. Treasury securities in the
Treasury portfolio,
(1) a 1/20, or 5.0%, undivided beneficial ownership
interest in $1,000 face amount of U.S. Treasury securities
(or principal or interest strips thereof) included in the
Treasury portfolio that matures on or prior to the purchase
contract settlement date; and
(2) for the scheduled interest payment date occurring on
the purchase contract settlement date,
a % undivided beneficial ownership
interest in $1,000 face amount of U.S. Treasury securities
(or principal or interest strips thereof) that mature on or
prior to the purchase contract settlement date.
The fair value of the Corporate Units we issue will be recorded
in our financial statements based on an allocation between the
purchase contracts and the notes in proportion to their
respective fair market values.
S-37
So long as the units are in the form of Corporate Units, the
related undivided beneficial ownership interest in the note or
the applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, as
the case may be, will be pledged to us through the collateral
agent to secure the holders obligations to purchase our
common stock under the related purchase contracts.
Creating
Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for a
Note
Each holder of 20 Corporate Units may create, at any time other
than during the period (i) from 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the second business day immediately following the
date on which we give our notice of an optional remarketing
until the settlement date of such remarketing or the date we
announce that such remarketing was unsuccessful and
(ii) after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
second business day immediately preceding the first day of the
final remarketing period (we refer to each such period as a
blackout period) and other than after a successful
remarketing, 20 Treasury Units by substituting for a note a
zero-coupon U.S. Treasury security (CUSIP No. 912820RA7)
with a principal amount at maturity equal to $1,000 and maturing
on or prior to the purchase contract settlement date, which we
refer to as a Treasury security. This substitution
would create 20 Treasury Units and the note would be released to
the holder and would be separately tradable from the Treasury
Units. Because Treasury securities and notes are issued in
integral multiples of $1,000, holders of Corporate Units may
make the substitution only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate
Units. After a successful remarketing, holders may not create
Treasury Units from Corporate Units.
Each Treasury Unit will consist of:
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a purchase contract under which
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the holder will agree to purchase from us, and we will agree to
sell to the holder, not later than on the purchase contract
settlement date, or upon early settlement, for $50, a number of
shares of our common stock equal to the applicable settlement
rate; and
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we will pay the holder quarterly contract adjustment payments at
the rate of % per year on the
stated amount of $50, or $ per
year, subject to our right to defer such contract adjustment
payments, and
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a 1/20, or 5.0%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in a
Treasury security.
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The term business day means any day other than a
Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in
New York City are authorized or required by law or executive
order to remain closed.
The Treasury Unit holders beneficial ownership interest in
the Treasury security will be pledged to us through the
collateral agent to secure the holders obligation to
purchase our common stock under the related purchase contracts.
To create 20 Treasury Units, a holder is required to:
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deposit with the collateral agent a Treasury security that has a
principal amount at maturity of $1,000, which must be purchased
in the open market at the expense of the Corporate Unit holder
(unless otherwise owned by the holder); and
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transfer to the purchase contract agent 20 Corporate Units,
accompanied by a notice stating that the holder of the Corporate
Units has deposited a Treasury security with the collateral
agent, and requesting that the purchase contract agent instruct
the collateral agent to release the related note.
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Upon receiving instructions from the purchase contract agent and
receipt of the Treasury security, the collateral agent will
release the related note from the pledge and deliver it to the
purchase contract agent on behalf of the holder, free and clear
of our security interest. The purchase contract agent then will:
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cancel the 20 Corporate Units;
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transfer the related note to the holder; and
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deliver 20 Treasury Units to the holder.
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S-38
The Treasury security will be substituted for the note and will
be pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure the
holders obligation to purchase shares of our common stock
under the related purchase contracts. The note thereafter will
trade separately from the Treasury Units.
Holders who create Treasury Units or recreate Corporate Units,
as discussed below, will be responsible for any fees or expenses
payable to the collateral agent in connection with substitutions
of collateral. See Certain Provisions of the Purchase
Contract and Pledge Agreement Miscellaneous.
Recreating
Corporate Units
Each holder of 20 Treasury Units will have the right, at any
time, other than during a blackout period or after a successful
remarketing, to substitute for the related Treasury security
held by the collateral agent a note having an aggregate
principal amount equal to $1,000. This substitution would
recreate 20 Corporate Units and the applicable Treasury security
would be released to the holder and would be separately tradable
from the Corporate Units. Because Treasury securities and notes
are issued in integral multiples of $1,000, holders of Treasury
Units may make this substitution only in integral multiples of
20 Treasury Units. After a successful remarketing, holders may
not recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units.
To recreate 20 Corporate Units, a holder is required to:
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deposit with the collateral agent a $1,000 principal amount
note, which must be purchased in the open market at the expense
of the Treasury Unit holder, unless otherwise owned by the
holder; and
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transfer to the purchase contract agent 20 Treasury Units,
accompanied by a notice stating that the holder of the Treasury
Units has deposited a $1,000 principal amount note with the
collateral agent and requesting that the purchase contract agent
instruct the collateral agent to release the related Treasury
security.
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Upon receiving instructions from the purchase contract agent and
receipt of the $1,000 principal amount note, the collateral
agent will release the related Treasury security from the pledge
and deliver it to the purchase contract agent, on behalf of the
holder, free and clear of our security interest. The purchase
contract agent then will:
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cancel the 20 Treasury Units;
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transfer the related Treasury security to the holder; and
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deliver 20 Corporate Units to the holder.
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The $1,000 principal amount note will be substituted for the
Treasury security and will be pledged to us through the
collateral agent to secure the holders obligation to
purchase shares of our common stock under the related purchase
contracts. The Treasury security thereafter will trade
separately from the Corporate Units.
Payments
on the Equity Units
Holders of Corporate Units and Treasury Units will receive
quarterly contract adjustment payments payable by us at the rate
of % per year on the stated amount
of $50 per Equity Unit until the earliest of the purchase
contract settlement date, the early settlement date (in the case
of a fundamental change early settlement, as described in
Description of the Purchase Contracts Early
Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change) and the most recent
quarterly payment date on or before any other early settlement
of the related purchase contracts (in the case of an early
settlement as described in Description of the Purchase
Contracts Early Settlement). In addition,
holders of Corporate Units will receive quarterly cash
distributions consisting of their pro rata share of interest
payments on the notes attributable to the undivided beneficial
ownership interest in the notes (or distributions on the
applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio if the
notes have been replaced by the Treasury portfolio), equivalent
to the rate of % per year. There
will be no distributions in respect of the Treasury securities
that are a component of the Treasury Units, but the holders of
the Treasury Units will continue to receive the scheduled
quarterly interest payments on the notes that were released to
them when the Treasury Units were created for as long as they
hold the notes. We will make all contract adjustment payments on
the Corporate Units and the Treasury Units quarterly in arrears
on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each
year (except
S-39
where such date is not a business day, in which case contract
adjustment payments will be payable as of the next subsequent
business day, without adjustment), commencing October 1, 2010.
We have the right to defer payment of quarterly contract
adjustment payments as described under Description of the
Purchase Contracts Contract Adjustment
Payments. PPL Capital Funding has the right to defer
payment of interest on the notes as described under
Description of the Notes Option to Defer
Interest Payments.
Listing
We expect trading of the Corporate Units on the New York Stock
Exchange to commence within 30 days of the initial issuance
of the corporate units under the symbol PPL PR U.
Unless and until substitution has been made as described in
Creating Treasury Units by Substituting a
Treasury Security for a Note or
Recreating Corporate Units, neither the
note or applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio
component of a Corporate Unit nor the Treasury security
component of a Treasury Unit will trade separately from
Corporate Units or Treasury Units. The note or applicable
ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio component will
trade as a unit with the purchase contract component of the
Corporate Units, and the Treasury security component will trade
as a unit with the purchase contract component of the Treasury
Units. In addition, if Treasury Units or notes are separately
traded to a sufficient extent that the applicable exchange
listing requirements are met, we will endeavor to cause the
Treasury Units or notes to be listed on the exchange on which
the Corporate Units are then listed, including, if applicable,
the New York Stock Exchange.
Ranking
The notes will initially be junior subordinated obligations of
PPL Capital Funding, subordinated to PPL Capital Fundings
existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as described under
Description of the Notes Subordination).
Unless the notes are remarketed as senior notes in the final
remarketing, the notes will be issued under a subordinated
indenture among PPL Capital Funding, us, as guarantor, and The
Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New
York), as trustee (the trustee) dated as of
March 1, 2007 (the subordinated indenture), as
amended and supplemented by a supplemental indenture among PPL
Capital Funding, us and the trustee
dated ,
2010 (the supplemental indenture and, together with
the subordinated indenture, the indenture).
PPL Corporation will fully and unconditionally guarantee the
payment of principal of and any interest on the notes, when due
and payable pursuant to a subordinated guarantee. The
subordinated guarantee will remain in effect until the entire
principal of and interest on the notes has been paid in full or
otherwise discharged in accordance with the provisions of the
indenture (including any supplements thereto). The subordinated
guarantee will be PPL Corporations unsecured obligation
and will be subordinated to all of PPL Corporations Senior
Indebtedness (as defined in Description of Notes
Subordination). It will rank equally in right of payment
with PPL Corporations other unsecured and subordinated
indebtedness. The subordinated guarantee will be effectively
subordinated to all existing or future preferred stock and
indebtedness, guarantees and other liabilities of our
subsidiaries, including trade payables. Since we conduct many of
our operations through our subsidiaries, our right to
participate in any distribution of the assets of a subsidiary
when it winds up its business is subject to the prior claims of
the creditors of the subsidiary. This means that your right as a
holder of the notes will also be subject to the prior claims of
these creditors if a subsidiary (other than PPL Capital Funding)
liquidates or reorganizes or otherwise winds up its business.
Unless we or PPL Capital Funding are considered a creditor of
the relevant subsidiary, your claims will be recognized behind
these creditors.
As of March 31, 2010, PPL Capital Funding had
$600 million of outstanding indebtedness, all of which was
guaranteed by PPL Corporation and $100 million of which was
Senior Indebtedness, and our subsidiaries (other than PPL
Capital Funding) had approximately $7.6 billion of
aggregate outstanding debt, including short-term borrowings and
excluding fair value adjustments (none of which is guaranteed by
us).
Voting
and Certain Other Rights
Holders of purchase contracts forming part of the Corporate
Units or Treasury Units, in their capacities as such holders,
will have no voting or other rights in respect of our common
stock.
S-40
Agreed
Tax Treatment
Each beneficial owner of an Equity Unit, by acceptance of the
beneficial interest therein, will be deemed to have agreed
(unless otherwise required by any taxing authority) (1) to
treat itself as the owner of the related note, applicable
ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio or Treasury
security, as the case may be, for U.S. federal, state and
local income tax purposes, (2) to treat the note as
indebtedness for all tax purposes, and (3) to allocate, as
of the issue date, 100% of the purchase price paid for the
Equity Units to its ownership interest in the notes and 0% to
each purchase contract, which will establish its initial tax
basis in each purchase contract as $0 and its initial tax basis
in its ownership interest in the notes as $50. This position
will be binding on each beneficial owner of each Equity Unit,
but not on the IRS. See Certain United States Federal
Income and Estate Tax Consequences.
Repurchase
of the Equity Units
We may purchase from time to time any of the Equity Units
offered by this prospectus supplement that are then outstanding
by tender, in the open market, by private agreement or
otherwise, subject to compliance with applicable law.
S-41
DESCRIPTION
OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS
The following description is a summary of some of the terms
of the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts will be issued
pursuant to the purchase contract and pledge agreement among us,
the purchase contract agent, the collateral agent, the custodial
agent and the securities intermediary. The description of the
purchase contracts and the purchase contract and pledge
agreement in this prospectus supplement contains a summary of
their material terms but does not purport to be complete. This
summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the
provisions of the purchase contract and pledge agreement, the
indenture, the first supplemental indenture, the notes and the
form of remarketing agreement, including the definitions of
certain terms used therein.
Purchase
of Common Stock
Each purchase contract that is a part of a Corporate Unit or a
Treasury Unit will obligate its holder to purchase, and us to
sell, on July 1, 2013 (the purchase contract
settlement date), a number of shares of our common stock
equal to the settlement rate, for $50 in cash (unless the
purchase contract terminates prior to that date or is settled
early at the holders option). The number of shares of our
common stock issuable upon settlement of each purchase contract
on the purchase contract settlement date (which we refer to as
the settlement rate) will be determined as follows,
subject to adjustment as described under
Anti-dilution Adjustments and
Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental
Change below:
(1) If the applicable market value of our common stock is
equal to or greater than the threshold appreciation
price of $ , the settlement
rate will
be shares
of our common stock (we refer to such settlement rate as the
minimum settlement rate).
Accordingly, if the market price for the common stock increases
between the date of this prospectus supplement and the period
during which the applicable market value is measured and the
applicable market value is greater than the threshold
appreciation price, the aggregate market value of the shares of
common stock issued upon settlement of each purchase contract
will be higher than the stated amount, assuming that the market
price of the common stock on the purchase contract settlement
date is the same as the applicable market value of the common
stock. If the applicable market value is the same as the
threshold appreciation price, the aggregate market value of the
shares issued upon settlement will be equal to the stated
amount, assuming that the market price of the common stock on
the purchase contract settlement date is the same as the
applicable market value of the common stock.
(2) If the applicable market value of our common stock is
less than the threshold appreciation price but greater than the
reference price of $ ,
the settlement rate will be a number of shares of our common
stock equal to $50 divided by the applicable market value,
rounded to the nearest ten thousandth of a share.
Accordingly, if the market price for the common stock increases
between the date of this prospectus supplement and the period
during which the applicable market value is measured, but the
market price does not exceed the threshold appreciation price,
the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock issued
upon settlement of each purchase contract will be equal to the
stated amount, assuming that the market price of the common
stock on the purchase contract settlement date is the same as
the applicable market value of the common stock.
(3) If the applicable market value of our common stock is
less than or equal to the reference price of
$ , the settlement rate will
be shares
of our common stock, which is equal to the stated amount divided
by the reference price (we refer to such settlement rate as the
maximum settlement rate).
Accordingly, if the market price for the common stock decreases
between the date of this prospectus supplement and the period
during which the adjusted applicable market value is measured
and the market price is less than the reference price, the
aggregate market value of the shares of common stock issued upon
settlement of each purchase contract will be less than the
stated amount, assuming that the market price on the purchase
contract settlement date is the same as the applicable market
value of the common stock. If the market price of the common
stock is the same as the reference price, the aggregate market
value of the shares will be equal to the stated amount, assuming
that the market price of the common stock on the purchase
contract settlement date is the same as the applicable market
value of the common stock.
S-42
If you elect to settle your purchase contract early in the
manner described under Early Settlement,
the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon
settlement of such purchase contract will
be ,
the minimum settlement rate, subject to adjustment as described
under Anti-dilution Adjustments. We
refer to the minimum settlement rate and the maximum settlement
rate as the fixed settlement rates.
The applicable market value means the average
volume-weighted average price, or VWAP, of our common stock on
each of the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the third
scheduled trading day immediately preceding the purchase
contract settlement date, subject to adjustment under the
circumstances set forth in Anti-dilution
Adjustments. The VWAP of our common stock
means, for the relevant trading day, the per share
volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading
Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg page PPL <EQUITY> AQR (or
its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in
respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading on the
relevant trading day until the scheduled close of trading on the
relevant trading day (or if such volume-weighted average price
is unavailable, the market price of one share of our common
stock on such trading day determined, using a volume-weighted
average method, by a nationally recognized independent
investment banking firm retained for this purpose by us).
A trading day means, for purposes of determining a
VWAP or closing price, a business day on which the relevant
exchange or quotation system is scheduled to be open for
business and a day on which there has not occurred or does not
exist a market disruption event. A market disruption
event is defined as any of the following events that has
occurred:
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any suspension of, or limitation imposed on, trading by the
relevant exchange or quotation system during the
one-hour
period prior to the close of trading for the regular trading
session on the exchange or quotation system (or for purposes of
determining VWAP any period or periods aggregating one half hour
or longer) and whether by reason of movements in price exceeding
limits permitted by the relevant exchange or quotation system or
otherwise relating to our common stock or in futures or option
contracts relating to our common stock on the relevant exchange
or quotation system;
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any event (other than a failure to open or a closure as
described below) that disrupts or impairs the ability of market
participants during the
one-hour
period prior to the close of trading for the regular trading
session on the exchange or quotation system (or for purposes of
determining VWAP any period or periods aggregating one half hour
or longer) in general to effect transactions in, or obtain
market values for, our common stock on the relevant exchange or
quotation system or futures or options contracts relating to our
common stock on any relevant exchange or quotation
system; or
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the failure to open of the exchange or quotation system on which
futures or options contracts relating to our common stock are
traded or the closure of such, exchange or quotation system
prior to its respective scheduled closing time for the regular
trading session on such day (without regard to after hours or
other trading outside the regular trading session hours) unless
such earlier closing time is announced by such exchange or
quotation system at least one hour prior to the earlier of the
actual closing time for the regular trading session on such day
and the submission deadline for orders to be entered into such,
exchange or quotation system for execution at the actual closing
time on such day.
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If a market disruption event occurs during a day that would
otherwise constitute one of the 20 trading days for determining
the applicable market value, we will notify investors on the
calendar day on which such event occurs.
If 20 trading days for our common stock have not occurred prior
to the third scheduled trading day immediately prior to the
purchase contract settlement date, all remaining trading days
will be deemed to occur on that third business day and the VWAP
of our common stock for each of the remaining trading days will
be the VWAP of our common stock on such third business day or,
if such day is not a trading day, the closing price as
determined in its reasonable discretion by a nationally
recognized independent investment banking firm retained by us
for this purpose.
We will not issue any fractional shares of our common stock upon
settlement of a purchase contract. Instead of a fractional
share, the holder will receive an amount of cash equal to such
fraction multiplied by the closing price of our common stock on
the trading day immediately preceding the purchase contract
settlement date. If, however, a holder surrenders for settlement
at one time more than one purchase contract, then the number of
shares of our
S-43
common stock issuable pursuant to such purchase contracts will
be computed based upon the aggregate number of purchase
contracts surrendered.
The closing price of our common stock on any date of
determination means the closing sale price or, if no closing
sale price is reported, the last reported sale price of our
common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that date. If our
common stock is not listed for trading on the New York Stock
Exchange on any date of determination, the closing price of our
common stock on such date of determination means the closing
sale price as reported in the composite transactions for the
principal U.S. securities exchange on which our common
stock is listed, or if our common stock is not so listed on a
U.S. securities exchange, the last quoted bid price for our
common stock in the
over-the-counter
market as reported by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly known as the
National Quotation Bureau) or similar organization, or, if that
bid price is not available, the market value of our common stock
on that date as determined by a nationally recognized
independent investment banking firm retained by us for this
purpose.
Unless:
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a holder has settled early the related purchase contracts by
delivery of cash to the purchase contract agent in the manner
described under Early Settlement or
Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental
Change;
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a holder of Corporate Units has settled the related purchase
contracts with separate cash in the manner described under
Notice to Settle with Cash; or
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an event described under Termination has
occurred,
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then, on the purchase contract settlement date,
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in the case of Corporate Units where there has not been a
successful optional or final remarketing, unless holders of
Corporate Units elect not to exercise their put right by
delivering cash to settle their purchase contracts (see
Remarketing), such holders will be
deemed to have elected to apply a portion of the proceeds of the
put price equal to the principal amount of the notes to satisfy
in full the holders obligation to purchase our common
stock under the related purchase contracts and any excess
proceeds will be delivered to the purchase contract agent for
the benefit of the holders of Corporate Units;
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in the case of Corporate Units where the Treasury portfolio has
replaced the notes as a component of the Corporate Units, the
portion of the proceeds of the appropriate applicable ownership
interests in the Treasury portfolio when paid at maturity equal
to the stated amount of $50 per Corporate Unit will
automatically be applied to satisfy in full the holders
obligation to purchase common stock under the related purchase
contracts and any excess proceeds will be delivered to the
purchase contract agent for the benefit of the holders of
Corporate Units;
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in the case of Corporate Units where the notes have been
successfully remarketed during the final remarketing period, the
portion of the remarketing proceeds sufficient to satisfy the
holders obligation to purchase our common stock under the
related purchase contracts will automatically be applied to
satisfy in full the holders obligation and any excess
proceeds will be delivered to the purchase contract agent for
the benefit of the holders of Corporate Units; and
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in the case of Treasury Units, the proceeds of the related
Treasury securities, when paid at maturity, will automatically
be applied to satisfy in full the holders obligation to
purchase our common stock under the related purchase contracts.
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The common stock will then be issued and delivered to the holder
or the holders designee, upon presentation and surrender
of the certificate evidencing the Corporate Units or Treasury
Units, if in certificated form, and payment by the holder of any
transfer or similar taxes payable in connection with the
issuance of the common stock to any person other than the holder.
Prior to the settlement of a purchase contract, the shares of
our common stock underlying each purchase contract will not be
outstanding, and the holder of the purchase contract will not
have any voting rights, rights to dividends or other
distributions or other rights of a holder of our common stock by
virtue of holding such purchase contract.
S-44
By purchasing a Corporate Unit or a Treasury Unit, a holder will
be deemed to have, among other things:
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irrevocably appointed the purchase contract agent as its
attorney-in-fact to enter into and perform the related purchase
contract and the purchase contract and pledge agreement in the
name of and on behalf of such holder; and
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agreed to be bound by the terms and provisions of the Corporate
Units and Treasury Units and perform its obligations under the
related purchase contract and the purchase contract and pledge
agreement.
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Remarketing
We have agreed to enter into a remarketing agreement with one or
more nationally recognized investment banking firms (as the
remarketing agent(s)) and the purchase contract agent (as
attorney-in-fact of the holders) no later than 30 days
prior to the first day of the optional remarketing period.
Pursuant to the remarketing agreement, unless a termination
event has occurred, remarketing of the notes underlying the
Corporate Units will be attempted as described below.
We refer to each of an optional remarketing and a
final remarketing as a remarketing,
whereby the notes that are a part of Corporate Units and any
separate notes whose holders have decided to participate in the
remarketing, as described under Optional
Remarketing of the Notes That Are Not Included in Corporate
Units, will be remarketed in two tranches, as described
below.
The notes to be remarketed will be divided into two tranches,
such that neither tranche will have an aggregate principal
amount of less than the lesser of $300 million and 50% of
the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be remarketed.
One tranche will mature on or about the third anniversary of the
settlement date of the remarketing and the other will mature on
or about the fifth anniversary of such settlement date. The
interest deferral provisions of the notes will not apply to the
notes remarketed in an optional remarketing or a final
remarketing. The subordination provisions of the notes and the
guarantees will not apply to the notes remarketed in a final
remarketing, unless we make an irrevocable election otherwise,
which shall apply to both tranches, by notice to the trustee at
any time on or prior
to ,
2010 (six months from the date of initial issuance of the
Corporate Units). Unless we so elect, the notes remarketed in
the final remarketing will be the senior, unsecured obligations
of PPL Capital Funding guaranteed on a senior, unsecured basis
by PPL Corporation. We will allocate the notes whose holders
elect not to participate in any remarketing, without any
requirement for the consent of such holders, into these two
tranches, such that neither tranche immediately after the
settlement date of the remarketing will have an aggregate
principal amount of less than the lesser of $300 million
and 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then
outstanding.
In connection with the remarketing, PPL Capital Funding may
elect, by irrevocable notice to the depositary at any time at
least 15 days prior to the date on which we propose to
remarket the notes:
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to extend the earliest redemption date on which PPL Capital
Funding may call the notes of a tranche for redemption from
July 1, 2015 to a later date or to eliminate the redemption
provisions of the notes of such tranche altogether; and /or
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to calculate interest on the notes of a tranche on a fixed or
floating rate basis.
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These modifications will become effective if the remarketing is
successful, without the consent of the holders, upon the earlier
of the optional remarketing settlement date and the purchase
contract settlement date. See Description of the
Notes Remarketing.
During the applicable blackout period:
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you may not settle a purchase contract early;
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you may not create Treasury Units; and
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you may not recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units.
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We will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that a
registration statement with regard to the full amount of the
notes to be remarketed will be effective in a form that may be
used by the remarketing agent in
S-45
connection with the remarketing process (unless such
registration statement is not required under the applicable laws
and regulations that are in effect at that time) or unless we
conduct any remarketing in accordance with an exemption under
the securities laws.
We will separately pay a fee to the remarketing agent for its
services as remarketing agent. Holders whose notes are
remarketed will not be responsible for the payment of any
remarketing fee in connection with the remarketing.
Optional
Remarketing
Unless a termination event has occurred, we may elect, at our
option, to remarket the notes in two tranches over a period of
one or more dates selected by us that fall during the period
from and including March 28, 2013 (the second business day
immediately preceding the interest payment date prior to the
purchase contract settlement date) and ending on June 13,
2013 (the third business day prior to the first day of the final
remarketing period), whereby the aggregate principal amount of
the notes that are a part of Corporate Units and any separate
notes whose holders have decided to participate in the optional
remarketing, as described under Optional
Remarketing of the Notes That Are Not Included in Corporate
Units, will be remarketed. We refer to this period as the
optional remarketing period, a remarketing that
occurs during the optional remarketing period as an
optional remarketing and the date we price the notes
offered in an optional remarketing as the optional
remarketing date. If we elect to conduct an optional
remarketing, the remarketing agent will use its reasonable
efforts to obtain a price for each tranche of notes to be
remarketed that results in proceeds of at least 100% of the
relevant fraction (as defined below) of the aggregate of the
purchase price for the Treasury portfolio described below and
the separate notes purchase price. To obtain that price, the
remarketing agent may, among other things, reset the interest
rate on the notes, as described under Description of the
Notes Interest Rate Reset. The relevant
fraction for a tranche of notes is a fraction the numerator of
which is the aggregate principal amount of the notes in such
tranche that are being remarketed and the denominator of which
is the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be remarketed.
If we elect to remarket the notes in the optional remarketing
period, the optional remarketing date will be the same for both
tranches and the settlements of both tranches will be
conditioned on each other. We will request that the depositary
notify its participants holding Corporate Units, Treasury Units
and separate notes of our election to conduct an optional
remarketing no later than 15 days prior to the date we
begin the optional remarketing. On the business day following
the optional remarketing date, we will notify holders of
separate notes who decided not to participate in the optional
remarketing how we will allocate their notes between the two
tranches.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, we may only elect to
conduct an optional remarketing if PPL Capital Funding is not
then deferring interest on the notes.
Following a successful optional remarketing of the notes, the
remarketing agent will purchase the Treasury portfolio at the
Treasury portfolio purchase price (as defined below), and deduct
such price from the proceeds of the optional remarketing. Any
remaining proceeds will be remitted by the remarketing agent for
the benefit of the holders whose notes were remarketed.
If we elect to conduct an optional remarketing and such
remarketing is successful:
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settlement of the remarketed notes will occur on the third
business day following the optional remarketing date (we refer
to such third business day as the optional remarketing
settlement date);
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the interest rate on each tranche of remarketed notes will be
reset on the optional remarketing settlement date, if applicable;
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your Corporate Units will consist of a purchase contract and the
applicable ownership interest in the Treasury portfolio, as
described above; and
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you may no longer create Treasury Units or recreate Corporate
Units from Treasury Units.
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If we do not elect to conduct an optional remarketing during the
optional remarketing period, or no optional remarketing succeeds
for any reason, the notes will continue to be a component of the
Corporate Units or will continue to be held separately and the
remarketing agent will use its reasonable efforts to remarket
the notes during the final remarketing period.
S-46
For the purposes of a successful optional remarketing,
Treasury portfolio purchase price means the lowest
aggregate ask-side price quoted by a primary
U.S. government securities dealer to the quotation agent
selected by us between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the optional remarketing date for the
purchase of the Treasury portfolio for settlement on the
optional remarketing settlement date.
Following a successful optional remarketing, the remarketing
agent will purchase, at the Treasury portfolio purchase price, a
Treasury portfolio consisting of:
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U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips
thereof) that mature on or prior to the purchase contract
settlement date in an aggregate amount equal to the principal
amount of the notes underlying the applicable ownership
interests in notes included in the Corporate Units on the
optional remarketing date; and
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U.S. Treasury securities (or principal or interest strips
thereof) that mature on or prior to the purchase contract
settlement date in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate
interest payment (assuming no reset of the interest rate) that
would have been paid to the holders of the Corporate Units on
the purchase contract settlement date on the principal amount of
the notes underlying the applicable ownership interests in notes
included in the Corporate Units on the optional remarketing date.
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The remarketing agent will deduct the Treasury portfolio
purchase price from the proceeds of the optional remarketing.
Any remaining proceeds of the optional remarketing will be
remitted by the remarketing agent to the purchase contract agent
for the benefit of the holders of Corporate Units whose notes
were remarketed and will be paid promptly after the optional
remarketing settlement date.
The applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio
will be substituted for the applicable ownership interests in
notes that are components of the Corporate Units and will be
pledged to us through the collateral agent to secure the
Corporate Unit holders obligation under the purchase
contracts. On the purchase contract settlement date, a portion
of the proceeds from the Treasury portfolio equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the notes underlying the aggregate
applicable ownership interests in notes that are components of
the Corporate Units at the time of remarketing will
automatically be applied to satisfy the Corporate Unit
holders obligations to purchase common stock under the
purchase contracts. In addition, proceeds from the Treasury
portfolio equal to the interest payment (assuming no reset of
the interest rate) that would have been attributable to the
notes that were components of the Corporate Units at the time of
remarketing will be paid on the purchase contract settlement
date to the holders of the Corporate Units.
If we elect to remarket the notes during the optional
remarketing period and a successful remarketing has not occurred
on or prior to June 13, 2013 (the last day of the optional
remarketing period), we will cause a notice of the failed
remarketing of the notes to be published before 9:00 a.m.,
New York City time, on the business day immediately following
the last date of the optional remarketing period. This notice
will be validly published by making a timely release to any
appropriate news agency, including Bloomberg Business News and
the Dow Jones News Service.
Final
Remarketing
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful
optional remarketing, we will remarket the notes, in two
tranches, during the 7 business day period ending on
June 26, 2013 (the third business day immediately preceding
the purchase contract settlement date, whereby the aggregate
principal amount of the notes that are a part of Corporate Units
and any separate notes whose holders have decided to participate
in the remarketing, as described under
Optional Remarketing of the Notes That Are Not
Included in Corporate Units, will be remarketed. We refer
to such period as the final remarketing period, the
remarketing during this period as the final
remarketing and the date we price the notes offered in the
final marketing as the final remarketing date. The
remarketing agent will use its reasonable efforts to obtain a
price for each tranche of notes to be remarketed that results in
proceeds of at least 100% of the principal amount of such
tranche of notes. To obtain that price, the remarketing agent
may, among other things, reset the interest rate on each tranche
of remarketed notes, as described under Description of the
Notes Interest Rate Reset. The final
remarketing date will be the same for both tranches of notes and
the settlements of both tranches will be conditioned on each
other. We will request that the depositary notify its
participants holding Corporate Units, Treasury Units and
separate notes of the remarketing no later than the third
business day prior to the first day of the final remarketing
period. In such notice,
S-47
we will set forth the dates of the final remarketing period,
applicable procedures for holders of separate notes to
participate in the final remarketing, the applicable procedures
for holders of Corporate Units to create Treasury Units, the
applicable procedures for holders of Corporate Units to settle
their purchase contracts early and any other applicable
procedures, including the procedures that must be followed by a
separate note holder in the case of a failed remarketing if a
separate note holder wishes to exercise its right to put its
notes to us as described in this prospectus supplement. On the
business day following the final remarketing date, we will
notify holders of separate notes who decided not to participate
in the final remarketing how we will allocate their notes
between the two tranches.
We have the right to postpone the final remarketing in our
absolute discretion on any day prior to the last five business
days of the final remarketing period.
If the final remarketing is successful:
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settlement of the remarketed notes will occur on the purchase
contract settlement date;
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the interest rate on each tranche of remarketed notes will be
reset on the reset effective date, which will be the purchase
contract settlement date, as described below under
Description of the Notes
Interest; and
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the remarketing agent will remit the proceeds of the remarketing
of the notes underlying the Corporate Units directly to the
purchase contract agent, and the portion of the proceeds equal
to the total principal amount of the notes underlying the
Corporate Units will automatically be applied to satisfy in full
the Corporate Unit holders obligations to purchase common
stock under the related purchase contracts. Any excess proceeds
will be remitted by the remarketing agent to the purchase
contract agent for the benefit of the holders of the Corporate
Units whose notes were remarketed.
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Corporate Unit holders have the option to notify the purchase
contract agent at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the second business day immediately prior to the
first day of the final remarketing period of their intention to
settle the related purchase contracts with separate cash and
provide such cash on or prior to the business day immediately
prior to the first day of the final remarketing period. The
notes of any holder of Corporate Units who has failed to give
this notice and deliver such cash will be remarketed during the
final remarketing period. In addition, holders of notes that do
not underlie Corporate Units may elect to participate in the
remarketing as described under Description of the
Notes Remarketing of Notes That Are Not Included in
Corporate Units.
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units as a result of a successful
optional remarketing, if (1) despite using its reasonable
efforts, the remarketing agent cannot remarket the related notes
on or prior to June 26, 2013 (the last day of the final
remarketing period), at a price equal to or greater than 100% of
the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be remarketed or
(2) the final remarketing has not occurred on or prior to
June 26, 2013 because a condition precedent to the
remarketing has not been fulfilled, in each case resulting in a
failed remarketing, holders of all notes will have the right to
put their notes to us for an amount equal to the principal
amount of their notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest
(including deferred interest and compounded interest thereon),
on the purchase contract settlement date. A holder of Corporate
Units will be deemed to have automatically exercised this put
right with respect to the notes underlying such Corporate Units
unless such holder has decided to settle the purchase contract
with separate cash as described below under
Notice to Settle with Cash and prior to
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day
immediately prior to the purchase contract settlement date, such
holder provides a written notice of an intention to settle the
related purchase contract with separate cash and on or prior to
the business day immediately preceding the purchase contract
settlement date delivers to the collateral agent $50 in cash per
Corporate Unit. Such settlement with separate cash may only be
effected in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. If a
holder of Corporate Units so elects to settle with separate
cash, upon receipt of the required cash payment, the related
notes underlying the Corporate Units will be released from the
pledge under the purchase contract and pledge agreement and
delivered promptly to the purchase contract agent for delivery
to the holder. The holder of the Corporate Units will then
receive the applicable number of shares of our common stock on
the purchase contract settlement date. The cash received by the
collateral agent upon this settlement with separate cash will be
invested promptly in permitted investments, as defined in the
purchase contract and pledge agreement, and paid to us on the
purchase contract settlement date. Any funds received by the
collateral agent in respect of the investment earnings from such
investments will be distributed to the purchase contract agent
for payment to the holders who settled with separate
S-48
cash. Unless a holder of Corporate Units has settled the related
purchase contracts with separate cash on or prior to the
business day immediately preceding the purchase contract
settlement date, such holder will be deemed to have elected to
apply a portion of the proceeds of the put price equal to the
principal amount of the notes against such holders
obligations to purchase our common stock under the related
purchase contracts, thereby satisfying such obligations in full,
and we will deliver to such holder our common stock pursuant to
the related purchase contracts. Any amount of the put price
remaining following satisfaction of the related purchase
contracts will be paid to the Corporate Unit holder through the
purchase contract agent.
If a successful remarketing has not occurred on or prior to
June 26, 2013 (the last day of the final remarketing
period), we will cause a notice of the failed remarketing of the
notes to be published before 9:00 a.m., New York City time,
on the business day immediately following the last date of the
final remarketing period. This notice will be validly published
by making a timely release to any appropriate news agency,
including Bloomberg Business News and the Dow Jones News Service.
Early
Settlement
Subject to the conditions described below, a holder of Corporate
Units or Treasury Units may settle the related purchase
contracts at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the second business day immediately preceding the
purchase contract settlement date, other than during a blackout
period in the case of Corporate Units. Such early settlement may
only be made in integral multiples of 20 purchase contracts. If
the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a component of
the Corporate Units, holders of Corporate Units may settle early
only in integral multiples
of
Corporate Units prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the second business day immediately preceding the purchase
contract settlement date. In order to settle purchase contracts
early, a holder of Equity Units must deliver to the purchase
contract agent (1) a completed Election to Settle
Early form, along with the Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit
certificate, if they are in certificated form and (2) a
cash payment in immediately available funds in an amount equal
to:
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$50 times the number of purchase contracts being settled; plus
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if the delivery is made with respect to any purchase contract
during the period from the close of business on any record date
next preceding any payment date to the opening of business on
such payment date, an amount equal to the contract adjustment
payments payable on the payment date with respect to the
purchase contracts being settled, unless we have elected to
defer the contract adjustment payments payable on such date.
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So long as you hold Equity Units as a beneficial interest in a
global security certificate deposited with the depositary,
procedures for early settlement will also be governed by
standing arrangements between the depositary and the purchase
contract agent.
The early settlement right is also subject to the condition
that, if required under U.S. federal securities laws, we
have a registration statement under the Securities Act in effect
and an available prospectus covering the shares of common stock
and other securities, if any, deliverable upon settlement of a
purchase contract. We have agreed that, if required under
U.S. federal securities laws, we will use our commercially
reasonable efforts to (1) have a registration statement in
effect covering those shares of common stock and other
securities, if any, to be delivered in respect of the purchase
contracts being settled and (2) provide a prospectus in
connection therewith, in each case in a form that may be used in
connection with the early settlement right (it being understood
that if there is a material business transaction or development
that has not yet been publicly disclosed, we will not be
required to provide such a prospectus, and the early settlement
right will not be available, until we have publicly disclosed
such transaction or development; provided that we will use our
commercially reasonable efforts to make such disclosure as soon
as it is commercially reasonable to do so).
Upon early settlement, except as described below in Early
Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change, we will sell, and
the holder will be entitled to buy, the minimum settlement rate
of shares of our common stock for
each purchase contract being settled (regardless of the market
price of our common stock on the date of early settlement),
subject to adjustment under the circumstances described under
Anti-dilution Adjustments below. We will
cause (1) the shares of our common stock to be issued and
(2) the related notes or applicable ownership interests in
S-49
the Treasury portfolio or Treasury securities, as the case may
be, underlying the Equity Units and securing such purchase
contracts to be released from the pledge under the purchase
contract and pledge agreement, and delivered within three
business days following the early settlement date, in each case
to the purchase contract agent for delivery to the holder. Upon
early settlement, the holder will be entitled to receive any
accrued and unpaid contract adjustment payments (including any
accrued and unpaid deferred contract adjustment payments and
compounded contract adjustment payments thereon) to, but
excluding, the quarterly payment date immediately preceding the
early settlement date. The holders right to receive future
contract adjustment payments will terminate, and no adjustment
will be made to or for the holder on account of any amounts
accrued in respect of contract adjustment payments since the
most recent quarterly payment date.
If the purchase contract agent receives a completed
Election to Settle Early form, along with the
Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate, if they are in
certificated form, and payment of $50 for each purchase contract
being settled prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
any business day and all conditions to early settlement have
been satisfied, then that day will be considered the early
settlement date. If the purchase contract agent receives the
foregoing on or after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any
business day or at any time on a day that is not a business day,
then the next business day will be considered the early
settlement date.
Early
Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change
If a fundamental change occurs (as defined below)
prior to the purchase contract settlement date, then, following
the fundamental change, each holder of a purchase contract will
have the right to accelerate and settle such contract early at
the settlement rate determined as if the applicable market value
equaled the stock price (as defined below), plus an additional
make-whole amount of shares (such additional make-whole amount
of shares being hereafter referred to as the make-whole
shares). We refer to this right as the fundamental
change early settlement right.
We will provide each of the holders with a notice of the
completion of a fundamental change within five business days
thereof. The notice will specify an early settlement date, which
shall be at least 10 days after the date of the notice but
no later than the earlier of 20 days after the date of such
notice and two business days prior to the first day of the
commencement of the optional remarketing period, or, if we do
not elect to conduct an optional remarketing or the optional
remarketing is not successful, the commencement of the final
remarketing period or, if the final remarketing is not
successful, the purchase contract settlement date, by which each
holders fundamental change early settlement right must be
exercised. The notice will set forth, among other things, the
applicable settlement rate and the amount of the cash,
securities and other consideration receivable by the holder upon
settlement. To exercise the fundamental change early settlement
right, you must deliver to the purchase contract agent, no later
than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business
day before the early settlement date, the certificate evidencing
your Corporate Units or Treasury Units if they are held in
certificated form, and payment of the applicable purchase price
in immediately available funds less the amount of any accrued
and unpaid contract adjustment payments (including any deferred
contract adjustment payments and compounded contract adjustment
payments thereon) to, but excluding, the early settlement date.
A fundamental change will be deemed to have occurred
if any of the following occurs:
(1) a person or group within the
meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act has become the
direct or indirect beneficial owner, as defined in
Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act, of our common equity representing more
than 50% of the voting power of our common equity;
(2) we are involved in a consolidation with or merger into
any other person, or any merger of another person into us, or
any other similar transaction or a series of related
transactions pursuant to which our common stock will be
converted into cash, securities or other property or we sell,
lease or transfer in one transaction or series of related
transactions all or substantially all of the property and assets
of us and our subsidiaries;
(3) our common stock (or any other security to be delivered
upon settlement of the purchase contracts following a
reorganization event, as defined below under
Reorganization Events) ceases to be
listed or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ
Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market; or
(4) our shareholders vote for our liquidation, dissolution
or termination.
S-50
provided, however, that a fundamental change will
not be deemed to have occurred if at least 90% of the
consideration received by holders of our common stock in the
transaction or transactions consist of shares of common stock
that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ
Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market.
If you exercise the fundamental change early settlement right,
we will deliver to you on the early settlement date the kind and
amount of securities, cash or other property that you would have
been entitled to receive if you had settled the purchase
contract immediately before the fundamental change and received
shares of our common stock at the settlement rate described
above, plus the additional make-whole shares. You will also
receive the notes, applicable ownership interest in the Treasury
portfolio or Treasury securities underlying the Corporate Units
or Treasury Units, as the case may be. If you do not elect to
exercise your fundamental change early settlement right, your
Corporate Units or Treasury Units will remain outstanding and
subject to normal settlement on the settlement date.
We have agreed that, if required under the U.S. federal
securities laws, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts
to (1) have in effect a registration statement covering the
common stock and other securities, if any, to be delivered in
respect of the purchase contracts being settled and
(2) provide a prospectus in connection therewith, in each
case in a form that may be used in connection with the early
settlement upon a fundamental change. In the event that a holder
seeks to exercise its fundamental change early settlement right
and a registration statement is required to be effective in
connection with the exercise of such right but no such
registration statement is then effective, the holders
exercise of such right shall be void unless and until such a
registration statement shall be effective and we will have no
further obligation with respect to any such registration
statement if, notwithstanding using our commercially reasonable
efforts, no registration statement is then effective.
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units, holders of Corporate Units may
exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in
integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. If the Treasury
portfolio has replaced the notes as a component of Corporate
Units, holders of the Corporate Units may exercise the
fundamental change early settlement right only in integral
multiples
of
Corporate Units.
A holder of Treasury Units may exercise the fundamental change
early settlement right only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury
Units.
Calculation of Make-Whole Shares. The number
of make-whole shares per purchase contract applicable to a
fundamental change early settlement will be determined by
reference to the table below, based on the date on which the
fundamental change occurs or becomes effective (the
effective date) and the stock price in
the fundamental change, which will be:
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in the case of a fundamental change described in clause (2)
above and the holders of our common stock receive only cash in
the fundamental change, the stock price shall be the cash amount
paid per share;
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otherwise, the stock price shall be the average of the closing
prices of our common stock over the 20
trading-day
period ending on the trading day preceding the effective date of
the fundamental change.
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Stock Price on Effective Date
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Effective Date
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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, 2010
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July 1, 2011
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July 1, 2012
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July 1, 2013
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The stock prices set forth in the second row of the table
(i.e., the column headers) will be adjusted upon the
occurrence of certain events requiring anti-dilution adjustments
to the fixed settlement rates.
S-51
Each of the make-whole share amounts in the table will be
subject to adjustment in the same manner as the fixed settlement
rates as set forth under Anti-dilution
Adjustments.
The exact stock price and effective date applicable to a
fundamental change may not be set forth on the table, in which
case:
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if the stock price is between two stock price amounts on the
table or the effective date is between two dates on the table,
the amount of make-whole shares will be determined by straight
line interpolation between the make-whole share amounts set
forth for the higher and lower stock price amounts and the two
dates, as applicable, based on a
365-day year;
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if the stock price is in excess of
$ per share (subject to adjustment
as described above), then the make-whole share amount will be
zero; and
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if the stock price is less than $
per share (subject to adjustment as described above) (the
minimum stock price), then the make-whole share
amount will be determined as if the stock price equaled the
minimum stock price, using straight line interpolation, as
described above, if the effective date is between two dates on
the table.
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Notice to
Settle with Cash
Unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units, a holder of Corporate Units
may settle the related purchase contract with separate cash by
delivering the Corporate Unit certificate, if in certificated
form, at the offices of the purchase contract agent with the
completed Notice to Settle with Cash form prior to
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day
immediately preceding the first day of the final remarketing
period or, if there has been a failed remarketing, on the second
business day immediately preceding the purchase contract
settlement date. Holders of Corporate Units may only cash-settle
purchase contracts in integral multiples of 20 purchase
contracts.
The holder must also deliver to the collateral agent the
required cash payment in immediately available funds. Such
payment must be delivered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the first business day immediately preceding the first
day of the final remarketing period or, if there has been a
failed remarketing, on the first business day immediately
preceding the purchase contract settlement date.
Upon receipt of the cash payment, the related note will be
released from the pledge arrangement and transferred to the
purchase contract agent for distribution to the holder of the
related Corporate Units. The holder of the Corporate Units will
then receive the applicable number of shares of our common stock
on the purchase contract settlement date.
If a holder of Corporate Units that has given notice of its
intention to settle with cash fails to deliver the cash by the
applicable time and date specified above, the notes underlying
such holders Corporate Units will automatically be
remarketed, or if there is a failed remarketing such notes will
be put to us, as described under
Remarketing above.
Any cash received by the collateral agent upon cash settlement
will be invested promptly in permitted investments, as defined
in the purchase contract and pledge agreement, and paid to us on
the purchase contract settlement date. Any funds received by the
collateral agent in respect of the investment earnings from such
investments will be distributed to the purchase contract agent
for payment to the holders who settled with cash.
Contract
Adjustment Payments
Contract adjustment payments in respect of Corporate Units and
Treasury Units will be fixed at a rate per year
of % of the stated amount of $50
per purchase contract. Contract adjustment payments payable for
any period will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year
of twelve
30-day
months. Contract adjustment payments will accrue from the date
of issuance of the purchase contracts and will be payable
quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and
October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2010.
S-52
Contract adjustment payments will be payable to the holders of
purchase contracts as they appear on the books and records of
the purchase contract agent at the close of business on the
relevant record dates, which will be on the 15th day of the
month preceding the month in which the relevant payment date
falls (whether or not a business day). These distributions will
be paid through the purchase contract agent, who will hold
amounts received in respect of the contract adjustment payments
for the benefit of the holders of the purchase contracts
relating to the Equity Units. Subject to any applicable laws and
regulations, each such payment will be made as described under
Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge
Agreement Book-Entry System.
If any date on which contract adjustment payments are to be made
on the purchase contracts related to the Corporate Units or
Treasury Units is not a business day, then payment of the
contract adjustment payments payable on that date will be made
on the next succeeding day that is a business day, and no
interest or payment will be paid in respect of the delay.
Our obligations with respect to contract adjustment payments
will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to our
obligations under any of our Senior Indebtedness.
We may, at our option and upon prior written notice to the
holders of the Equity Units and the purchase contract agent,
defer the payment of contract adjustment payments on the related
purchase contracts forming a part of the Equity Units until the
purchase contract settlement date; provided, however,
that in (x) an early settlement upon a fundamental change,
we will pay deferred contract adjustment payments (including
compounded contract adjustment payments thereon as described
below) to, but excluding, the early settlement date and
(y) an early settlement other than upon a fundamental
change, we will pay deferred contract adjustment payments
(including compounded contract adjustment payments thereon as
described below) to, but excluding, the quarterly payment date
immediately preceding the early settlement date.
Deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional
contract adjustment payments at the rate of% per year until
paid, compounded quarterly, which is equal to the rate of total
distributions on the Corporate Units (compounding on each
succeeding payment date), to, but excluding, the payment date.
We refer to additional contract adjustment payments that accrue
on deferred contract adjustment payments as compounded
contract adjustment payments. We may pay any such deferred
contract adjustment payments (including compounded contract
adjustment payments thereon) on any scheduled contract
adjustment payment date. If the purchase contracts are
terminated (upon the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization with respect to us), the right to
receive contract adjustment payments and deferred contract
adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment
payments thereon) will also terminate.
If we exercise our option to defer the payment of contract
adjustment payments, then, until the deferred contract
adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment
payments thereon) have been paid, we will not declare or pay any
dividends or make any distributions on, or redeem, purchase or
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
shares of our capital stock.
The restrictions listed above do not apply to:
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any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of shares of our
capital stock in connection with (1) any employment
contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for
the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors,
consultants or independent contractors or (2) a dividend
reinvestment or stockholder purchase plan;
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any exchange, redemption or conversion of any class or series of
our capital stock, or the capital stock of one of our
subsidiaries, for any other class or series of our capital stock;
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any exchange, redemption or conversion of any class or series of
our indebtedness for any class or series of our capital stock;
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any purchase of, or payment of cash in lieu of, fractional
interests in shares of our capital stock pursuant to the
conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
securities being converted or exchanged;
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any declaration of a dividend in connection with the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto; and
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S-53
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any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other
rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise
of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with
or junior to such stock.
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Anti-dilution
Adjustments
Each fixed settlement rate will be subject to the following
adjustments:
(1) Stock Dividends. If we pay or make a
dividend or other distribution on our common stock in common
stock, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of
business on the day following the date fixed for the
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend
or other distribution shall be increased by dividing:
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each fixed settlement rate by
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a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of our common stock outstanding at the close of business on the
date fixed for such determination and the denominator shall be
the sum of such number of shares and the total number of shares
constituting such dividend or other distribution.
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(2) Stock Purchase Rights. If we issue to
all holders of our common stock rights, options or warrants,
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of our common
stock for a period expiring within 45 days from the date of
issuance of such rights, options or warrants at a price per
share of our common stock less than the current market price on
the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive such rights, options or warrants (other than pursuant to
a dividend reinvestment, share purchase or similar plan), each
fixed settlement rate in effect at the opening of business on
the day following the date fixed for such determination shall be
increased by dividing:
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each fixed settlement rate by
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a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of our common stock outstanding at the close of business on the
date fixed for such determination plus the number of shares of
our common stock which the aggregate consideration expected to
be received by us upon the exercise of such rights, options or
warrants would purchase at such current market price and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of our common
stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for
such determination plus the number of shares of our common stock
so offered for subscription or purchase, either directly or
indirectly.
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(3) Stock Splits; Reverse Splits; and
Combinations. If outstanding shares of our common
stock shall be subdivided, split or reclassified into a greater
number of shares of common stock, each fixed settlement rate in
effect at the opening of business on the day following the day
upon which such subdivision, split or reclassification becomes
effective shall be proportionately increased, and, conversely,
in case outstanding shares of our common stock shall each be
combined or reclassified into a smaller number of shares of
common stock, each fixed settlement rate in effect at the
opening of business on the day following the day upon which such
combination or reclassification becomes effective shall be
proportionately reduced.
(4) Debt, Asset or Security
Distributions. If we, by dividend or otherwise,
distribute to all holders of our common stock evidences of our
indebtedness, assets or securities (but excluding any rights,
options or warrants referred to in paragraph (2) above, any
dividend or distribution paid exclusively in cash referred to in
paragraph (5) below and any dividend, shares of capital
stock of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or
relating to a subsidiary or other business unit in the case of a
spin-off referred to below, or dividend or distribution referred
to in paragraph (1) above), each fixed settlement rate in
effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date
fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive
such distribution shall be increased by dividing:
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each fixed settlement rate by
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a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market
price on the date fixed for such determination less the then
fair market value (as determined in good faith by our board of
directors,
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S-54
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whose good faith determination will be conclusive) of the
portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so
distributed applicable to one share of our common stock and the
denominator of which shall be such current market price.
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In the case of the payment of a dividend or other distribution
on our common stock of shares of capital stock of any class or
series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a
subsidiary or other business unit of ours, which we refer to as
a spin-off, the fixed settlement rate in effect
immediately before the close of business on the record date
fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive that
distribution will be increased by dividing:
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each fixed settlement rate by
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a fraction, the numerator of which is the current market price
of our common stock and the denominator of which is such current
market price plus the fair market value, determined as described
below, of those shares of capital stock or similar equity
interests so distributed applicable to one share of common stock.
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The adjustment to the fixed settlement rate under the preceding
paragraph will occur on:
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the 10th trading day from and including the effective date
of the spin-off; or
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if the spin-off is effected simultaneously with an initial
public offering of the securities being distributed in the
spin-off, the issue date of the securities being offered in such
initial public offering.
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For purposes of this section, initial public
offering means the first time securities of the same class
or type as the securities being distributed in the spin-off are
offered to the public for cash.
In the event of a spin-off that is not effected simultaneously
with an initial public offering of the securities being
distributed in the spin-off, the fair market value of the
securities to be distributed to holders of our common stock
means the average of the closing sale prices of those securities
over the first 10 trading days following the effective date of
the spin-off. Also, for purposes of such a spin-off, the current
market price of our common stock means the average of the
closing sale prices of our common stock over the first 10
trading days following the effective date of the spin-off.
If, however, an initial public offering of the securities being
distributed in the spin-off is to be effected simultaneously
with the spin-off, the fair market value of the securities being
distributed in the spin-off means the initial public offering
price, while the current market price of our common stock means
the closing sale price of our common stock on the trading day on
which the initial public offering price of the securities being
distributed in the spin-off is determined.
(5) Cash Distributions. If we, by
dividend or otherwise, make distributions to all holders of our
common stock exclusively in cash during any quarterly period
(excluding any cash that is distributed in a reorganization
event to which the provisions described below under
Reorganization Events apply or as part
of a distribution referred to in paragraph (4) above) in an
amount that exceeds $0.35 per share per quarter in the case of a
regular quarterly dividend (such per share amount being referred
to as the reference dividend), immediately after the
close of business on the date fixed for determination of the
stockholders entitled to receive such distribution, each fixed
settlement rate shall be increased by dividing:
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each fixed settlement rate by
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a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the current
market price on the date fixed for such determination less the
amount, if any, by which the per share amount of the
distribution exceeds the reference dividend and the denominator
of which shall be equal to such current market price.
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The reference dividend will be subject to an inversely
proportional adjustment whenever each fixed settlement rate is
adjusted, other than pursuant to this paragraph (5). For the
avoidance of doubt, the reference dividend will be zero in the
case of a cash dividend amount that is not a regular quarterly
dividend.
(6) Tender and Exchange Offers. In the
case that a tender offer or exchange offer made by us or any
subsidiary for all or any portion of our common stock shall
expire and such tender or exchange offer (as
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amended through the expiration thereof) shall require the
payment to stockholders (based on the acceptance (up to any
maximum specified in the terms of the tender offer or exchange
offer) of purchased shares) of an aggregate consideration having
a fair market value per share of our common stock that exceeds
the closing price of our common stock on the trading day next
succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be
made pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer, then,
immediately prior to the opening of business on the day after
the date of the last time (which we refer to as the
expiration time) tenders or exchanges could have
been made pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer (as
amended through the expiration thereof), each fixed settlement
rate shall be increased by dividing:
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each fixed settlement rate immediately prior to the close of
business on the date of the expiration time by
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a fraction (A) the numerator of which shall be equal to
(x) the product of (i) the current market price on the
date of the expiration time and (ii) the number of shares
of common stock outstanding (including any tendered or exchanged
shares) on the date of the expiration time less (y) the
amount of cash plus the fair market value of the aggregate
consideration payable to stockholders pursuant to the tender
offer or exchange offer (assuming the acceptance, up to any
maximum specified in the terms of the tender offer or exchange
offer, of purchased shares), and (B) the denominator of
which shall be equal to the product of (x) the current
market price on the date of the expiration time and (y) the
result of (i) the number of shares of our common stock
outstanding (including any tendered or exchanged shares) on the
date of the expiration time less (ii) the number of all
shares validly tendered, not withdrawn and accepted for payment
on the date of the expiration time (such validly tendered or
exchanged shares, up to any such maximum, being referred to as
the purchased shares).
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The current market price per share of our common
stock or any other security on any day means the average VWAP of
our common stock or such other security for the 10 consecutive
trading days preceding the earlier of the day preceding the day
in question and the day before the ex date with
respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such
computation. For purposes of this paragraph, the term ex
date, when used with respect to any issuance or
distribution, means the first date on which our common stock or
such other security, as applicable, trades, regular way, on the
principal U.S. securities exchange or quotation system on
which our common stock or such other security, as applicable, is
listed or quoted at that time, without the right to receive the
issuance or distribution.
We currently do not have a rights plan with respect to any
common stock. To the extent that we have a rights plan in effect
upon settlement of a purchase contract, you will receive, in
addition to the common stock, the rights under the rights plan,
unless, prior to any settlement of a purchase contract, the
rights have separated from the common stock, in which case each
fixed settlement rate will be adjusted at the time of separation
as if we made a distribution to all holders of our common stock
as described in clause (4) above.
Holders have the right to settle their obligations under the
Equity Units early in the event of certain fundamental changes
as described above under Early Settlement Upon
a Fundamental Change.
You may be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from
us with respect to the purchase contract if (1) the fixed
settlement rates are adjusted (or fail to be adjusted) and, as a
result of the adjustment (or failure to adjust), your
proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits is
increased, and (2) the adjustment (or failure to adjust) is
not made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution
formula. Thus, under certain circumstances, an increase in (or a
failure to decrease) the fixed settlement rates might give rise
to a taxable dividend to you even though you will not receive
any cash in connection with the increase in (or failure to
decrease) the settlement rate. In addition,
non-U.S. holders
(as defined in Certain United States Federal Income and
Estate Tax Consequences) may, in certain circumstances, be
deemed to have received a distribution subject to
U.S. federal withholding tax. See Certain United
States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences
U.S. Holders Purchase Contracts
Constructive Distributions and Dividends and
Non-U.S. Holders
U.S. Federal Withholding Tax.
In addition, we may increase the fixed settlement rates if our
board of directors deems it advisable to avoid or diminish any
income tax to holders of our common stock resulting from any
dividend or distribution of shares (or
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rights to acquire shares) or from any event treated as a
dividend or distribution for income tax purposes or for any
other reasons. We may only make such a discretionary adjustment
if we make the same proportionate adjustment to each fixed
settlement rate.
Adjustments to the fixed settlement rates will be calculated to
the nearest ten thousandth of a share. No adjustment to the
fixed settlement rates will be required unless the adjustment
would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in
one or both fixed settlement rates. If any adjustment is not
required to be made because it would not change one or both
fixed settlement rates by at least one percent, then the
adjustment will be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment, provided that effect shall be given to
all anti-dilution adjustments not later than the close of
business on the business day immediately preceding the first
trading day in the 20 consecutive trading day period during
which the settlement rate or fundamental change early settlement
rate is determined.
No adjustment to the fixed settlement rates need be made if
holders may participate in the transaction that would otherwise
give rise to an adjustment, so long as the distributed assets or
securities the holders would receive upon settlement of the
Equity Units, if convertible, exchangeable, or exercisable, are
convertible, exchangeable or exercisable, as applicable, without
any loss of rights or privileges for a period of at least
45 days following settlement of the Equity Units.
The fixed settlement rates will not be adjusted (subject to our
right to adjust them if our board of directors deems it
advisable as described above):
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upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to
any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of
dividends or interest payable on our securities and the
investment of additional optional amounts in shares of our
common stock under any plan;
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upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock or options
or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or
future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program
of or assumed by us or any of our subsidiaries;
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upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to
any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or
convertible security outstanding as of the date the Equity Units
were first issued;
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for a change in the par value or no par value of the common
stock; or
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for accumulated and unpaid dividends.
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We will be required, as soon as practicable after the fixed
settlement rate is adjusted, to provide written notice of the
adjustment to the holders of Equity Units.
If an adjustment is made to the fixed settlement rates, an
adjustment also will be made to the reference price and the
threshold appreciation price on an inversely proportional basis
solely to determine which of the clauses of the definition of
settlement rate will be applicable to determine the settlement
rate with respect to the purchase contract settlement date or
any fundamental change early settlement date.
Reorganization
Events
The following events are defined as reorganization
events:
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any consolidation or merger of PPL Corporation with or into
another person or of another person with or into PPL
Corporation; or
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any sale, transfer, lease or conveyance to another person of the
property of PPL Corporation as an entirety or substantially as
an entirety; or
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any statutory share exchange of PPL Corporation with another
person (other than in connection with a merger or
acquisition); or
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any liquidation, dissolution or termination of PPL Corporation
(other than as a result of or after the occurrence of a
termination event described below under
Termination).
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Upon a reorganization event, each Equity Unit shall thereafter,
in lieu of a variable number of shares of our common stock, be
settled by delivery of exchange property units. An
exchange property unit represents the right to
receive the kind and amount of common stock, other securities,
other property or assets (including cash or any combination
thereof) receivable in such reorganization event (without any
interest thereon, and without any right to dividends or
distribution thereon which have a record date that is prior to
the applicable settlement date) per share of our common stock by
a holder of common stock that is not a person with which we are
consolidated or into which we are merged or which merged into us
or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be
(we refer to any such person as a constituent
person), or an affiliate of a constituent person to the
extent such reorganization event provides for different
treatment of common stock held by our affiliates and
non-affiliates. In the event holders of our common stock have
the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be
received in such transaction, the exchange property unit that
holders of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units are entitled to
receive will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types
and amounts of consideration received by the holders of our
common stock that affirmatively make an election.
In the event of such a reorganization event, the person formed
by such consolidation or merger or the person which acquires our
assets shall execute and deliver to the purchase contract agent
an agreement providing that the holder of each Equity Unit that
remains outstanding after the reorganization event (if any)
shall have the rights described in the preceding paragraph. Such
supplemental agreement shall provide for adjustments to the
amount of any securities constituting all or a portion of an
exchange property unit which, for events subsequent to the
effective date of such reorganization event, shall be as nearly
equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for
under Anti-dilution Adjustments above.
The provisions described in the preceding two paragraphs shall
similarly apply to successive reorganization events.
Termination
The purchase contract and pledge agreement provides that the
purchase contracts and the obligations and rights of us and of
the holders of Corporate Units and Treasury Units thereunder
(including the holders obligation and right to purchase
and receive shares of our common stock and to receive accrued
and unpaid (including deferred) contract adjustment payments)
will immediately and automatically terminate upon the occurrence
of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization
with respect to PPL Corporation.
Upon any termination, the collateral agent will release the
related interests in the notes, applicable ownership interests
in the Treasury portfolio, or Treasury securities, as the case
may be, from the pledge arrangement and transfer such interests
in the notes, applicable ownership interests in the Treasury
portfolio, or Treasury securities to the purchase contract agent
for distribution to the holders of Corporate Units and Treasury
Units. If a holder would otherwise have been entitled to receive
less than $1,000 principal amount at maturity of any Treasury
security upon termination of the purchase contract, the purchase
contract agent will dispose of the security for cash and pay the
cash to the holder. Upon any termination, however, such release
and distribution may be subject to a delay. In the event that
PPL Corporation becomes the subject of a case under the
U.S. Bankruptcy Code, such delay may occur as a result of
the automatic stay under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and
continue until such automatic stay has been lifted. We expect
any such delay to be limited. Moreover, claims arising out of
the notes will be subject to the equitable jurisdiction and
powers of the bankruptcy court. For example, although we do not
believe such an argument would prevail, following the
termination of the purchase contracts, a party in interest in
the bankruptcy proceeding might argue that the holders of notes
should be treated as equity holders, rather than creditors, in
the bankruptcy proceeding.
Pledged
Securities and Pledge
The undivided beneficial ownership interests in the notes, or,
following a successful optional remarketing, the applicable
ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio, that are a
component of the Corporate Units or, if substituted, the
beneficial ownership interest in the Treasury securities that
are a component of the Treasury Units, collectively, the
pledged securities, will be pledged to the
collateral agent for our benefit pursuant to the purchase
contract and pledge agreement to secure your obligation to
purchase shares of our common stock under the related purchase
contracts. The rights of the holders of the Corporate Units and
Treasury Units with respect to such pledged securities will be
subject to our security interest therein. No holder of Corporate
Units or Treasury Units will be
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permitted to withdraw the pledged securities related to such
Corporate Units or Treasury Units from the pledge arrangement
except:
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in the case of Corporate Units, to substitute a Treasury
security for the related note, as provided under
Description of the Equity Units Creating
Treasury Units by Substituting a Treasury Security for a
Note;
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in the case of Treasury Units, to substitute a note for the
related Treasury security, as provided under Description
of the Equity Units Recreating Corporate
Units; and
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upon early settlement, cash settlement or termination of the
related purchase contracts.
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Subject to our security interest and the terms of the purchase
contract and pledge agreement, each holder of Corporate Units,
unless the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes as a
component of the Corporate Units, will be entitled through the
purchase contract agent and the collateral agent to all of the
proportional rights and preferences of the related notes
(including distribution, voting, redemption, repayment and
liquidation rights). Each holder of Treasury Units and each
holder of Corporate Units, if the Treasury portfolio has
replaced the notes as a component of the Corporate Units, will
retain beneficial ownership of the related Treasury securities
or the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio,
as applicable, pledged in respect of the related purchase
contracts. We will have no interest in the pledged securities
other than our security interest.
Except as described in Certain Provisions of the Purchase
Contract and Pledge Agreement General, upon
receipt of distributions on the pledged securities, the
collateral agent will distribute such payments to the purchase
contract agent, which in turn will distribute those payments to
the holders in whose names the Corporate Units or Treasury Units
are registered at the close of business on the record date
preceding the date of such distribution.
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CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AND PLEDGE
AGREEMENT
This summary summarizes some of the other provisions of the
purchase contract and pledge agreement. This summary should be
read together with the purchase contract and pledge agreement, a
form of which has been or will be filed and incorporated by
reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form
a part.
General
Except as described under Book-Entry
System below, payments on the Corporate Units and Treasury
Units will be payable, the purchase contracts will be settled
and transfers of the Corporate Units and Treasury Units will be
registrable at the office of the purchase contract agent in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. In addition, if the
Corporate Units or Treasury Units do not remain in book-entry
form, we have the option to make payments on the Corporate Units
and Treasury Units by check mailed to the address of the person
entitled thereto as shown on the security register or by a wire
transfer to the account designated by the holder by a prior
written notice.
Shares of common stock will be delivered on the purchase
contract settlement date (or earlier upon early settlement), or,
if the purchase contracts have terminated, the related pledged
securities will be delivered (potentially after a delay as a
result of the imposition of the automatic stay under the
Bankruptcy Code; see Description of the Purchase
Contracts Termination) at the office of the
purchase contract agent upon presentation and surrender of the
applicable Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate, if in
certificated form.
If Corporate Units or Treasury Units are in certificated form
and the holder fails to present and surrender the certificate
evidencing the Corporate Units or Treasury Units to the purchase
contract agent on or prior to the purchase contract settlement
date, the shares of common stock issuable upon settlement of the
related purchase contract will be registered in the name of the
purchase contract agent or its nominee. The shares, together
with any distributions, will be held by the purchase contract
agent as agent for the benefit of the holder until the
certificate is presented and surrendered or the holder provides
satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed,
lost or stolen, together with any indemnity that may be required
by the purchase contract agent and us.
If the purchase contracts terminate prior to the purchase
contract settlement date, the related pledged securities are
transferred to the purchase contract agent for distribution to
the holders, and a holder fails to present and surrender the
certificate evidencing the holders Corporate Units or
Treasury Units, if in certificated form, to the purchase
contract agent, the related pledged securities delivered to the
purchase contract agent and payments on the pledged securities
will be held by the purchase contract agent as agent for the
benefit of the holder until the applicable certificate is
presented, if in certificated form, or the holder provides the
evidence and indemnity described above.
No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer
or exchange of the Corporate Units or Treasury Units, except for
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection therewith.
The purchase contract agent will have no obligation to invest or
to pay interest on any amounts held by the purchase contract
agent pending payment to any holder.
We intend to use the proceeds from the settlement of the
purchase contracts to repay debt as soon as practicable
following such settlement. We have agreed not to use such
proceeds to repurchase shares of our common stock.
Modification
The purchase contract and pledge agreement will contain
provisions permitting us, the purchase contract agent and the
collateral agent, to modify the purchase contract and pledge
agreement without the consent of the holders for any of the
following purposes:
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to evidence the succession of another person to our obligations;
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to add to the covenants for the benefit of holders or to
surrender any of our rights or powers under the agreement;
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a
successor purchase contract agent or a successor collateral
agent or securities intermediary;
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to make provision with respect to the rights of holders pursuant
to the requirements applicable to reorganization events; and
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to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provisions
that may be inconsistent with any other provision or to make
such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising
under the purchase contract and pledge agreement that do not
adversely affect the interests of any holders of Equity Units;
provided that any amendment made solely to conform the
provisions of the purchase contract and pledge agreement to the
description of the Equity Units and the purchase contracts
contained in this prospectus supplement will not be deemed to
adversely affect the interests of the holders.
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The purchase contract and pledge agreement will contain
provisions preventing us, the purchase contract agent and the
collateral agent, subject to certain limited exceptions, from
modifying the terms of the purchase contracts and the purchase
contract and pledge agreement without the consent of the holders
of not less than a majority of the outstanding purchase
contracts. However, no such modification may, without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding purchase contract
affected thereby:
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subject to our right to defer contract adjustment payments,
change any payment date;
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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of a
purchase contract or payment of any contract adjustment payments;
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except as required pursuant to any anti-dilution adjustment,
reduce the number of shares of our common stock purchasable
under a purchase contract, increase the purchase price of the
shares of our common stock on settlement of any purchase
contract, change the purchase contract settlement date or change
the right to early settlement or fundamental change early
settlement in a manner adverse to the holders or otherwise
adversely affect the holders rights under the purchase
contract and pledge agreement or remarketing agreement in any
material respect;
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change the amount or type of collateral required to be pledged
to secure a holders obligations under the purchase
contract and pledge agreement, impair the right of the holder of
any purchase contract to receive distributions on such
collateral, or otherwise adversely affect the holders
rights in or to such collateral;
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reduce any contract adjustment payments or any deferred contract
adjustment payments (including compounded contract adjustment
payments) or change any place where, or the coin or currency in
which, any contract adjustment payment is payable; or
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reduce the above stated percentage of outstanding purchase
contracts whose holders consent is required for the
modification or amendment of the provisions of the purchase
contracts and the purchase contract and pledge agreement,
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provided that if any amendment or proposal would adversely
affect only the Corporate Units or only the Treasury Units, then
only the affected voting group of holders will be entitled to
vote on such amendment or proposal, and such amendment or
proposal will not be effective except with the consent of the
holders of not less than a majority of such voting group or, if
referred to in the six bullets above, each holder affected
thereby.
No
Consent to Assumption
Each holder of a Corporate Unit or a Treasury Unit will be
deemed under the terms of the purchase contract and pledge
agreement, by the purchase of such Corporate Unit or Treasury
Unit, to have expressly withheld any consent to the assumption
(i.e., affirmance) of the related purchase contracts by
us, our receiver, liquidator or trustee in the event that PPL
Corporation becomes the subject of a case under the
U.S. Bankruptcy Code or other similar state or federal law
providing for reorganization or liquidation.
Consolidation,
Merger and Conveyance of Assets as an Entirety
We will covenant in the purchase contract and pledge agreement
that we will not merge or consolidate with or convert into any
entity or sell, convey, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of
all or substantially all of our assets unless:
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the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is a
corporation or limited liability company organized and existing
under the laws of a United States jurisdiction and expressly
assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the
purchase contracts, the purchase contract and pledge agreement,
the remarketing agreement and the indenture (including any
supplement thereto), including the payment of all amounts due
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on the notes and the subordinated guarantee and performance of
the covenants in the indenture (including any supplement
thereto), by one or more supplemental agreements in form
reasonably satisfactory to the purchase contract agent and the
collateral agent; and
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immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the
transaction, no event of default or event which, after notice or
lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under
the indenture (including any supplement thereto) exists and we
are not, or such successor entity is not, in default of payment
obligations under the purchase contracts, the purchase contract
and pledge agreement or the remarketing agreement or in material
default in the performance of any other obligations thereunder.
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In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance
(other than by way of lease), transfer, assignment or other
disposition, and upon any such assumption by the successor
corporation or limited liability company, such successor
corporation or limited liability company shall succeed to and be
substituted for us, with the same effect as if it had been named
in the purchase contract and pledge agreement as us and we shall
be relieved of any further obligation under the purchase
contract and pledge agreement and under the Corporate Units and
Treasury Units.
Title
We, the purchase contract agent and the collateral agent may
treat the registered owner of any Corporate Units or Treasury
Units as the absolute owner of the Corporate Units or Treasury
Units for the purpose of making payment (subject to the record
date provisions described above), settling the related purchase
contracts and for all other purposes.
Replacement
of Equity Unit Certificates
In the event that physical certificates have been issued, any
mutilated Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate will be
replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon surrender of
the certificate to the purchase contract agent. Corporate Unit
or Treasury Unit certificates that become destroyed, lost or
stolen will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon
delivery to us and the purchase contract agent of evidence of
their destruction, loss or theft satisfactory to us and the
purchase contract agent. In the case of a destroyed, lost or
stolen Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate, an indemnity
satisfactory to the purchase contract agent and us may be
required at the expense of the holder before a replacement
certificate will be issued.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not be obligated to issue
any Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificates on or after the
business day immediately preceding the earliest of any early
settlement date, any fundamental change early settlement date,
the purchase contract settlement date or the date on which the
purchase contracts have terminated. The purchase contract and
pledge agreement will provide that, in lieu of the delivery of a
replacement Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificate
following any of these dates, the purchase contract agent, upon
delivery of the evidence and indemnity described above, will
deliver the shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the
purchase contracts included in the Corporate Units or Treasury
Units evidenced by the certificate, or, if the purchase
contracts have terminated prior to the purchase contract
settlement date, transfer the pledged securities included in the
Corporate Units or Treasury Units evidenced by the certificate.
Governing
Law
The purchase contracts and the purchase contract and pledge
agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of New York.
Information
Concerning the Purchase Contract Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon will be the purchase contract agent.
The purchase contract agent will act as the agent for the
holders of Corporate Units and Treasury Units. The purchase
contract agent will not be obligated to take any discretionary
action in connection with a default under the terms of the
Corporate Units, the Treasury Units or the purchase contract and
pledge agreement.
The purchase contract and pledge agreement will contain
provisions limiting the liability of the purchase contract
agent. The purchase contract and pledge agreement also will
contain provisions under which the purchase contract agent may
resign or be replaced. Such resignation or replacement will be
effective upon the appointment of a successor.
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Information
Concerning the Collateral Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon will be the collateral agent. The
collateral agent will act solely as our agent and will not
assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or
with any of the holders of the Corporate Units and the Treasury
Units except for the obligations owed by a pledgee of property
to the owner thereof under the purchase contract and pledge
agreement and applicable law.
The purchase contract and pledge agreement will contain
provisions limiting the liability of the collateral agent. The
purchase contract and pledge agreement also will contain
provisions under which the collateral agent may resign or be
replaced. Such resignation or replacement will be effective upon
the appointment of a successor.
Miscellaneous
The purchase contract and pledge agreement will provide that we
will pay all fees and expenses related to (1) the retention
of the collateral agent and (2) any enforcement by the
purchase contract agent of the rights of the holders of the
Corporate Units and Treasury Units. Holders who elect to
substitute the related pledged securities, thereby creating
Treasury Units or recreating Corporate Units, however, will be
responsible for any fees or expenses payable in connection with
such substitution, as well as for any commissions, fees or other
expenses incurred in acquiring the pledged securities to be
substituted. We will not be responsible for any such fees or
expenses.
Book-Entry
System
The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, which we refer to
along with its successors in this capacity as the
depositary, will act as securities depositary for
the Corporate Units and Treasury Units. The Corporate Units and
Treasury Units will be issued only as fully registered
securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., the
depositarys nominee, or such other name as may be
requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One or more
fully registered global security certificates, representing the
total aggregate number of Corporate Units and Treasury Units,
will be issued and will be deposited with the depositary or its
custodian and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on
exchanges and registration of transfer referred to below.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers
of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive
form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial
interests in the Corporate Units and Treasury Units so long as
the Corporate Units and Treasury Units are represented by global
security certificates.
DTC advises that it 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 Exchange
Act. The depositary holds securities that its participants
(direct participants) deposit with the depositary.
The depositary 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 participants
accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
securities certificates. Direct participants include
U.S. and
Non-U.S. securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. The depositary is
a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust &
Clearing Corporation (DTCC). DTCC is the holding
company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation, and
Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered
clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated
subsidiaries. Access to the depositarys system is also
available to others, including securities brokers and dealers,
banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear
transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a
direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules
applicable to the depositary and its participants are on file
with the SEC.
We will issue the Corporate Units and Treasury Units in
definitive certificated form if the depositary notifies us that
it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or the
depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by us
within 90 days of our receipt of such notice or our
becoming aware of such cessation. In addition, beneficial
interests in a global security certificate may be exchanged for
definitive certificated Corporate Units or Treasury Units upon
request by or on behalf of the depositary in accordance with
customary procedures following the request of a beneficial owner
seeking to exercise or enforce its rights under such Corporate
Units or Treasury Units. If we determine at any time that the
Corporate Units or Treasury Units shall no longer be represented
by global security certificates, we will inform the depositary
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of such determination. The depositary will, in turn, notify
direct participants of their right to withdraw this beneficial
interest from the global security certificates. If such direct
participants elect to withdraw their beneficial interests, we
will issue certificates in definitive form in exchange for such
beneficial interests in the global security certificates. Any
global Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit, or portion thereof, that
is exchangeable pursuant to this paragraph will be exchangeable
for Corporate Unit or Treasury Unit certificates, as the case
may be, registered in the names directed by the depositary. We
expect that these instructions will be based upon directions
received by the depositary from its participants with respect to
ownership of beneficial interests in the global security
certificates.
As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered owner
of the global security certificates, the depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner
and holder of the global security certificates and all Corporate
Units and Treasury Units represented by these certificates for
all purposes under the Corporate Units, Treasury Units and the
purchase contract and pledge agreement. Except in the limited
circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests
in global security certificates:
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will not be entitled to have the Corporate Units or the Treasury
Units represented by these global security certificates
registered in their names, and
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will not be considered to be owners or holders of the global
security certificates or any Corporate Units or Treasury Units
represented by these certificates for any purpose under the
Corporate Units, Treasury Units or the purchase contract and
pledge agreement.
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All payments on the Corporate Units and Treasury Units
represented by the global security certificates and all
transfers and deliveries of related notes, Treasury securities
and common stock will be made to the depositary or its nominee,
as the case may be, as the holder of the securities.
Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security
certificates will be limited to participants or persons that may
hold beneficial interests through institutions that have
accounts with the depositary or its nominee. Ownership of
beneficial interests in global security certificates will be
shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests
will be effected only through, records maintained by the
depositary or its nominee, with respect to participants
interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of
persons held by the participant on their behalf. Procedures for
settlement of purchase contracts on the purchase contract
settlement date, or upon early settlement will be governed by
arrangements among the depositary, participants and persons that
may hold beneficial interests through participants designed to
permit settlement without the physical movement of certificates.
Payments, transfers, deliveries, exchanges and other matters
relating to beneficial interests in global security certificates
may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the
depositary from time to time. None of us, the purchase contract
agent or any agent of us or the purchase contract agent will
have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
depositarys or any participants records relating to,
or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in
global security certificates, or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any of the depositarys records or any
participants records relating to these beneficial
ownership interests.
Although the depositary has agreed to the foregoing procedures
in order to facilitate transfers of interest in the global
security certificates among participants, the depositary is
under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these
procedures, and these procedures may be discontinued at any
time. We will not have any responsibility for the performance by
the depositary or its direct participants or indirect
participants under the rules and procedures governing the
depositary.
The information in this section concerning the depositary and
its book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we
believe to be reliable, but we have not attempted to verify the
accuracy of this information.
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DESCRIPTION
OF THE NOTES
The following summary description sets forth certain terms
and provisions of the% junior subordinated notes due 2018 (the
notes), and to the extent inconsistent therewith
replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of
the notes set forth in the accompanying prospectus, to which we
refer you. Because this description is a summary, it does not
describe every aspect of the notes and should be read together
with the subordinated indenture dated as of March 1, 2007
(the subordinated indenture) among us, PPL Capital
Funding, Inc. (PPL Capital Funding) and The Bank of
New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as
trustee (the trustee) under which the notes will be
issued, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture (the
supplemental indenture) establishing the terms of
the notes. The form of supplemental indenture is filed, and
incorporated by reference, as an exhibit to the registration
statement of which this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus are a part. In this summary, we refer to
the subordinated indenture and the supplemental indenture,
together, as the indenture.
The indenture and its associated documents contain the full
legal text of the matters described in this section. This
summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference
to all of the provisions of the notes and the indenture,
including definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. We
also include references in parentheses to certain sections of
the indenture. Whenever we refer to particular sections or
defined terms of the indenture in this prospectus supplement,
such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference
herein. The indenture has been qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act, and you should refer to the
Trust Indenture Act for provisions that apply to the notes.
For the purposes of this summary, the terms we,
our and us refer to PPL Corporation,
Inc. and, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context
otherwise requires, not any of our subsidiaries.
General
PPL Capital Funding will issue the notes as a series of debt
securities under the indenture. PPL Capital Funding may issue an
unlimited amount of other securities under the indenture. The
notes and all other debt securities issued previously or
hereafter under the indenture are collectively referred to
herein as the indenture securities.
The notes will be unsecured and subordinated obligations of PPL
Capital Funding and will be initially subordinated to all of its
Senior Indebtedness (as defined under
Subordination). PPL Capital Funding may
issue additional series of subordinated notes that rank pari
passu with the notes. In connection with a successful final
remarketing, the ranking of the notes will be changed such that
they rank equally with all of PPL Capital Fundings
existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations
unless we make an irrevocable election otherwise, by notice to
the trustee at any time on or prior
to ,
2010 (six months from the date of initial issuance of the
Corporate Units). The notes will be fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by PPL Corporation as to payment of principal and
interest pursuant to subordinated guarantees of PPL Corporation.
The subordinated guarantees will be PPL Corporations
unsecured and subordinated obligations and will be subordinated
to all of PPL Corporations Senior Indebtedness.
The notes will be issued in fully registered form only, without
coupons. Any notes that are issued as separate securities as a
result of the creation of Treasury Units or in connection with
an early settlement, early settlement upon a fundamental change,
a remarketing, a termination or a settlement with separate cash
will be initially represented by one or more fully registered
global securities (the global securities) deposited
with the trustee, as custodian for DTC, as depositary, and
registered in the name of DTC or DTCs nominee. A
beneficial interest in a global security will be shown on, and
transfers or exchanges thereof will be effected only through,
records maintained by DTC and its participants, as described
below under Book-Entry Only
Issuance The Depository Trust Company.
The authorized denominations of the notes will be $1,000 and any
larger amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000; provided,
however, that upon release by the collateral agent of notes
underlying the undivided beneficial ownership interests in the
notes pledged to secure the Corporate Unit holders
obligations under the related purchase contracts (other than any
release of the notes in connection with the creation of Treasury
Units, an early settlement, an early settlement upon a
fundamental change, a settlement with separate cash or a
remarketing, each as described under Description of the
Purchase Contracts), the notes will be issuable in
denominations of $50 principal amount and integral multiples
thereof. Except in limited circumstances described
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below, the notes that are issued as separate securities will not
be exchangeable for notes in definitive certificated form.
Each Corporate Unit includes a 1/20, or 5.0%, undivided
beneficial ownership interest in a $1,000 principal amount note
that corresponds to the stated amount of $50 per Corporate Unit.
The notes will not be subject to a sinking fund provision and
will not be subject to defeasance. The entire principal amount
of the notes will mature and initially become due and payable,
together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon (other
than deferred interest payments and compounded interest thereon
which will be due and payable at the end of the deferral period
as described below under Option to Defer
Interest Payments), on July 1, 2018, unless earlier
redeemed by PPL Capital Funding. As described below under
Put Option upon Failed Remarketing,
holders will have the right to require us to purchase their
notes under certain circumstances. Except as set forth under
Put Option upon Failed Remarketing, and
Dividend and Other Payment Stoppages During
Interest Deferral and Under Certain Other Circumstances,
the indenture and the subordinated guarantee of the notes will
not contain any financial covenants or any restrictions on the
payment of dividends, the making of investments, the incurrence
of indebtedness or the redemption or repurchase of securities by
us or PPL Capital Funding. The indenture and the subordinated
guarantee of the notes do not contain provisions that afford
holders of the notes protection in the event we or PPL Capital
Funding are involved in a highly leveraged transaction or other
similar transaction that may adversely affect such holders. The
indenture and the subordinated guarantee of the notes do not
limit our or PPL Capital Fundings ability to issue or
incur other debt or issue preferred stock.
The notes are initially being offered in one series in the
principal amount of $ . If we issue
additional Equity Units as a result of the underwriters
exercise of their over-allotment option, we may, without the
consent of the holders of the notes, increase the principal
amount of the series and issue more notes of such series having
the same ranking, interest rate, maturity and other terms as the
notes, and up to an additional $
aggregate principal amount of notes will be issued. Any such new
notes, together with the existing notes, will constitute a
single series of securities under the indenture. The existing
notes and any new notes of the same series having the same terms
as the notes offered hereby subsequently issued under the
indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes
under the indenture, including, without limitation, voting
waivers and amendments.
Principal
and Interest
The notes will mature on July 1, 2018 (the stated
maturity date) and will bear interest from the date of
original issuance at the rate of %
per annum. Subject to any deferral as described below under
Option to Defer Interest Payments,
interest will be payable quarterly on January 1,
April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year (each, an
interest payment date), commencing on October 1,
2010, and at maturity (whether at the stated maturity date, upon
redemption, or otherwise). Subject to certain exceptions, the
indenture provides for the payment of interest on an interest
payment date only to persons in whose names the notes are
registered at the close of business on the regular record date,
which will be the March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15 (whether or not a business day), as the case may be,
immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date,
except that interest payable at maturity or upon redemption will
be paid to the person to whom principal is payable. Interest
will be calculated on the basis of a 360- day year of twelve
30-day
months, and with respect to any period less than a full calendar
month, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed during
the period.
If any date on which interest payments are to be made on the
notes is not a business day, then payment of the interest
payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day
that is a business day, and no interest or payment will be paid
in respect of the delay.
The interest rate on each tranche of remarketed notes may be
reset in connection with the remarketing as described below
under Interest Rate Reset. However, if
there is not a successful remarketing of the notes, the interest
rate will not be reset and the notes will continue to bear
interest at the initial interest rate, all as described below
under Interest Rate Reset. We may elect
to remarket the notes as floating-rate notes. Following a
successful remarketing, if any of the remarketed notes are
fixed-rate notes, interest on such notes will be payable on a
semi-annual basis.
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Option to
Defer Interest Payments
Prior to July 1, 2013, PPL Capital Funding may elect at one
or more times to defer payment of interest on the notes for one
or more consecutive interest periods; provided that each
deferred interest payment may only be deferred until the earlier
of (x) the third anniversary of the interest payment date
on which the interest payment was originally scheduled to be
paid and (y) July 1, 2015. For the avoidance of doubt, in
all cases, including the event of a failed remarketing, PPL
Capital Funding will have no right to defer the payment of
interest on the notes beyond July 1, 2015.
Deferred interest on the notes will bear interest at the
interest rate applicable to the notes, compounded on each
interest payment date, subject to applicable law. As used in
this prospectus supplement, a deferral period refers
to the period beginning on an interest payment date with respect
to which PPL Capital Funding elects to defer interest and ending
on the earlier of (i) the next interest payment date on
which we or PPL Capital Funding have paid all accrued and
previously unpaid interest on the notes, (ii) the third
anniversary of the interest payment date on which the interest
payment was originally scheduled to be paid and (iii)
July 1, 2015.
PPL Capital Funding will give the holders of the notes and the
trustee written notice of its election to begin a deferral
period at least one business day before the record date for the
next interest payment date. However, our or PPL Capital
Fundings failure to pay interest on any interest payment
date will itself constitute the commencement of a deferral
period unless we pay or PPL Capital Funding pays such interest
within five business days after the interest payment date,
whether or not PPL Capital Funding provides a notice of
deferral. We or PPL Capital Funding may pay deferred interest
(including compounded interest thereon) in cash on any scheduled
interest payment date occurring on or prior to July 1, 2015.
In connection with any successful remarketing during the final
remarketing period, all accrued and unpaid deferred interest
(including compounded interest thereon) will be paid to the
holders of the notes (whether or not such notes were remarketed
in such remarketing) on the purchase contract settlement date in
cash.
PPL Capital Funding will not be permitted to defer the interest
payable on the purchase contract settlement date with respect to
any notes that are successfully remarketed during the final
remarketing period.
If we or PPL Capital Funding have paid all deferred interest
(including compounded interest thereon) on the notes, PPL
Capital Funding can again defer interest payments on notes as
described above. The indenture does not limit the number or
frequency of interest deferral periods.
If we or PPL Capital Funding have not paid all such deferred
amounts (including compounded interest thereon) in cash on or
prior to the 30th day following the end of the deferral
period, PPL Capital Funding will be in default under the
indenture. See Events of Default below.
PPL Capital Funding currently does not intend to exercise its
option to defer interest on the notes.
Dividend
and Other Payment Stoppages During Interest Deferral and Under
Certain Other Circumstances
We have agreed that until the earlier of (i) the purchase
contract settlement date for the notes and (ii) the
optional remarketing settlement date, if:
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an event of default has occurred and is continuing;
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PPL Capital Funding has given notice of its election to defer
interest payments but the related deferral period has not yet
commenced; or
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a deferral period is continuing with respect to the notes,
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then we will not:
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declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of our capital stock;
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make any payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if
any, on, or repay, purchase or redeem any of our debt securities
that upon our liquidation rank pari passu with, or junior
in interest to, the subordinated
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guarantee of the notes (as of their date of issuance and not
taking into account any modifications to the terms of the notes
in connection with a successful remarketing); or
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make any guarantee payments regarding any guarantee by us of
securities of any of our subsidiaries (other than PPL Capital
Funding) if the guarantee ranks pari passu with, or
junior in interest to, the notes (as of their date of issuance
and not taking into account any modifications to the terms of
the notes in connection with a successful remarketing).
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The restrictions listed above do not apply to:
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any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of shares of our
capital stock in connection with (1) any employment
contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for
the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors,
consultants or independent contractors or (2) a dividend
reinvestment or stockholder purchase plan;
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any exchange, redemption or conversion of any class or series of
our capital stock, or the capital stock of one of our
subsidiaries, for any other class or series of our capital stock;
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any exchange, redemption or conversion of any class or series of
our indebtedness for any class or series of our capital stock;
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any purchase of, or payment of cash in lieu of, fractional
interests in shares of our capital stock pursuant to the
conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
securities being converted or exchanged;
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any declaration of a dividend in connection with the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto;
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any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other
rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise
of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with
or junior to such stock; or
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any payment of current interest or deferred interest on pari
passu securities during a deferral period that is made pro
rata to the amounts due on pari passu securities and the
notes.
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Remarketing
The notes will be remarketed as described under
Description of the Purchase Contracts
Remarketing.
The notes to be remarketed will be divided into two tranches,
such that neither tranche will have an aggregate principal
amount of less than the lesser of $300 million and 50% of
the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be remarketed.
One tranche will mature on or about the third anniversary of the
settlement date of the remarketing and the other will mature on
or about the fifth anniversary of such settlement date. The
interest deferral provisions of the notes will not apply to the
notes remarketed in an optional remarketing or a final
remarketing. The subordination provisions of the notes and the
guarantees will not apply to the notes remarketed in a final
remarketing, unless we make an irrevocable election otherwise,
which shall apply to both tranches, by notice to the trustee at
any time on or prior
to ,
2010 (six months from the date of initial issuance of the
Corporate Units). Unless we so elect, the notes remarketed in
the final remarketing will be the senior, unsecured obligations
of PPL Capital Funding guaranteed on a senior, unsecured basis
by PPL Corporation. We will allocate the notes whose holders
elect not to participate in any remarketing, without any
requirement for the consent of such holders, into these two
tranches, such that neither tranche immediately after the
settlement date of the remarketing will have an aggregate
principal amount of less than the lesser of $300 million
and 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes then
outstanding.
In order to remarket each tranche of notes, the remarketing
agent may reset the interest rate on the notes of such tranche
(either upward or downward) in order to produce the required
price in the remarketing. In connection with any successful
remarketing, PPL Capital Funding, in consultation with the
remarketing agent and without the
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consent of any holders of notes, may elect to modify the terms
of the notes with respect to each tranche, effective on and
after the optional remarketing settlement date or purchase
contract settlement date, as applicable, including to:
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extend the earliest redemption date on which PPL Capital Funding
may call the notes of such tranche for redemption from
July 1, 2015 to a later date or to eliminate the redemption
provisions of the notes of such tranche altogether; and /or
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calculate interest on the notes of such tranche on a fixed or
floating rate basis.
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During the applicable blackout period:
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you may not settle a purchase contract early;
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you may not create Treasury Units; and
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you may not recreate Corporate Units from Treasury Units.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, we may only elect to
conduct an optional remarketing if PPL Capital Funding is not
then deferring interest on the notes.
Remarketing
of Notes That Are Not Included in Corporate Units
At any time prior to a remarketing, other than during a blackout
period, holders of notes that do not underlie Corporate Units
may elect to have their notes remarketed in such remarketing in
the same manner as notes that underlie Corporate Units by
delivering their notes along with a notice of this election to
the custodial agent. The custodial agent will hold the notes in
an account separate from the collateral account in which the
pledged securities will be held. Holders of notes electing to
have their notes remarketed will also have the right to withdraw
the election at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the business day immediately preceding the date the
remarketing agent is scheduled to conduct the remarketing. In
the event of a successful remarketing during the optional
remarketing period, each holder of separate notes that elects to
have its notes remarketed will receive, for each $1,000
principal amount note sold, the remarketing price per note. The
remarketing price per note shall mean, for each
$1,000 principal amount note, an amount in cash equal to the
quotient of the Treasury portfolio purchase price divided by the
number of notes included in such remarketing that are held as
components of Corporate Units. For the purposes of determining
the proceeds that the remarketing agent will seek to obtain for
the notes in an optional remarketing, the separate notes
purchase price means the amount in cash equal to the
product of (A) the remarketing price per note and
(B) the number of $1,000 principal amount of notes included
in such remarketing that are not part of Corporate Units. In the
event of a successful remarketing during the final remarketing
period, each holder of separate notes that elects to have its
notes remarketed will receive an amount, for each $1,000
principal amount of notes, equal to $1,000 in cash. Any accrued
and unpaid interest on such notes, including any accrued and
unpaid deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon)
will be paid in cash by PPL Capital Funding, on the purchase
contract settlement date.
Interest
Rate Reset
In the case of a successful remarketing, the interest rate on
each tranche of remarketed notes may be reset on the date of a
successful remarketing and the relevant reset rate will become
effective on the settlement date of the remarketing, which will
be, in the case of an optional remarketing, the third business
day following the optional remarketing date and, in the case of
the final remarketing period, the purchase contract settlement
date. If a reset occurs pursuant to a successful optional
remarketing, the reset rate of such tranche of notes will be the
interest rate determined by the remarketing agent as the rate
the notes of such tranche should bear in order for the aggregate
principal amount of such tranche of notes to have an aggregate
market value on the optional remarketing date of at least 100%
of the relevant fraction of the aggregate of the Treasury
portfolio purchase price plus the separate notes purchase price,
if any. If a reset occurs pursuant to a successful final
remarketing, the reset rate will be the interest rate determined
by the remarketing agent as the rate the notes of such tranche
should bear in order for the remarketing proceeds to equal at
least 100% of the principal amount of the notes of such tranche
being remarketed. In any case, a reset rate may be higher or
lower than the initial interest rate of the notes depending on
the results of the remarketing and market conditions at that
time. However, in no event will the reset rate exceed the
maximum
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rate permitted by applicable law. In addition, if any of the
remarketed notes are fixed-rate notes, following a successful
remarketing, interest on such notes will be payable on a
semi-annual basis.
If the notes are not successfully remarketed, the interest rate
will not be reset and the notes will continue to bear interest
at the initial annual interest rate
of %.
The remarketing agent is not obligated to purchase any notes
that would otherwise remain unsold in the remarketing. None of
us, the remarketing agent or any agent of us or the remarketing
agent will be obligated in any case to provide funds to make
payment upon tender of notes for remarketing.
Put
Option upon Failed Remarketing
If the notes have not been successfully remarketed on or prior
to the last day of the final remarketing period, holders of
notes will have the right to require us to purchase their notes
on the purchase contract settlement date, upon at least two
business days prior notice in the case of notes that are
not included in Corporate Units, at a price equal to the
principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest
(including deferred interest and compounded interest thereon).
Holders of notes that underlie Corporate Units will be deemed to
have exercised such put right as described under
Description of the Purchase Contracts
Remarketing, unless they settle the related purchase
contracts with separate cash.
Redemption
at PPL Capital Fundings Option
The notes will be redeemable at PPL Capital Fundings
option, in whole but not in part, on a date not earlier than
July 1, 2015. The redemption price will be the principal
amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including deferred
interest and compounded interest thereon), if any, to but
excluding the redemption date. PPL Capital Funding may at any
time irrevocably waive its right to redeem the notes for any
specified period (including the remaining term of the notes).
PPL Capital Funding may not redeem the notes if the notes have
been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded or
unless all accrued and unpaid interest has been paid in full on
all outstanding notes for all interest periods terminating on or
prior to the redemption date.
Redemption Procedures
Notes will be redeemable upon notice by mail between 30 and
60 days prior to the redemption date.
Notes called for redemption will cease to bear interest on the
redemption date. PPL Capital Funding will pay the redemption
price and any accrued interest once you surrender the note for
redemption. (See Section 405.) If only part of a note is
redeemed, the trustee will deliver to you a new note for the
remaining portion without charge. (See Section 406.)
PPL Capital Funding may make any redemption at its option
conditional upon the receipt by the paying agent, on or prior to
the date fixed for redemption, of money sufficient to pay the
redemption price. If the paying agent has not received such
money by the date fixed for redemption, PPL Capital Funding will
not be required to redeem such notes. (See Section 404.)
In the event the final remarketing fails and you do not settle
the related purchase contracts with separate cash, the notes
provide that we may apply the principal amount of the notes
underlying corporate units against your obligations under the
purchase contracts. This remedy has the effect similar to an
automatic redemption of the notes, but we do not have to give
you prior notice or follow any of the other redemption
procedures.
Payment
So long as any separate notes are registered in the name of DTC,
as depository for the notes as described herein under
Book-Entry Only Issuance The Depository
Trust Company, or DTCs nominee, payments on the
notes will be made as described therein.
If we default in paying interest on a note, we will pay such
interest either
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on a special record date between 10 and 15 days before the
payment; or
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in any other lawful manner of payment that is consistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange on which the notes
may be listed for trading. (See Section 307.)
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We will pay principal of and any interest on the notes at
maturity upon presentation of the notes at the corporate trust
office of The Bank of New York Mellon in New York, New York, as
our paying agent. In our discretion, we may change the place of
payment on the notes, and we may remove any paying agent and may
appoint one or more additional paying agents (including us or
any of our affiliates). (See Section 602.)
If any interest payment date, redemption date or the maturity of
a note falls on a day that is not a business day, the required
payment of principal
and/or
interest will be made on the next succeeding business day as if
made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will
accrue on such payment for the period from and after such
interest payment date, redemption date or the maturity, as the
case may be, to the date of such payment on the next succeeding
business day. Business day, for purposes of the
indenture, means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that
is not a day on which banking institutions or trust companies
are generally authorized or required by law, regulation or
executive order to close in The City of New York or other city
in which any paying agent for the notes is located. (See
Section 113.)
Form;
Transfers; Exchanges
So long as any separate notes are registered in the name of DTC,
as depository for the notes as described herein under
Book-Entry Only Issuance The Depository
Trust Company, or DTCs nominee, transfers and
exchanges of beneficial interests in the separate notes will be
made as described therein. In the event that the book-entry only
system is discontinued, and the separate notes are issued in
certificated form, you may exchange or transfer notes at the
corporate trust office of the trustee. The trustee acts as our
agent for registering notes in the names of holders and
transferring debt securities. We may appoint another agent or
act as our own agent for this purpose. The entity performing the
role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the
security registrar; the security registrar will also
perform transfers. In our discretion, we may change the place
for registration of transfer of the notes and may remove
and/or
appoint one or more additional security registrars (including us
or any of our affiliates). (See Sections 305 and 602.)
There will be no service charge for any transfer or exchange of
the notes, but you may be required to pay a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection
therewith. We may block the transfer or exchange of notes during
a period of 15 days prior to giving any notice of
redemption. (See Section 305.)
Guarantees
PPL Corporation will fully and unconditionally guarantee the
payment of principal of and any interest on the notes, when due
and payable, whether at the stated maturity date, by declaration
of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, in accordance
with the terms of the notes and the indenture. The guarantees
will be in the form of a subordinated guarantee and remain in
effect until the entire principal of and interest on the notes
has been paid in full or otherwise discharged in accordance with
the provisions of the indenture. (See Article Fourteen.)
The subordinated guarantee will be PPL Corporations
unsecured obligation and will be subordinated to all of PPL
Corporations Senior Indebtedness (as defined in
Description of Notes Subordination). It will
rank equally in right of payment with PPL Corporations
other unsecured and subordinated indebtedness. The subordinated
guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing or
future preferred stock and indebtedness, guarantees and other
liabilities of our subsidiaries, including trade payables.
Certain
Trading Characteristics
To the extent the notes trade separately from the Equity Units,
the notes are expected to trade at a price that takes into
account the value, if any, of accrued but unpaid interest
(except for interest accrued after a regular record date and
prior to an interest payment date, which interest will be
payable to the holders as of the regular record date, as
described above); thus, purchasers will not pay and sellers will
not receive accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the
notes that is not included in the trading price thereof. Any
portion of the trading price of a note received that is
attributable to accrued interest will be treated as ordinary
interest income for federal income tax
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purposes and will not be treated as part of the amount realized
for purposes of determining gain or loss on the disposition of
the note.
Events of
Default
An event of default with respect to the notes will
occur if
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PPL Corporation or PPL Capital Funding does not pay any interest
on any note within 30 days of the due date;
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PPL Corporation or PPL Capital Funding does not pay principal on
any note on its due date;
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PPL Corporations guarantees of the notes cease to be
effective (except in accordance with their terms), are found in
any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid, or are
denied or disaffirmed (except in accordance with their
terms); and
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PPL Corporation or PPL Capital Funding files for bankruptcy or
certain other similar events in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or reorganization occur.
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(See Section 801.)
No event of default with respect to the notes necessarily
constitutes an event of default with respect to the indenture
securities of any other series issued under the indenture.
Remedies
Acceleration
Any One Series. If an event of default occurs
and is continuing with respect to any one series of indenture
securities, then either the trustee or the holders of 25% in
principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of such
series may declare the principal amount of all of the indenture
securities of such series to be due and payable immediately.
More Than One Series. If an event of default
occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of
indenture securities, then either the trustee or the holders of
25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
indenture securities of all such series, considered as one
class, may make such declaration of acceleration. Thus, if there
is more than one series affected, the action by the holders of
25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
indenture securities of any particular series will not, in
itself, be sufficient to make a declaration of acceleration.
(See Section 802.)
Rescission
of Acceleration
After the declaration of acceleration has been made and before
the trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for payment of the
money due, such declaration and its consequences will be
rescinded and annulled, if
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PPL Capital Funding pays or deposits with the trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
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all overdue interest;
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the principal of and any premium which have become due otherwise
than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon;
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interest on overdue interest to the extent lawful; and
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all amounts due to the trustee under the indenture; and
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all events of default, other than the nonpayment of the
principal which has become due solely by such declaration of
acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in the
indenture. (See Section 802.) For more information as to
waiver of defaults, see Waiver of Default and
of Compliance below.
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Control
by Holders; Limitations
Subject to the indenture, if an event of default with respect to
the indenture securities of any one series occurs and is
continuing, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding indenture securities of that series will have the
right to direct the time, method and place of
(i) conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the trustee or (ii) exercising any trust or power conferred
on the trustee with respect to the indenture securities of such
series.
If an event of default is continuing with respect to more than
one series of indenture securities, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding indenture
securities of all such series, considered as one class, will
have the right to make such direction, and not the holders of
the indenture securities of any one of such series.
These rights of holders to make direction are subject to the
following limitations:
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the holders directions may not conflict with any law or
the indenture; and
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the holders directions may not involve the trustee in
personal liability where the trustee believes indemnity is not
adequate.
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The trustee may also take any other action it deems proper that
is consistent with the holders direction. (See
Sections 812 and 903.) With respect to events of default
and other defaults in the performance of, or breach of,
covenants in the indenture that do not constitute events of
default, if any such event of default or other default occurs
and is continuing after any applicable notice
and/or cure
period, then the trustee may in its discretion (and subject to
the rights of the holders to control remedies as described above
and certain other conditions specified in the indenture) bring
such judicial proceedings as the trustee shall deem appropriate
or proper.
The indenture provides that no holder of any indenture security
will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or
otherwise, with respect to the indenture for the appointment of
a receiver or for any other remedy thereunder unless
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that holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a
continuing event of default;
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the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding indenture securities of all affected series,
considered as one class, have made written request to the
trustee to institute proceedings in respect of that event of
default and have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity
against costs and liabilities incurred in complying with such
request; and
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for 60 days after receipt of such notice, the trustee has
failed to institute any such proceeding and no direction
inconsistent with such request has been given to the trustee
during such
60-day
period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of outstanding indenture securities of all affected
series, considered as one class.
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Furthermore, no holder will be entitled to institute any such
action if and to the extent that such action would disturb or
prejudice the rights of other holders. (See Sections 807
and 903.)
However, each holder has an absolute and unconditional right to
receive payment when due and to bring a suit to enforce that
right. (See Sections 807 and 808.)
Notice
of Default
The trustee is required to give the holders of the notes notice
of any default under the indenture to the extent required by the
Trust Indenture Act, unless such default has been cured or
waived; except that, in the case of an event of default of the
character specified above in the third bullet point under
Events of Default, no such notice shall be given to
such holders until at least 90 days after the occurrence
thereof. (See Section 902.) The Trust Indenture Act
currently permits the trustee to withhold notices of default
(except for certain payment defaults) if the trustee in good
faith determines the withholding of such notice to be in the
interests of the holders.
PPL Capital Funding and PPL Corporation will furnish the trustee
with an annual statement as to their compliance with the
conditions and covenants in the indenture. (See
Section 605.)
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Waiver
of Default and of Compliance
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
notes may waive, on behalf of the holders of all outstanding
notes, any past default under the indenture, except a default in
the payment of principal or interest, or with respect to
compliance with certain provisions of the indenture that cannot
be amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding
indenture security. (See Section 813.)
Compliance with certain covenants in the indenture or otherwise
provided with respect to indenture securities may be waived by
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
affected indenture securities, considered as one class. (See
Section 606.)
Consolidation,
Merger and Conveyance of Assets as an Entirety
Subject to the provisions described in the next paragraph, each
of PPL Capital Funding and PPL Corporation has agreed in the
indenture to preserve its corporate existence. (See
Section 604.)
PPL Capital Funding and PPL Corporation have each also agreed
not to consolidate with or merge or convert into any other
entity or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any entity unless:
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the entity formed by such consolidation or into which PPL
Capital Funding or PPL Corporation, as the case may be, is
merged or the entity which acquires or which leases its property
and assets substantially as an entirety is a corporation or
limited liability company organized and existing under the laws
of the United States of America or any State thereof or the
District of Columbia, and expressly assumes, by supplemental
indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal and
interest on all the outstanding notes (or the guarantees, as the
case may be) and the performance of all of its covenants under
the indenture; and
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immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no event of
default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or
both, would become an event of default, will have occurred and
be continuing. (See Section 1101.)
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The indenture does not prevent or restrict:
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any consolidation or merger after the consummation of which PPL
Capital Funding or PPL Corporation would be the surviving or
resulting entity; or
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any conveyance or other transfer, or lease, of any part of the
properties of PPL Capital Funding or PPL Corporation which does
not constitute the entirety, or substantially the entirety,
thereof. (See Section 1103.)
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Modification
of Indenture
Without
Holder Consent
Without the consent of any holders of indenture securities, PPL
Capital Funding, PPL Corporation and the trustee may enter into
one or more supplemental indentures for any of the following
purposes:
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to evidence the succession of another entity to PPL Capital
Funding or PPL Corporation;
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to add one or more covenants or other provisions for the benefit
of the holders of all or any series or tranche of indenture
securities, or to surrender any right or power conferred upon
PPL Capital Funding or PPL Corporation;
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to add any additional events of default for all or any series of
indenture securities;
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to change or eliminate any provision of the indenture or to add
any new provision to the indenture that does not adversely
affect the interests of the holders;
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to provide security for the indenture securities of any series;
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to establish the form or terms of indenture securities of any
series or tranche as permitted by the indenture;
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to provide for the issuance of bearer securities;
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a
separate or successor trustee;
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to provide for the procedures required to permit the utilization
of a noncertificated system of registration for any series or
tranche of indenture securities;
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to change any place or places where
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we may pay principal, premium and interest,
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indenture securities may be surrendered for transfer or
exchange, and
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notices and demands to or upon PPL Capital Funding or PPL
Corporation may be served; or
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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to make any
other changes that do not adversely affect the interests of the
holders in any material respect.
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If the Trust Indenture Act is amended after the date of the
supplemental indenture so as to require changes to the indenture
or so as to permit changes to, or the elimination of, provisions
which, as of the date of the supplemental indenture or at any
time thereafter, were required by the Trust Indenture Act
to be contained in the indenture, the indenture will be deemed
to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment or to
effect such changes or elimination, and PPL Capital Funding, PPL
Corporation and the trustee may, without the consent of any
holders, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to
effect or evidence such amendment. (See Section 1201.)
With
Holder Consent
Except as provided above, the consent of the holders of at least
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the indenture
securities of all outstanding series, considered as one class,
is generally required for the purpose of adding to, changing or
eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture pursuant to a
supplemental indenture. However, if less than all of the series
of outstanding indenture securities are directly affected by a
proposed supplemental indenture, then such proposal only
requires the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding indenture securities of all
directly affected series, considered as one class. Moreover, if
the indenture securities of any series have been issued in more
than one tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture
directly affects the rights of the holders of indenture
securities of one or more, but less than all, of such tranches,
then such proposal only requires the consent of the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
indenture securities of all directly affected tranches,
considered as one class.
However, no amendment or modification may, without the consent
of the holder of each outstanding indenture security directly
affected thereby,
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change the stated maturity of the principal or interest on any
indenture security (other than pursuant to the terms thereof),
or reduce the principal amount, interest or premium payable or
change the currency in which any indenture security is payable,
or impair the right to bring suit to enforce any payment;
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reduce the percentages of holders whose consent is required for
any supplemental indenture or waiver or reduce the requirements
for quorum and voting under the indenture;
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modify certain of the provisions in the indenture relating to
supplemental indentures and waivers of certain covenants and
past defaults;
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cause a significant modification of the notes within
the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.1001-3;
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modify the put right of holders of the notes upon a failed
remarketing in a manner adverse to the holders; or
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modify the remarketing provisions of the notes in a manner
adverse to the holders, it being understood that the
modification of the ranking provisions (along with the related
modification of the covenants and the events of default),
elimination of the interest deferral provisions, any reset of
the interest rate or modification of the maturity date or
redemption provisions of the notes in connection with a
successful remarketing is permitted under the indenture and does
not require any modification to the provisions of the indenture.
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A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any
provision of the indenture expressly included solely for the
benefit of holders of indenture securities of one or more
particular series or tranches will be deemed not to
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affect the rights under the indenture of the holders of
indenture securities of any other series or tranche. (See
Section 1202.)
In addition, without the consent of any holder of a note, we and
the trustee may amend the indenture to conform the provisions of
the indenture to the Description of the Equity
Units, Description of the Purchase Contracts,
Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge
Agreement and Description of the Notes
sections in this prospectus supplement.
We will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the
purpose of determining the holders of outstanding indenture
securities of any series entitled to give or take any demand,
direction, consent or other action under the indenture, in the
manner and subject to the limitations provided in the indenture.
In certain circumstances, the trustee also will be entitled to
set a record date for action by holders. If such a record date
is set for any action to be taken by holders of particular
indenture securities, such action may be taken only by persons
who are holders of such indenture securities at the close of
business on the record date. (See Section 104.)
Subordination
Holders of the notes should recognize that contractual
provisions in the indenture may prohibit us from making payments
on the notes. The notes are subordinate and junior in right of
payment, to Senior Indebtedness of PPL Capital Funding, to the
extent and in the manner stated in the indenture. The notes will
also be effectively subordinated to all obligations of our
subsidiaries (other than those of PPL Capital Funding).
Senior Indebtedness means, with respect to PPL
Corporation or PPL Capital Funding, all of their respective
obligations, as the case may be, whether presently existing or
from time to time hereafter incurred, created, assumed or
existing, to pay principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees
and any other payment in respect of any of the following:
(a) indebtedness for borrowed money, including, without
limitation, such obligations as are evidenced by credit
agreements, notes, debentures, bonds and similar instruments;
(b) obligations under synthetic leases, finances leases and
capitalized leases; (c) obligations of the PPL Corporation
or PPL Capital Funding, as the case may be, for reimbursement
under letters of credit, bankers acceptances, security
purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for the account
of PPL Corporation or PPL Capital Funding; (d) any
obligations of PPL Corporation or PPL Capital Funding, as the
case may be, with respect to derivative contracts, including but
not limited to commodity contracts, interest rate, commodity and
currency swap agreements, forward contracts and other similar
agreements or arrangements designed to protect against
fluctuations in commodity prices, currency exchange or interest
rates; and (e) all obligations of the types referred to in
clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above of others which
PPL Corporation or PPL Capital Funding, as the case may be, has
assumed, guaranteed or otherwise becomes liable for, under any
agreement, unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness or
obligation, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or
the assumption or guarantee of the same expressly provides that
such indebtedness or obligation is not superior in right of
payment to or is pari passu with the notes or the
subordinated guarantees, as the case may be; provided
that trade obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business shall not be deemed to be Senior Indebtedness.
This subordination will not prevent the occurrence of any event
of default with respect to the notes. There is no limitation on
the issuance of additional Senior Indebtedness by PPL Capital
Funding in the indenture.
Satisfaction
and Discharge
The notes will not be subject to defeasance.
The indenture will be deemed satisfied and discharged when no
indenture securities remain outstanding and when we have paid
all other sums payable by us under the indenture. (See
Section 702.)
Resignation
and Removal of the Trustee; Deemed Resignation
The trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to
us.
The trustee may also be removed by act of the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding indenture
securities of any series.
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No resignation or removal of the trustee and no appointment of a
successor trustee will become effective until the acceptance of
appointment by a successor trustee in accordance with the
requirements of the indenture.
Under certain circumstances, we may appoint a successor trustee
and if the successor accepts, the trustee will be deemed to have
resigned. (See Section 910.)
Agreement
by Purchasers of Certain Tax Treatment
Each note will provide that, by acceptance of the note or a
beneficial interest therein, you intend that the note
constitutes debt and you agree to treat it as debt for
U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes (unless
otherwise required by a taxing authority). See Certain
United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences.
Notices
Notices to holders of notes will be given by mail to the
addresses of the holders as they may appear in the security
register. (See Section 106.)
Title
PPL Capital Funding, PPL Corporation, the trustee, and any agent
of PPL Capital Funding, PPL Corporation or the trustee, will
treat the person or entity in whose name indenture securities
are registered as the absolute owner of those indenture
securities (whether or not the indenture securities may be
overdue) for the purpose of making payments (subject to the
record date provisions of the Indenture) and for all other
purposes irrespective of notice to the contrary. (See
Section 308.)
Governing
Law
The indenture and the indenture securities provide that they
will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York, except to the extent the
Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable. (See
Section 112.)
Regarding
the Trustee
The trustee under the indenture is The Bank of New York Mellon.
In addition to acting as trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon
also maintains various banking and trust relationships with us
and some of our affiliates.
Book-Entry
Issuance The Depository Trust Company
The notes that form a part of the Corporate Units will be issued
in fully registered form and will be evidenced by one or more
global notes held in certificated form in the name of the
purchase contract agent. The notes that do not form a part of
the Corporate Units will be evidenced by one or more global
notes registered in the name of DTCs nominee,
Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by
an authorized representative of DTC. Such global notes will be
deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC. See
Description of the Equity Units Book-Entry
System for a description of DTC.
Purchases of the notes under the DTC system must be made by or
through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the
notes on DTCs records. The ownership interest of each
actual purchaser of each note (beneficial owner) is
in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect
participants records. Beneficial owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but beneficial
owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing
details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of
their holdings, from the direct or indirect participant through
which they purchased the notes. Transfers of ownership interests
on the notes 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 notes,
except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the
notes is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by
direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of
DTCs nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as
may be requested by an authorized representative of
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DTC. The deposit of the notes with DTC and their registration in
the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not
effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge
of the actual beneficial owners of the notes; DTCs records
reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose
accounts the notes are 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. Notices will be sent to DTC.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor such other DTC
nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the notes unless
authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTCs
procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus
proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The
omnibus proxy assigns the voting or consenting rights of
Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose
accounts the notes are credited on the record date. We believe
that these arrangements will enable the beneficial owners to
exercise rights equivalent in substance to the rights that can
be directly exercised by a registered holder of the notes.
Payments of principal and interest on the notes will be made to
Cede & Co. (or such other nominee of DTC). DTCs
practice is to credit direct participants accounts upon
DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding detail information
from us or the trustee, on payable date in accordance with their
respective holdings shown on DTCs records. Payments by
participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices and will be the
responsibility of each participant and not of DTC, the trustee
or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as
may be in effect from time to time. Payment of the purchase
price, principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or other
such nominee of DTC) is our responsibility. Disbursement of such
payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of
DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners
is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
A beneficial owner will not be entitled to receive physical
delivery of the notes. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must
rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the
notes.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depository with respect to the notes at any time by giving us or
the trustee reasonable notice. In the event no successor
securities depository is obtained, certificates for the notes
will be printed and delivered.
The information in this section concerning DTCs book-entry
system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be
reliable, but neither we nor the underwriters take any
responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
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CERTAIN
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE
TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income
tax consequences for holders as of the date of this prospectus
supplement, of the purchase, ownership and disposition of
Corporate Units, Treasury Units, notes and the purchase
contracts that are or may be the components of an Equity Unit
and shares of our common stock acquired under the purchase
contract.
This summary deals only with Corporate Units, Treasury Units,
notes and common stock held as capital assets by a holder who
purchases the Corporate Units upon original issuance at their
initial offering price. This summary does not constitute a
detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax
considerations applicable to you if you are subject to special
treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including
if you are:
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a dealer in securities or currencies;
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a trader in securities that has elected the
mark-to-market
method of accounting for your securities;
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a regulated investment company;
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a real estate investment trust;
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a tax-exempt organization;
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an insurance company;
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a person holding the Corporate Units, Treasury Units, notes or
common stock as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or
constructive sale transaction or a straddle;
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a financial institution;
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a person liable for alternative minimum tax;
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a person who is an investor in a pass-through entity;
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a U.S. person whose functional currency is not the
U.S. dollar;
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a controlled foreign corporation;
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a passive foreign investment company; or
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a U.S. expatriate.
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The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), and regulations, rulings and judicial
decisions thereunder as of the date hereof. Those authorities
may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in
U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences different
from those discussed below.
In addition, the authorities on which this summary is based are
subject to various interpretations. Although the IRS has issued
a Revenue Ruling addressing the treatment of units similar to
the Equity Units, the Equity Units are complex financial
instruments and no statutory, judicial or administrative
authority directly addresses all aspects of the treatment of the
Equity Units or instruments similar to the Equity Units for
U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no assurance can be
given that the conclusions in the Revenue Ruling would apply to
the Equity Units. As a result, the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the
Equity Units are unclear. We have not sought any rulings
concerning the treatment of the Equity Units, and the tax
consequences described herein are not binding on the IRS or the
courts, either of which could disagree with the explanations or
conclusions contained in this summary.
If a partnership holds the Corporate Units, Treasury Units,
notes or common stock, the tax treatment of a partner will
generally depend upon the status of the partner and the
activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a
partnership holding the Corporate Units, Treasury Units, notes
or common stock, you should consult your tax advisors.
S-79
This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal
income and estate taxes and does not deal with foreign, state,
local or other tax considerations that may be relevant to
holders in light of their personal circumstances. If you are
considering the purchase, ownership or disposition of the
Corporate Units, Treasury Units, notes or common stock, you
should consult your own tax advisor concerning the
U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you in
light of your particular situation as well as any consequences
arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
U.S.
Holders
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income
tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a
U.S. holder of Corporate Units, Treasury Units, notes or
common stock.
As used herein, the term U.S. holder means a
beneficial owner of Corporate Units, Treasury Units, notes or
common stock that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
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an individual citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in
or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia;
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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income taxation regardless of its source; or
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a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of
a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons
have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the
trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under
applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S.
person.
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Corporate
Units
Allocation
of Purchase Price
Your acquisition of a Corporate Unit will be treated as an
acquisition of the note and the purchase contract constituting
the Corporate Unit and, by purchasing the Corporate Unit, you
will be deemed to have agreed to such treatment. In addition,
we, and you, by your acceptance of a beneficial ownership
interest in the notes, agree to treat the notes as indebtedness
for all United States tax purposes. The remainder of this
discussion assumes that a holder of a Corporate Unit will be
treated as owning the note (or Treasury portfolio, if
applicable) and the purchase contract and that the note will be
treated as indebtedness of PPL Capital Funding.
The purchase price of each Corporate Unit will be allocated
between the note and the purchase contract in proportion to
their respective fair market values at the time of purchase.
Such allocation will establish your initial tax basis in the
note and the purchase contract. We will report the initial fair
market value of each note as $50 and the initial fair market
value of the purchase contract as $0, and by purchasing a
Corporate Unit, you will be deemed to agree to such allocation.
This allocation is not, however, binding on the IRS. The
remainder of this discussion assumes that this allocation of the
purchase price will be respected.
Notes
Interest
Income and Original Issue Discount
We intend to treat the notes as variable rate debt
instruments that are subject to applicable U.S. Treasury
regulations that apply to reset bonds and that
mature, solely for the purposes of the original issue discount
(OID) rules, on the date immediately preceding the
remarketing settlement date for an amount equal to 100% of their
principal amount. Based on the above, interest payable on the
notes will generally be taxable to you as ordinary interest
income at the time it is paid or accrued, in accordance with
your method of accounting for tax purposes.
Under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations, a remote
contingency that stated interest will not be timely paid will be
ignored in determining whether a debt instrument is issued with
OID. We believe that, as of the date of this prospectus
supplement, the likelihood that PPL Capital Funding will
exercise its option to defer payments of interest under the
terms of the notes is remote within the meaning of the
applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. Accordingly, upon
issuance, we believe the notes will not be treated as issued
with OID. In such case, subject to the
S-80
discussion below, the notes will not be subject to the special
OID rules, at least upon initial issuance, so that, as stated
above, you will generally be taxed on the stated interest on the
notes as ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued in
accordance with your regular method of tax accounting.
If, however, PPL Capital Funding exercises its right to defer
payments of interest on the notes, the notes will become OID
instruments at that time and could be recharacterized as
contingent payment debt instruments. In that case,
you will be subject to special rules.
There are no judicial or administrative authorities that apply
the OID rules to instruments such as the notes. As a result, the
treatment of the notes under the OID rules is unclear. Because
of PPL Capital Fundings right to defer payments of
interest, it is possible that the IRS could assert that none of
the stated interest on the subordinated debentures is
qualified stated interest (generally, interest that
is paid at least annually at a single fixed rate). If the IRS
were successful in this regard, you would be subject to the OID
accrual rules with respect to all interest payments on the
notes. Alternatively, the IRS could take the position that the
notes are not treated as reset bonds, but instead must be
treated as contingent payment debt instruments under the OID
rules. In the event the notes are treated as contingent payment
debt instruments, you would be required, regardless of your
usual method of accounting for tax purposes, (i) to use the
accrual method with respect to the notes, (ii) to accrue
OID at the comparable yield, which may be
substantially in excess of the interest payments actually
received by you, and (iii) to generally recognize ordinary
rather than capital treatment of any gain, and to some extent
loss, on the sale, exchange, repurchase or redemption of the
notes. A U.S. holder should consult its tax advisors
regarding alternative characterizations and treatments of the
notes.
Treasury
Units
Substitution
of Treasury Securities to Create Treasury Units
You may create Treasury Units by delivering Corporate Units and
Treasury securities to the collateral agent in substitution for
the notes. The pledged notes will then be released from the
collateral agreement and delivered to you. You generally will
not recognize gain or loss upon the delivery of the Treasury
securities or the release of the notes. You will continue to
take into account items of income or deduction otherwise
includible or deductible, respectively, with respect to the
notes and the Treasury securities, and your tax basis in the
notes, Treasury securities and purchase contract will not be
affected by the delivery and release.
Ownership
of Treasury Securities
By acquiring Treasury Units, you agree to treat yourself as the
beneficial owner of the Treasury securities that are part of the
Treasury Units owned by you. We also agree to treat you as the
owner of the Treasury securities. Your initial tax basis in the
Treasury securities that are part of the Treasury Units will be
equal to the amount paid for the Treasury securities. Your
adjusted tax basis in the Treasury securities will be increased
by the amount of any OID or acquisition discount, as applicable,
included in income with respect thereto, as described below.
Interest
Income, Original Issue Discount and Acquisition
Discount
A U.S. holder of a Treasury Unit will be required to treat
its ownership interest in the Treasury securities constituting
part of the Treasury Unit as an interest in a bond that is
originally issued on the date the holder acquires the Treasury
securities and, in the case of Treasury securities with a
maturity of more than a year, has OID equal to the excess of the
amount payable at maturity of the Treasury securities over the
purchase price thereof, or, in the case of Treasury securities
with a maturity of a year or less, was acquired with acquisition
discount equal to the excess of the amount payable at maturity
of the Treasury securities over the purchase price thereof. A
U.S. holder will be required to include any OID in income
on a constant yield to maturity basis over the period between
the purchase date of the Treasury securities and the maturity
date of the Treasury securities, regardless of the holders
method of tax accounting and in advance of the receipt of cash
attributable to the OID. A U.S. holder that is a cash
method taxpayer will not report acquisition discount until the
Treasury securities mature or the holder sells, exchanges or
otherwise disposes of the Treasury securities in a taxable
transaction, unless the holder elects to accrue the acquisition
discount on a current basis. If a U.S. holder does not
elect to accrue acquisition discount on a current
S-81
basis, any interest expense on indebtedness used to purchase or
carry the Treasury securities, to the extent it does not exceed
the daily portions of acquisition discount with respect to the
Treasury securities, will be deferred until the acquisition
discount is recognized. A U.S. holder that is an accrual
method taxpayer (or a cash method taxpayer that elects to accrue
acquisition discount) will be required to accrue the acquisition
discount on a straight-line basis unless the holder elects to
accrue the acquisition discount on a constant yield to maturity
basis. As stated above, amounts of OID or acquisition discount
included in a U.S. holders gross income will increase
the holders adjusted tax basis in the Treasury securities.
Substitution
of Notes to Recreate Corporate Units
If you deliver Treasury Units and notes to the collateral agent
in exchange for Corporate Units and Treasury securities, you
generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the delivery of
the notes or the release of the Treasury securities. You will
continue to take into account items of income or deduction
otherwise includible or deductible, respectively, with respect
to the notes and the Treasury securities, and your tax basis in
the notes, the Treasury securities and the purchase contract
will not be affected by the delivery and release.
Sale,
Exchange, or Other Disposition of Corporate Units or Treasury
Units
Upon a disposition of Corporate Units or Treasury Units, you
will be treated as having sold, exchanged or disposed of the
purchase contract and either the notes (or Treasury portfolio,
if applicable) or Treasury securities, as the case may be, that
constitute such Corporate Units or Treasury Units, respectively.
You generally will have gain or loss equal to the difference
between (i) the portion of your proceeds allocable to the
purchase contract and the notes, Treasury securities or Treasury
portfolio, as the case may be, and (ii) your respective
adjusted tax bases in the purchase contract and the notes,
Treasury securities or Treasury portfolio. For purposes of
determining gain or loss, your proceeds will not include any
amount attributable to accrued and unpaid interest (including
acquisition discount, if any), which amount will be treated as
ordinary interest income to the extent not previously included
in income. Further, to the extent you are treated as having
received an amount with respect to accrued contract adjustment
payments, such amounts may be treated as ordinary income to the
extent not previously included in income.
Such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss.
Capital gains of individuals derived in respect of assets held
for more than one year are subject to tax at preferential rates.
The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
If the disposition of Corporate Units or Treasury Units occurs
when the purchase contract has a negative value (i.e.,
the purchase contract represents a net liability), you should
generally be considered to have realized a loss on the purchase
contract in an amount equal to the absolute value of such net
liability, and to have received additional consideration for the
notes, Treasury securities or Treasury portfolio in an amount
equal to such negative value, and to have paid such amount to be
released from your obligation under the purchase contract. You
should consult your tax advisor regarding a disposition of
Corporate Units or Treasury Units at a time when the purchase
contract has a negative value.
Remarketing
of the Notes
A remarketing of the notes will be a taxable event for holders
of notes that will be subject to tax in the manner described
under Sale, Exchange, or Other Disposition of
Corporate Units or Treasury Units.
If a U.S. holder does not participate in the remarketing,
any changes to the terms of the notes (including the resetting
of the interest rate of the notes and the change in ranking)
should not cause the U.S. holder to be treated as having
sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of the notes in a taxable
disposition.
Treasury
Portfolio
Interest
Income and Acquisition Discount
Following a successful optional remarketing, you will be
required to treat a pro rata portion of each Treasury strip in
the Treasury portfolio, if any, as a debt instrument that was
originally issued on the date the collateral agent acquired the
relevant Treasury strip and that has acquisition discount equal
to your pro rata portion of the excess, if
S-82
any, of the amounts payable on such Treasury strip over your pro
rata portion of the purchase price of the Treasury strip
acquired on behalf of holders of Corporate Units. You will be
required to treat the acquisition discount in the manner
described above under Treasury
Units Interest Income, Original Issue Discount and
Acquisition Discount.
Tax Basis
of and Gain on the Applicable Ownership Interest in the Treasury
Portfolio
Your initial tax basis in your applicable ownership interest in
the Treasury portfolio will equal your proportionate share of
the amount paid by the collateral agent for the Treasury
portfolio. Your adjusted tax basis in the applicable ownership
interest in the Treasury portfolio will be increased by the
amount of acquisition discount included in gross income with
respect thereto, and decreased by the amount of cash received
with respect to acquisition discount in the Treasury portfolio.
Upon the disposition or maturity of your pro rata portion of the
Treasury securities in the Treasury portfolio, you will
recognize gain or loss on the difference between the amount
realized and your adjusted tax basis in such Treasury
securities. Such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or
loss, except to the extent of any gain realized that does not
exceed an amount equal to the ratable share of the acquisition
discount on such Treasury securities not previously included in
income, which will be treated as ordinary income.
Purchase
Contracts
Contract
Adjustment Payments
There is no direct authority addressing the treatment of the
contract adjustment payments under current law, and their
treatment is unclear. Contract adjustment payments may
constitute taxable income to you when received or accrued, in
accordance with your method of tax accounting. To the extent we
are required to file information returns with respect to
contract adjustment payments, we intend to report such payments
as taxable income to you. You should consult your own tax
advisor concerning the treatment of contract adjustment payments.
The treatment of contract adjustment payments could affect your
tax basis in a purchase contract or common stock received under
a purchase contract or your amount realized upon the sale or
disposition of a purchase contract (whether held as part of a
Corporate Unit or a Treasury Unit) or the termination of a
purchase contract. See Acquisition of Common
Stock under a Purchase Contract,
Termination of a Purchase Contract, and
Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of
Corporate Units or Treasury Units.
Acquisition
of Common Stock under a Purchase Contract
You generally will not recognize gain or loss on the purchase of
common stock under a purchase contract, except with respect to
any cash paid in lieu of a fractional share of common stock.
Subject to the following discussion, your aggregate initial tax
basis in the common stock acquired under a purchase contract
generally should equal (a) the purchase price paid for such
common stock, plus (b) your tax basis in the purchase
contract, if any, less (c) any such tax basis allocable to
the fractional share. The holding period for common stock
received under a purchase contract will commence on the day
after the common stock is acquired. See Common
Stock Acquired under a Purchase Contract, below.
Termination
of a Purchase Contract
If a purchase contract terminates, you will recognize capital
gain or loss equal to the difference between your amount
realized, if any, upon such termination and your adjusted tax
basis, if any, in the purchase contract at the time of such
termination. You will not recognize gain or loss on the receipt
of your proportionate share of the notes, Treasury securities or
Treasury portfolio upon termination of the purchase contract and
you will have the same tax basis in the notes, Treasury
securities or Treasury portfolio, as the case may be, as before
such termination. You should consult your own tax advisor
regarding the termination of the purchase contract when the
purchase contract has a negative value.
S-83
Early
Settlement of Purchase Contract
You will not recognize gain or loss on the receipt of your
proportionate share of the notes or Treasury securities upon
early settlement of a purchase contract (including an early
settlement upon the occurrence of a fundamental change), and you
will have the same tax basis in the notes or Treasury
securities, as the case may be, as before such early settlement.
Constructive
Distributions and Dividends
You might be treated as receiving a constructive distribution
from us if (i) the fixed settlement rates are adjusted and
as a result of such adjustment your proportionate interest in
our assets or earnings and profits is increased and
(ii) the adjustment is not made pursuant to a bona
fide, reasonable anti-dilution formula. An adjustment in the
fixed settlement rates would not be considered made pursuant to
such a formula if the adjustment were made to compensate you for
taxable distributions with respect to our common stock (for
example, if we increase the cash dividend on our common stock).
Certain of the possible settlement rate adjustments (including,
without limitation, adjustments in respect of taxable dividends
to holders of our common stock and as discussed in
Description of the Purchase Contracts Early
Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change) may not qualify as
being pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula.
Thus, under certain circumstances, an increase in the fixed
settlement rates might give rise to a taxable dividend to you
even though you would not receive any cash related thereto. In
addition, in certain situations, you might be treated as
receiving a constructive distribution if we fail to adjust the
fixed settlement rates. Any deemed distributions will be taxable
as a dividend, return of capital, or capital gain in accordance
with the earnings and profits rules described below. It is not
clear whether a constructive dividend deemed paid to you would
be eligible for the preferential rates of U.S. federal
income tax that are applicable to dividends paid to
non-corporate holders. It is also unclear whether corporate
holders would be entitled to claim the dividends received
deduction with respect to any such constructive dividends.
Common
Stock Acquired under a Purchase Contract
Distributions
Any distribution on our common stock paid out of our current or
accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for
U.S. federal income tax purposes) will constitute a
dividend and will be includible in income by you when received.
Any such dividend will be eligible for the dividends-received
deduction if you are an otherwise qualifying corporate holder
that meets the holding period and other requirements for the
dividends-received deduction. For tax years beginning before
2011, non-corporate U.S. holders that receive dividends on
our common stock are eligible for a reduced rate of taxation if
certain requirements are satisfied. Any distributions on our
common stock in excess of our current and accumulated earnings
and profits will first be applied to reduce your tax basis in
the common stock, and any amount in excess of your tax basis
will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of your common
stock, as described immediately below.
Sale,
Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition
Upon a sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of our
common stock, you will recognize capital gain or loss in an
amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and
your adjusted tax basis in the common stock.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding
In general, information reporting requirements may apply to
payments on the notes, Treasury securities, the purchase
contract and common stock made to you and to the proceeds of the
sale or other disposition of such instruments, unless you are an
exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments
if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number, a
certification of exempt status, or have been notified by the IRS
that you are subject to backup withholding (and such
notification has not been withdrawn).
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be
allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal
income tax liability provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
S-84
Non-U.S.
Holders
The following discussion only applies to
non-U.S. holders.
As used herein, a
non-U.S. holder
means a beneficial owner of Corporate Units, Treasury Units,
notes or common stock that is neither a U.S. holder nor a
partnership.
U.S.
Federal Withholding Tax
The 30% U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any
payment of principal or interest (including OID) on the notes or
Treasury securities, provided that you meet the portfolio
interest exemption, i.e.:
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you do not actually (or constructively) own 10% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock
or PPL Capital Fundings voting stock within the meaning of
the Code and the Treasury regulations;
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you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to
us or to PPL Capital Funding through stock ownership;
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you are not a bank whose receipt of interest on the notes or
Treasury securities is described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of
the Code; and
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(a) you provide your name and address on an IRS
Form W-8BEN
(or other applicable form), and certify, under penalties of
perjury, that you are not a United States person, or (b) if
you hold your Corporate Units, Treasury Units, notes or Treasury
securities through certain foreign intermediaries, you satisfy
the certification requirements of applicable U.S. Treasury
regulations. Special certification requirements apply to certain
non-U.S. holders
that are pass-through entities rather than individuals.
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If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments
of interest (including OID) made to you will be subject to the
30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide PPL
Capital Funding with a properly executed:
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IRS
Form W-8BEN
(or other applicable form) claiming an exemption from, or
reduction in the rate of, withholding under the benefit of an
applicable tax treaty; or
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IRS
Form W-8ECI
(or other applicable form) stating that interest paid on the
notes or Treasury securities is not subject to withholding tax
because it is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade
or business in the United States.
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The 30% U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any
gain that you realize on the sale, exchange, or other
disposition of the Corporate Units, Treasury Units, Treasury
securities, notes or common stock acquired under the purchase
contract (certain
non-U.S. holders
may, nevertheless, be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
See U.S. Federal Income Tax below).
We will generally withhold tax at a 30% rate on contract
adjustment payments and dividends paid on common stock acquired
under a purchase contract (and any deemed dividends resulting
from certain adjustments, or failure to make adjustments, to the
settlement rate, see
U.S. Holders Purchase
Contracts Constructive Distributions and
Dividends) or such lower rate as may be specified by an
applicable income tax treaty. However, contract adjustment
payments or dividends that are effectively connected with the
conduct of a trade or business by the
non-U.S. holder
within the United States and, where a tax treaty applies, are
attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment of the
non-U.S. holder,
are not subject to the withholding tax, provided the relevant
certification requirements are satisfied, but instead are
subject to U.S. federal income tax, as described below.
A
non-U.S. holder
of common stock or a purchase contract, who wishes to claim the
benefit of an applicable treaty rate for dividends or contract
adjustment payments, will be required to satisfy certain
certification and disclosure requirements described in the
portfolio interest discussion above. A
non-U.S. holder
eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax on payments
pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any
excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for
refund with the IRS.
S-85
U.S.
Federal Income Tax
If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States
and interest (including OID) on the notes or Treasury
securities, dividends on our common stock, or to the extent they
constitute taxable income, contract adjustment payments from the
purchase contract are effectively connected with the conduct of
that trade or business, you will be subject to U.S. federal
income tax on the interest, dividends or contract payments on a
net income basis (although exempt from the 30% withholding tax),
in the same manner as if you were a U.S. person as defined under
the Code. Certain certification and disclosure requirements must
be complied with in order for effectively connected income to be
exempt from withholding. In addition, if you are a foreign
corporation, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to
30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) of your earnings and
profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are
effectively connected with the conduct by you of a trade or
business in the United States. For this purpose, interest on the
notes or Treasury securities, dividends on our common stock and,
to the extent they constitute taxable income, the contract
adjustment payments from the purchase contract will be included
in earnings and profits.
Any gain realized on the disposition of a Treasury security,
notes, purchase contract or share of common stock generally will
not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:
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that gain or income is effectively connected with the conduct of
a trade or business by you in the United States; or
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you are an individual who is present in the United States for
183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition,
and certain other conditions are met; or
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in the case of a purchase contract or common stock, we are or
have been a United States real property holding
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes
(subject to the discussion below).
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An individual
non-U.S. holder
described in the first bullet above will be subject to tax on
the net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated
U.S. federal income tax rates. An individual
non-U.S. holder
described in the second bullet point above will be subject to a
flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the sale, which may be
offset by U.S. source capital losses (even though the individual
is not considered a resident of the United States). If a
non-U.S. holder
that is a foreign corporation falls under the first bullet
above, it will be subject to tax on its gain under regular
graduated U.S. federal income tax rates and, in addition,
may be subject to the branch profits tax equal to 30% of its
effectively connected earnings and profits or at such lower rate
as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
We have not determined whether we are a United States real
property holding corporation for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. If we are or become a United States real property
holding corporation, so long as our common stock continues to be
regularly traded on an established securities market, (1) a
non-U.S. holder
will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the
disposition of our common stock so long as such
non-U.S. holder
has not held (at any time during the shorter of the five year
period preceding the date of disposition or such
non-U.S. holders
holding period) more than 5% (actually or constructively) of our
total outstanding common stock and (2) a
non-U.S. holder
generally will not be subject to United States federal income
tax on the disposition of the purchase contract if on the day it
acquired its purchase contracts, they had a fair market value
less than or equal to 5% of the fair market value of our common
stock. If however, our common stock ceases to be regularly
traded on an established securities market, a
non-U.S. holder
held more than 5% (actually or constructively) of our total
outstanding common stock during the relevant period, or the
holders purchase contracts had a fair market value greater
than 5% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date
such purchase contracts were acquired, a
non-U.S. holder
will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the
disposition of our common stock or the purchase contract.
U.S.
Federal Estate Tax
Your estate will not be subject to U.S. federal estate tax
on the notes or Treasury securities beneficially owned by you at
the time of your death, provided that any payments made to you
on the notes would be eligible for
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exemption from the 30% withholding tax under the rules described
above under U.S. Federal Withholding Tax
without regard to the certification requirement described in the
fourth bullet point regarding portfolio interest.
Common stock acquired under a purchase contract and owned by you
at the time of your death will be subject to U.S. federal
estate tax unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides
otherwise. The purchase contract owned by you at the time of
your death may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax unless
an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding
The amount of the interest, contract adjustment payments and
dividends paid to you and the tax withheld with respect to such
interest, contract adjustment payments and dividends, regardless
of whether withholding was required, must be reported annually
to the IRS and to you. Copies of the information returns
reporting the amount of such interest, contract adjustment
payments, dividends and the amount of withholding may also be
made available to the tax authority in the country in which you
reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.
In general, no backup withholding will be required regarding
payments on notes, Treasury securities, or common stock or
contract adjustment payments that we make to you, provided that
we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a
U.S. person and you have delivered the statement described above
under U.S. Federal Withholding Tax.
In addition, no information reporting or backup withholding will
be required regarding the proceeds of the sale of Corporate
Units, Treasury Units, notes, Treasury securities, or common
stock made within the United States or conducted through certain
U.S. financial intermediaries if:
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the payor (1) receives the statement described above and
(2) does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that
you are a U.S. person; or
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you otherwise establish an exemption.
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Backup withholding may apply if you fail to comply with
applicable U.S. information reporting or certification
requirements.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be
allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal
income tax liability provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
Additional
Withholding Requirements
Under recently enacted legislation, the relevant withholding
agent may be required to withhold 30% of any dividends and the
proceeds of a sale of our common stock paid after
December 31, 2012 to (i) a foreign financial
institution unless such foreign financial institution agrees to
verify, report and disclose its U.S. accountholders and meets
certain other specified requirements or (ii) a
non-financial foreign entity that is the beneficial owner of the
payment unless such entity certifies that it does not have any
substantial U.S. owners or provides the name, address and
taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner
and such entity meets certain other specified requirements.
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CERTAIN
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain considerations associated
with the acquisition, holding and disposition of the Corporate
Units, the Treasury Units, common stock and the notes by
employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the
U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended (ERISA), plans, individual retirement
accounts and other arrangements that are subject to
Section 4975 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the Code) or provisions under any
other federal, state, local,
non-U.S. or
other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of
ERISA or the Code (collectively, Similar Laws), and
entities whose underlying assets are considered to include
plan assets of any such plans, accounts or
arrangements (each, a Plan).
General
Fiduciary Matters
ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on persons who are
fiduciaries of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code (an ERISA Plan) and
prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA
Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties. Under
ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary
authority or control over the administration of such an ERISA
Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of such an
ERISA Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other
compensation to such an ERISA Plan, is generally considered to
be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan.
In considering an investment in the Corporate Units, Treasury
Units, common stock or notes of a portion of the assets of any
Plan, a fiduciary should determine whether the investment is in
accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan
and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code or any Similar
Law relating to a fiduciarys duties to the Plan including,
without limitation, the prudence, diversification, delegation of
control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code
and any other applicable Similar Laws.
Prohibited
Transaction Issues and Related Issues
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code
prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions
involving plan assets with persons or entities who
are parties in interest, within the meaning of
ERISA, or disqualified persons, within the meaning
of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is
available. A party in interest or disqualified person who
engaged in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to
excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and
the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the ERISA Plan that
engaged in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be
subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code.
The acquisition
and/or
holding of the Corporate Units, Treasury Units, common stock or
notes by an ERISA Plan with respect to which we or any of our
affiliates is considered a party in interest or a disqualified
person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect
prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA
and/or
Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired
and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or
individual prohibited transaction exemption. In this regard, the
Department of Labor has issued several prohibited transaction
class exemptions, or PTCEs, that may provide
exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions
resulting from the purchase, holding or disposition of the
Corporate Units, the Treasury Units, common stock or the notes,
as the case may be. These class exemptions include
PTCE 84-14
for certain transactions determined by independent qualified
professional asset managers,
PTCE 90-1
for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled
separate accounts,
PTCE 91-38
for certain transactions involving bank collective investment
funds,
PTCE 95-60
for certain transactions involving life insurance company
general accounts, and
PTCE 96-23
for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers.
In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and
Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code provide a limited exemption
for the purchase and sale of securities and related lending
transactions, provided that neither the issuer of the securities
nor any of its affiliates have or exercise any discretionary
authority or control or render any investment advice with
respect to the assets of any ERISA Plan involved in the
transaction and provided further that the ERISA Plan pays no
more than adequate consideration in connection with the
transaction (the so-called service provider
exemption). There can be no assurance that any of these
statutory or class exemptions will be available with respect to
transactions involving the Corporate Units, the Treasury Units,
common stock or the notes.
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Accordingly, by acceptance of the Corporate Units, Treasury
Units, common stock or notes, each purchaser and holder of any
such securities will be deemed to have represented and warranted
that from and including the date of its acquisition of any such
securities through and including the date of the satisfaction of
the obligation under the purchase contract
and/or the
disposition of any such securities either (A) no portion of
the assets used by such purchaser or holder to acquire or hold
the Corporate Units, Treasury Units, common stock or notes
constitutes assets of any Plan or (B) its acquisition,
holding and disposition of the Corporate Units, Treasury Units,
common stock or notes, as applicable, will not result in a
non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a violation of any
applicable Similar Law.
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may
be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited
transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or
other persons considering purchasing or holding the Corporate
Units, Treasury Units, common stock or notes, on behalf of or
with plan assets of any Plan consult with their
counsel regarding the potential consequences of the investment
and the availability of exemptive relief.
Each purchaser and holder of the Corporate Units, Treasury
Units, common stock or notes will have exclusive responsibility
for ensuring that its purchase, holding and disposition of such
Corporate Units, Treasury Units, common stock or notes, as the
case may be, does not violate the fiduciary responsibility or
prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, Section 4975 of the
Code or any applicable Similar Law. Neither we, the remarketing
agent nor any of our respective affiliates will consider
themselves to be a fiduciary with respect to the assets of any
purchaser or holder of the Corporate Units, Treasury Units,
common stock or notes for purposes of Title I of ERISA,
Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law and
nothing herein shall be construed as a representation that an
investment in the Corporate Units, Treasury Units or notes is
appropriate for, or would meet any or all of the relevant legal
requirements with respect to investments by, any Plans or plans
subject to Similar Law generally or any particular Plan or plan
subject to any Similar Law.
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UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an
underwriting agreement dated ,
2010, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters named below,
for whom Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are acting as
representatives, the following respective numbers of Equity
Units:
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Number
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Underwriter
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of Equity Units
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Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
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Barclays Capital Inc.
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J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
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UBS Securities LLC
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
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Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
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Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
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Total
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20,000,000
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The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are
obligated to purchase all the Equity Units in the offering if
any are purchased, other than those Equity Units covered by the
over-allotment option described below. The underwriting
agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults the
purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be
increased or the offering may be terminated.
We have granted to the underwriters a
13-day
option to purchase on a pro rata basis up to 3,000,000
additional Equity Units from us at the initial public offering
price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The
option may be exercised only to cover any over-allotments of
Equity Units.
Concurrently with this offering of Equity Units, we are
offering, by means of a separate prospectus supplement,
90,000,000 shares of our common stock (or
103,500,000 shares of our common stock if the underwriters
of that offering exercise in full their over-allotment option).
This offering of Equity Units is not contingent on the offering
of common stock and the offering of common stock is not
contingent upon this offering of Equity Units.
The underwriters propose to offer the Equity Units initially at
the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus
supplement and to selling group members at that price less a
selling concession of $ per Equity
Unit. The underwriters and selling group members may allow a
discount of $ per Equity Unit on
sales to other broker/dealers. After the initial public offering
the underwriters may change the public offering price and
concession and discount to broker/dealers.
The following table summarizes the compensation and estimated
expenses we will pay:
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Without
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With
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Over-allotment
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Over-allotment
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Underwriting Discounts and Commissions paid by us
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$
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$
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Expenses payable by us
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$
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$
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We have agreed that, without the prior written consent of Credit
Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Credit Suisse) and
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
(BofA Merrill Lynch), on behalf of the underwriters,
we will not, during the period ending 90 days after the
date of this prospectus supplement, directly or indirectly,
(i) register, offer, issue, pledge, sell, contract to sell,
sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or
contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any Equity Units, purchase contracts or shares of
our common stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Equity Units, purchase contracts
or shares of our common stock (collectively, the
Lock-Up
Securities), or (ii) enter into any swap or other
arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any
of the economic consequences of ownership of the
Lock-Up
Securities, (iii) establish or increase a put equivalent
position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position in
Lock-Up
Securities within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act or (iv) file with the Commission a registration
statement under the Act
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relating to securities, or publicly disclose the intention to
take any such action, whether any such transaction described in
clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by
delivery of
Lock-Up
Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The
foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (a) the Equity
Units or purchase contracts to be issued in the transactions
contemplated in this prospectus supplement, (b) the
issuance by us of shares of common stock pursuant to, or the
grant of options under our existing stock option, employee
benefit or dividend reinvestment plans, or the filing of a
registration statement with the Commission relating to the
offering of any shares of common stock issued or reserved for
issuance under such plans, or (c) the establishment of a
trading plan pursuant to
Rule 10b5-1
under the Exchange Act for the repurchase of common stock,
provided that such plan does not provide for repurchases during
the restricted period. However, in the event that either
(1) during the last 17 days of the restricted period,
we release earnings results or material news or a material event
relating to us occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the
restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings
results during the
16-day
period beginning on the last day of the restricted period, then
in either case the expiration of the restricted period will be
extended until the expiration of the
18-day
period beginning on the date of the release of the earnings
results or the occurrence of the material news or event, as
applicable, unless Credit Suisse and BofA Merrill Lynch waive,
in writing, such an extension.
Our officers and directors have agreed that they will not,
during the period ending 90 days after the date of this
prospectus supplement, directly or indirectly, (i) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any
option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of
common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable
or exchangeable for common stock or make any public announcement
of an intention thereof or (ii) enter into any swap or
other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in
part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the
common stock, whether any such transaction described in
(i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of
common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or
make any public announcement of an intention thereof. The
foregoing restrictions shall not apply to transactions relating
to shares of common stock or other securities acquired in open
market transactions after the completion of the public offering.
In addition, such officers and directors have agreed that,
without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse and
Bofa Merrill Lynch, on behalf of the underwriters, they
will not, during such period make any demand for or exercise any
right with respect to, the registration of any shares of common
stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for common stock. However, in the event that either
(1) during the last 17 days of the restricted period,
we release earnings results or material news or a material event
relating to us occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the
restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings
results during the
16-day
period beginning on the last day of the restricted period, then
in either case the expiration of the restricted period will be
extended until the expiration of the
18-day
period beginning on the date of the release of the earnings
results or the occurrence of the material news or event, as
applicable, unless Credit Suisse and BofA Merrill Lynch waive,
in writing, such an extension.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against liabilities
under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the
underwriters may be required to make in that respect.
We expect trading of the Corporate Units on the New York Stock
Exchange to commence within 30 days of the date of initial
issuance of the Corporate Units. Prior to this offering, there
has been no public market for the Corporate Units. In addition,
if Treasury Units or notes are separately traded to a sufficient
extent that the applicable exchange listing requirements are
met, we will endeavor to cause the Treasury Units or notes to be
listed on the exchange on which the Corporate Units are then
listed, including, if applicable, the New York Stock Exchange.
In connection with the offering the underwriters may engage in
stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate
covering transactions, and penalty bids.
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Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying
security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a
specified maximum.
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Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of Equity
Units in excess of the number of Equity Units the underwriters
are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short
position. The short position may be either a covered short
position or a naked short position. In a covered short position,
the number of Equity Units over-allotted by the underwriters is
not greater than the number of Equity Units that they may
purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short
position, the number of Equity Units involved is greater than
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the number of Equity Units in the over-allotment option. The
underwriters may close out any covered short position by either
exercising their over-allotment option
and/or
purchasing Equity Units in the open market.
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Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the Equity
Units in the open market after the distribution has been
completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In
determining the source of Equity Units to close out the short
position, the underwriters will consider, among other things,
the price of Equity Units available for purchase in the open
market as compared to the price at which they may purchase
Equity Units through the over-allotment option. If the
underwriters sell more Equity Units than could be covered by the
over-allotment option, a naked short position, the position can
only be closed out by buying Equity Units in the open market. A
naked short position is more likely to be created if the
underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure
on the price of the Equity Units in the open market after
pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in
the offering.
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Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling
concession from a syndicate member when the Equity Units
originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a
stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate
short positions.
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These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions
and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining
the market price of the Equity Units or preventing or retarding
a decline in the market price of the Equity Units. As a result
the price of the Equity Units may be higher than the price that
might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may
be effected on The New York Stock Exchange or otherwise and, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the
web sites maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or
selling group members, if any, participating in this offering
and one or more of the underwriters participating in this
offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The
representatives may agree to allocate a number of Equity Units
to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their
online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be
allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that
will make internet distributions on the same basis as other
allocations.
Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have
from time to time in the past and may in the future perform
various financial advisory, investment banking and other
services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of
business, for which they received and may receive customary fees
and expenses. In particular, affiliates of each of the
representatives and certain other underwriters are lenders
and/or agents under our credit facilities and our Bridge
Facility.
European
Economic Area
Each of the underwriters has represented and agreed that:
(a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated
and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an
invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) to persons who
have professional experience in matters relating to investments
falling with Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and
Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 or in
circumstances in which section 21 of FSMA does not apply to
the company; and
(b) it has complied with, and will comply with all
applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by
it in relation to the Equity Units in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom.
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area
which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant
Member State), each underwriter has represented and agreed that
with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus
Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the
Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make
an offer of Equity Units to the public in that Relevant Member
State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to
the Equity Units which has been approved by the competent
authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate,
approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the
competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in
accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may,
with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date,
make an offer of Equity Units to the public in that Relevant
Member State at any time,
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(a) to legal entities which are authorised or regulated to
operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorised or
regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in
securities;
(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of
(1) an average of at least 250 employees during the
last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than
43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more
than 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or
consolidated accounts; or
(c) in any other circumstances which do not require the
publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an
offer of Equity Units to the public in relation to
any Equity Units in any Relevant Member State means the
communication in any form and by any means of sufficient
information on the terms of the offer and the Equity Units to be
offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or
subscribe the Equity Units, as the same may be varied in that
Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus
Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression
Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any
relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
Notice to
Investors in the United Kingdom
Each of the underwriters severally represents, warrants and
agrees as follows:
(a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated
and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an
invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) to persons who
have professional experience in matters relating to investments
falling with Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and
Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 or in
circumstances in which section 21 of FSMA does not apply to
the company; and
(b) it has complied with, and will comply with all
applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by
it in relation to the Equity Units in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom.
Notice to
Prospective Investors in Switzerland
This document as well as any other material relating to the
Equity Units which are the subject of the offering contemplated
by this prospectus supplement does not constitute an issue
prospectus pursuant to Articles 652a
and/or 1156
of the Swiss Code of Obligations. The Equity Units will not be
listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and, therefore, the documents
relating to the Equity Units, including, but not limited to,
this document, do not claim to comply with the disclosure
standards of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and
corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of
the SIX Swiss Exchange. The Equity Units are being offered in
Switzerland by way of a private placement, i.e. to a small
number of selected investors only, without any public offer and
only to investors who do not purchase the Equity Units with the
intention to distribute them to the public. The investors will
be individually approached by the Issuer from time to time. This
document as well as any other material relating to the Equity
Units is personal and confidential and does not constitute an
offer to any other person. This document may only be used by
those investors to whom it has been handed out in connection
with the offering described herein and may neither directly nor
indirectly be distributed or made available to other persons
without express consent of the Issuer. It may not be used in
connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be
copied
and/or
distributed to the public in (or from) Switzerland.
Notice to
Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial
Centre
This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in
accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai
Financial Services Authority (DFSA). This prospectus
supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a
type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It
must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The
DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any
documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not
approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify
the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for
the prospectus supplement. The Equity Units to which this
prospectus supplement relates may be illiquid
and/or
subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers
of the Equity Units offered should conduct their own due
diligence on the Equity Units. If you do not understand the
contents of this prospectus supplement you should consult an
authorized financial advisor.
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EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of PPL Corporation
appearing in PPL Corporations Annual Report
(Form 10-K)
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the effectiveness
of PPL Corporations internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2009 have been audited by
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included
therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference
in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The audited historical financial statements of E.ON
U.S. LLC included in PPL Corporations Current Report
on
Form 8-K
dated June 21, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance
on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be
passed upon for PPL Capital Funding and PPL Corporation by
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York, and
Frederick C. Paine, Esq., Special Counsel of PPL Services
Corporation. Certain legal matters in connection with this
offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Davis Polk
& Wardwell LLP, New York, New York. Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP will rely on the
opinion of Mr. Paine as to matters involving the law of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As to matters involving the law of
the State of New York, Mr. Paine will rely on the opinion
of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
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PROSPECTUS
PPL Corporation
PPL Capital Funding,
Inc.
PPL Energy Supply,
LLC
PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation
Two North Ninth Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179
(610) 774-5151
PPL Corporation
Common Stock, Preferred
Stock,
Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock
Purchase Units and Depositary Shares
PPL Capital Funding,
Inc.
Debt Securities and
Subordinated Debt Securities
Guaranteed by PPL Corporation
as described
in a supplement to this
prospectus
PPL Energy Supply,
LLC
Debt Securities, Subordinated
Debt Securities and Preferred Securities
PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation
Preferred Stock, Preference
Stock, Depositary Shares and Debt Securities
We will provide the specific terms of these securities in
supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus
and the supplements carefully before you invest.
We may offer the securities directly or through underwriters or
agents. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the
terms of any particular plan of distribution.
Investing in the securities involves certain risks. See
Risk Factors on page 3.
PPL Corporations common stock is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol PPL.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities
commission, nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any state securities commission determined that this prospectus
is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is March 25, 2009.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that PPL
Corporation, PPL Capital Funding, Inc. (PPL Capital
Funding), PPL Energy Supply, LLC (PPL Energy
Supply) and PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (PPL
Electric) have each filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or SEC, using the shelf registration
process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time,
sell combinations of the securities described in this prospectus
in one or more offerings. Each time we sell securities, we will
provide a prospectus supplement that will contain a description
of the securities we will offer and specific information about
the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also
add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement together with additional information described under
Where You Can Find More Information.
We may use this prospectus to offer from time to time:
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shares of PPL Corporation Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
(PPL Common Stock);
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shares of PPL Corporation Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
share (PPL Preferred Stock);
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contracts or other rights to purchase shares of PPL Common Stock
or PPL Preferred Stock (PPL Stock Purchase
Contracts);
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stock purchase units, each representing (1) a PPL Stock
Purchase Contract and (2) debt securities or preferred
trust securities of third parties (such as debt securities or
subordinated debt securities of PPL Capital Funding, preferred
trust securities of a subsidiary trust or United States Treasury
securities) that are pledged to secure the stock purchase unit
holders obligations to purchase PPL Common Stock or PPL
Preferred Stock under the PPL Stock Purchase Contracts
(PPL Stock Purchase Units);
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PPL Corporations Depositary Shares, issued under a deposit
agreement and representing a fractional interest in PPL
Preferred Stock;
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PPL Capital Fundings unsecured and unsubordinated debt
securities (PPL Capital Funding Debt Securities);
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PPL Capital Fundings unsecured and subordinated debt
securities (PPL Capital Funding Subordinated Debt
Securities);
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PPL Energy Supplys unsecured and unsubordinated debt
securities;
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PPL Energy Supplys unsecured and subordinated debt
securities;
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PPL Energy Supplys preferred limited liability company
membership interests;
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PPL Electrics Series Preferred Stock (PPL
Electric Preferred Stock);
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PPL Electrics Preference Stock (PPL Electric
Preference Stock);
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PPL Electrics Depositary Shares, issued under a deposit
agreement and representing a fractional interest in PPL Electric
Preferred Stock or PPL Electric Preference Stock; and
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PPL Electrics senior secured debt securities issued under
PPL Electrics 2001 indenture, as amended (PPL
Electric Secured Debt Securities), which will be secured
by the lien of the 2001 indenture on PPL Electrics
electric distribution and certain transmission properties
(subject to certain exceptions to be described in a prospectus
supplement).
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We sometimes refer to the securities listed above collectively
as the Securities.
PPL Corporation will fully and unconditionally guarantee the
payment of principal, premium and interest on the PPL Capital
Funding Debt Securities and PPL Capital Funding Subordinated
Debt Securities as will be described in supplements to this
prospectus. We sometimes refer to PPL Corporations
guarantees of PPL Capital Funding Debt Securities as PPL
Guarantees and PPL Corporations guarantees of PPL
Capital Funding Subordinated Debt Securities as the PPL
Subordinated Guarantees.
2
Information contained herein relating to each registrant is
filed separately by such registrant on its own behalf. No
registrant makes any representation as to information relating
to any other registrant or Securities or guarantees issued by
any other registrant, except that information relating to PPL
Capital Fundings Securities is also attributed to PPL
Corporation.
As used in this prospectus, the terms we,
our and us generally refer to:
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PPL Corporation with respect to Securities, PPL Guarantees or
PPL Subordinated Guarantees issued by PPL Corporation or PPL
Capital Funding;
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PPL Energy Supply with respect to Securities issued by PPL
Energy Supply; and
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PPL Electric, with respect to Securities issued by PPL Electric.
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For more detailed information about the Securities, the PPL
Guarantees and the PPL Subordinated Guarantees, you can read the
exhibits to the registration statement. Those exhibits have been
either filed with the registration statement or incorporated by
reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the registration
statement.
RISK
FACTORS
Investing in the Securities involves certain risks. You are
urged to read and consider the risk factors relating to an
investment in the Securities described in the Annual Reports on
Form 10-K
of PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric, as
applicable, for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed
with the SEC on February 27, 2009 and incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. Before making an investment
decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as
other information we include or incorporate by reference in this
prospectus. The risks and uncertainties we have described are
not the only ones affecting PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply
and PPL Electric. The prospectus supplement applicable to each
type or series of Securities we offer may contain a discussion
of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the
particular type of Securities we are offering under that
prospectus supplement.
FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
Certain statements included or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, including statements concerning expectations,
beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or
performance and underlying assumptions and other statements
which are other than statements of historical facts, are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
federal securities laws. Although we believe that the
expectations and assumptions reflected in these statements are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations
will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements
involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results
may differ materially from the results discussed in the
forward-looking statements. In addition to the specific factors
discussed in the Risk Factors section in this
prospectus and our reports that are incorporated by reference,
the following are among the important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements:
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fuel supply availability;
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weather conditions affecting generation production, customer
energy use and operating costs;
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operation, availability and operating costs of existing
generation facilities;
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transmission and distribution system conditions and operating
costs;
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collective labor bargaining negotiations;
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the outcome of litigation against us;
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potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism or war or
other hostilities
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our commitments and liabilities;
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market demand and prices for energy, capacity, emission
allowances and delivered fuel;
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competition in retail and wholesale power markets;
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liquidity of wholesale power markets;
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defaults by our counterparties under our energy, fuel or other
power product contracts;
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market prices of commodity inputs for ongoing capital
expenditures;
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capital market conditions, including the availability of capital
or credit, changes in interest rates, and decisions regarding
capital structure;
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stock price performance of PPL Corporation;
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the fair value of debt and equity securities and the impact on
defined benefit costs and resultant cash funding requirements
for defined benefit plans;
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interest rates and their affect on pension, retiree medical and
nuclear decommissioning liabilities;
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the impact of the current financial and economic downturn;
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volatility in financial or commodity markets;
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profitability and liquidity, including access to capital markets
and credit facilities;
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new accounting requirements or new interpretations or
applications of existing requirements;
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securities and credit ratings;
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foreign currency exchange rates;
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current and future environmental conditions and requirements and
the related costs of compliance, including environmental capital
expenditures, emission allowance costs and other expenses;
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political, regulatory or economic conditions in states, regions
or countries where we conduct business;
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receipt of necessary governmental permits, approvals and rate
relief;
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new state, federal or foreign legislation, including new tax
legislation;
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state, federal and foreign regulatory developments;
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the impact of any state, federal or foreign investigations
applicable to us and the energy industry;
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the effect of any business or industry restructuring;
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development of new projects, markets and technologies;
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performance of new ventures; and
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asset acquisitions and dispositions.
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Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in
light of such important factors and in conjunction with other
documents we file with the SEC.
New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in forward-looking statements emerge from
time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of
such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or
combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from
those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which
such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update
the information contained in such statement to reflect
subsequent developments or information.
4
PPL
CORPORATION
PPL Corporation, incorporated in 1994 and headquartered in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, is an energy and utility holding
company. Through its subsidiaries, PPL Corporation generates
electricity from power plants in the northeastern and western
United States; markets wholesale or retail energy primarily in
the northeastern and western portions of the United States and
delivers electricity to approximately 4 million customers
in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom.
PPL Corporations principal subsidiaries are shown below:
Energy
Supply
PPL Corporation, through its indirect, wholly owned
subsidiaries, PPL Generation, LLC (PPL Generation)
and PPL EnergyPlus, LLC (PPL EnergyPlus) owns and
operates electricity generating power plants and markets this
electricity and other purchased power to deregulated wholesale
and retail markets. Both of these subsidiaries are direct,
wholly owned subsidiaries of PPL Energy Supply. As of
December 31, 2008, PPL Corporation owned or controlled,
through its subsidiaries, 12,002 megawatts, or MW, of electric
power generation capacity and has plans to implement capital
projects primarily at certain of its existing generation
facilities in Pennsylvania and Montana to provide 148 MW of
additional capacity by 2013. See PPL Energy Supply,
LLC below for more information.
Energy
Delivery
PPL Corporation provides energy delivery services in its service
territory in Pennsylvania through its regulated public utility
subsidiary, PPL Electric, and in the United Kingdom through its
subsidiary, PPL Global. PPL Electric delivers electricity to
approximately 1.4 million customers in eastern and central
Pennsylvania. See PPL Electric Utilities Corporation
below for more information. Through its subsidiaries, PPL Global
delivers electricity to approximately 2.6 million customers
in the United Kingdom. PPL Global is a wholly owned subsidiary
of PPL Energy Supply, LLC. See PPL Energy Supply,
LLC below for more information.
PPL Corporations subsidiaries, including PPL Energy Supply
and PPL Electric, are separate legal entities, and are not
liable for the debts of PPL Corporation, and PPL Corporation is
not liable for the debts of its subsidiaries (other than under
the PPL Guarantees of PPL Capital Funding Debt Securities and
PPL Subordinated Guarantees of PPL Capital Funding Subordinated
Debt Securities). Neither PPL Energy Supply nor PPL Electric
will guarantee or provide other credit or funding support for
the Securities to be offered by PPL Corporation pursuant to this
prospectus.
5
PPL
CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
PPL Capital Funding is a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of PPL Corporation. PPL Capital Fundings
primary business is to provide PPL Corporation with financing
for its operations. PPL Corporation will fully and
unconditionally guarantee the payment of principal, premium and
interest on the PPL Capital Funding Debt Securities pursuant to
the PPL Guarantees and the PPL Capital Funding Subordinated Debt
Securities pursuant to the PPL Subordinated Guarantees, as will
be described in supplements to this prospectus.
PPL
ENERGY SUPPLY, LLC
PPL Energy Supply, formed in 2000 and headquartered in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, is an energy company engaged, through
its subsidiaries, in the generation and marketing of power in
the northeastern and western power markets of the United States
and in the delivery of electricity in the United Kingdom. PPL
Energy Supplys major operating subsidiaries are PPL
Generation, PPL EnergyPlus and PPL Global. PPL Energy Supply is
an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of PPL Corporation. See
PPL Corporation above for more information.
Energy
Supply: PPL Generation and PPL EnergyPlus
As of December 31, 2008, PPL Energy Supply owned or
controlled, through its subsidiaries, 12,002 MW of electric
power generation capacity. PPL Generation subsidiaries own and
operate power plants in Pennsylvania, Montana, Illinois,
Connecticut, New York and Maine. PPL Energy Supplys
generating capacity includes power obtained through PPL
EnergyPlus tolling or power purchase agreements. In
addition, PPL Generation has current plans to implement capital
projects at certain of its existing generation facilities
primarily in Pennsylvania and Montana to provide 148 MW of
additional generating capacity by 2013. PPL Generations
plants are fueled by uranium, coal, natural gas, oil and water.
The electricity from these plants is sold to PPL EnergyPlus
under FERC-jurisdictional power purchase agreements.
PPL EnergyPlus markets or brokers the electricity produced by
PPL Generations subsidiaries, along with purchased power,
financial transmission rights, natural gas, oil, emission
allowances and renewable energy credits in competitive wholesale
and deregulated retail markets. PPL EnergyPlus also provides
energy-related products and services, such as engineering and
mechanical contracting, construction and maintenance services,
to commercial and industrial customers.
International
Energy Delivery: PPL Global
PPL Energy Supply provides electricity delivery services in the
United Kingdom through its PPL Global subsidiary, which owns
Western Power Distribution Holdings Limited and WPD Investment
Holdings Limited, which together we refer to as WPD. WPD
operates two electric distribution companies in the United
Kingdom, serving a total of approximately 2.6 million
customers.
Neither PPL Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates will guarantee or provide other credit or funding
support for the securities to be offered by PPL Energy Supply
pursuant to this prospectus.
PPL
ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION
PPL Electric, incorporated in 1920 and headquartered in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a direct subsidiary of PPL
Corporation and a regulated public utility. PPL Electric
delivers electricity to approximately 1.4 million customers
in eastern and central Pennsylvania. PPL Electric also provides
electricity supply as a provider of last resort, or
PLR, to retail customers in that territory that do
not choose an alternative electricity provider.
Neither PPL Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates will guarantee or provide other credit or funding
support for the securities to be offered by PPL Electric
pursuant to this prospectus.
6
The offices of PPL Corporation, PPL Capital Funding, PPL Energy
Supply and PPL Electric are located at Two North Ninth Street,
Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179,
and they can be contacted through telephone number
(610) 774-5151.
The information above concerning PPL Corporation, PPL
Capital Funding, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric and, if
applicable, their respective subsidiaries is only a summary and
does not purport to be comprehensive. For additional information
about these companies, including certain assumptions, risks and
uncertainties involved in the forward-looking statements
contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, you
should refer to the information described in Where You Can
Find More Information.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise described in a prospectus supplement, the
net proceeds from the sale of the PPL Capital Funding Debt
Securities and the PPL Capital Funding Subordinated Debt
Securities will be loaned to PPL Corporation
and/or its
subsidiaries. PPL Corporation
and/or its
subsidiaries are expected to use the proceeds of such loans, and
the proceeds of the other Securities issued by PPL Corporation,
for general corporate purposes, including repayment of debt.
Except as otherwise described in a prospectus supplement, each
of PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric is expected to use the
proceeds of the Securities it issues for general corporate
purposes, including repayment of debt.
RATIOS OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED
CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
PPL
Corporation
The following table sets forth PPL Corporations ratio of
earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods
indicated:
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Twelve Months
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Ended December 31,
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to
combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends(a)
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3.3
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3.0
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2.9
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2.4
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2.5
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(a) |
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In calculating the earnings component, earnings exclude income
taxes, minority interest, dividends on preferred securities of a
subsidiary, discontinued operations and the cumulative effects
of changes in accounting principles. See PPL Corporations
reports on file with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as
described under Where You Can Find More Information
for more information. PPL Corporation had no preferred
securities outstanding during the periods indicated; therefore,
the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends is the same as the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges. |
PPL
Energy Supply
The following table sets forth PPL Energy Supplys ratio of
earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred securities dividends for the periods
indicated:
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Twelve Months
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Ended December 31,
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to
combined fixed charges and preferred securities dividends(a)
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3.7
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3.7
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3.5
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3.0
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3.9
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(a) |
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In calculating the earnings component, earnings exclude income
taxes, minority interest, discontinued operations and the
cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles. See PPL
Energy Supplys reports on file with the SEC pursuant to
the Exchange Act as described under Where You Can Find
More |
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Information for more information. PPL Energy Supply had no
preferred securities outstanding during the periods indicated;
therefore, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred securities dividends is the same as the ratio of
earnings to fixed charges. |
PPL
Electric
The following table sets forth PPL Electrics ratio of
earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods
indicated:
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Twelve Months
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Ended December 31,
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a)
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3.4
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2.7
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2.9
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2.1
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1.4
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Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends(a)
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2.7
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2.3
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2.5
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2.1
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1.4
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In calculating the earnings component, earnings reflect income
before income taxes. See PPL Electrics reports on file
with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act as described under
Where You Can Find More Information for more
information. |
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Available
Information
PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric each file
reports and other information with the SEC. You may obtain
copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference
Room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Further
information on the operation of the SECs Public Reference
Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the SEC
at
1-800-SEC-0330.
PPL Corporations Internet Web site is www.pplweb.com. On
the Investor Center page of that Web site PPL Corporation
provides access to all SEC filings of PPL Corporation, PPL
Energy Supply and PPL Electric free of charge, as soon as
reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC. The
information at PPL Corporations Internet Web site is not
incorporated in this prospectus by reference, and you should not
consider it a part of this prospectus. Additionally, PPL
Corporations, PPL Energy Supplys and PPL
Electrics filings are available at the SECs Internet
Web site (www.sec.gov).
PPL Corporation Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE) (symbol: PPL), and reports, proxy
statements and other information concerning PPL Corporation can
also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE at 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005.
Certain securities of PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric are
also listed on the NYSE and certain information concerning PPL
Energy Supply and PPL Electric may be inspected at the NYSE
offices in New York.
In addition, reports, proxy statements and other information
concerning PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric
can be inspected at their offices at Two North Ninth Street,
Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179.
Incorporation
by Reference
Each of PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric will
incorporate by reference information into this
prospectus by disclosing important information to you by
referring you to another document that it files separately with
the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to
be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file
with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that
information. This prospectus incorporates by reference the
documents set forth below that have been previously filed with
the SEC. These documents contain important information about the
registrants.
8
PPL
Corporation
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SEC Filings (File No. 1-11459)
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Period/Date
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
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Year ended December 31, 2008
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
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Filed on January 12, 2009, January 28, 2009, February 18, 2009,
February 24, 2009, March 4, 2009 and March 17, 2009
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PPL Corporations Registration Statement on
Form 8-B
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Filed on April 27, 1995
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PPL Corporations 2008 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy
Statement
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Filed on March 18, 2008
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PPL
Energy Supply
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SEC Filings (File No. 1-32944)
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Period/Date
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
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Year ended December 31, 2008
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
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Filed on February 18, 2009, February 24, 2009, March 4, 2009 and
March 17, 2009
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PPL
Electric
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SEC Filings (File No. 1-905)
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Period/Date
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
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Year ended December 31, 2008
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
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Filed on January 28, 2009 and February 24, 2009
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Additional documents that PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and
PPL Electric file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, between the date of this
prospectus and the termination of the offering of the Securities
are also incorporated herein by reference. In addition, any
additional documents that PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply or
PPL Electric file with the SEC pursuant to these sections of the
Exchange Act after the date of the filing of the registration
statement containing this prospectus, and prior to the
effectiveness of the registration statement are also
incorporated herein by reference.
Each of PPL Corporation, PPL Energy Supply and PPL Electric will
provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial
owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, a
copy of any and all of its filings with the SEC. You may request
a copy of these filings by writing or telephoning the
appropriate registrant at:
Two North
Ninth Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101-1179
Attention: Investor Services Department
Telephone:
1-800-345-3085
No separate financial statements of PPL Capital Funding are
included herein or incorporated herein by reference. PPL
Corporation and PPL Capital Funding do not consider those
financial statements to be material to holders of the PPL
Capital Funding Debt Securities or PPL Capital Funding
Subordinated Debt Securities because (1) PPL Capital
Funding is a wholly owned subsidiary that was formed for the
primary purpose of providing financing for PPL Corporation and
its subsidiaries, (2) PPL Capital Funding does not
currently engage in any independent operations and (3) PPL
Capital Funding does not currently plan to engage, in the
future, in more than minimal independent operations. See
PPL Capital Funding. PPL Capital Funding has
received a no action letter from the Staff of the
SEC stating that the Staff would not raise any objection if PPL
Capital Funding does not file periodic reports under
Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, PPL
Corporation and PPL Capital Funding do not expect PPL Capital
Funding to file those reports.
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EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of PPL Corporation, PPL
Energy Supply, LLC and PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (the
Companies) appearing in the Companies Annual
Reports
(Form 10-K)
for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the effectiveness
of PPL Corporations internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2008, have been audited by
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included
therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial
statements have been incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.
VALIDITY
OF THE SECURITIES AND THE PPL GUARANTEES
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, New York, New York or Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York and Michael
A. McGrail, Esq., Deputy General Counsel of PPL Services
Corporation, will pass upon the validity of the Securities, the
PPL Guarantees and the PPL Subordinated Guarantees for PPL
Corporation, PPL Capital Funding, PPL Energy Supply and PPL
Electric. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York,
will pass upon the validity of the Securities, the PPL
Guarantees and the PPL Subordinated Guarantees for any
underwriters or agents. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Sullivan &
Cromwell LLP will rely on the opinion of Mr. McGrail as to
matters involving the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
As to matters involving the law of the State of New York,
Mr. McGrail will rely on the opinion of Dewey &
LeBoeuf LLP or Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, as
applicable.
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