Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Prospectus Supplement
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4)
Registration No. 333-55904
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To
Prospectus Dated March 2, 2001)
$500,000,000
[LOGO OF DOMINION RESOURCES INC.]
Dominion Resources, Inc.
2002 Series B 6.25% Senior Notes Due
2012
The
Senior Notes will bear interest at 6.25% per year and will mature on June 30, 2012. We will pay interest on the Senior Notes on June 30 and December 30 of each year, beginning December 30, 2002.
We may redeem all or any of the Senior Notes at any time at the redemption price described in this prospectus supplement plus accrued interest.
We will not make application to list the Senior Notes on any securities exchange or to include them in any automated quotation system.
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Public Offering
Price(1)
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Underwriting
Discount
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Proceeds to Company
Before Expenses
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Per Senior Note |
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99.815% |
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0.650% |
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99.165% |
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Total |
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$ |
499,075,000 |
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$ |
3,250,000 |
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$ |
495,825,000 |
(1) |
Plus accrued interest from June 27, 2002, if settlement occurs after that date. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The Senior Notes will be
ready for delivery in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about June 27, 2002.
Joint Book-Runners
Barclays Capital |
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JPMorgan |
Mizuho International plc
Scotia Capital
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey
Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc
Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale
June 24, 2002
This document is in two parts. The first part is the
prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the Senior Notes we are offering and certain other matters relating to us and our financial condition. The second part, the prospectus, gives more general information about securities we
may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to the Senior Notes we are offering. Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. To the extent the description of the Senior Notes in
the prospectus supplement differs from the description in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which this document refers you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different
information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate as of the
date of this document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
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S-2
We file annual, quarterly and special reports,
proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SECs public
reference room in Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. You may also read and copy these documents at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York 10005.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which
means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and later information that we file with the SEC will
automatically update or supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act), until such time as all of the securities covered by this prospectus supplement have been sold:
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001; |
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002; and |
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Current Reports on Form 8-K/A and Forms 8-K, filed January 11, 2002, January 29, 2002, March 15, 2002 and March 18, 2002.
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You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at: Corporate Secretary,
Dominion, 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, Telephone (804) 819-2000.
We have included certain information in this document
which is forward-looking information as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples include discussions as to our expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives and future financial or other performance or
assumptions concerning matters discussed in this document. This information, by its nature, involves estimates, projections, forecasts and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ substantially from those expressed.
Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may
materially affect actual results and are often beyond our ability to control. We have identified a number of these factors in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, under the heading Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of OperationsRisk Factors and Cautionary Statements That May Affect Future Results, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and we refer you to that report for further information. The
factors identified include weather conditions, fluctuations in energy-related commodities prices and the effect these could have on our earnings and the underlying value of our assets, trading counterparty credit risk, capital market conditions, the
risks of operating businesses in regulated industries that are in the process of becoming deregulated and completing the divestiture
S-3
of Dominion Capital, Inc. and CNG International. Although we strive to mitigate market risk through our risk management activities, changes in commodity prices can have an adverse impact on
earnings and asset values.
S-4
In this prospectus supplement, the words
Dominion, Company, we, our and us refer to Dominion Resources, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and its subsidiaries and predecessors.
The following summary contains basic information about this offering. It may not contain all the information that is important to you. The Description of the
Senior Notes section of this prospectus supplement and the Description of Debt Securities and Additional Terms of the Senior Debt Securities sections of the prospectus contain more detailed information regarding the
terms and conditions of the Senior Notes. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus.
DOMINION
Dominion
is a fully integrated gas and electric energy holding company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As of March 31, 2002, we had approximately $35 billion in assets.
Our primary operating segments are:
Dominion EnergyDominion Energy manages our 24,000 megawatt portfolio of electric power generation, our 7,600 miles of gas transmission pipeline and a 959 billion cubic foot natural gas storage network. It also guides our
generation growth strategy and our commodity trading, marketing and risk management activities. We currently operate generation facilities in
Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Dominion DeliveryDominion Delivery manages our local electric and gas distribution systems serving 3.8 million customers, our 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines and our customer service operations. We
currently operate transmission and distribution systems in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Dominion Exploration & ProductionDominion Exploration & Production manages our onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production activities including the properties acquired from our November 2001
acquisition of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. With approximately 4.9 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas equivalent reserves and 450 billion cubic feet of annual production, Dominion Exploration & Production is one of the nations
largest independent oil and gas operators. We operate on the outer continental shelf and deep water areas of the Gulf of Mexico, western Canada, the Appalachian Basin, the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent Region and other selected regions in the
continental United States.
Dominions address and telephone number are Dominion, 120 Tredegar Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219, Telephone (804) 819-2000.
S-5
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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Twelve Months Ended December 31,
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Twelve Months Ended March 31, |
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2002
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2001
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2000
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1999
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1998
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1997
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2.05 |
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1.82 |
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1.56 |
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2.35 |
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2.28 |
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1.91 |
The Senior Notes
We are offering $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes.
The Senior Notes will be represented by one or more global certificates that will be deposited with, and registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (DTC) or its nominee.
This means that you will not receive a certificate for your Senior Notes but, instead, will hold your interest through DTCs system.
Interest Payment Dates
Interest on the Senior Notes will be payable semi-annually in
arrears on June 30 and December 30, commencing on December 30, 2002.
Record Dates
So long as the Senior Notes remain in book-entry only form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the close of business
on the business day before the applicable Interest Payment Date.
If the Senior Notes are not in book-entry only
form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date (whether or not a business day).
Optional Redemption
We may redeem some or all
of the Senior Notes at any time at the redemption price described in Description of the Senior NotesOptional Redemption on page S-15 plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.
The Senior Notes may not be redeemed at any time at the option of their holders.
Ranking
The Senior Notes rank equally with all
our other senior unsecured indebtedness, and are senior in right of payment to all our subordinated indebtedness. The Senior Indenture contains no restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that we may incur. Additionally, because we are
a holding company that conducts all of our operations through our subsidiaries, holders of Senior Notes will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries. See Description of the Senior NotesRanking.
No Listing of the Senior Notes
We do not plan to make application to list the Senior Notes on any securities exchange or to include them in any automated quotation system.
Use of Proceeds
We intend to use the net
proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt. See Use of Proceeds on page S-9.
S-6
Dominion is a fully integrated gas and electric energy holding company
headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As of March 31, 2002, we had approximately $35 billion in assets.
Our
primary operating segments are:
Dominion EnergyDominion Energy manages our 24,000
megawatt portfolio of electric power generation, our 7,600 miles of gas transmission pipeline and a 959 billion cubic foot natural gas storage network. It also guides our generation growth strategy and our commodity trading, marketing and risk
management activities. We currently operate generation facilities in Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Dominion DeliveryDominion Delivery manages our local electric and gas distribution systems serving 3.8 million customers, our 6,000 miles of
electric transmission lines and our customer service operations. We currently operate transmission and distribution systems in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Dominion Delivery also includes our managing equity
interest in Dominion Fiber Ventures, LLC, which owns Dominion Telecom with its 14,700 route-mile fiber optic network (including 4,600 route miles of lit fiber) and related telecommunications and advanced data services located principally in the
northeast quadrant of the United States.
Dominion Exploration &
ProductionDominion Exploration & Production manages our onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production activities
including
the properties acquired from our November 2001 acquisition of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. With approximately 4.9 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas equivalent reserves and 450 billion cubic feet of annual production, Dominion
Exploration
& Production is one of the nations leading independent oil and gas operators. We operate on the outer continental shelf and deep
water areas of the Gulf of Mexico, western Canada, the Appalachian Basin, the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent Region and other selected regions in the continental United States.
Competitive Strengths
We believe that we are well positioned in our industry based on our following competitive strengths:
Size and ScaleOur size and scale give us the critical mass needed to provide the financial strength, flexibility and economies of scale necessary to compete in the new energy marketplace. In addition, our size
has provided better access to capital and improved opportunities for expansion.
MAIN to
Maine FocusWe are concentrating our efforts in the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, which we call the MAIN to Maine region. In the power industry, MAIN means the Mid-America
Interconnected Network, which comprises all of Illinois and portions of the states of Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. The MAIN to Maine region is home to approximately 40% of the nations demand for energy. It also has some
of the nations highest energy prices and, as a result, is rapidly moving toward industry deregulation and restructuring.
S-7
Integrated Asset BaseWe have the capability to
discover and produce gas, store it, sell it or use it to generate power; we can generate electricity to sell
to customers in our
retail markets or in wholesale transactions. This optionality gives us the ability to produce and sell energy in whatever form we find most useful and economic. We also operate North Americas largest natural gas storage system, which gives us
the flexibility to provide supply when it is most economically advantageous to do so. As a fully integrated enterprise active in all aspects of the energy supply chain, we have the ability to optimize the value of our energy portfolio to maximize
return on invested capital.
Market KnowledgeWe capitalize on our in-depth knowledge
of our trading and customer markets. Specifically, our knowledge of the energy trading market allows us to not only manage market risks but also to maximize the value of our energy portfolio. As our industry deregulates, we know that we must remain
focused on reliably and efficiently serving our customer base in order to retain existing customers and add new ones.
Investor FocusThe financial interests of our employees and management are strongly aligned with the interests of our investor base. They own more than 14.8 million shares and together
would be Dominions largest shareholder. Incentive programs in the form of stock options further align the interests of our employees with those of our investors.
Focused Growth
Our growth strategy is focused on the MAIN to Maine region and building on the platform provided by our current asset base.
Dominion EnergyWe currently have 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity and expect this to grow to 26,000 megawatts by 2005. In June 2002, we acquired the 515-megawatt coal-fired State
Line power plant in Indiana. Also in 2002, commercial operations began at three new gas-fired generation facilities having a total of 1,520 megawatts. We constructed the 600-megawatt Troy Township, Ohio facility, the 620-megawatt Armstrong County,
New York facility and the 300-megawatt Pleasant County, West Virginia facility along our gas pipelines located in those states. Additional anticipated capacity expansion of 2,000 megawatts is also planned. To support these plans, we have contracted
to acquire General Electric turbines sufficient for our generation expansion.
Dominion
DeliveryWe expect continued growth in our distribution business as a result of increasing our customer base and improving our operational efficiencies through technological advances and development. We have targeted expansion of Dominion
Telecoms fiber optic network by focusing on markets not primarily targeted by the expansion strategies of major telecommunications companies.
Dominion Exploration & ProductionIncluding our acquisition of Louis Dreyfus, we expect to increase our BCFe production by approximately 25%
in 2002 and 15-20% through 2004. We anticipate that this growth will be primarily drill-bit driven from existing resources including our offshore and Gulf Coast exploration program and the development of properties acquired from our acquisition of
Louis Dreyfus.
S-8
Because of the changes our industry is undergoing, we continue to encounter
opportunities for acquisitions of assets and business combinations that would be consistent with our strategic principles. We regularly investigate any opportunities we learn about that may increase shareholder value or build on our existing asset
platform. We often participate in bidding and negotiating processes for those transactions. Any acquisitions or combinations of this type will likely require us to access external financing sources or issue additional equity. Additionally,
recent capital and market conditions in our industry have weakened some of our competitors and this may increase asset acquisition and business combination opportunities for us.
Principal Subsidiaries
Dominions principal
subsidiaries include Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion Virginia Power), a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, and
Consolidated Natural Gas Company (CNG), a producer, transporter, distributor and retail marketer of natural gas serving customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York and various cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Dominions other principal subsidiaries include Dominion Energy, Inc., an independent power and natural gas subsidiary.
For additional information about our company, see Where You Can Find More Information on page S-3.
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes
for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt. This debt may include a portion of our short-term debt, including our commercial paper and the commercial paper of our wholly-owned subsidiary CNG. At May 31, 2002, the weighted
average maturity date of Dominions approximately $281 million of outstanding commercial paper was approximately 47.29 days and the weighted average interest rate was 2.10%. Also, as of May 31, 2002, the weighted average maturity date of
CNGs approximately $843 million of outstanding commercial paper was approximately 20.04 days and the weighted average interest rate was 2.14%.
S-9
The table below shows our capitalization on a consolidated basis as of
March 31, 2002. The As Adjusted column reflects our capitalization after giving effect to this offering of Senior Notes, and the use of the net proceeds from this offering. You should read this table along with our audited financial
statements contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as the unaudited information presented in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. See Where You Can Find More Information on page S-3.
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March 31, 2002
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Actual
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As Adjusted
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Short-term debt1 |
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$ |
3,174 |
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$ |
2,678 |
Long-term debt: |
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Equity-linked debt securities |
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743 |
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743 |
Other |
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11,233 |
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11,733 |
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Total |
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11,976 |
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12,476 |
Obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts |
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1,132 |
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1,132 |
Subsidiary preferred stock not subject to mandatory redemption |
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384 |
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|
384 |
Total common shareholders equity |
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8,838 |
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8,838 |
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Total capitalization |
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$ |
25,504 |
|
$ |
25,508 |
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|
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|
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1 |
|
Includes securities due within one year. |
S-10
These computations reflect Dominions
consolidated earnings and consolidated fixed charges including proportionate interests in the earnings and fixed charges of certain other companies in which we hold an equity interest. For this ratio, earnings is determined by adding total fixed
charges (excluding interest capitalized), income taxes, minority common stockholders equity in net income and amortization of interest capitalized to income from continuing operations after eliminating equity in undistributed earnings and adding
back losses of companies of which at least 20% but less than 50% of total equity is owned by Dominion. For this purpose, total fixed charges consists of (1) interest on all indebtedness and amortization of debt discount and expense, (2) interest
capitalized and (3) an interest factor attributable to rentals.
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each
of the periods indicated is as follows:
Twelve Months Ended March 31, 20021
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Twelve Months Ended December 31,
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20012
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20003
|
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1999
|
|
1998
|
|
19974
|
2.05 |
|
1.82 |
|
1.56 |
|
2.35 |
|
2.28 |
|
1.91 |
1 |
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Earnings for the twelve months ended March 31, 2002 includes a one-time $40 million charge associated with the divesture of Saxon Capital, Inc., a $281 million
charge from a write-down of Dominion Capital, Inc. assets, a $151 million charge associated with Dominions estimated Enron exposure, and $105 million in restructuring charges associated with senior management restructuring initiative and other
restructuring costs. Excluding these items from the calculation above results in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended March 31, 2002 of 2.58x. |
2 |
Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001 includes a one-time $220 million charge related to the buyout of power purchase contracts and non-utility
generating plants previously serving the company under long-term contracts, a one-time $40 million charge associated with the divestiture of Saxon Capital, Inc., a $281 million charge from a write-down of Dominion Capital assets, a $151 million
charge associated with Dominions estimated Enron exposure, and $105 million in restructuring charges associated with a senior management restructuring initiative announced in November and other restructuring costs. Excluding these items from
the calculation above results in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001 of 2.56x. |
3 |
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Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2000 includes $579 million in restructuring and other acquisition-related costs resulting from the CNG
acquisition and a write-down at Dominion Capital, Inc. Dominion is required to divest its financial services business as a result of the acquisition of CNG. Excluding these items from the calculation above results in a ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2000 of 2.10x. |
4 |
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Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 1997 includes the one-time charge of $157 million for the windfall profits tax levied by the United
Kingdom government. Excluding this charge from the calculation above results in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 1997 of 2.12x. |
S-11
The following summary of financial
information for the years ended December 31, 1999 through 2001 and the three months ended March 31, 2002 and 2001 was derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited financial statements contained in our most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K as well as the unaudited information presented in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. See Where You Can Find More Information on page S-3.
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Three Months Ended March 31,
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Year Ended December
31,
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2002
|
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2001
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2001
|
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2000
|
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1999
|
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(in millions) |
INCOME STATEMENT INFORMATION, for period ended |
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Total revenues |
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$ |
2,634 |
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$ |
3,198 |
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$ |
10,558 |
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$ |
9,246 |
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$ |
5,520 |
Income before income taxes, minority interests, cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and
extraordinary item |
|
|
491 |
|
|
258 |
|
|
914 |
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|
600 |
|
|
829 |
Income before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles |
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|
322 |
|
|
162 |
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|
544 |
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|
415 |
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|
552 |
Net income |
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|
322 |
|
|
162 |
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|
544 |
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|
436 |
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|
297 |
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION, at period end |
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|
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Cash and cash equivalents |
|
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648 |
|
|
882 |
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|
486 |
|
|
360 |
|
|
280 |
Total assets |
|
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34,948 |
|
|
30,505 |
|
|
34,369 |
|
|
29,297 |
|
|
17,782 |
Short-term debt |
|
|
1,079 |
|
|
1,923 |
|
|
1,859 |
|
|
3,237 |
|
|
870 |
Long-term debt |
|
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11,976 |
|
|
11,799 |
|
|
12,119 |
|
|
10,101 |
|
|
6,936 |
Obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts |
|
|
1,132 |
|
|
935 |
|
|
1,132 |
|
|
385 |
|
|
385 |
Subsidiary preferred stock not subject to mandatory redemption |
|
|
384 |
|
|
509 |
|
|
384 |
|
|
509 |
|
|
509 |
Total common shareholders equity |
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|
8,838 |
|
|
6,971 |
|
|
8,368 |
|
|
7,000 |
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|
4,774 |
S-12
Set forth below is a description of the specific
terms of the Senior Notes. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the Senior Debt Securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the captions
Description of Debt Securities and Additional Terms of the Senior Debt Securities and, to the extent it is inconsistent with the prospectus, replaces the description in the prospectus. The Senior Notes will be issued under an
indenture dated as of June 1, 2000, between Dominion and JPMorgan Chase Bank (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as indenture trustee, as supplemented and amended by the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 1, 2002. The
following description is not complete in every detail and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the description of the Senior Notes in the accompanying prospectus, the Senior Indenture and the Eleventh Supplemental
Indenture pertaining to the Senior Notes. Capitalized terms used in this Description of the Senior Notes that are not defined in this prospectus supplement have the meanings given to them in the accompanying base prospectus, the Senior
Indenture or the supplemental indenture.
General
The Senior Notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Dominion. The Senior Notes will initially be limited in aggregate principal amount to $500,000,000. We may, without
the consent of the holders of Senior Notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Senior Notes. Any additional notes having such similar terms, together with the Senior Notes, will
constitute a single series of notes under the Senior Indenture.
The entire principal amount of the Senior Notes
will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, on June 30, 2012. The Senior Notes are not subject to any sinking fund provision. The Senior Notes are available for purchase in denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple of $1,000.
Ranking
The Senior Notes will be our direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, will rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to our secured
debt, if any.
Because we are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our
ability to meet our obligations under the Senior Notes is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Holders of Senior Notes will
generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders. As of March 31, 2002, Dominion Virginia
Power had approximately 3.84 million issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock. In addition to trade debt, most of our operating subsidiaries have ongoing corporate debt programs used to finance their business activities. As of March 31,
2002, our subsidiaries had approximately $9.2 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year).
S-13
The Senior Indenture contains no restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that we may incur.
Interest
Each Senior Note will bear interest at the rate of 6.25% per annum from the date of original issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 30 of each year (each, an Interest Payment Date). The initial Interest
Payment Date is December 30, 2002. The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Senior Notes is not a business day, then
payment of the interest payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any delay), with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
So long as the Senior Notes remain in book-entry only form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the close of
business on the business day prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date. In the event the Senior Notes are not in book-entry only form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day
prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date (whether or not a business day).
Limitation on Liens
While any of the Senior Notes are outstanding, we are not permitted to create liens upon any Principal Property (as defined below) or upon
any shares of stock of any Material Subsidiary (as defined below), which we now own or own in the future, to secure any of our debt, unless at the same time we provide that the Senior Notes will also be secured by that lien on an equal and ratable
basis. However, we are generally permitted to create the following types of liens:
|
(1) |
purchase money liens on future property acquired by us; liens of any kind existing on property or shares of stock at the time they are acquired by us;
conditional sales agreements and other title retention agreements on future property acquired by us (as long as none of those liens cover any of our other properties); |
|
(2) |
liens on our property or any shares of stock of any Material Subsidiary that exist as of the date the Senior Notes are first issued; liens on the shares of
stock of any corporation, which liens existed at the time that corporation became a Material Subsidiary; certain liens typically incurred in the ordinary course of business; |
|
(3) |
liens in favor of the United States (or any State), any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of those
jurisdictions, to secure payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any debt incurred for the purpose of financing the purchase price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to those liens, including, for
example, liens to secure debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type; |
|
(4) |
debt that we may issue in connection with a consolidation or merger of Dominion or any Material Subsidiary with or into any other company (including any of our
affiliates or Material Subsidiaries) in exchange for secured debt of that company |
S-14
|
(Third Party Debt) as long as that debt (i) is secured by a mortgage on all or a portion of the property of that company, (ii) prohibits secured debt from being incurred by that company, unless
the Third Party Debt is secured on an equal and ratable basis or (iii) prohibits secured debt from being incurred by that company; |
|
(5) |
debt of another company that we must assume in connection with a consolidation or merger of that company, with respect to which any of our property is subjected
to a lien; |
|
(6) |
liens on any property that we acquire, construct, develop or improve after the date the Senior Notes are first issued that are created before or within 18
months after the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of the property and secure the payment of the purchase price or related costs; |
|
(7) |
liens in favor of Dominion, our Material Subsidiaries or our wholly-owned subsidiaries; |
|
(8) |
the replacement, extension or renewal of any lien referred to above in clauses (1) through (7) as long as the amount secured by the liens or the property
subject to the liens is not increased; and |
|
(9) |
any other lien not covered by clauses (1) through (8) above as long as immediately after the creation of the lien the aggregate principal amount of debt secured
by all liens created or assumed under this clause (9) does not exceed 10% of our common shareholders equity. |
When we use the term lien in this section, we mean any mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind; Material Subsidiary means each of our subsidiaries whose total assets
(as determined in accordance with GAAP) represent at least 20% of Dominions total assets on a consolidated basis; and Principal Property means any of Dominions plants or facilities located in the United States that in the
opinion of our Board of Directors or management is of material importance to the business conducted by Dominion and our consolidated subsidiaries taken as whole.
Optional Redemption
The Senior Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any
time, and at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:
100% of the
principal amount of Senior Notes then outstanding to be redeemed, or
the sum of the
present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus 25 basis points, as calculated by an Independent Investment Banker,
plus, in either of the above cases, accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date.
Adjusted Treasury Rate means, with respect to any Redemption Date:
the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing
S-15
in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15(519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption Treasury Constant Maturities, for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no
maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate will be interpolated or
extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month); or
if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.
The Adjusted Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a
maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Senior Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable
maturity to the remaining term of such Senior Notes (Remaining Life).
Comparable Treasury Price means
(1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
Independent Investment Banker means
any of Barclays Capital Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective successors, or if that firm is unwilling or unable to serve as such, an independent investment and banking institution of national standing appointed by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer means:
Barclays Capital Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective successors; provided that, if anyone of them ceases to be a primary U.S.
Government securities dealer in New York City (Primary Treasury Dealer), we will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer; and
up to four other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the
Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted
S-16
in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such Redemption Date.
We will mail a notice of redemption at least 20 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Senior Notes to be redeemed. If we elect to
partially redeem the Senior Notes, the trustee will select in a fair and appropriate manner the Senior Notes to be redeemed.
Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Senior Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
The Trustee
The
trustee under the Senior Indenture is JPMorgan Chase Bank. JPMorgan Chase Bank is also the property and guarantee trustee for Dominion Resources Capital Trust I, Dominion Resources Capital Trust II, Dominion Resources Capital Trust III and Dominion
Resources Capital Trust IV and the trustee under the indenture related to our Junior Subordinated Debentures. JPMorgan Chase Bank also serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of certain of Dominions
affiliates are outstanding. JPMorgan Chase Bank is an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., one of the underwriters.
Upon issuance, the Senior Notes will be
represented by one or more fully registered global certificates. Each global certificate will be deposited with DTC or its custodian and will be registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC. DTC will thus be the only registered holder of these
securities.
The following is based on information furnished to us by DTC:
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a
clearing corporation within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities of its participants
(Participants) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its Participants in these securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the Participants, thereby eliminating the need for
physical movement of securities certificates. DTCs Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriter), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their
representatives) own DTC. Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by DTC only through Participants.
DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTCs system is also available to
others including securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (Indirect Participants). The rules applicable to
DTC and its Participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of securities within the DTC system must be made by
or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTCs records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser
S-17
of securities (Beneficial Owner) is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of
their purchases, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial
Owners purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing
their ownership interests in securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued.
DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the securities. DTCs records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the
Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements
among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Although
voting with respect to the securities is limited, in those cases where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect to securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an Omnibus Proxy to us as
soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to
the Omnibus Proxy).
Although voting with respect to the securities is limited, in those cases where a vote is
required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect to securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede &
Co.s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Payments on the securities will be made to DTC in immediately available funds. DTCs practice is to credit Direct Participants accounts on the relevant payment
date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTCs records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on the relevant payment date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of the Participant and not of DTC or Dominion, subject to
any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment to DTC is our responsibility, disbursement of the payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of the payments to the
Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
S-18
Except as provided in this prospectus supplement, a Beneficial Owner of
securities will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the securities. The laws of some
jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global
security.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the securities at
any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under those circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained, securities certificates will be printed and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, we may decide
to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect to the securities. In that event, certificates for the securities will be printed and delivered to the holders of record.
We have no responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Participants of their respective obligations as described in this
prospectus supplement or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.
Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an
underwriting agreement, dated the date of this prospectus supplement (Underwriting Agreement), the underwriters named below have agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to them severally, the principal amount of the Senior Notes set forth
opposite their names below:
Name
|
|
Principal Amount of Senior
Notes
|
Barclays Capital Inc. |
|
$187,500,000 |
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. |
|
187,500,000 |
Mizuho International plc |
|
25,000,000 |
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. |
|
25,000,000 |
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. |
|
25,000,000 |
Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc |
|
25,000,000 |
Westdeutsche Landesbank |
|
|
Girozentrale, London Branch |
|
25,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
$500,000,000 |
|
|
|
Barclays Capital Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as
joint bookrunners in connection with the offering of Senior Notes.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the
obligation of the several underwriters to purchase and pay for the Senior Notes are subject to, among other things, the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay
for all of the Senior Notes if any are taken.
The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the Senior
Notes directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page hereof and part to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of 0.400% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes. The underwriters
may allow, and any such dealers may reallow, a concession to certain other dealers not to exceed 0.250% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes. After the initial offering of the Senior Notes, the offering price and other selling terms may from
time to time be varied by the underwriters.
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering, not including
the underwriting discount, will be approximately $200,000.
S-19
We have agreed to indemnify each of the underwriters against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
We do not intend to apply for listing of the
Senior Notes on a national securities exchange, but have been advised by the underwriter that it intends to make a market in the Senior Notes. The underwriters are not obligated, however, to do so and may discontinue their market making at any time
without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the Senior Notes.
In
order to facilitate the offering of the Senior Notes, the underwriters may engage
in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Senior Notes.
Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in the Senior Notes for the underwriters. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the Senior Notes, the underwriters
may bid for, and purchase, the Senior Notes in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may reclaim selling concessions allowed to a dealer for distributing the Senior Notes in the offering, if they repurchase previously distributed Senior Notes
in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price for the Senior Notes above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to
engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. To the extent any underwriter that is not a U.S.-registered broker-dealer intends to effect sales of notes in the United States, it will do so through one or more
U.S.-registered broker-dealers in accordance with the applicable U.S. securities laws and regulations.
The
underwriters and their affiliates have, from time to time performed, and currently perform various investment or commercial banking and financial advisory services for us in the ordinary course of business. JPMorgan Chase Bank, the trustee under our
Senior Indenture, is an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering of the Senior
Notes will be passed upon for Dominion by McGuireWoods LLP and for the underwriters by Troutman Sanders LLP which also performs certain legal services for us, and our other affiliates on other matters.
The financial statements and the related financial statement schedule
incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports, which
are incorporated herein by reference, (which reports express an unqualified opinion and include an explanatory paragraph that describes a change in the method of accounting used to develop the market-related value of pension plan assets, discussed
in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, and the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, discussed in Note 15 to the
consolidated financial statements), and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-20
PROSPECTUS
DOMINION RESOURCES, INC.
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 819-2000
$2,000,000,000
Senior Debt Securities
Junior Subordinated
Debentures
Trust Preferred Securities, Related Guarantee and Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Neither the Securities and Exchange
Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus is dated March 2, 2001.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total
dollar amount of $2,000,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of
that offering. Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the offered securities will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement. 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 the heading WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.
We file annual, quarterly and special reports,
proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SECs public reference
rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. You may also read and copy these documents at the offices of the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later
with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
until we sell all of the securities.
· |
|
Annual Report on Form 10-K and Forms 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999; |
· |
|
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000 and September 30, 2000; |
· |
|
Current Reports on Form 8-K and Forms 8-K/A filed January 3, 2000, February 1, 2000, March 23, 2000, June 21, 2000, June 22, 2000, July 11, 2000, September 11,
2000, October 12, 2000, November 2, 2000, November 16, 2000, November 22, 2000, January 12, 2000, and January 24, 2001; and |
· |
|
The description of our common stock contained in Form 8-B (Item 4) dated April 29, 1983. |
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Corporate Secretary
Dominion
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 819-2000
2
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in
this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. 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 in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
Dominion is a fully integrated gas and electric energy holding company
headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As of December 31, 2000, we had approximately 28.7 billion in assets.
Primary Operating Segments
Dominions primary operating segments are:
Dominion EnergyDominion Energy manages Dominions 19,000 megawatt portfolio of electric power generation, its 7,600 miles of gas transmission pipeline and
a 959 billion cubic foot natural gas storage network. It also guides Dominions generation growth strategy and its commodity trading, marketing and risk management activities. Dominion currently operates generation facilities in Virginia, West
Virginia, North Carolina and Illinois.
Dominion DeliveryDominion Delivery manages Dominions
local electricand gas distribution systems serving 3.8 million customers, its 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines and its customer service operations. Dominion currently operates transmission and distribution
systems in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Dominion Delivery also includes Dominion Telecom with its 3,620 route-mile fiber optic network and related telecommunications
and advanced data services located principally in the northeast quadrant of the United States.
Dominion
Exploration & ProductionDominion Exploration & Production manages Dominions onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production activities. With approximately 2.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent reserves
and 320 billion cubic feet of annual production, Dominion Exploration & Production is one of the nations largest independent oil and gas operators. It operates on the outer continental shelf and deep water areas of the Gulf of Mexico,
western Canada, the Appalachian Basin and other selected regions in the continental United States.
Principal Legal Subsidiaries
Dominions principal legal subsidiaries include Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion Virginia
Power), a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, and Consolidated Natural Gas Company, a producer, transporter, distributor and retail
marketer of natural gas serving customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York and various cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Dominions other major legal subsidiaries include Dominion Energy, Inc., an independent power and
natural gas subsidiary, and Dominion Capital, Inc., a financial services subsidiary.
Dominions address and
telephone number are 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, telephone (804) 819-2100.
3
For additional information about Dominion, see WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION on page 2.
Dominion Resources Capital Trust IV is a statutory business trust newly
formed under Delaware law by us, as sponsor for the Trust, and Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, who will serve as trustee in the State of Delaware for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the Delaware Business Trust Act.
The trust agreement for the Trust will be amended and restated substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, effective when securities of the Trust are initially issued. The amended trust agreement will be qualified as
an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of
· |
|
issuing two classes of trust securities, Trust Preferred Securities and trust common securities, which together represent undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust; |
· |
|
investing the gross proceeds of the trust securities in our Junior Subordinated Debentures; |
· |
|
making distributions; and |
· |
|
engaging in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental to the purposes listed above. |
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of the Trust, and our payments under the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the
Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities will be the sole revenue of the Trust.
No separate financial statements
of any Trust are included in this prospectus. We consider that these financial statements would not be material to holders of the Trust Preferred Securities because the Trust has no independent operations and the purpose of the Trust is as described
above. The Trust is not required to file annual, quarterly or special reports with the SEC.
The principal place
of business of the Trust will be c/o Dominion Resources, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
The net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities will be used
for financing our $1.3 billion acquisition of the approximately 2,000 megawatt Millstone Nuclear facility in Connecticut, and for other general corporate purposes including financing future acquisitions.
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of
the periods indicated is as follows:
|
|
Nine Months ended Sept. 30, 2000(1)
|
|
Twelve Months ended Dec. 31,
|
|
|
|
1995
|
|
1996
|
|
1997(3)
|
|
1998
|
|
1999(2)
|
|
|
1.64 |
|
2.55 |
|
2.71 |
|
1.97 |
|
2.36 |
|
2.02 |
These computations reflect Dominions consolidated earnings
and consolidated fixed charges including proportionate interests in the earnings and fixed charges of certain other companies in which we hold an equity interest. For these ratios, earnings is determined by adding total fixed charges (excluding
interest capitalized), income taxes, minority common stockholders equity
4
in net income and amortization of interest capitalized to income from continuing operations after eliminating equity in undistributed earnings and adding back losses of companies in which at
least 20% but less than 50% equity is owned by Dominion. For this purpose, total fixed charges consists of (1) interest on all indebtedness and amortization of debt discount and expense, (2) interest capitalized and (3) an interest factor
attributable to rentals.
(1) |
|
If Dominion had completed the CNG acquisition as of January 1, 2000, the pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30,
2000 would be 1.18x. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 includes $411 million in restructuring and other acquisition-related costs resulting from the CNG acquisition and a write-down at Dominion Capital, Inc. Dominion is
required to divest its financial services business as a result of the acquisition of CNG. Excluding this charge, from the calculation above results in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 of 2.17x.
|
(2) |
|
Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 1999 includes the one-time after-tax charge of $255 million resulting from the discontinued application by
Virginia Power of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation, to its generation operations. Excluding this charge from the calculation above results in a ratio of
earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 1999 of 2.48x. |
(3) |
|
Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 1997 includes the one-time charge of $157 million for the windfall profits tax levied by the United Kingdom
government. Excluding this charge from the calculation above results in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 1997 of 2.22x. |
The term Debt Securities includes the Senior Debt
Securities and the Junior Subordinated Debentures. We will issue the Senior Debt Securities in one or more series under our Senior Indenture dated as of June 1, 2000 between us and The Chase Manhattan Bank as Trustee, as supplemented from time to
time. We will issue the Junior Subordinated Debentures in one or more series under our Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 1, 1997 between us and The Chase Manhattan Bank as Trustee, as supplemented from time to time. The indenture
related to the Junior Subordinated Debentures is called the Subordinated Indenture in this prospectus, and together, the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are called Indentures. We have summarized selected provisions of the Indentures
below. The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement and you should read the Indentures for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to
section numbers of the
Indentures so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.
5
General
The Senior Debt Securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be our unsecured
obligations and are junior in right of payment to our Senior Indebtedness, as described under the caption ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURESSUBORDINATION.
Because we are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the Debt Securities is dependent on
the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Holders of Debt Securities will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries,
including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders. Dominion Virginia Power has approximately 5.1 million issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock. In addition
to trade debt, all of our operating subsidiaries have ongoing corporate debt programs used to finance their business activities. As of December 31, 2000, our subsidiaries had approximately $8.9 billion of outstanding debt.
Neither of the Indentures limits the amount of Debt Securites that we may issue under it. We may issue Debt Securities from time to time
under the Indentures in one or more series by entering into supplemental indentures or by our Board of Directors or duly authorized officers authorizing the issuance. A form of supplemental indenture to each of the Indentures is an
exhibit to the registration statement.
The Indentures do not protect the holders of Debt Securities if we engage
in a highly leveraged transaction.
Provisions of a Particular Series
The Debt Securities of a series need not be issued at the same time, bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a
series, a series may be reopened, without notice to or consent of any holder of outstanding Debt Securities, for issuances of additional Debt Securities of that series. The prospectus supplement for a particular series of Debt Securities will
specify the terms of that series, including, if applicable, some or all of the following:
· |
|
the title and type of the Debt Securities; |
· |
|
the total principal amount of the Debt Securities; |
· |
|
the portion of the principal payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the entire principal; |
· |
|
the date or dates on which principal is payable or the method for determining the date or dates, and any right that we have to change the date on which
principal is payable; |
· |
|
the interest rate or rates, if any, or the method for determining the rate or rates, and the date or dates from which interest will accrue;
|
· |
|
any interest payment dates and the regular record date for the interest payable on each interest payment date, if any; |
· |
|
any payments due if the maturity of the Debt Securities is accelerated; |
6
· |
|
any optional redemption terms, or, with respect to the Senior Debt Securities, any repayment terms; |
· |
|
any provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the Debt Securities, or, with respect to the Senior Debt Securities, any sinking fund
provisions; |
· |
|
the currency in which payments will be made if other than U.S. dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent of those amounts in U.S. dollars;
|
· |
|
if payments may be made, at our election or at the holders election, in a currency other than that in which the Debt Securities are stated to be payable,
then the currency in which those payments may be made, the terms and conditions of the election and the manner of determining those amounts; |
· |
|
any index or formula used for determining principal, interest, or premium, if any; |
· |
|
the percentage of the principal amount at which the Debt Securities will be issued, if other than 100% of the principal amount; |
· |
|
whether the Debt Securities will be issued in fully registered certificated form or book-entry form, represented by certificates deposited with, or on behalf
of, a securities depositary and registered in the name of the depositarys nominee (Book-Entry Debt Securities); |
· |
|
denominations, if other than $1,000 each or multiples of $1,000; |
· |
|
any changes to events of defaults or covenants; and |
· |
|
any other terms of the Debt Securities. (Sections 201 & 301 of the Senior Indenture & Sections 2.1 & 2.3 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
|
The prospectus supplement will also indicate any special tax implications of the Debt
Securities and any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs.
Conversion or Redemption
No Debt Security will be subject to conversion, amortization, or redemption, unless otherwise provided in the
applicable prospectus supplement. Any provisions relating to the conversion or redemption of Debt Securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, including whether conversion is mandatory or at our option. If no redemption date
or redemption price is indicated with respect to a Debt Security, we may not redeem the Debt Security prior to its stated maturity. Debt Securities subject to redemption by us will be subject to the following terms:
· |
|
redeemable on and after the applicable redemption dates; |
· |
|
redemption dates and redemption prices fixed at the time of sale and set forth on the Debt Security; and |
· |
|
redeemable in whole or in part (provided that any remaining principal amount of the Debt Security will be equal to an authorized denomination) at our option at
the applicable redemption price, together with interest, payable to the date of redemption, on notice given not more than 60 nor less than 20 days prior to the date of redemption. (Section 1104 of the Senior Indenture & Section 3.2 of the
Subordinated Indenture.) |
We will not be required to:
· |
|
issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Securities of a series during the period beginning 15 days before the date
|
7
the notice is mailed identifying the Debt Securities of that series that have been selected for redemption; or
· |
|
register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Security of that series selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of a Debt Security being partially
redeemed. (Section 305 of the Senior Indenture & Section 2.5 of the Subordinated Indenture.) |
Payment
and Transfer; Paying Agent
The paying agent will pay the principal of any Debt Securities only if those Debt
Securities are surrendered to it. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the paying agent will pay principal, interest and premium, if any, on Debt Securities, subject to such surrender, where applicable, at its office
or, at our option:
· |
|
by wire transfer to an account at a banking institution in the United States that is designated in writing to the Trustee prior to the deadline set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement by the person entitled to that payment (which in the case of Book-Entry Debt Securities is the securities depositary or its nominee); or |
· |
|
by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to that interest as that address appears in the security register for those Debt Securities. (Sections
307 & 1001 of the Senior Indenture & Section 4.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.) |
Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Book-Entry Debt Security, or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests. We expect that the securities depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, in a Book-Entry Debt Security, will credit
immediately the accounts of the related participants with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interest in the Book-Entry Debt Security as shown on the records of the securities depositary.
We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Book-Entry Debt Security will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers in bearer form or registered in street name and will be the responsibility of the participants.
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Trustee will act as paying agent for the Debt Securities, and the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee will be the office through which the paying
agent acts. We may, however, change or add paying agents or approve a change in the office through which a paying agent acts. (Section 1002 of the Senior Indenture & Section 4.4 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Any money that we have paid to a paying agent for principal or interest on any Debt Securities which remains unclaimed at the end of two
years after that principal or interest has become due will be repaid to us at our request. After any repayment, holders should look only to us for those payments. (Section 1003 of the Senior Indenture & Section 12.4 of the Subordinated
Indenture.)
8
Fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate
trust office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency we maintain for those purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge. (Section 1002 of the Senior Indenture & Section 2.5 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
Global Securities
We may issue some or all of the Debt Securities as Book-Entry Debt Securities. Book-Entry Debt Securities will be represented by one or more fully registered global
certificates. Book-Entry Debt Securities of like tenor and terms up to $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount may be represented by a single global certificate. Each global certificate will be deposited and registered with the securities depositary
or its nominee or a custodian for the securities depositary. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive form, a global certificate may generally be transferred only as a whole unless it is being transferred to
certain nominees of the depositary. (Section 305 of the Senior Indenture & Section 2.5 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Unless otherwise stated in any prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company will act as the securities depositary. Beneficial interests in global certificates will be shown on, and transfers of global certificates will be
effected only through, records maintained by the securities depositary and its participants. If there are any additional or differing terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to the Book-Entry Debt Securities, we will describe them in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Holders of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Debt Securities represented by a
global certificate are referred to as beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will be limited to institutions having accounts with the securities depositary or its nominee, which are called participants in this discussion, and to persons that hold
beneficial interests through participants. When a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities is issued, the securities depositary will credit on its book-entry, registration and transfer system the principal amounts of Book-Entry
Debt Securities the global certificate represents to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global certificate will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through,
records maintained by:
· |
|
the securities depositary, with respect to participants interests; and |
· |
|
any participant, with respect to interests the participant holds on behalf of other persons. |
As long as the securities depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt
Securities, that person will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global certificate and the Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents for all purposes. Except in limited circumstances, beneficial owners:
· |
|
may not have the global certificate or any Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents registered in their names; |
· |
|
may not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Book-Entry Debt Securities in exchange for the global certificate; and
|
9
· |
|
will not be considered the owners or holders of the global certificate or any Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents for any purposes under the Debt
Securities or the Indentures. (Section 2.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.) |
We will make
all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, on a Book-Entry Debt Security to the securities depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global certificate. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities
take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global certificate.
Payments participants make to beneficial owners holding interests through those participants will be the responsibility of those participants. The securities depositary may from time to time adopt
various policies and procedures governing payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global certificate. None of the following will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the securities
depositarys or any participants records relating to beneficial interests in a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities, for payments made on account of those beneficial interests or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests:
· |
|
the Trust (only with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures if the Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued to a Trust); or
|
· |
|
any agent of any of the above. |
Covenants
Under the Indentures we will:
· |
|
pay the principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities when due; |
· |
|
maintain a place of payment; |
· |
|
deliver an officers certificate to the Trustee at the end of each fiscal year confirming our compliance with our obligations under each of the Indentures;
and |
· |
|
deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the due date for any principal, interest or premium, if any. (Sections 1001, 1002, 1003 &
1006 of the Senior Indenture & Sections 4.1, 4.2 4.4 & 4.6 of the Subordinated Indenture.) |
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The Indentures provide that we may consolidate or merge with
or into, or sell all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, another corporation or other entity, provided that any successor assumes our obligations under the Indentures and the Debt Securities issued under the Indentures. We must
also deliver an opinion of counsel to the Trustee affirming our compliance with all conditions in the applicable Indenture relating to the transaction. When the conditions are satisfied, the successor will succeed to and be substituted for us under
the Senior Indenture, and we will be relieved of our obligations under the Senior Indenture and the Debt Securities issued under them. (Sections 801 & 802 of the Senior Indenture & Sections 11.1, 11.2 & 11.3 of the Subordinated
Indenture.)
10
Events of Default
Event of Default when used in each of the Indentures, will mean any of the following:
· |
|
failure to pay the principal or any premium on any Debt Security when due; |
· |
|
with respect to the Senior Debt Securities, failure to deposit any sinking fund payment when due that continues for 60 days; |
· |
|
failure to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series, when due, that continues for 60 days (or for 30 days in the case of any Junior Subordinated
Debentures); provided that, if applicable, for this purpose, the date on which interest is due is the date on which we are required to make payment following any deferral of interest payments by us under the terms of Junior Subordinated Debentures
that permit such deferrals; |
· |
|
failure to perform any other covenant in the Indentures (other than a covenant expressly included solely for the benefit of other series) that continues for 90
days after the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% of the outstanding Debt Securities (25% in the case of the Junior Subordinated Debentures) of that series give us written notice of the default; |
· |
|
certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Dominion; or |
· |
|
any other Event of Default included in the Indentures or any supplemental indenture. (Section 501 of the Senior Indenture & Section 6.1 of the
Subordinated Indenture.) |
In the case of a general covenant default described above, the
Trustee may extend the grace period. In addition, if holders of a particular series have given a notice of default, then holders of at least the same percentage of Debt Securities of that series, together with the Trustee, may also extend the grace
period. The grace period will be automatically extended if we have initiated and are diligently pursuing corrective action.
An Event of Default for a particular series of Debt Securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of Debt Securities issued under the Indentures. Additional events of default may be established
for a particular series and, if established, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If an
Event of Default for any series of Debt Securities occurs and continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% (25%, in the case of the Junior Subordinated Debentures) in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series may
declare the entire principal of all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that
series can void the trust agreement. (Section 502 of the Senior Indenture & Section 6.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of Debt Securities of any default (except in the payment of principal or interest) if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.
Other than its duties in case of a default, a Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indentures at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the Trustee reasonable indemnity. If
they provide this reasonable indemnification, the
11
holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of Debt Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any power conferred upon the Trustee, for any series of Debt Securities. (Sections 512, 601 & 602 of the Senior Indenture & Sections 6.6, 7.1 & 7.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The holder of any Debt Security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium and, within
certain limitations, any interest on that Debt Security on its maturity date or redemption date and to enforce those payments. (Section 508 of the Senior Indenture & Section 14.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Satisfaction; Discharge
We may discharge all our obligations (except those described below) to holders of the Debt Securities issued under the Indentures, which Debt Securities have not already been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and which either
have become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, by depositing with the Trustee an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due the principal, interest and
premium, if any, on all outstanding Debt Securities. However, certain of our obligations under the Indentures will survive, including with respect to the following:
· |
|
remaining rights to register the transfer, conversion, substitution or exchange of Debt Securities of the applicable series; |
· |
|
rights of holders to receive payments of principal of, and any interest on, the Debt Securities of the applicable series, and other rights, duties and
obligations of the holders of Debt Securities with respect to any amounts deposited with the Trustee; and |
· |
|
the rights, obligations and immunities of the Trustee under the Indentures. (Section 401 of Senior Indenture & Section 12.1 of Subordinated
Indenture.) |
Modification of Indentures; Waiver
Under the Indentures our rights and obligations and the rights of the holders may be modified with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by the modification. No modification of the principal or interest payment terms, and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications, is effective against any holder without
its consent. (Section 902 of the Senior Indenture & Section 10.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.) In addition, we may supplement the Indentures to create new series of Debt Securities and for certain other purposes, without the consent of
any holders of Debt Securities. (Section 901 of the Senior Indenture & Section 10.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The holders of a majority of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series under the applicable Indenture with respect to which a default has occurred and is continuing may waive a default for all those series, except a default in
the payment of principal or interest, or any premium, on any Debt Securities or a default with respect to a covenant or provision which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security of the series
affected. (Section 513 of the Senior Indenture & Section 6.6 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
12
In addition, under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series may waive in advance, for that series, our compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the Subordinated Indenture under which those Junior Subordinated Debentures were issued.
(Section 4.7 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Concerning the Trustee
The Chase Manhattan Bank is the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and the Trustee under the Senior Indenture. We and certain of our affiliates maintain deposit accounts
and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan Bank also serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of ours and of certain of our affiliates are outstanding. It has purchased, and is likely to
purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates.
The Trustee will perform only those
duties that are specifically set forth in the Indentures unless an event of default under an Indenture occurs and is continuing. The Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers under the Indentures at the request of any holder of
Debt Securities unless that holder offers reasonable indemnity to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur as a result. (Section 601 of the Senior Indenture & Section 7.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Trustee administers its corporate trust business at 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001
(Attention: Institutional Trust Services).
Repayment at the Option of the Holder; Repurchases by
Dominion
We must repay the Senior Debt Securities at the option of the holders prior to the Stated Maturity
Date only if specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, the Senior Debt Securities subject to repayment at the option of the holder will be subject to repayment:
· |
|
on the specified Repayment Dates; and |
· |
|
at a repayment price equal to 100% of the unpaid principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued to the Repayment Date. (Section 1302 of
the Senior Indenture.) |
For any Senior Debt Security to be repaid, the Trustee must
receive, at its office maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the date of repayment:
· |
|
in the case of a certificated Senior Debt Security, the certificated Senior Debt Security and the form in the Senior Debt Security entitled Option of Holder to
Elect Purchase duly completed; or |
· |
|
in the case of a book-entry Senior Debt Security, instructions to that effect from the beneficial owner to the securities depositary and forwarded by the
securities depositary. Exercise of the repayment option by the holder will be irrevocable. (Section 1303 of the Senior Indenture.) |
Only the securities depositary may exercise the repayment option in respect of beneficial interests in the book-entry Senior Debt Securities. Accordingly, beneficial
13
owners that desire repayment in respect of all or any portion of their beneficial interests must instruct the participants through which they own their interests to direct the securities
depositary to exercise the repayment option on their behalf. All instructions given to participants from beneficial owners relating to the option to elect repayment will be irrevocable. In addition, at the time the instructions are given, each
beneficial owner will cause the participant through which it owns its interest to transfer its interest in the book-entry Senior Debt Securites or the global certificate representing the related book-entry Senior Debt Securities, on the securities
depositarys records, to the Trustee. See DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIESGLOBAL SECURITIES.
Defeasance
We will be discharged from our obligations on the Senior Debt Securities of any series at any time if we deposit with the
Trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the Senior Debt Securities of the series. If this happens, the holders of the
Senior Debt Securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the Senior Indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of Senior Debt Securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated Senior Debt Securities.
(Section 402 of the Senior Indenture.)
Under federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, a
discharge may be treated as an exchange of the related Senior Debt Securities. Each holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holders cost or other tax basis for the Senior Debt Securities and the
value of the holders interest in the trust. Holders might be required to include as income a different amount than would be includable without the discharge. We urge prospective investors to consult their own tax advisers as to the
consequences of a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the federal income tax law.
Additional Covenants Applicable to Junior
Subordinated Debentures
Under the Subordinated Indenture, we will:
· |
|
maintain 100% ownership of any Trust to which the Junior Subordinated Debentures have been issued while the Junior Subordinated Debentures remain outstanding;
and |
· |
|
pay to any Trust to which the Junior Subordinated Debentures have been issued any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other
than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or any other taxing authority on that Trust, so that the net amounts received and retained by that Trust (after paying any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges) will be not
less than the Trust would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges been imposed. (Sections 4.8 & 4.9 of the Subordinated Indenture.) |
14
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period
We can defer interest payments by extending the interest payment period for the number of consecutive extension periods specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement (each, an Extension Period). Other details regarding the Extension Period will also be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. No Extension Period may extend beyond the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. At the end
of the Extension Period(s), we will pay all interest then accrued and unpaid, together with interest compounded quarterly at the rate for the Junior Subordinated Debentures, to the extent permitted by applicable law. (Section 2.10 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
During any Extension Period, we will not make distributions related to our capital
stock, including dividends, redemptions, repurchases, liquidation payments, or guarantee payments. Also we will not make any payments, redeem or repurchase any debt securities of equal or junior rank to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or make any
guarantee payments on any such debt securities. We may, however, make the following types of distributions:
· |
|
dividends paid in common stock; |
· |
|
dividends in connection with the implementation of a shareholder rights plan; |
· |
|
payments to a trust holding securities of the same series under a guarantee; or |
· |
|
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of our capital stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of |
employees, officers, directors or consultants.
Subordination
Each
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness as defined below. If:
· |
|
we make a payment or distribution of any of our assets to creditors upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether in bankruptcy,
insolvency or otherwise; |
· |
|
a default beyond any grace period has occurred and is continuing with respect to the payment of principal, interest or any other monetary amounts due and
payable on any Senior Indebtedness; or |
· |
|
the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default on that Senior Indebtedness, |
then the holders of Senior Indebtedness generally will have the right to receive payment, in the case of the first instance, of all amounts due or to become due
upon that Senior Indebtedness, and, in the case of the second and third instances, of all amounts due on that Senior Indebtedness, or we will make provision for those payments, before the holders of any Junior Subordinated Debentures have the right
to receive any payments of principal or interest on their Junior Subordinated Debentures. (Sections 14.1 and 14.9 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Senior Indebtedness means, with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the principal, premium, interest
15
and any other payment in respect of any of the following:
· |
|
all of our indebtedness for borrowed or purchased money that is evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other written instruments;
|
· |
|
our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, bankers acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our account;
|
· |
|
any of our other indebtedness or obligations with respect to commodity contracts, interest rate commodity and currency swap agreements and other similar
agreements or arrangements; and |
· |
|
all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed or guaranteed. |
Senior Indebtedness will not include our obligations to trade creditors or indebtedness to our subsidiaries. (Section 1.1 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions
in the Subordinated Indenture irrespective of the amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness. We may not amend the Subordinated Indenture to change the subordination of any outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures
without the consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness that the amendment would
adversely affect. (Sections 10.2 & 14.7 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness that we may issue.
The following is a summary of the
principal terms of the Trust Preferred Securities. The form of amended trust agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or is incorporated by reference. The terms of the Trust Preferred
Securities will include those stated in the amended trust agreement and those made part of the amended trust agreement by the Trust Indenture Act.
General
The Trust will exist until terminated as provided in its amended trust agreement.
Except under certain circumstances, we will be entitled to appoint, remove, or replace trustees, who will conduct the business and affairs of the Trust. The trustees of the Trust will consist of:
· |
|
two employees, officers or affiliates of the Company as Administrative Trustees; |
· |
|
a financial institution unaffiliated with us that will act as property trustee and as indenture trustee for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act, under the terms
set forth in a prospectus supplement (the Property Trustee); and |
· |
|
one trustee with its principal place of business or who resides in the State of Delaware and who will act under the terms set forth in a prospectus supplement.
(Sections 6.1 through 6.5 of the Amended Trust Agreement.) |
The amended trust agreement
will authorize the Administrative Trustees to issue, on behalf of the Trust, two classes of trust securities, Trust Preferred Securities
16
and trust common securities, each of which will have the terms described in this prospectus and in the prospectus supplement. We will own all of the trust common securities. The trust common
securities will rank equally in right of payment, and payments will be made on the trust common securities, proportionately with the Trust Preferred Securities. However, if an event of default occurs and is continuing under the amended trust
agreement, the rights of the holders of the trust common securities to payment for distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities. We will
acquire, directly or indirectly, trust common securities in a total liquidation amount of approximately 3% of the total capital of the Trust. (Sections 3.6, 5.1, 5.2 and 7.1 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
The proceeds from the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities will be used by the Trust to purchase our Junior Subordinated Debentures.
These Junior Subordinated Debentures will be held in trust by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the trust securities. We will guarantee the payments of distributions and payments on redemption or liquidation with respect to the
Trust Preferred Securities, but only to the extent the Trust has funds available to make those payments and has not made the payments. See DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEE.
The assets of the Trust available for distribution to the holders of Trust Preferred Securities will be limited to payments from us under the Junior Subordinated Debentures
held by the Trust. If we fail to make a payment on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to make related payments, including distributions, on its Trust Preferred Securities.
The Guarantee, when taken together with our obligations under the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Subordinated Indenture and the
amended trust agreement, will provide a full and unconditional guarantee of amounts due on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by the Trust.
The Trust Preferred Securities will have the terms, including distributions, redemption, voting, liquidation rights and other preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions that will be
described in the amended trust agreement or made part of the amended trust agreement by the Trust Indenture Act or the Delaware Business Trust Act. The terms of the Trust Preferred Securities will mirror the terms of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures held by the Trust. In other words, the distribution rate and the distribution payment dates and other payment dates for the Trust Preferred Securities will correspond to the interest rate and interest payment dates and other payment dates
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Holders of Trust Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar rights. (Section 7.1 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Provisions of a Particular Series
The Trust may issue only
one series of Trust Preferred Securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the principal terms of the Trust Preferred Securities that will be offered, including:
· |
|
the name of the Trust Preferred Securities; |
17
· |
|
the liquidation amount and number of Trust Preferred Securities issued; |
· |
|
the annual distribution rate(s) or method of determining such rate(s), the payment date(s) and the record dates used to determine the holders who are to receive
distributions; |
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the date from which distributions will be cumulative; |
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the optional redemption provisions, if any, including the prices, time periods and other terms and conditions on which the Trust Preferred Securities will be
purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part; |
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the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the related Guarantee may be distributed to holders of those Trust Preferred
Securities; |
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any securities exchange on which the Trust Preferred Securities will be listed; |
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whether the Trust Preferred Securities are to be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global certificates, and if so, the depository for
those global certificates and the specific terms of the depositary arrangements; and |
· |
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any other relevant rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or restrictions of the Trust Preferred Securities. (Article 7 of the Amended Trust
Agreement.) |
The interest rate and interest and other payment dates of each series of
Junior
Subordinated Debentures issued to a Trust will correspond to the rate at which distributions will be paid and the distribution and other payment dates of the Trust
Preferred Securities of the Trust.
Extensions
We have the right under the Subordinated Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures by extending the interest payment period from time to
time on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Administrative Trustees will give the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities notice of any Extension Period upon their receipt of notice from us. If distributions are deferred, the deferred
distributions and accrued interest will be paid to holders of record of the Trust Preferred Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date next following the termination of such deferral period. See ADDITIONAL
TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURESOPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD.
Distributions
Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities will be made on the dates payable to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the
payment of distributions in the Property Account held by the Property Trustee. The Trusts funds available for distribution to the holders of the trust securities will be limited to payments received from us on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. We have guaranteed the payment of distributions out of monies held by the Trust to the extent set forth under DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEE.
Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities will be payable to the holders named on the securities register of the Trust at the close of business on the record dates, which, as long as the Trust
Preferred Securities remain in book-entry only form,
18
will be one business day prior to the relevant payment dates. Distributions will be paid through the Property Trustee who will hold amounts
received in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in the Property Account for the benefit of the holders of the trust securities. In the event that the Trust Preferred Securities do not continue to remain in book-entry only form, the
relevant record dates will conform to the rules of any securities exchange on which the Trust Preferred Securities are listed and, if none, the Administrative Trustees will have the right to select relevant record dates, which will be more than 14
days but less than 60 days prior to the relevant payment dates. In the event that any date on which distributions are to be made on the Trust Preferred Securities is not a business day, then payment of the distributions payable on that date will be
made on the next succeeding day which is a business day and without any interest or other payment in respect of that delay, except that, if that business day is in the next succeeding calendar year, the payment will be made on the immediately
preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the record date. (Section 7.2 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Mandatory Redemption of Trust Preferred Securities
The Trust Preferred Securities have no
stated maturity date, but will be redeemed upon the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or to the extent the Junior Subordinated Debentures are redeemed prior to maturity. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on the date
specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and may be redeemed at any time, in whole but not in part, in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event as described under SPECIAL EVENT
REDEMPTION.
Upon the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the proceeds of their repayment will
simultaneously be applied to redeem all the outstanding trust securities at the Redemption Price. Upon the redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, either at our option or as a result of a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event, the
proceeds from the redemption will simultaneously be applied to redeem trust securities having a total liquidation amount equal to the total principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures so redeemed at the redemption price; provided, that
holders of trust securities will be given not less than 20 nor more than 60 days notice of the redemption. In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding trust securities are to be redeemed, the trust securities will be redeemed
proportionately. (Section 7.3 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Special Event Redemption
Both a Tax Event and an Investment Company Act Event constitute Special Events for purposes of the redemption provisions described in the
preceding paragraph.
A Tax Event means that the Administrative Trustees have received an opinion of independent
tax counsel experienced in those matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, change or announced proposed change in:
· |
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the laws or regulations of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or taxing authorities, or |
19
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any official administrative pronouncement, action or judicial decision interpreting or applying those laws or regulations, |
· |
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which amendment or change becomes effective or proposed change, pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date the Trust Preferred
Securities are issued and sold, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: |
· |
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the Trust is or within 90 days would be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
|
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interest payable to the Trust on the Junior Subordinated Debentures is not or within 90 days would not be deductible, in whole or in part, by us for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, or |
· |
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the Trust is or within 90 days would be subject to a material amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. |
An Investment Company Event means that the Administrative Trustees have received an opinion of a nationally recognized
independent counsel to the effect that, as a result of an amendment to or change in the Investment Company Act or regulations thereunder on or after the date the Trust Preferred Securities are issued and sold, there is more than an insubstantial
risk that the Trust is or will be considered an investment company and be required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. (Section 1.1 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Redemption Procedures
The Trust may not redeem
fewer than all the outstanding trust securities unless all accrued and unpaid distributions have been paid on all trust securities for all distribution periods terminating on or before the date of redemption. In the event that fewer than all of the
outstanding trust securities are to be redeemed, the trust securities will be redeemed proportionately.
If the
Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of the trust securities (which notice will be irrevocable), then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, and if we have paid to the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in
connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the depositary funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price and will give the depositary
irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, and the paying agent will pay the applicable redemption price to the holders of the trust common securities by check. If notice of
redemption has been given and funds deposited as required, then, immediately prior to the close of business on the date of the deposit, distributions will cease to accrue and all rights of holders of Trust Preferred Securities called for redemption
will cease, except the right of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities to receive the redemption price but without interest on the redemption price. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of Trust Preferred Securities is not a
business day, then payment of the redemption price payable on
20
that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day, without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay, except that, if that business day falls in the next
calendar year, payment will be made on the immediately preceding business day. In the event that payment of the redemption price in respect of Trust Preferred Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by us
under the Guarantee, distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate from the original redemption date to the date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date
fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the redemption price.
Subject to the foregoing and applicable
law, including, without limitation, U.S. federal securities laws, we or our subsidiaries may at any time, and from time to time, purchase outstanding Trust Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. (Section 7.4
of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Conversion or Exchange Rights
The terms on which the Trust Preferred Securities are convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or our other securities will be contained in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Those terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and may include provisions under which the number of shares of common stock or our other
securities to be received by the holders of Trust Preferred Securities would be subject to adjustment.
Distribution of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures
We will have the right at any time to dissolve the Trust and, after satisfaction of
the liabilities of creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to cause Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities in a total stated principal amount equal to the total stated
liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities then outstanding. Prior to any such dissolution, we will obtain any required regulatory approvals. The right to dissolve the trust and distribute the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
conditioned on our receipt of an opinion rendered by an independent tax counsel that the distribution would not result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes by the holders. (Section 8.1 of the Amended Trust
Agreement.)
Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution
The amended trust agreement will state that the Trust will be dissolved:
· |
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upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to us; |
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upon the filing of a certificate of cancellation with respect to the Trust after obtaining the consent of at least a majority in liquidation amount of the Trust
Preferred Securities, voting together as a single class; |
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90 days after the revocation of our charter, but only if the charter is not reinstated during that 90-day period; |
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upon the distribution of the related Junior Subordinated Debentures directly to the
|
21
holders of the trust securities;
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upon the redemption of all of the trust securities; or |
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upon entry of a court order for the dissolution of us or the Trust. (Section 8.1 of the Amended Trust Agreement.) |
In the event of a dissolution, after the Trust pays all amounts owed to creditors, the holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities will be entitled to receive:
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cash equal to the total liquidation amount of each Trust Preferred Security specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, plus accumulated and unpaid
distributions to the date of payment, or |
· |
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Junior Subordinated Debentures in a total principal amount equal to the total liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities.
|
If the Trust cannot pay the full amount due on its trust securities because insufficient assets are
available for payment, then the amounts payable by the Trust on its trust securities will be paid proportionately. However, if an event of default under the related amended trust agreement occurs, the total amounts due on the Trust Preferred
Securities will be paid before any distribution on the trust common securities. Under certain circumstances involving the dissolution of the Trust, subject to obtaining any required regulatory approval, Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
distributed to the holders of the trust securities in liquidation of the Trust. (Section 8.2 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Trust Enforcement Events
An event of default under the Subordinated Indenture relating to
the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be an event of default under the amended trust agreement (a Trust Enforcement Event). See DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIESEVENTS OF DEFAULT.
In addition, the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or termination of the Trust is also a Trust Enforcement Event, except in connection with:
· |
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the distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of the trust securities of the Trust, |
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the redemption of all of the trust securities of the Trust, and |
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mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the amended trust agreement of the Trust. |
Under the amended trust agreement, the holder of the trust common securities will be deemed to have waived any Trust Enforcement Event
with respect to the trust common securities until all Trust Enforcement Events with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all Trust Enforcement Events with respect to the Trust Preferred
Securities have been so cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities and only the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities will have the
right to direct the Property Trustee with respect to certain matters under the amended trust agreement and the Subordinated Indenture. In the event that any Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities is waived by the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities as provided in the amended trust agreement, under the
22
amended trust agreement the holders of trust common securities have agreed that the waiver also constitutes a waiver of the Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the trust common securities for
all purposes under the amended trust agreement without any further act, vote or consent of the holders of trust common securities. (Section 2.6 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
We and the Administrative Trustees must file annually with the Property Trustee a certificate evidencing compliance with all the applicable conditions and covenants under
the amended trust agreement. (Section 2.4 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Upon the occurrence of a Trust
Enforcement Event the Property Trustee, as the sole holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, will have the right under the Subordinated Indenture to declare the principal of, interest and premium, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
to be immediately due and payable.
If a Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the amended trust
agreement or the Subordinated Indenture to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of the amended trust agreement and the Subordinated Indenture, any holder of Trust Preferred Securities may sue us, or seek other remedies, to
enforce the Property Trustees rights under the amended trust agreement or the Subordinated Indenture without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person. If a Trust Enforcement Event occurs and is
continuing as a result of our failure to pay principal of or interest or premium, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures when payable, then a holder of the Trust Preferred Securities may directly sue us or seek other remedies, to collect its
proportionate share of payments owned. See RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE GUARANTEE AND THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES HELD BY THE TRUST.
Removal and Replacement of Trustees
Only the holders of
trust common securities have the right to remove or replace the trustees of the Trust, except that while an event of default in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures has occurred or is continuing, the holders of a majority of the Trust
Preferred Securities will have this right. The resignation or removal of any trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee will be effective only on the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the
amended trust agreement. (Section 6.6 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Mergers, Consolidations or Amalgamations of the Trust
The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease
its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other corporation or other body (each, a Merger Event), except as described below. The Trust may, with the consent of a majority of its Administrative Trustees and without the consent of
the holders of its trust securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by another trust, provided that:
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the successor entity either |
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assumes all of the obligations of the Trust relating to its trust securities, or |
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substitutes other securities for the trust securities that are substantially similar to the trust securities, so long as the successor securities rank the same
as the trust securities for distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise; |
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we acknowledge a trustee of the successor entity who has the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee of the Trust, as the holder of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures; |
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the Trust Preferred Securities are listed, or any successor securities will be listed, upon notice of issuance, on the same securities exchange or other
organization that the Trust Preferred Securities are then listed; |
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the Merger Event does not cause the Trust Preferred Securities or successor securities to be downgraded by any nationally recognized rating agency;
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the Merger Event does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the trust securities or successor securities in any material
way, other than with respect to any dilution of the holders interest in the new entity; |
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the successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the Trust; |
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prior to the Merger Event, we have received an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm stating that |
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the Merger Event does not adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities or any successor securities in any material way, other
than with respect to any dilution of the holders interest in the new entity, and |
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following the Merger Event, neither the Trust nor the successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act;
and |
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we guarantee the obligations of the successor entity under the successor securities in the same manner as in the Guarantee. |
In addition, unless all of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities and trust common securities approve otherwise, the
Trust will not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it, if, in the opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel
experienced in such matters, the transaction would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified other than as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. (Section 3.15 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement
The holders of Trust Preferred Securities have no voting rights except as discussed under MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR AMALGAMATIONS OF THE TRUST and DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEEAMENDMENTS, and as
otherwise required by law and the amended trust agreement.
The amended trust agreement may be amended if approved
by a majority of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust. However, if any proposed amendment
24
provides for, or the Administrative Trustees otherwise propose to effect,
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any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the trust securities, whether by way of amendment to the amended trust
agreement or otherwise, or |
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the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust other than under the terms of its amended trust agreement, |
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then the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities as a single class will be entitled to vote on the amendment or proposal. In that case, the amendment or
proposal will only be effective if approved by at least a majority in liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities affected by the amendment or proposal. |
No amendment may be made to an amended trust agreement if that amendment would:
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cause the Trust to be characterized as other than a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
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reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Property Trustee; or |
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cause the Trust to be deemed to be an investment company which is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. (Section 11.1 of the Amended
Trust Agreement.) |
The holders of a majority of the total liquidation amount of the Trust
Preferred Securities have the right to:
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direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee; or |
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direct the exercise of any power conferred |
upon the Property Trustee under the amended trust agreement, including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, to:
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exercise the remedies available under the Subordinated Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, |
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waive any event of default under the Subordinated Indenture that is waivable, or |
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cancel an acceleration of the principal of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. |
In addition, before taking any of the foregoing actions, the Property Trustee must obtain an opinion of counsel stating that, as a result of that action, the Trust will
continue to be classified as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. (Section 7.5 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
As described in the form of amended trust agreement, the Property Trustee may hold a meeting to have holders of Trust Preferred Securities vote on a change or have them approve a change by written consent.
If a vote by the holders of Trust Preferred Securities is taken or a consent is obtained, any Trust Preferred Securities owned
by us or any of our affiliates will, for purposes of the vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding, which will have the following consequences:
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we and any of our affiliates will not be able to vote on or consent to matters requiring the vote or consent of holders of Trust Preferred Securities; and
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25
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any Trust Preferred Securities owned by us or any of our affiliates will not be counted in determining whether the required percentage of votes or consents has
been obtained. Section 7.5 of the Amended Trust Agreement.) |
Information Concerning the Property Trustee
The Chase Manhattan Bank is the Property Trustee. It is also the Guarantee Trustee, the Subordinated
Indenture Trustee and the Senior Indenture Trustee. Dominion and certain of it affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan Bank also serves as trustee under other indentures
pursuant to which Dominion securities and securities of certain of its affiliates are outstanding.
For matters
relating to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee will have all of the duties and responsibilities of an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance
of a Trust Enforcement Event, undertakes to perform only the duties that are specifically described in the amended trust agreement and, upon a Trust Enforcement Event, must use the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or
use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the applicable amended trust agreement at the request of any holder of Trust Preferred
Securities unless it is offered reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur. However, the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities will not be required to offer such an indemnity where the
holders, by exercising their voting rights, direct the Property Trustee to take any action following a Trust Enforcement Event. (Section 3.9 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Information Concerning the Delaware Trustee
Chase
Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, will serve as trustee of the Trust in the State of Delaware for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the Delaware Business Trust Act. It is an affiliate of The Chase Manhattan Bank which serves as
Property Trustee and in the other capacities described above under Information Concerning the Property Trustee.
Information Concerning the Administrative Trustees
The Administrative Trustees are
authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of and to operate the Trust in a way that:
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will not cause it to be deemed to be an investment company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act; |
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will cause it to be classified as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and |
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will cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures it holds to be treated as our indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
We and the Administrative Trustee s are authorized to take any action, so long as it is consistent with applicable law or the
certificate of trust or amended trust
26
agreement, that we and the Administrative Trustees determine to be necessary or desirable for those purposes. (Section 3.6 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
We will execute the Guarantee from time to time for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as Guarantee Trustee
under the Guarantee. The Guarantee Trustee will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
The following description of the Guarantee is only a summary. The form of Guarantee is an exhibit to the registration statement.
General
We will irrevocably and unconditionally agree under the Guarantee to pay
the Guarantee Payments that are defined below, to the extent specified in the Guarantee, to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, to the extent that the Guarantee Payments are not paid by or on behalf of the Trust. We are required to pay
the Guarantee Payments to the extent specified in the Guarantee regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that we may have or may assert against any person. (Section 5.1 of the Guarantee.)
The following payments and distributions on the Trust Preferred
Securities of the Trust are Guarantee Payments:
· |
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any accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust, but only to the extent that the Trust has funds legally
and immediately available for those distributions; |
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the redemption price for any Trust Preferred Securities that the Trust calls for redemption, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to the redemption
date, but only to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available for the payment; and |
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upon a dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of
Trust Securities of the Trust or the redemption of all the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust, the lesser of: |
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the sum of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust to the payment date, to the extent
that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available for the payment; and |
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the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust in liquidation of the Trust.
(Section 1.1 of the Guarantee.) |
We may satisfy our obligation to make a Guarantee
Payment by making that payment directly to the holders of the related Trust Preferred Securities or by causing the Trust to make the payment to those holders. (Section 5.1 of the Guarantee.)
The Guarantee will be a full and unconditional guarantee, subject to certain subordination provisions, of the Guarantee Payments with
respect to the Trust Preferred Securities from the time of issuance of the Trust Preferred Securities, except that the Guarantee will only apply to the payment of
27
distributions and other payments on the Trust Preferred Securities when the Trust has sufficient funds legally and immediately available to make those distributions or other payments.
If we do not make the required payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures that the Property Trustee holds
under the Trust, the Trust will not make the related payments on the Trust Preferred Securities.
Subordination
Our obligations under the Guarantee will be unsecured obligations. Those obligations will rank:
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subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our other liabilities, other than obligations or liabilities that rank equal in priority or subordinate by
their terms; |
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equal in priority with the Junior Subordinated Debentures that we may issue and similar guarantees; and |
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senior to our preferred and common stock. (Section 6.2 of the Guarantee.) |
We have approximately $825 million in Junior Subordinated Debentures outstanding that will rank equal in priority with the Guarantee. We have common stock outstanding that
will rank junior to the Guarantee.
The Guarantee will be a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This means
that the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against us, as guarantor, to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal
proceeding against any other person or entity. (Section 5.4 of the Guarantee.)
The terms of the Trust
Preferred Securities will provide that each holder of the Trust Preferred Securities, by accepting those Trust Preferred Securities, agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of the Guarantee.
Amendments
We may
amend the Guarantee without the consent of any holder of the Trust Preferred Securities to which the Guarantee relates if the amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of those holders. We may otherwise amend the Guarantee with
the approval of the holders of at least 50% of the outstanding Trust Preferred Securities to which the Guarantee relates. (Section 9.2 of the Guarantee.)
Termination
The Guarantee will terminate and be of no further effect when:
· |
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the redemption price of the Trust Preferred Securities to which the Guarantee relates is fully paid; |
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we distribute the related Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of those Trust Preferred Securities; or |
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the amounts payable upon liquidation of the related Trust are fully paid. (Section 7.1 of the Guarantee.) |
The Guarantee will remain in effect or will be reinstated if at any time any holder of the related Trust Preferred Securities must restore
payment of any sums paid to
that holder with respect to those Trust Preferred Securities or under the Guarantee.
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Material Covenants
We will covenant that, so long as any Trust Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there is an event of default under the Guarantee or the amended trust agreement:
· |
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we will not make distributions related to our debt securities that rank equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, including any payment of
interest, principal or premium, or repayments, repurchases or redemptions; and |
· |
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we will not make distributions related to our capital stock, including dividends, redemptions, repurchases, liquidation payments, or guarantee payments. We may,
however, make the following types of distributions: |
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dividends paid in common stock; |
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dividends in connection with the implementation of a shareholder rights plan; |
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payments to a trust holding securities of the same series under a guarantee; and |
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repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of our capital stock in connection with any benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of employees, officers, directors or consultants. (Section 6.1 of the Guarantee.) |
Because we are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the Guarantee is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability
of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. The Trust, as holder of the Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade
creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders.
Events of Default
An event of default will occur under the Guarantee if we fail to perform any of our payment obligations under
the Guarantee. The holders of a majority of the Trust Preferred Securities of any series may waive any such event of default and its consequences on behalf of all of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities of that series. (Section 2.6 of
the Guarantee.) The Guarantee Trustee is entitled to enforce the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities of a series if an event of default occurs under the related Guarantee. (Section 3.1 of the Guarantee.)
The holders of a majority of the Trust Preferred Securities to which the Guarantee relates have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee with respect to the Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power that the Guarantee Trustee holds under the Guarantee. Any
holder of the related Trust Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce that holders rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any other
person or entity. (Section 5.4 of the Guarantee.)
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Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
The Chase Manhattan Bank is the Guarantee Trustee. It is also the Property Trustee, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and the Senior Indenture Trustee. We and certain of
our affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan Bank also serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of ours and certain of our affiliates are
outstanding.
The Guarantee Trustee will perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in each
Guarantee unless an event of default under the Guarantee occurs and is continuing. In case an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee will exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. (Section 3.1 of the Guarantee.) Subject to those provisions, the Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers under any Guarantee at the request of any holder of the related Trust
Preferred Securities unless that holder offers reasonable indemnity to the Guarantee Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur as a result. (Section 3.2 of the Guarantee.)
Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
We will enter into an Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities as required under the Trust Agreement. The Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities will provide that we will, with certain exceptions, irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee the full payment of any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust to each person or entity to whom the Trust becomes indebted or liable. The exceptions are the obligations of the Trust to pay to the holders of the
trust common securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due to the holders under the terms of the trust common securities or the similar interests.
We will guarantee payments of distributions and redemption and liquidation payments due on the Trust Preferred Securities, to the extent the Trust has funds available for the payments, to the extent
described under DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEE. No single document executed by us in connection with the issuance of the Trust Preferred Securities will provide for our full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Trust Preferred Securities.
It is only the combined operation of our obligations under the Guarantee, the amended trust agreement and the Subordinated Indenture that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Trusts obligations
under the Trust Preferred Securities.
As long as we make payments of interest and other payments when due on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust, those payments will be sufficient to cover the payment of distributions and redemption and liquidation payments due on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by the Trust, primarily because:
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the total principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be equal to the sum of the total liquidation amount of the trust securities;
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the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will match the distribution rate and distribution and other payment
dates for the Trust Preferred Securities; |
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we will pay for any and all costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trust except its obligations under its Trust Preferred Securities; and
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the amended trust agreement will provide that the Trust will not engage in any activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of the Trust.
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If and to the extent that we do not make payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
Trust will not have funds available to make payments of distributions or other amounts due on its Trust Preferred Securities. In those circumstances, you will not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for payment of these amounts. Instead, you may
directly sue us or seek other remedies to collect your proportionate share of payments owed. If you sue us to collect payment, then we will assume your rights as a holder of Trust Preferred Securities under the amended trust agreement to the extent
we make a payment to you in any such legal action.
The Trust will be treated as a subsidiary of ours for financial
reporting purposes. Accordingly, our consolidated financial statements will include the accounts of the Trust. The Trust Preferred Securities, along with other trust preferred securities that we guarantee on an equivalent basis, will be presented as
a separate line item in our consolidated balance sheets, and appropriate disclosures about the Trust Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. We will record distributions that the Trust pays on the Trust Preferred Securities as an
expense in our consolidated statement of income.
As of December 31, 2000, our authorized capital stock was
520,000,000 shares. Those shares consisted of: (a) 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which were outstanding; and (b) 500,000,000 shares of common stock, of which approximately 245,800,000 shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2000.
On February 16, 2001 our Board of Directors established the terms of and authorized the issuance of at least 665,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in connection with a proposed financing of Dominion Telecoms capital expansion program. No
holder of shares of common stock or preferred stock has any preemptive rights.
Common Stock
Listing
Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol D. Any additional common stock we issue will also be listed on the NYSE.
Dividends
Common shareholders may receive dividends when declared by the Board of Directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, stock or other form. In certain cases, common shareholders may not receive
dividends until we have satisfied our obligations to any preferred shareholders.
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Under certain circumstances, the Subordinated Indenture also restricts our ability to pay cash dividends.
Fully Paid
All outstanding shares of common stock are
fully paid and non-assessable. Any additional common stock we issue will also be fully paid and non-assessable.
Voting Rights
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of
directors and other matters. Common shareholders are not entitled to cumulative voting rights.
Other Rights
We will notify common shareholders of any shareholders meetings according to applicable law. If we
liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, either voluntarily or not, common shareholders will share equally in the assets remaining after we pay our creditors and preferred shareholders.
Transfer Agents and Registrars
We, along with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, are transfer agent and registrar. You may contact us at the address listed on page 2 or Continental located in New York, New York.
Preferred Stock
The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our authorized preferred stock. If we issue preferred stock, the specific designations and rights will be described in
the prospectus supplement and a description will be filed with the SEC.
Our Board of Directors can, without
approval of shareholders, issue one or more series of preferred stock. The Board can also determine the number of shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each series including the dividend rights, voting rights,
conversion rights, redemption rights and any liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of preferred stock, the number of shares constituting each series and the terms and conditions of issue. In some cases, the issuance of preferred
stock could delay a change in control of the Company and make it harder to remove present management. Under certain circumstances, preferred stock could also restrict dividend payments to holders of our common stock.
The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the preferred stock will rank on a parity in all respects with any outstanding preferred stock we may have and will have priority over our common stock as to dividends and distributions of assets. Therefore, the rights of any preferred
stock that may subsequently be issued may limit the rights of the holders of our common stock and preferred stock.
The transfer agent, registrar, and dividend disbursement agent for a series of preferred stock will be named in a prospectus supplement. The registrar for shares of preferred stock will send notices to shareholders of any meetings at
which holders of the preferred stock have the right to elect directors or to vote on any other matter.
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General
We are a Virginia corporation subject to the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the Virginia Act). Provisions of the Virginia Act, in
addition to provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, address corporate governance issues, including the rights of shareholders. Some of these provisions could hinder management changes while others could have an anti-takeover effect.
This anti-takeover effect may, in some circumstances, reduce the control premium that might otherwise be reflected in the value of our common stock. If you are buying this stock as part of a short-term investment strategy, this might be especially
important to you.
We have summarized the key provisions below. You should read the actual provisions of our
Articles and Bylaws and the Virginia Act that relate to your individual investment strategy.
Business
Combinations
Our Articles require that any merger, share exchange or sale of substantially all of the assets
of the Company be approved by a plurality of the shares represented at a meeting where a quorum is present. Abstentions and broker non-votes have the same effect as a vote against the matter.
Section 13.1-725 of the Virginia Act contains several provisions relating to transactions with interested shareholders. Interested shareholders are holders of more
than 10% of any class of a corporations outstanding voting shares. Transactions between a corporation and an interested shareholder are referred to as affiliated transactions. The Virginia Act requires that material affiliated transactions
must be approved by at least two-thirds of the shareholders not including the interested shareholder. Affiliated transactions requiring this two-thirds approval include mergers, share exchanges, material dispositions of corporate assets, dissolution
or any reclassification of the corporation with its subsidiaries which increases the percentage of voting shares owned by an interested shareholder by more than five percent.
For three years following the time that a shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, a Virginia corporation cannot engage in an affiliated transaction with the
interested shareholder without approval of two-thirds of the disinterested voting shares, and majority approval of disinterested directors. A disinterested director is a director who was a director on the date on which an interested shareholder
became an interested shareholder and was recommended for election or elected by a majority of the disinterested directors then on the board. After three years, the approval of the disinterested directors is no longer required.
The provisions of the Virginia Act relating to affiliated transactions do not apply if a majority of disinterested directors
approve the acquisition of shares making a person an interested shareholder.
The Virginia Act permits
corporations to opt out of the affiliated transactions provisions. We have not opted out.
The Virginia Act also
contains provisions regulating certain control share acquisitions, which are transactions causing
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the voting strength of any person acquiring beneficial ownership of shares of a public corporation in Virginia to meet or exceed certain
threshold voting percentages (20%, 33 1/3%, or 50%). Shares acquired in a control share acquisition have no
voting rights unless the voting rights are granted by a majority vote of all outstanding shares other than those held by the acquiring person or any officer or employee-director of the corporation. The acquiring person may require that a special
meeting of the shareholders be held to consider the grant of voting rights to the shares acquired in the control share acquisition.
Our Bylaws give us the right to redeem the shares purchased by an acquiring person in a control share acquisition. We can do this if the acquiring person fails to deliver a statement to us listing information required by the
Virginia Act or if our shareholders vote not to grant voting rights to the acquiring person.
The Virginia Act
permits corporations to opt out of the control share acquisition provisions. We have not opted out.
Directors Duties
The standards of conduct for directors of Virginia corporations are listed in Section 13.1-690 of the
Virginia Act. Directors must discharge their duties in accordance with their good faith business judgement of the best interest of the corporation. Directors may rely on the advice or acts of others, including officers, employees, attorneys,
accountants and board committees if they have a good faith belief in their competence. Directors actions are not subject to a reasonableness or prudent person standard. Virginias federal and state courts have focused on the process
involved with directors decision-making and are generally supportive of directors if they have based their decision on an informed process. These elements of Virginia law could make it more difficult to take over a Virginia corporation than
corporations in other states.
Board of Directors
Members of our Board of Directors serve one-year terms and are elected annually. Directors may be removed from office for cause by the vote of two-thirds of the outstanding
shares entitled to vote.
Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our shareholders can submit shareholder proposals and nominate candidates for the Board of Directors if the shareholders follow advance notice procedures described in
our Bylaws.
To nominate directors, shareholders must submit a written notice to our corporate secretary at least
60 days before a scheduled meeting. The notice must include the name and address of the shareholder and of the nominee, a description of any arrangements between the shareholder and the nominee, information about the nominee required by the SEC, the
written consent of the nominee to serve as a director and other information.
Shareholder proposals must be
submitted to our corporate secretary at least 90 days before the first anniversary of the date of our last annual meeting. The notice must include a description of the proposal, the reasons for presenting the proposal at the annual meeting, the text
of any resolutions to be presented, the shareholders name and address and number of shares held and any
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material interest of the shareholder in the proposal.
Director nominations and shareholder proposals that are late or that do not include all required information may be rejected. This could prevent shareholders from bringing certain matters before an annual or special meeting,
including making nominations for directors.
Meetings of Shareholders
Under our Bylaws, meetings of the shareholders may be called only by the chairman of the board, the president or a majority of the Board of Directors. This provision could
have the effect of delaying until the next annual shareholders meeting shareholder actions which are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, because such person or entity, even if it acquired a majority of
our outstanding voting securities, would be able to take action as a shareholder, such as electing new directors or approving a merger, only at a duly called shareholders meeting.
Amendment of Articles
Generally, our Articles
may be amended by a plurality of the shares represented at a meeting where a quorum is present. Some provisions of the Articles, however, may only be amended or repealed by a vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Indemnification
We indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted under Virginia law against all liabilities incurred in connection with their service to us.
Limitation of Liability
Our Articles provide
that our directors and officers will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors or officers, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our shareholders, acted in bad faith,
knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper personal benefit from their action as directors or officers. This provision applies only to claims against directors or officers arising
out of their role as directors or officers and not in any other capacity. Directors and officers remain liable for violations of the federal securities laws and we retain the right to pursue legal remedies other than monetary damages, such as an
injunction or rescission for breach of the officers or directors duty of care.
We may issue stock
purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as stock purchase contracts.
The price per share of common stock and the number of shares of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The
stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and beneficial interests in debt securities, trust preferred securities, preferred stock or debt obligations of third parties, including
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treasury securities, securing the holders obligations to purchase the common stock under the stock purchase contracts, which we refer to
in this prospectus as stock purchase units. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis. The stock
purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under those contracts in a specified manner.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, including, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock
purchase units.
We currently have 8,250,000 stock purchase units outstanding. These stock purchase units trade on
the NYSE under the symbol DCP. They obligate holders to purchase up to 8,088,300 shares of our common stock from us by November 16, 2004.
We may sell the offered securities (a) through agents; (b)
through underwriters or dealers; or (c) directly to one or more purchasers.
By Agents
Offered securities may be sold through agents that we designate. The agents agree to use their reasonable best efforts to solicit
purchases for the period of their appointment.
By Underwriters
If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one
or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed
from time to time.
Direct Sales
We may also sell offered securities directly. This may include sales of our common stock to holders of our stock purchase units. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.
General Information
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933 (the Act), and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any
profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Act. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation described in a prospectus supplement.
We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.
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Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.
McGuireWoods LLP, counsel to the Company, will issue an opinion about
the legality of the offered securities for us. As of December 31, 2000, partners of McGuireWoods LLP own less than one half of one percent of our common stock. Certain matters relating to the formation of the Trust and the issuance of the Trust
Preferred Securities under Delaware law and the Trust Agreements will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware counsel to the Trusts and the Company. Any underwriters will be advised about other issues relating to any
offering by their own legal counsel.
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated
in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The
audited historical consolidated financial statements of CNG incorporated by reference in Dominions Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2000, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been so incorporated in reliance of
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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