Registration No. 333-______
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York 13-4922640
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
AEP CAPITAL TRUST I
AEP CAPITAL TRUST II
AEP CAPITAL TRUST III
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware [TO BE APPLIED FOR]
[TO BE APPLIED FOR]
[TO BE APPLIED FOR]
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (614) 716-1000
GEOFFREY S. CHATAS, Treasurer
JEFFREY D. CROSS, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER SERVICE CORPORATION
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 716-1580
(Names, addresses and telephone numbers, including
area code, of agents for service)
It is respectfully requested that the Commission send copies
of all notices, orders and communications to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Dewey Ballantine LLP
425 Lexington Avenue 1301 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10017-3909 New York, NY 10019-6092
Attention: James M. Cotter Attention: E. N. Ellis, IV
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From
time to time after the effective date of the Registration Statement.
IF THE ONLY SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED ON THIS FORM ARE BEING OFFERED
PURSUANT TO DIVIDEND OR INTEREST REINVESTMENT PLANS, PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING
BOX. [ ]
IF ANY OF THE SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED ON THIS FORM ARE TO BE OFFERED ON
A DELAYED OR CONTINUOUS BASIS PURSUANT TO RULE 415 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, OTHER THAN SECURITIES OFFERED ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH DIVIDEND OR INTEREST
REINVESTMENT PLANS, PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX. [X]
IF THIS FORM IS FILED TO REGISTER ADDITIONAL SECURITIES FOR AN OFFERING
PURSUANT TO RULE 462(B) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX
AND LIST THE SECURITIES ACT REGISTRATION STATEMENT NUMBER OF THE EARLIER
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SAME OFFERING. [ ]
IF THIS FORM IS A POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 462(C)
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX AND LIST THE SECURITIES ACT
REGISTRATION STATEMENT NUMBER OF THE EARLIER EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
FOR THE SAME OFFERING. [ ]
IF DELIVERY OF THE PROSPECTUS IS EXPECTED TO BE MADE PURSUANT TO RULE 434,
PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX. [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=======================================================================================================================
Proposed Proposed
Title of Each Class Maximum Maximum
Of Securities Amount to be Offering Price Aggregate Amount of
to be Registered Registered(1) Per Unit* Offering Price* Registration Fee(4)
------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
Senior Notes 100%
------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
Common Stock, par value
$6.50 per share
------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
Junior Subordinated
Debentures 100%
------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
Trust Preferred Securities
and Related Guarantees(2) 100%
------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
Stock Purchase Contracts
------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
Stock Purchase Units(3)
------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
Total $3,000,000,000 $3,000,000,000 $242,700
=======================================================================================================================
*Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
(1) There are being registered hereunder such presently indeterminate principal
amount or number of Senior Notes, shares of Common Stock, Junior
Subordinated Debentures, Trust Preferred Securities and related Guarantees,
Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units with an aggregate initial
offering price not to exceed $3,000,000,000. We may refer to Senior Notes
and Junior Subordinated Debentures collectively herein as "Debt
Securities". Debt Securities also may be issued to a trust in connection
with the issuance and sale of Trust Preferred Securities and later
distributed upon dissolution and distribution of the assets thereof, which
would include such Debt Securities for which no separate consideration will
be received. An indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock may also be
issued upon settlement of the Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase
Units. Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, and
General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3, which permits the registration fee
to be calculated on the basis of the maximum aggregate offering price of
all the securities listed, the table does not specify by each class
information as to the amount to be registered, proposed maximum offering
price per unit or proposed maximum aggregate offering price.
(2) Includes the obligations of American Electric Power Company, Inc. under the
respective trust agreements, the applicable indenture, the related series
of Debt Securities and the respective Guarantees, which include its
covenant to pay any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the trusts
(other than obligations pursuant to the terms of the Trust Preferred
Securities or other similar interests), all as described in this
registration statement. No separate consideration will be received for the
Guarantees and, pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933,
no separate fee is payable in respect thereof.
(3) Each Stock Purchase Unit consists of (a) a Stock Purchase Contract, under
which the holder, upon settlement, will purchase an indeterminate number of
shares of Common Stock and (b) a beneficial interest in either Debt
Securities, Trust Preferred Securities or debt obligations of third
parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, purchased with the proceeds
from the sale of the Stock Purchase Units. Each beneficial interest will be
pledged to secure the obligation of such holder to purchase such shares of
Common Stock. No separate consideration will be received for the Stock
Purchase Contracts or the related beneficial interests.
(4) The aggregate filing fee for all the securities registered will be
$242,700.
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The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration
statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933, or until the registration statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We
may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer
to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities
in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 23, 2003
PROSPECTUS
$3,000,000,000
AMERICAN ELECTRIC Power Company, INC.
1 RIVERSIDE PLAZA
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
(614) 716-1000
SENIOR NOTES
COMMON STOCK
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
AEP CAPITAL TRUST I
AEP CAPITAL TRUST II
AEP CAPITAL TRUST III
TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
Guaranteed as described herein by
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
TERMS OF SALE
This prospectus contains summaries of the general terms of the
securities. You will find the specific terms of these securities, and the manner
in which they are being offered, in supplements to this prospectus. You should
read this prospectus and the available prospectus supplement carefully before
you invest.
The common stock of American Electric Power Company, Inc. is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AEP". The last reported sale of
the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on May 1, 2003 was $25.73 per
share.
In this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, the words
"we", "ours" and "us" refer to American Electric Power Company, Inc. and its
consolidated subsidiaries. "Trusts" refer to AEP Capital Trust I, AEP Capital
Trust II and AEP Capital Trust III.
INVESTING IN THESE SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE SECTION ENTITLED "RISK
FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 2 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION ("SEC") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAVE THESE
ORGANIZATIONS DETERMINED THAT THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is _________________, 2003.
THE COMPANY
We are a public utility holding company that owns, directly or
indirectly, all of the outstanding common stock of our domestic electric utility
subsidiaries and varying degrees of other subsidiaries. Substantially all of our
operating revenues derive from the furnishing of electric service. In addition,
in recent years we have been pursuing various unregulated business opportunities
in the U.S. and worldwide. We were incorporated under the laws of New York in
1906 and reorganized in 1925. Our principal executive offices are located at 1
Riverside Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215, and our telephone number is (614)
716-1000.
We own, directly or indirectly, all the outstanding common stock of the
following operating public utility companies: AEP Texas Central Company ("TCC"),
AEP Texas North Company ("TNC"), Appalachian Power Company ("APCo"), Columbus
Southern Power Company ("CSP"), Indiana Michigan Power Company ("I&M"), Kentucky
Power Company, Kingsport Power Company, Ohio Power Company ("OPCo"), Public
Service Company of Oklahoma ("PSO"), Southwestern Electric Power Company
("SWEPCo") and Wheeling Power Company. These operating public utility companies
supply electric service in portions of Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. We also
own all of the outstanding common stock of American Electric Power Service
Corporation, which provides accounting, administrative, information systems,
engineering, financial, legal, maintenance and other services to us and our
subsidiaries.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENTS
We will provide information to you about the securities in up to three
separate documents that progressively provide more detail: (a) this prospectus
provides general information some of which may not apply to your securities, (b)
the accompanying prospectus supplement provides more specific terms of your
securities, and (c) the pricing supplement, if any, provides the final terms of
your securities. It is important for you to consider the information contained
in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, and the pricing supplement, if
any, in making your investment decision.
RISK FACTORS
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS DESCRIBED BELOW AS WELL AS OTHER
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS BEFORE BUYING THE SECURITIES REGISTERED
HEREIN. THESE ARE RISKS WE CONSIDER TO BE MATERIAL TO YOUR DECISION WHETHER TO
INVEST IN OUR SECURITIES AT THIS TIME. THERE MAY BE RISKS THAT YOU VIEW IN A
DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE DO, AND WE MAY OMIT A RISK THAT WE CONSIDER IMMATERIAL,
BUT YOU CONSIDER IMPORTANT. IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING RISKS OCCUR, OUR BUSINESS,
FINANCIAL CONDITION OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS COULD BE MATERIALLY HARMED. IN THAT
CASE, THE VALUE OR TRADING PRICE OF THE SECURITIES REGISTERED HEREIN COULD
DECLINE, AND YOU MAY LOSE ALL OR PART OF YOUR INVESTMENT.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR ENERGY TRADING AND WHOLESALE BUSINESSES
WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF OUR ENERGY TRADING AND
MARKETING OPERATIONS.
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In October 2002, AEP announced its plans to reduce the exposure to energy
trading markets of its subsidiaries that trade energy and to downsize the
trading and wholesale marketing operations conducted on behalf of such
subsidiaries. It is expected that in the future our energy trading and marketing
operations will be limited to risk management around our assets. Trading and
marketing operations that were not limited to risk management around such assets
have contributed to our wholesale revenues and earnings in the past. Management
is unable to predict the effect this downsizing of our trading operations will
have on our future results of operations and cash flows. The following risk
factors appearing under this subheading should be read in light of the
announcements discussed in this paragraph.
OUR REVENUES AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISKS THAT ARE
BEYOND OUR CONTROL.
We sell power from our generation facilities into the spot market or other
competitive power markets or on a contractual basis. We also enter into
contracts to purchase and sell electricity, natural gas and coal as part of our
power marketing and energy trading operations. With respect to such
transactions, we are not guaranteed any rate of return on our capital
investments through mandated rates, and our revenues and results of operations
are likely to depend, in large part, upon prevailing market prices for power in
our regional markets and other competitive markets. These market prices may
fluctuate substantially over relatively short periods of time. It is reasonable
to expect that trading margins may erode as markets mature and that there may be
diminished opportunities for gain should volatility decline. In addition, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the "FERC"), which has jurisdiction over
wholesale power rates, as well as independent system operators that oversee some
of these markets, may impose price limitations, bidding rules and other
mechanisms to address some of the volatility in these markets. Fuel prices may
also be volatile, and the price we can obtain for power sales may not change at
the same rate as changes in fuel costs. These factors could reduce our margins
and therefore diminish our revenues and results of operations.
Volatility in market prices for fuel and power may result from:
o weather conditions;
o seasonality;
o power usage;
o illiquid markets;
o transmission or transportation constraints or inefficiencies;
o availability of competitively priced alternative energy sources;
o demand for energy commodities;
o natural gas, crude oil and refined products, and coal production
levels;
o natural disasters, wars, embargoes and other catastrophic events; and
o federal, state and foreign energy and environmental regulation and
legislation.
WE ARE UNABLE TO PREDICT THE COURSE, RESULTS OR IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CURRENT OR
FUTURE ENERGY MARKET INVESTIGATIONS.
In February 2002, the FERC issued an order directing its staff to conduct
a fact-finding investigation into whether any entity, including Enron Corp.,
manipulated short-term prices in electric energy or natural gas markets in the
West or otherwise exercised undue influence over wholesale prices in the West,
for the period January 1, 2000, forward. In April 2002, we furnished certain
information to the FERC in response to their related data request.
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Pursuant to the FERC's February order, on May 8, 2002, the FERC issued
further data requests, including requests for admissions, with respect to
certain trading strategies engaged in by Enron and, allegedly, traders of other
companies active in the wholesale electricity and ancillary services markets in
the West, particularly California, during the years 2000 and 2001. This data
request was issued to us as part of a group of over 100 entities designated by
the FERC as all sellers of wholesale electricity and/or ancillary services to
the California Independent System Operator and/or the California Power Exchange.
The May 8, 2002 FERC data request required senior management to conduct
an investigation into our trading activities during 2000 and 2001 and to provide
an affidavit as to whether we engaged in certain trading practices that the FERC
characterized in the data request as being potentially manipulative. Senior
management complied with the order and denied our involvement with those trading
practices.
On May 21, 2002, the FERC issued a further data request with respect to
this matter to us and over 100 other market participants requesting information
for the years 2000 and 2001 concerning "wash," "round trip" or "sale/buy back"
trading in the Western System Coordinating Council (WSCC), which involves the
sale of an electricity product to another company together with a simultaneous
purchase of the same product at the same price (collectively, "wash sales").
Similarly, on May 22, 2002, the FERC issued an additional data request with
respect to this matter to us and other market participants requesting similar
information for the same period with respect to the sale of natural gas products
in the WSCC and Texas. After reviewing our records, we responded to the FERC
that we did not participate in any "wash sale" transactions involving power or
gas in the relevant market. We further informed the FERC that certain of our
traders did engage in trades on the Intercontinental Exchange, an electronic
electricity trading platform owned by a group of electricity trading companies,
including us, on September 21, 2001, the day on which all brokerage commissions
for trades on that exchange were donated to charities for the victims of the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which do not meet the FERC criteria for a
"wash sale" but do have certain characteristics in common with such sales. In
response to a request from the California attorney general for a copy of AEP's
responses to the FERC inquiries, we provided the pertinent information.
The Public Utilities Commission of Texas also issued similar data
requests to us and other power marketers. We responded to such data request by
the July 2, 2002 response date. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(CFTC) issued a subpoena to us on June 17, 2002 requesting information with
respect to "wash sale" trading practices. We responded to CFTC. In addition, the
US Department of Justice made a civil investigation demand to us and other
electric generating companies concerning their investigation of the
Intercontinental Exchange. We have completed a review of our trading activities
in the United States for the last three years involving sequential trades with
the same terms and counterparties. The revenue from such trading is not material
to our financial statements. We believe that substantially all these
transactions involve economic substance and risk transference and do not
constitute "wash sales".
In August 2002, we received an informal data request from the SEC asking
us to voluntarily provide documents related to "round trip" or "wash" trades. We
have provided the requested information to the SEC. In March 2003, we received a
subpoena from the SEC. The subpoena seeks additional information and is part of
the SEC's formal investigative process. We responded to the subpoena in April
2003.
4
In September 2002, we received a subpoena from the FERC requesting
information about our natural gas transactions and their potential impact on gas
commodity prices in the New York City area. We responded to the subpoena in
October 2002.
In October 2002, we dismissed several employees involved in natural gas
marketing and trading after the company determined that they provided inaccurate
price information for use in indexes compiled and published by trade
publications. Subsequently, we instituted measures that require all price
information for use in market indexes be verified and reported through the
organization of our Chief Risk Officer. We have and will continue to provide to
the FERC, the SEC and the CFTC information relating to price data given to
energy industry publications.
Management is unable to predict the course or outcome of these or any
future energy market investigations or their impact, if any, on power commodity
trading generally or, more specifically, on our trading operations or future
results of operations and cash flows.
OUR ENERGY TRADING (INCLUDING FUEL PROCUREMENT AND POWER MARKETING) AND RISK
MANAGEMENT POLICIES CANNOT ELIMINATE THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ACTIVITIES.
Our energy trading (including fuel procurement and power marketing)
activities expose us to risks of commodity price movements. We attempt to manage
our exposure through enforcement of established risk limits and risk management
procedures. These risk limits and risk management procedures may not always be
followed or may not work as planned and cannot eliminate the risks associated
with these activities. As a result, we cannot predict the impact that our energy
trading and risk management decisions may have on our business, operating
results or financial position.
We routinely have open trading positions in the market, within
established guidelines, resulting from the management of our trading portfolio.
To the extent open trading positions exist, fluctuating commodity prices can
improve or diminish our financial results and financial position.
Our energy trading and risk management activities, including our power
sales agreements with counterparties, rely on projections that depend heavily on
judgments and assumptions by management of factors such as the future market
prices and demand for power and other energy-related commodities. These factors
become more difficult to predict and the calculations become less reliable the
further into the future these estimates are made. Even when our policies and
procedures are followed and decisions are made based on these estimates, results
of operations may be diminished if the judgments and assumptions underlying
those calculations prove to be wrong or inaccurate. Our policies and procedures
do not typically require us to hedge the new trading positions that we enter
into daily.
OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED IF WE ARE UNABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE OUR ELECTRIC GENERATING FACILITIES.
Our performance depends on the successful operation of our electric
generating facilities. Operating electric generating facilities involves many
risks, including:
o operator error and breakdown or failure of equipment or processes;
o operating limitations that may be imposed by environmental or other
regulatory requirements;
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o labor disputes;
o fuel supply interruptions; and
o catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods or
other similar occurrences.
A decrease or elimination of revenues from power produced by our electric
generating facilities or an increase in the cost of operating the facilities
would adversely affect our results of operations.
PARTIES WITH WHOM WE HAVE CONTRACTS MAY FAIL TO PERFORM THEIR OBLIGATIONS, WHICH
COULD HARM OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
We are exposed to the risk that counterparties that owe us money or
energy will breach their obligations. Should the counterparties to these
arrangements fail to perform, we may be forced to enter into alternative hedging
arrangements or honor underlying commitments at then-current market prices that
may exceed our contractual prices, which would cause our financial results to be
diminished and we might incur losses. Although our estimates take into account
the expected probability of default by a counterparty, our actual exposure to a
default by a counterparty may be greater than the estimates predict if defaults
by counterparties exceed our estimates.
WE RELY ON ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES THAT WE DO NOT OWN OR CONTROL. IF
THESE FACILITIES DO NOT PROVIDE US WITH ADEQUATE TRANSMISSION CAPACITY, WE MAY
NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER OUR WHOLESALE ELECTRIC POWER TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
We depend on transmission facilities owned and operated by other power
companies to deliver the power we sell at wholesale. This dependence exposes us
to a variety of risks. If transmission is disrupted, or transmission capacity is
inadequate, we may not be able to sell and deliver our wholesale products. If a
region's power transmission infrastructure is inadequate, our recovery of
wholesale costs and profits may be limited. If restrictive transmission price
regulation is imposed, the transmission companies may not have sufficient
incentive to invest in expansion of transmission infrastructure.
The FERC has issued electric and gas transmission initiatives that
require electric and gas transmission services to be offered unbundled from
commodity sales. Although these initiatives are designed to encourage wholesale
market transactions for electricity and gas, access to transmission systems may
in fact not be available if transmission capacity is insufficient because of
physical constraints or because it is contractually unavailable. We also cannot
predict whether transmission facilities will be expanded in specific markets to
accommodate competitive access to those markets.
WE DO NOT FULLY HEDGE AGAINST PRICE CHANGES IN COMMODITIES.
We routinely enter into contracts to purchase and sell electricity,
natural gas and coal as part of our power marketing and energy trading
operations and to procure fuel. In connection with these trading activities, we
routinely enter into financial contracts, including futures and options,
over-the counter options, swaps and other derivative contracts. These activities
expose us to risks from price movements. If the values of the financial
contracts change in a manner we do not anticipate, it could harm our financial
position or reduce the financial contribution of our trading operations.
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We manage our exposure by establishing risk limits (which we have
recently lowered as part of our announced effort to reduce the degree and scale
of our trading and marketing operations) and entering into contracts to offset
some of our positions (i.e., to hedge our exposure to demand, market effects of
weather and other changes in commodity prices). However, we do not always hedge
the entire exposure of our operations from commodity price volatility. To the
extent we do not hedge against commodity price volatility, our results of
operations and financial position may be improved or diminished based upon our
success in the market.
WE ARE EXPOSED TO LOSSES RESULTING FROM THE BANKRUPTCY OF ENRON CORP.
On October 15, 2002, certain of our subsidiaries filed claims against
Enron Corp. and its subsidiaries in the bankruptcy proceeding filed by the Enron
entities which are pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern
District of New York. At the date of Enron's bankruptcy we had open trading
contracts and trading accounts receivables and payables with Enron. In addition,
on June 1, 2001, we purchased Houston Pipe Line Company (HPL) from Enron.
Various HPL related contingencies and indemnities remained unsettled at the date
of Enron's bankruptcy. The timing of the resolution of the claims by the
Bankruptcy Court is not certain.
In connection with the 2001 acquisition of HPL, we acquired exclusive
rights to use and operate the underground Bammel gas storage facility pursuant
to an agreement with BAM Lease Company, a now-bankrupt subsidiary of Enron. This
right is for a term of 30 years, with a renewal right for another 20 years and
includes the use of the Bammel storage reservoir and the related compression,
treating and delivery systems. We have engaged in preliminary discussions with
Enron concerning the possible purchase of the Bammel storage facility and
related assets, the possible resolution of outstanding issues between AEP and
Enron relating to our acquisition of HPL and the possible resolution of
outstanding energy trading issues. We are unable to predict whether these
discussions will lead to an agreement on these subjects. If these discussions do
not lead to an agreement, there may be a dispute with Enron concerning our
ability to continue utilization of the Bammel storage facility under the
existing agreement.
We also entered into an agreement with BAM Lease Company which grants HPL
the right to use approximately 65 billion cubic feet of cushion gas (or pad gas)
required for the normal operation of the Bammel gas storage facility. The Bammel
Gas Trust, which purportedly owned approximately 55 billion cubic feet of the
gas, had entered into a financing arrangement in 1997 with Enron and a group of
banks. These banks purported to have certain rights to the gas in certain events
of default. In connection with our acquisition of HPL, the banks entered into an
agreement granting HPL's use of the cushion gas and released HPL from
liabilities and obligations under the financing arrangement. HPL was thereafter
informed by the banks of a purported default by Enron under the terms of the
referenced financing arrangement. In July 2002 the banks filed a lawsuit against
HPL seeking a declaratory judgment that they have a valid and enforceable
security interest in this cushion gas which would permit them to cause the
withdrawal of this gas from the storage facility. In September 2002 HPL filed a
general denial and certain counterclaims against the banks. Management is unable
to predict the outcome of this lawsuit or its impact on results of operations
and cash flows.
In 2001 we expensed $47 million ($31 million net of tax) for our
estimated loss from the Enron bankruptcy. In 2002 we expensed an additional $6
million for a cumulative loss of $53 million ($34 million net of tax). The
amounts expensed were based on an analysis of contracts where AEP subsidiaries
and Enron entities are counterparties, the offsetting of receivables and
7
payables, the application of deposits from Enron entities and management's
analysis of the HPL related purchase contingencies and indemnifications.
Enron has recently instituted proceedings against other energy trading
counter-parties challenging the practice of utilizing offsetting receivables and
payables and related collateral across various Enron entities. We believe that
we have the right to utilize similar procedures in dealing with payables,
receivables and collateral with Enron entities by offsetting trading payables
owed to various Enron entities against trading receivables due to several AEP
subsidiaries. An additional expense of up to $110 million may be incurred
without such offsets. We believe we have legal defenses to any challenge that
may be made to the utilization of such offsets but at this time are unable to
predict the ultimate resolution of this issue.
WE ARE EXPOSED TO THE RISK OF FURTHER IMPAIRMENT AND LOSSES RESULTING FROM OUR
INVESTMENT IN GENERATION ASSETS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
In December 2001, we acquired two coal-fired generation plants in the
United Kingdom for a cash payment of $942.3 million and assumption of certain
liabilities. Subsequent to our acquisition, wholesale electric power prices
declined sharply in that market as a result of over-capacity and static demand.
External industry forecasts and our own projections made during the fourth
quarter of 2002 indicate that this situation may extend many years into the
future. As a result, the fixed asset carrying value at year-end 2002 for this
investment was substantially impaired. A December 2002 probability-weighted
discounted cash flow analysis of the fair value of our investment indicated a
2002 pre-tax impairment loss of $548.7 million. At the time this impairment was
announced we stated that we would be evaluating if the plants would continue to
operate. If we decide to cease operations at these plants or if external market
conditions further deteriorate, we could sustain additional impairment to the
value of these assets. If we do not cease operations and over-capacity and
static demand continue or worsen in that market, we expect to sustain additional
losses associated with these plants. Management is unable to predict whether
these plants will continue operations or the impact on our future results of
operations, cash flows and financial condition resulting from this investment.
DIMINISHED LIQUIDITY IN THE WHOLESALE POWER MARKETS COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR
EARNINGS.
The Enron Corp. bankruptcy and enhanced regulatory scrutiny have
contributed to more rigorous credit rating review of wholesale power market
participants. Credit downgrades and financial difficulties of certain other
market participants have significantly reduced such participants' participation
in the wholesale power and gas markets. These events have caused a decrease in
the number of significant participants in the wholesale power and gas markets,
which has resulted in decreases in transaction volumes and market liquidity.
Such decreases have had a negative impact on our results of operations, cash
flows and financial condition. Reduced liquidity in these markets makes risk
management of the assets more difficult and could also hamper our efforts to
exit transactions not related to risk management of our assets that we entered
into before reducing the scale of our power trading and marketing operations. We
are unable to predict the extent of the impact on our power marketing and
trading business if such developments continue.
POTENTIAL FOR DISRUPTION IF THE DELAY OF A FERC MARKET POWER MITIGATION ORDER IS
LIFTED.
A FERC order on our triennial market based wholesale power rate
authorization update required certain mitigation actions that certain of our
subsidiaries would need to take for
8
sales/purchases within their respective control areas and required us to post
information on our website regarding our power systems status. As a result of a
request for rehearing filed by us and other market participants, FERC issued an
order delaying the effective date of the mitigation plan until after a planned
technical conference on market power determination. No such conference has been
held and management is unable to predict the timing of any further action by the
FERC or its affect on future results of our operations and cash flows.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR REGULATED BUSINESS AND EVOLVING REGULATION
WE OPERATE IN A NON-UNIFORM AND FLUID REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.
AEP is subject to regulation by the SEC under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935 ("PUHCA"). The rates charged by the domestic utility
subsidiaries are approved by the FERC and the eleven state utility commissions.
The FERC regulates wholesale electricity operations and transmission rates and
the state commissions regulate retail generation and distribution rates. The
prices charged by foreign subsidiaries located in China, Mexico and Brazil are
regulated by the authorities of those respective countries and are generally
subject to price controls. Six of the eleven state retail jurisdictions in which
our domestic electric utilities operate have enacted restructuring legislation.
Restructuring legislation in Texas requires the legal separation of generation
and related assets from the transmission and distribution assets of the electric
utilities in that state. In Ohio, we are determining the regulatory feasibility
of complying with restructuring legislation through the continued functional
separation of the operations of our Ohio utility subsidiaries. As a result of
restructuring legislation in Texas and Ohio, approximately one half of our
domestic generation is no longer directly regulated by state utility commissions
as to rates. The remaining four states of the six that have enacted
restructuring legislation contemplated, at least initially, some level of
regulatory reform. Our utility operations in the five state retail jurisdictions
that have not enacted any restructuring legislation currently plan to adhere to
the vertically-integrated utility model with cost recovery through regulated
rates.
Our business plan is based on the regulatory framework as described and
assumes that deregulated generation will not be re-regulated. There can be no
assurance that the states that have pursued restructuring will not reverse such
policies; nor can there be assurance that the states that have not enacted
restructuring legislation will not do so in the future. In addition to the
multiple levels of regulation at the state level in which we operate, our
business is subject to extensive federal regulation. There can be no assurance
that the federal legislative and regulatory initiatives (which have occurred
over the past few years and which have generally facilitated competition in the
energy sector) will continue or will not be reversed.
Further alteration of the regulatory landscape in which we operate will
impact the effectiveness of our business plan and may, because of the continued
uncertainty, harm our financial condition and results of operations.
RISKS RELATING TO STATE RESTRUCTURING
WE HAVE LIMITED ABILITY TO PASS ON TO OUR CUSTOMERS OUR COSTS OF PRODUCTION.
We are exposed to risk from changes in the market prices of coal and
natural gas used to generate power where generation is no longer regulated or
where existing fuel clauses are suspended or frozen. The protection afforded by
retail fuel clause recovery mechanisms has been eliminated by
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the implementation of customer choice in Ohio (effective January 1, 2001) and,
to a lesser degree, in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas ("ERCOT") area
of Texas (effective January 1, 2002). We expect that there may be similar risks
should customer choice be similarly implemented in other states. Because the
risk of fuel price increases, increased environmental compliance costs and
generating unit outage cannot be passed through to customers during the
transition period in Ohio and only partially in Texas upon regulatory approval,
we retain these risks.
The protection afforded by fuel clause recovery mechanisms has been
capped or frozen by settlement agreements currently in place in Indiana (through
2004) and Michigan (through 2003). To the extent all of the fuel supply of the
generating units in these states are not under fixed price long-term contracts
we are subject to market price risk. We continue to be protected against market
price changes by active fuel clauses in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky,
Virginia (through the transition to competition on July 1, 2007) and the
Southwest Power Pool ("SPP") area of Texas (until the implementation of
restructuring). A fuel clause in West Virginia has been suspended per a
settlement reached in a state restructuring proceeding. However, as
restructuring has not been implemented in West Virginia, the fuel clause may be
reactivated.
Until the transition to full market competition is complete in Ohio on
December 31, 2005, our Ohio regulated utility subsidiaries there are required to
provide power at capped rates, which may be below current market rates, to
retail customers that do not choose an alternative power generation supplier.
Following the transition, it is unclear whether our retail sales of power in
Ohio will be at a market rate or at a rate determined by some level of state
utility commission involvement. Further action by the state utility commission
may be necessary to resolve this uncertainty.
OUR DEFAULT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS IN OHIO DO NOT RESTRICT CUSTOMERS FROM SWITCHING
SUPPLIERS OF POWER.
Those default service customers that we serve in Ohio may choose to
purchase power from alternative suppliers. Should they choose to switch from us,
our sales of power may decrease. Customers originally choosing alternative
suppliers may switch to our default service obligations. This may increase
demand above our facilities' available capacity. Thus, any such switching by
customers could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and
financial position. Conversely, to the extent the power sold to meet the default
service obligations could have been sold to third parties at more favorable
wholesale prices, we will have incurred potentially significant lost opportunity
costs.
SOME LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING RESTRUCTURING OF THE WHOLESALE GENERATION
MARKET IN MICHIGAN, OKLAHOMA, VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA HAVE NOT YET BEEN
INTERPRETED OR ADOPTED AND COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS, OPERATING RESULTS AND
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
While the electric restructuring laws in Michigan, Oklahoma, Virginia and
West Virginia established the general framework governing the retail electric
market, the laws required the utility commission in each state to issue rules
and determinations implementing the laws. Some of the regulations governing the
retail electric market have not yet been adopted by the utility commission in
each state. These laws, when they are interpreted and when the regulations are
developed and adopted, may harm our business, results of operations and
financial condition. Virginia restructuring legislation was enacted in 1999
providing for retail choice of generation suppliers to be phased in over two
years beginning January 1, 2002. It required jurisdictional utilities to
unbundle their power supply and energy delivery rates and to file functional
separation plans by January 1, 2002. Our
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Virginia subsidiary filed its plan and, following Virginia state utility
commission approval of a settlement agreement, now operates in Virginia as a
functionally separated electric utility charging unbundled rates for its retail
sales of electricity. The settlement agreement addressed functional separation,
leaving decisions related to legal separation for later VSCC consideration.
In June 2001, Oklahoma enacted legislation delaying competition
indefinitely. The West Virginia legislature approved electricity restructuring;
however, the West Virginia Public Service Commission ("WVPSC") cannot implement
the restructuring plan until the legislature makes tax law changes necessary to
preserve the revenues of state and local governments. Since the legislature has
not passed the required tax law changes, the restructuring plan has not become
effective and, for accounting purposes, we have determined that deregulation is
not probable in West Virginia. We cannot predict the impact of such a
development.
THERE IS UNCERTAINTY AS TO OUR RECOVERY OF DEFERRED FUEL BALANCES AND STRANDED
COSTS RESULTING FROM INDUSTRY RESTRUCTURING IN TEXAS.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas ("PUCT") review and reconciliation
of retail fuel clause recovery was eliminated in the ERCOT area of Texas
effective January 1, 2002. In 2002 we filed final fuel reconciliation plans with
the PUCT to reconcile the fuel costs of our Texas utility subsidiaries for the
relevant periods. The ultimate recovery of deferred fuel balances at December
31, 2001 will be decided as part of PUCT-required true-up proceedings in 2004
(the 2004 true-up proceeding). If the final under-recovered fuel balances or any
amounts incurred but not yet reconciled are disallowed, it would harm our
financial condition and diminish our results of operations. We have reported in
a fuel reconciliation that we filed with the PUCT an over-recovery of fuel and
related costs of $36.0 million out of a total $1.9 billion in fuel expenses
collected by us. In March 2003 an Administrative Law Judge issued a
recommendation with respect to the fuel reconciliation of TNC that, if accepted
by the PUCT and extended to TCC, would have the net effect of increasing our
over-recovery by approximately $40 million. We have established reserves on the
books of these subsidiaries in that amount as a result. We expect the PUCT to
act on these reconciliations by the end of 2003.
As a part of restructuring in Texas, electric utilities are allowed to
recover stranded generation costs including generation-related regulatory
assets. TCC included regulatory assets not approved for securitization in its
request for recovery of $1.1 billion of stranded costs. In a 1997 TCC PUCT rate
proceeding, $800 million of nuclear unit costs included in property, plant and
equipment-electric and regulatory assets on the consolidated balance sheets was
determined to be excess cost over market (ECOM). The PUCT provided for a lower
return on ECOM assets and ECOM assets are being amortized on an accelerated
basis for rate-making purposes. After hearings on the issue of stranded costs in
a proceeding to establish restructured rates for TCC, the PUCT ruled in October
2001 that its current estimate of our stranded costs was negative $615 million.
We have appealed the PUCT's ruling.
The final amount of stranded costs will be established by the PUCT in the
2004 true-up proceeding. For the purpose of determining stranded costs, we
intend to sell the generation assets of TCC. In order to use the sale of assets
valuation method, that subsidiary must sell all of its generating assets
including its interest in the STP nuclear generating facility. If we do not sell
the generation assets, we intend to pursue the use of a combination of other
market valuation methods. We have requested that the 2004 true-up proceeding be
scheduled after the divestiture of the generation assets is completed, currently
scheduled for May and September of 2004. The amount of stranded costs
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under this methodology will be the amount by which the net book value of TCC's
generating assets including regulatory assets and liabilities that were not
securitized exceed the market value of the generation assets as measured by the
net proceeds from the sale of assets.
If our total stranded costs determined in the 2004 true-up proceeding are
less than the amount of securitized regulatory assets, the PUCT can implement an
offsetting credit to transmission and distribution rates charged for
transmission and distribution service. The Texas Third Court of Appeals ruled in
February 2003 that any negative stranded costs in excess of securitized
regulatory assets cannot be refunded to customers under Senate Bill 7, the Texas
electricity restructuring legislation. In addition, the Court ruled that
negative stranded costs cannot be offset against other true-up adjustments
including final under-recovered fuel amounts. An offsetting credit, if imposed,
would limit our recovery of regulatory assets and may harm our results of
operations and financial condition.
Management believes that TCC will have stranded costs in 2004, and that
the current treatment of excess earnings will be amended at that time. In
addition to our appeal of the PUCT's estimate of stranded costs and refund of
excess earnings, unaffiliated parties also appealed the PUCT's refund order
contending the entire $615 million of negative stranded costs should be refunded
presently. Management is unable to predict the outcome of this litigation. An
unfavorable ruling would harm our results of operations, cash flows and possibly
financial condition.
THE NRC AND/OR THE SEC MAY NOT APPROVE THE CORPORATE SEPARATION PLANS WE HAVE
SUBMITTED TO COMPLY WITH RESTRUCTURING LEGISLATION IN TEXAS.
We have filed requests with the FERC, PUCT and SEC to legally separate
and transfer the generation assets of our Texas utility subsidiaries to new
subsidiaries formed to hold such assets. The PUCT and the FERC have approved
such plans (and, at the FERC, other action unrelated to compliance with Texas
restructuring legislation). We intend to sell the generation assets of TCC in
order to accurately determine its stranded costs in accordance with Texas
restructuring legislation and PUCT regulations. In order to use the sale of
assets valuation method, that subsidiary must sell all of its generating assets
including its interest in STP. If we do not sell the generation assets, we
intend to pursue the use of a combination of other market valuation methods.
Divestiture of our interest in the STP to a nonaffiliate will require NRC
approval. The transfer of generation assets from our Texas subsidiaries, whether
to affiliated or unaffiliated entities, will require approval by the SEC. We can
give no assurance, however, that the NRC and/or the SEC will approve the action
necessary to complete the corporate separations. Failure to approve may limit
our ability to efficiently operate our business.
In addition, while not a condition to implementation of legal separation,
we are seeking to exempt our deregulated generation assets in Texas from
regulation as utilities under PUHCA. To obtain this exemption, each of the
eleven state utility commissions in which we operate must make certain findings
regarding the impact of the exemption in their respective states. The SEC and
the FERC must also act before the exemption is granted. We believe we will
obtain all necessary approvals for the exemption; we can give no assurance,
however, that the states, the FERC, the SEC and/or the relevant state utility
commissions will approve the action necessary. Failure to do so may limit our
ability to maximize the return on our deregulated generation assets.
COLLECTION OF OUR REVENUES IN TEXAS IS CONCENTRATED IN A LIMITED NUMBER OF
RETAIL ELECTRIC PROVIDERS (REPS).
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Our revenues from the distribution of electricity in Texas are collected
from REPs that supply the electricity we distribute to their customers.
Currently, we do business with approximately thirty REPs. Adverse economic
conditions, structural problems in the new Texas market or financial
difficulties of one or more REPs could impair the ability of these REPs to pay
for our services or could cause them to delay such payments. We depend on these
REPs for timely remittance of payments. Any delay or default in payment could
adversely affect the timing and receipt of our cash flows thereby have an
adverse effect on our liquidity. We anticipate that more than half of our
revenues from REPs will come from our formerly affiliated REPs that were sold to
an affiliate of Centrica plc in December 2002.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO COMPETITION.
We may not be able to respond in a timely or effective manner to the many
changes in the power industry that may occur as a result of regulatory
initiatives to increase competition. These regulatory initiatives may include
deregulation of the electric utility industry in some markets and privatization
of the electric utility industry in others. To the extent that competition
increases, our profit margins may be negatively affected. Industry deregulation
and privatization may not only continue to facilitate the current trend toward
consolidation in the utility industry but may also encourage the disaggregation
of other vertically integrated utilities into separate generation, transmission
and distribution businesses. As a result, additional competitors in our industry
may be created, and we may not be able to maintain our revenues and earnings
levels or pursue our growth strategy.
While demand for power is generally increasing throughout the United
States, the rate of construction and development of new, more efficient electric
generation facilities may exceed increases in demand in some regional electric
markets. The start-up of new facilities in the regional markets in which we have
facilities could increase competition in the wholesale power market in those
regions, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial
condition. Also, industry restructuring in regions in which we have substantial
operations could affect our operations in a manner that is difficult to predict,
since the effects will depend on the form and timing of the restructuring.
GENERAL RISKS OF OUR REGULATED OPERATIONS
WE ARE EXPOSED TO NUCLEAR GENERATION RISK.
Through I&M and TCC, we have interests in four nuclear generating units,
which interests equal 2,740 MW, or 7% of our generation capacity. We are,
therefore, also subject to the risks of nuclear generation, which include the
following:
o the potential harmful effects on the environment and human health
resulting from the operation of nuclear facilities and the storage,
handling and disposal of radioactive materials;
o limitations on the amounts and types of insurance commercially
available to cover losses that might arise in connection with our
nuclear operations or those of others in the United States;
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o uncertainties with respect to contingencies and assessment amounts if
insurance coverage is inadequate; and
o uncertainties with respect to the technological and financial aspects
of decommissioning nuclear plants at the end of their licensed lives.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") has broad authority under
federal law to impose licensing and safety-related requirements for the
operation of nuclear generation facilities. In the event of non-compliance, the
NRC has the authority to impose fines or shut down a unit, or both, depending
upon its assessment of the severity of the situation, until compliance is
achieved. Revised safety requirements promulgated by the NRC could necessitate
substantial capital expenditures at nuclear plants such as ours. In addition,
although we have no reason to anticipate a serious nuclear incident at our
plants, if an incident did occur, it could harm our results of operations or
financial condition. A major incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the
world could cause the NRC to limit or prohibit the operation or licensing of any
domestic nuclear unit.
THE DIFFERENT REGIONAL POWER MARKETS IN WHICH WE COMPETE OR WILL COMPETE IN THE
FUTURE HAVE CHANGING TRANSMISSION REGULATORY STRUCTURES, WHICH COULD AFFECT OUR
PERFORMANCE IN THESE REGIONS.
Our results are likely to be affected by differences in the market and
transmission regulatory structures in various regional power markets. Problems
or delays that may arise in the formation and operation of new regional
transmission organizations, or "RTOs", may restrict our ability to sell power
produced by our generating capacity to certain markets if there is insufficient
transmission capacity otherwise available. The rules governing the various
regional power markets may also change from time to time which could affect our
costs or revenues. Because it remains unclear which companies will be
participating in the various regional power markets, or how RTOs will develop or
what regions they will cover, we are unable to assess fully the impact that
these power markets may have on our business.
In May 2002, we announced an agreement with the Pennsylvania-New
Jersey-Maryland RTO (the PJM) Interconnection to pursue terms for participation
in its RTO. Final agreements are expected to be negotiated. In July 2002, the
FERC tentatively approved the decision of our subsidiaries located in the east
to join PJM subject to certain conditions being met. The performance of these
conditions is only partially under our control. In October 2002, PJM announced
that our east subsidiaries and other unaffiliated utilities planned to turn
functional control of their transmission lines over to PJM during the first
quarter of 2003 and are scheduled to become full members by May 2003. Virginia
has adopted legislation that prevents us and certain other unaffiliated
utilities operating in Virginia from joining any RTO, including PJM, before July
2004. Management is unable to predict the ultimate effect of this Virginia
legislation.
Two of our western subsidiaries are members of the Southwest Power Pool
(the "SPP"). The SPP had agreed to merge with the Midwest Independent
Transmission System Operator ("MISO"), an independent operator of transmission
assets in the Midwest. MISO and SPP recently announced that they were no longer
pursuing their merger. Our two subsidiaries provided notice that they would
withdraw from the SPP after October 31, 2002. This action was taken to provide
our subsidiaries additional flexibility in deciding which RTO they will
ultimately join.
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Management is unable to predict the outcome of these transmission
regulatory actions and proceedings or their impact on the timing and operation
of RTOs, our transmission operations or future results of operations and cash
flows.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO REGULATION UNDER THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF
1935.
Our system is subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC under PUHCA. The
rules and regulations under PUHCA impose a number of restrictions on the
operations of registered holding company systems. These restrictions include a
requirement that the SEC approve in advance securities issuances, sales and
acquisitions of utility assets, sales and acquisitions of securities of utility
companies and acquisitions of other businesses. PUHCA also generally limits the
operations of a registered holding company to a single integrated public utility
system, plus additional energy-related businesses. PUHCA rules limit the
dividends that our subsidiaries may pay from unearned surplus.
OUR MERGER WITH CSW MAY ULTIMATELY BE FOUND TO VIOLATE PUHCA.
We acquired CSW in a merger completed on June 15, 2000. Among the more
significant assets we acquired as a result of the merger were four additional
domestic electric utility companies - PSO, SWEPCo, TCC (formerly CPL), and TNC
(formerly WTU). On January 18, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia ruled that the SEC's June 14, 2000 order approving the merger failed
to properly find that the merger meets the requirements of PUHCA and sent the
case back to the SEC for further review. Specifically, the court told the SEC to
revisit its conclusion that the merger met PUHCA's requirement that the electric
utilities be "physically interconnected" and confined to a "single area or
region."
We believe that the merger meets the requirements of PUHCA and expect the
matter to be resolved favorably. We intend to fully cooperate with the staff of
the SEC in supplementing the record, if necessary, to ensure the merger complies
with PUHCA. We can give no assurance, however, that: (i) the SEC or any
applicable court review will find that the merger complies with PUHCA, or (ii)
the SEC or any applicable court review will not impose material adverse
conditions on us in order to find that the merger complies with PUHCA. If the
merger were ultimately found to violate PUHCA, it may require us to take
remedial actions or divest assets which may harm our results of operations or
financial condition.
RISKS RELATED TO MARKET, ECONOMIC
OR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL VOLATILITY
WE ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A CHANGING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.
In response to the occurrence of several recent events, including the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States, the ongoing war
against terrorism by the United States, and the bankruptcy of Enron Corp., the
financial markets have been disrupted in general, and the availability and cost
of capital for our business and that of our competitors has been at least
temporarily harmed. In addition, following the bankruptcy of Enron Corp., the
credit ratings agencies initiated a thorough review of the capital structure and
earnings power of energy companies, including us. These events could constrain
the capital available to our industry and could limit our access to funding for
our operations. Our business is capital intensive, and achievement of our growth
targets is dependent, at least in part, upon our ability to access capital at
rates and on terms we determine to be attractive. If our ability to access
capital becomes significantly constrained, our interest costs will likely
increase
15
and our financial condition could be harmed and future results of operations
could be significantly harmed.
The insurance industry has also been disrupted by these events. As a
result, the availability of insurance covering risks we and our competitors
typically insure against has decreased. In addition, the insurance we are able
to obtain has higher deductibles and higher premiums.
DOWNGRADES IN OUR CREDIT RATINGS COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS
CAPITAL AND/OR TO CONDUCT OUR POWER AND GAS TRADING ACTIVITIES.
On February 10, 2003, Moody's downgraded our senior unsecured long-term
debt rating to Baa3 (with stable outlook) from Baa2 and our short-term debt
rating to P-3 (with stable outlook) from P-2. On March 7, 2003, Standard &
Poor's Ratings Service downgraded their rating on our senior unsecured debt to
BBB (with stable outlook) from BBB+ (CreditWatch with negative implications) and
confirmed their rating on our commercial paper of A-2 (with stable outlook). On
March 10, 2003, Fitch Ratings, Inc. downgraded their rating on our senior
unsecured debt to BBB (with stable outlook) from BBB+ and confirmed their rating
on our commercial paper of F2 (with stable outlook). As a result, our access to
the commercial paper market may be limited and our short-term borrowing costs
may increase.
To strengthen our financial condition, we have announced plans to, among
other things, (1) cut operating and capital expenses, and (2) dispose of
non-core assets. If the reduction of operating and capital expenses is too
severe it may adversely impact the profitable operation of assets, including
generating plants, which could adversely impact our results of operations or
financial condition.
Further, our plans to dispose of non-core assets may not succeed. If we
sell such non-core assets below their book value, we would sustain additional
impairments. If we retain such assets due to unfavorable market conditions for
their sale, we are exposed to the risk of sustaining additional operating
losses. There can be no assurance that we will successfully dispose of our
non-core assets as planned.
Our power trading activity relies on the investment grade ratings of the
senior unsecured debt of our utility subsidiaries. Our gas trading activity
relies on the investment grade ratings of our senior unsecured debt. While
Moody's recently downgraded several of those ratings, our senior unsecured debt
ratings and those of our utility subsidiaries continue to be investment grade.
Most of our counterparties require the creditworthiness of an investment grade
entity to stand behind transactions. If our ratings or those of our utility
subsidiaries were to decline below investment grade, we would likely have to
deposit cash or cash related instruments, which would reduce our results of
operations and impact our financial condition.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY FLUCTUATE ON A SEASONAL AND QUARTERLY BASIS.
Electric power generation is generally a seasonal business. In many parts
of the country, demand for power peaks during the hot summer months, with market
prices also peaking at that time. In other areas, power demand peaks during the
winter. As a result, our overall operating results in the future may fluctuate
substantially on a seasonal basis. The pattern of this fluctuation may change
depending on the nature and location of facilities we acquire and the terms of
power sale contracts we enter into. In addition, we have historically sold less
power, and consequently earned less income,
16
when weather conditions are milder. We expect that unusually mild weather in the
future could diminish our results of operations and harm our financial
condition.
CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY MAY SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS BY MAKING OUR POWER
PLANTS LESS COMPETITIVE.
A key element of our business model is that generating power at central
power plants achieves economies of scale and produces power at relatively low
cost. There are other technologies that produce power, most notably fuel cells,
microturbines, windmills and photovoltaic (solar) cells. It is possible that
advances in technology will reduce the cost of alternative methods of producing
power to a level that is competitive with that of most central power station
electric production. If this were to happen and if these technologies achieved
economies of scale, our market share could be eroded, and the value of our power
plants could be reduced. Changes in technology could also alter the channels
through which retail electric customers buy power, thereby harming our financial
results.
RISKS OF DOING BUSINESS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
We currently own and may acquire and/or dispose of material
energy-related investments and projects outside the United States. The economic
and political conditions in certain countries where we have interests or in
which we may explore development, acquisition or investment opportunities
present risks of delays in construction and interruption of business, as well as
risks of war, expropriation, nationalization, renegotiation, trade sanctions or
nullification of existing contracts and changes in law or tax policy, that are
greater than in the United States. The uncertainty of the legal environment in
certain foreign countries in which we develop or acquire projects or make
investments could make it more difficult to obtain non-recourse project or other
financing on suitable terms, could adversely affect the ability of certain
customers to honor their obligations with respect to such projects or
investments and could impair our ability to enforce our rights under agreements
relating to such projects or investments.
Operations in foreign countries also can present currency exchange rate
and convertibility, inflation and repatriation risk. In certain countries in
which we develop or acquire projects, or make investments, economic and monetary
conditions and other factors could affect our ability to convert our earnings
denominated in foreign currencies to United States dollars or other hard
currencies or to move funds offshore from such countries. Furthermore, the
central bank of any such country may have the authority in certain circumstances
to suspend, restrict or otherwise impose conditions on foreign exchange
transactions or to approve distributions to foreign investors. Although we
intend to structure our power purchase agreements, joint venture agreements and
other project revenue agreements to provide for payments or contributions to be
made in, or indexed to, United States dollars or a currency freely convertible
into United States dollars, there can be no assurance that we will be able to
achieve this structure in all cases or that a power purchaser or other customer
will be able to obtain sufficient United States dollars or other hard currency
or that available United States dollars will be allocated to pay such
obligations or make such contributions.
CHANGES IN COMMODITY PRICES MAY INCREASE OUR COST OF PRODUCING POWER OR DECREASE
THE AMOUNT WE RECEIVE FROM SELLING POWER, HARMING OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE.
We are heavily exposed to changes in the price and availability of coal
because most of our generating capacity is coal-fired. We have contracts of
varying durations for the supply of coal for
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most of our existing generation capacity, but as these contracts end, we may not
be able to purchase coal on terms as favorable as the current contracts.
We also own natural gas-fired facilities, which increases our exposure to
the more volatile market prices of natural gas.
Changes in the cost of coal or natural gas and changes in the
relationship between those costs and the market prices of power will affect our
financial results. Since the price we obtain for electricity may not change at
the same rate as the change in coal or natural gas costs, we may be unable to
pass on the changes in costs to our customers. In addition, the price we can
charge our retail customers in some jurisdictions are capped and our fuel
recovery mechanisms in other states are frozen for various periods of time.
In addition, actual power prices and fuel costs will differ from those
assumed in financial projections used to initially value our trading and
marketing transactions, and those differences may be material. As a result, our
financial results may be diminished in the future as those transactions are
marked to market.
AT TIMES, DEMAND FOR POWER COULD EXCEED OUR SUPPLY CAPACITY.
We are currently obligated to supply power in parts of eleven states.
From time to time the demand for power required to meet these obligations could
exceed our available generation capacity. If this occurs, we would have to buy
power on the market. We may not always have the ability to pass these costs on
to our customers because some of the states we operate in do not allow us to
increase our rates in response to increased fuel cost charges. Since these
situations most often occur during periods of peak demand, it is possible that
the market price for power at that time would be very high. Unlike the cooler
weather over the summer of 2000, the hotter-than-normal summer of 1999 saw
market prices for power in regions in which certain of our regulated utility
subsidiaries have supply obligations peak in excess of $5,000 per megawatt hour.
Utilities that did not own or purchase sufficient available capacity during
those periods incurred significant losses in sourcing incremental power. Even if
a supply shortage was brief, we could suffer substantial losses that could
diminish our results of operations.
RISKS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
OUR COSTS OF COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ARE SIGNIFICANT, AND THE COST OF
COMPLIANCE WITH FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS COULD HARM OUR CASH FLOW AND
PROFITABILITY.
Our operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local
environmental statutes, rules and regulations relating to air quality, water
quality, waste management, natural resources and health and safety. Compliance
with these legal requirements requires us to commit significant capital toward
environmental monitoring, installation of pollution control equipment, emission
fees and permits at all of our facilities. These expenditures have been
significant in the past and we expect that they will increase in the future.
Costs of compliance with environmental regulations could harm our industry, our
business and our results of operations and financial position, especially if
emission and/or discharge limits are tightened, more extensive permitting
requirements are imposed, additional substances become regulated and the number
and types of assets we operate increase.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL INCUR CONSIDERABLE CAPITAL COSTS FOR COMPLIANCE.
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Most of our generating capacity is coal burning. We plan to install new
emissions control equipment and may be required to upgrade existing equipment,
purchase emissions allowances or reduce operations. We expect to spend
approximately $1.3 to $1.7 billion in connection with the installation of
emission control equipment at our facilities to comply with the new NOx rule (of
which approximately $918 million had been expended through March 31, 2003), the
Section 126 Rule and certain environmental requirements of Texas. Moreover,
environmental laws are subject to change, which may materially increase our
costs of compliance or accelerate the timing of these capital expenditures. Our
compliance strategy, although reasonably based on the information available to
us today, may not successfully address the relevant standards and
interpretations of the future.
GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES MAY ASSESS PENALTIES ON US FOR FAILURES TO COMPLY WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
If we fail to comply with environmental laws and regulations, even if
caused by factors beyond our control, that failure may result in the assessment
of civil or criminal penalties and fines against us. Recent lawsuits by the EPA
and various states filed against us highlight the environmental risks faced by
generating facilities, in general, and coal-fired generating facilities, in
particular.
Since 1999, we have been involved in litigation regarding generating
plant emissions under the Clean Air Act. Federal EPA and a number of states
alleged that we and eleven unaffiliated utilities modified certain units at
coal-fired generating plants in violation of the Clean Air Act. Federal EPA
filed complaints against certain AEP subsidiaries in U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of Ohio. A separate lawsuit initiated by certain special
interest groups was consolidated with the Federal EPA case. The alleged
modification of the generating units occurred over a 20 year period.
If these actions are resolved against us, substantial modifications of
our existing coal-fired power plants would be required. In addition, we could be
required to invest significantly in additional emission control equipment,
accelerate the timing of capital expenditures, pay penalties and/or halt
operations. Moreover, our results of operations and financial position could be
reduced due to the consequent distraction of management and the expense of
ongoing litigation.
Other parties have settled similar lawsuits. An unaffiliated utility
which operates certain plants jointly owned by CSPCo reached a tentative
agreement to settle litigation regarding generating plant emissions under the
Clean Air Act. Negotiations are continuing and a settlement could impact the
operation of certain of the jointly owned plants. Until a final settlement is
reached, CSPCo will be unable to determine the settlement's impact on its
jointly owned facilities and its future results of operations and cash flows.
WE ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO PASS ON THE COST OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE TO
OUR CUSTOMERS.
Most of our contracts with wholesale customers do not permit us to
recover additional capital and other costs incurred by us to comply with new
environmental regulations. Due to the deregulation of generation in Texas, Ohio
and Virginia, we cannot recover through rates additional capital and other costs
incurred by us to comply with new environmental regulations with respect to our
generation previously regulated in those jurisdictions. As a result of rate
freezes in effect in
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Michigan and Indiana (expiring January 1, 2005) we generally cannot recover
through rates additional capital and other costs incurred by us to comply with
new environmental regulations with respect to our generation subject to those
jurisdictions.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for each of the periods indicated
is as follows:
Twelve Months
Period Ended Ratio
------------ -----
December 31, 1998 2.27
December 31, 1999 2.18
December 31, 2000 1.56
December 31, 2001 2.27
December 31, 2002 1.19
March 31, 2003 1.38
For current information on the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges, please
see our most recent Form 10-K and 10-Q. See WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we and the trusts
filed with the SEC. We also file annual, quarterly and special reports and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the
SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public
reference rooms. You may also examine our SEC filings through the SEC's web site
at http://www.sec.gov or 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, and later information that we file
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 the securities registered herein.
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2002, as amended by the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed May
14, 2003 and as updated by financial information included in
the Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 14, 2003;
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003; and
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed February 25, 2003 (which
contains financial statements superseded by the financial
information in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended and
updated), March 3, 2003, March 14, 2003, May 14, 2003 and May
20, 2003.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning
us at the following address:
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Mr. R. Todd Rimmer
American Electric Power Service Corporation
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 716-1000
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or any 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 supplement is accurate as
of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the sale of any of the offered securities will be
used for general corporate purposes relating to our business. Unless stated
otherwise in a prospectus supplement, these purposes include redeeming or
repurchasing outstanding debt, replenishing working capital, financing our
subsidiaries' ongoing construction and maintenance programs. If we do not use
the net proceeds immediately, we temporarily invest them in short-term,
interest-bearing obligations.
The prospectus supplement of a particular offering of securities will
identify the use of proceeds for the offering. The proceeds from the sale of
Trust Preferred Securities by a trust will be invested in Debt Securities issued
by us. Except as we may otherwise describe in the related prospectus supplement,
we expect to use the net proceeds of the sale of such Debt Securities to the
applicable trust for the above purposes.
THE TRUSTS
AEP Capital Trust I, AEP Capital Trust II and AEP Trust III (each a
"trust") are statutory business trusts created under the Delaware Business Trust
Act pursuant to amended and restated declarations of trust, among AEP,
Wilmington Trust Company, as the Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee and two
employees of AEP as Administrative Trustees. In this prospectus, we refer to
these declarations as the trust agreements.
Each trust exists solely to:
- issue and sell its Trust Preferred Securities and Trust Common Securities
(the "Trust Securities");
- use the proceeds from the sale of its Trust Securities to purchase and
hold a series of our Debt Securities;
- maintain its status as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes;
and
- engage in other activities that are necessary or incidental to these
purposes.
We will purchase all of the Trust Common Securities. The Trust Common
Securities will represent an aggregate liquidation amount equal to at least 3%
of the total capital of the trust. Payments will be made on the Trust Common
Securities PRO RATA with the Trust Preferred Securities, except that the Trust
Common Securities' right to payment will be subordinated to the
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rights of the Trust Preferred Securities if there is a default under the trust
agreement resulting from an event of default under the applicable indenture.
We will guarantee the Trust Preferred Securities as described later in
this prospectus.
Each trust's business and affairs will be conducted by its Administrative
Trustees, as set forth in the trust agreement. The office of the Delaware
Trustee in the State of Delaware is 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington,
Delaware 19890. The trust's offices are located at 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus,
Ohio 43215; the telephone number is (614) 716-1000.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF TRUSTS
For financial reporting purposes, the trusts will be treated as our
subsidiaries and, accordingly, the accounts of the trusts will be included in
our consolidated financial statements. The Trust Preferred Securities will be
presented as a separate line item in our consolidated balance sheet, and
appropriate disclosures concerning the Trust Preferred Securities, the
Guarantees, the Senior Notes and the junior subordinated debentures will be
included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. For financial
reporting purposes, we will record distributions payable on the Trust Preferred
Securities as an expense.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES
GENERAL
We will issue the Senior Notes directly to the public, to a trust or as
part of a Stock Purchase Unit, under an Indenture dated May 1, 2001 between us
and the Trustee, The Bank of New York. This prospectus briefly outlines some
provisions of the Indenture. If you would like more information on these
provisions, you should review the Indenture and any supplemental indentures or
company orders that we have filed or will file with the SEC. See WHERE YOU CAN
FIND MORE INFORMATION on how to locate these documents. You may also review
these documents at the Trustee's offices at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New
York.
The Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Notes that may be
issued. The Indenture permits us to issue Senior Notes in one or more series or
tranches upon the approval of our board of directors and as described in one or
more company orders or supplemental indentures. Each series of Senior Notes may
differ as to their terms. The Indenture also gives us the ability to reopen a
previous issue of a series of Senior Notes and issue additional Senior Notes of
such series.
Because we are a holding company, the claims of creditors of our
subsidiaries will have a priority over our equity rights and the rights of our
creditors (including the holders of the Senior Notes) to participate in the
assets of the subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation.
The Senior Notes are unsecured and will rank equally with all our
unsecured unsubordinated debt. For current information on our debt outstanding
see our most recent Form 10-K and 10-Q. See WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.
A prospectus supplement or pricing supplement will include the final
terms for each Senior Note. If we decide to list upon issuance any Senior Note
or Senior Notes on a securities exchange, a prospectus supplement or pricing
supplement will identify the exchange and state when we
22
expect trading could begin. The following terms of the Senior Notes that we may
sell at one or more times will be established in the applicable pricing or
prospectus supplement:
- Maturity
- Fixed or floating interest rate
- Remarketing features
- Certificate or book-entry form
- Redemption
- Not convertible, amortized or subject to a sinking fund
- Interest paid on fixed rate Senior Notes quarterly or semi-annually
- Interest paid on floating rate Senior Notes monthly, quarterly,
semi-annually, or annually
- Issued in multiples of a minimum denomination
- Ability to defer payment of interest
- Any other terms not inconsistent with the Indenture
- Issued with Original Issue Discount
The Senior Notes will be denominated in U.S. dollars and we will pay
principal and interest in U.S. dollars. Unless an applicable pricing or
prospectus supplement states otherwise, the Senior Notes will not be subject to
any conversion, amortization, or sinking fund. We expect that the Senior Notes
issued to the public will be "book-entry," represented by a permanent global
Senior Note registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or its
nominee. We reserve the right, however, to issue Senior Note certificates
registered in the name of the Senior Noteholders.
The interest rate and interest and other payment dates of each series of
Senior Notes 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.
In the discussion that follows, whenever we talk about paying principal
on the Senior Notes, we mean at maturity or redemption. Also, in discussing the
time for notices and how the different interest rates are calculated, all times
are New York City time and all references to New York mean the City of New York,
unless otherwise noted.
The Indenture does not protect holders of the Senior Notes if we engage
in a highly leveraged transaction.
The following terms may apply to each Senior Note as specified in the
applicable pricing or prospectus supplement and the Senior Note:
REDEMPTIONS
If we issue redeemable Senior Notes, we may redeem such Senior Notes at
our option unless an applicable pricing or prospectus supplement states
otherwise. The pricing or prospectus supplement will state the terms of
redemption. We may redeem Senior Notes in whole or in part by delivering written
notice to the Senior Noteholders no more than 60, and not less than 30, days
prior to redemption. If we do not redeem all the Senior Notes of a series at one
time, the Trustee selects the Senior Notes to be redeemed in a manner it
determines to be fair.
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REMARKETED NOTES
If we issue Senior Notes with remarketing features, an applicable pricing
or prospectus supplement will describe the terms for the Senior Notes including:
interest rate, remarketing provisions, our right to purchase or redeem Senior
Notes, the holders' right to tender Senior Notes, and any other provisions.
NOTE CERTIFICATES-REGISTRATION, TRANSFER, AND PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each
series of Senior Notes issued to the public will be issued initially in the form
of one or more global notes, in registered form, without coupons, as described
under BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM. However, if we issue Senior Note certificates, they
will be registered in the name of the Senior Noteholder. The Senior Notes may be
transferred or exchanged, pursuant to administrative procedures in the
Indenture, without the payment of any service charge (other than any tax or
other governmental charge) by contacting the paying agent. Payments to public
holders of Senior Note certificates will be made by check.
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
We may issue the Senior Notes at an original issue discount, bearing no
interest or bearing interest at a rate that, at the time of issuance, is below
market rate, to be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal
amount. Generally speaking, if the Senior Notes are issued at an original issue
discount and there is an event of default or acceleration of their maturity,
holders will receive an amount less than their principal amount. Tax and other
special considerations applicable to original issue discount debt will be
described in the prospectus supplement in which we offer those Senior Notes.
INTEREST RATE
The interest rate on the Senior Notes will either be fixed or floating.
The interest paid will include interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of
maturity or redemption. Interest is generally payable to the person in whose
name the Senior Note is registered at the close of business on the record date
before each interest payment date. Interest payable at maturity or redemption,
however, will be payable to the person to whom principal is payable.
If we issue a Senior Note after a record date but on or prior to the
related interest payment date, we will pay the first interest payment on the
interest payment date after the next record date. We will pay interest payments
by check or wire transfer, at our option.
For a discussion of our ability to defer interest payments on the Senior
Notes, see DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES--OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST
PAYMENT PERIOD.
FIXED RATE SENIOR NOTES
A pricing or prospectus supplement will designate the record dates,
payment dates, our ability to defer interest payments and the fixed rate of
interest payable on a Senior Note. We will pay interest quarterly or
semi-annually, and upon maturity or redemption. Unless an applicable
24
pricing or prospectus supplement states otherwise, if any payment date falls on
a day that is not a business day, we will pay interest on the next business day
and no additional interest will be paid. Interest payments will be the amount of
interest accrued to, but excluding, each payment date. Interest will be computed
using a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
FLOATING RATE NOTES
Each floating rate Senior Note will have an interest rate formula. The
applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement will state the initial
interest rate or interest rate formula on each Senior Note effective until the
first interest reset date. The applicable pricing or prospectus supplement will
state the method and dates on which the interest rate will be determined, reset
and paid.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The following are events of default under the Indenture with respect to
any series of Senior Notes, unless we state otherwise in the applicable
prospectus supplement:
- failure to pay for three business days the principal of (or premium, if
any, on) any Senior Note of a series when due and payable;
- failure to pay for 30 days any interest on any Senior Note of any series
when due and payable;
- failure to perform any other requirements in such Senior Notes, or in the
Indenture in regard to such Senior Notes, for 90 days after notice;
- certain events of our bankruptcy or insolvency; or
- any other event of default specified in a series of Senior Notes.
An event of default for a particular series of Senior Notes does not
necessarily mean that an event of default has occurred for any other series of
Senior Notes issued under the Indenture. If an event of default occurs and
continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% of the principal amount of
the Senior Notes of the series affected may require us to repay the entire
principal of the Senior Notes of such series immediately ("Repayment
Acceleration"). In most instances, the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes of the affected series may
rescind a previously triggered Repayment Acceleration. However, if we cause an
event of default because we have failed to pay (unaccelerated) principal,
premium, if any, or interest, Repayment Acceleration may be rescinded only if we
have first cured our default by depositing with the Trustee enough money to pay
all (unaccelerated) past due amounts and penalties, if any. For a discussion of
remedies in the event Senior Notes are issued to a trust, see DESCRIPTION OF
TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES--ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF TRUST
PREFERRED SECURITIES.
The Trustee must within 90 days after a default occurs, notify the
holders of the Senior Notes of the series of default unless such default has
been cured or waived. We are required to file an annual certificate with the
Trustee, signed by an officer, concerning any default by us under any provisions
of the Indenture.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to its duties in case
of default, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any
holders unless such holders offer the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to
the provisions for indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal
25
amount of the Senior Notes of any series may direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to, or exercising any
trust or power conferred on, the Trustee with respect to such Senior Notes.
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE
Under the Indenture, our rights and obligations and the rights of the
holders of any Senior Notes may be changed. Any change affecting the rights of
the holders of any series of Senior Notes requires the consent of the holders of
not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior
Notes of all series affected by the change, voting as one class. However, we
cannot change the terms of payment of principal or interest, or a reduction in
the percentage required for changes or a waiver of default, unless the holder
consents. We may issue additional series of Senior Notes and take other action
that does not affect the rights of holders of any series by executing
supplemental indentures without the consent of any Senior Noteholders.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE
We may merge or consolidate with any entity or sell substantially all of
our assets as an entirety as long as the successor or purchaser (i) is organized
and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia and (ii) expressly assumes the payment of principal,
premium, if any, and interest on the Senior Notes.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE
We will be discharged from our obligations on the Senior Notes 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 Note of the
series, and
- we deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel stating that the federal
income tax obligations of Senior Noteholders of that series will not
change as a result of our performing the action described above.
If this happens, the Senior Noteholders of the series will not be
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture except for registration of transfer
and exchange of Senior Notes and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated Senior
Notes.
COVENANT DEFEASANCE
We will be discharged from our obligations under any restrictive covenant
applicable to the Senior Notes of a particular series if we perform both actions
described above. See LEGAL DEFEASANCE. If this happens, any later breach of that
particular restrictive covenant will not result in Repayment Acceleration. If we
cause an event of default apart from breaching that restrictive covenant, there
may not be sufficient money or government obligations on deposit with the
Trustee to pay all amounts due on the Senior Notes of that series. In that
instance, we would remain liable for such amounts.
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GOVERNING LAW
The Indenture and Senior Notes of all series will be governed by the laws
of the State of New York.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
We and our affiliates use or will use some of the banking services of the
Trustee in the normal course of business. The Trustee is also the Subordinated
Indenture Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture relating to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 600,000,000 shares of
common stock, par value $6.50 per share. 394,993,420 shares of our common stock
were issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2003. Our common stock, including
the common stock offered in this prospectus once issued, is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange. First Chicago Trust Company of New York, P.O. Box 2500,
Jersey City, New Jersey 07303-2500, is the transfer agent and registrar for our
common stock.
DIVIDEND RIGHTS
The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive the dividends
declared by our board of directors provided funds are legally available for such
dividends. Our income derives from our common stock equity in the earnings of
our subsidiaries. Various financing arrangements, charter provisions and
regulating requirements may impose certain restrictions on the ability of our
subsidiaries to transfer funds to us in the form of cash dividends, loans or
advances.
VOTING RIGHTS
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share
of common stock held. The holders of our common stock are entitled to cumulate
their votes when voting for the election of directors.
PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS
The holders of our common stock generally do not have the right to
subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of our common
stock. If, however, our board of directors determines to issue and sell any
common stock solely for money and not by (1) a public offering; (2) an offering
to or through underwriters or dealers who have agreed to promptly make a public
offering; or (3) any other offering which the holders of a majority of our
outstanding common stock have authorized; then such common stock must first be
offered pro rata to our existing shareholders on terms no less favorable than
those offered to persons other than our existing shareholders.
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RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION
If we are liquidated, holders of our common stock will be entitled to
receive pro rata all assets available for distribution to our shareholders after
payment of our liabilities, including liquidation expenses.
RESTRICTIONS ON DEALING WITH EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS
We are subject to Section 513 of New York's Business Corporation Law,
which provides that no domestic corporation may purchase or agree to purchase
more than 10% of its stock from a shareholder who has held the shares for less
than two years at any price that is higher than the market price unless the
transaction is approved by both the corporation's board of directors and a
majority of the votes of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon at a
meeting of shareholders, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a
greater percentage or the corporation offers to purchase shares from all the
holders on the same terms. Our certificate of incorporation does not currently
provide for a higher percentage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
GENERAL
We will issue the Junior Subordinated Debentures directly to the public,
to a trust or as part of a Stock Purchase Unit under the Subordinated Indenture
to be entered into by us and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, The Bank of New
York. This prospectus briefly outlines some provisions of the Subordinated
Indenture. If you would like more information on these provisions, you should
review the Subordinated Indenture and any supplemental indentures or company
orders that we will file with the SEC. See WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE Information
on how to locate these documents.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are unsecured obligations and are
junior in right of payment to "Senior Indebtedness". You may find a description
of the subordination provisions of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, including
a description of Senior Indebtedness under SUBORDINATION.
Because we are a holding company, the claims of creditors of our
subsidiaries will have a priority over our equity rights and the rights of our
creditors (including the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures) to
participate in the assets of the subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation.
The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Junior
Subordinated Debentures that we may issue under it. We may issue Junior
Subordinated Debentures from time to time under the Subordinated Indenture in
one or more series by entering into supplemental indentures or by our Board of
Directors or a duly authorized committee authorizing the issuance. The
Subordinated Indenture also gives us the ability to reopen a previous issue of a
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and issue additional Junior
Subordinated Debentures of such series.
A prospectus supplement or pricing supplement will include the final
terms for each Junior Subordinated Debenture. If we decide to list upon issuance
any Junior Subordinated Debenture or
28
Junior Subordinated Debentures on a securities exchange, a prospectus supplement
or pricing supplement will identify the exchange and state when we expect
trading could begin. The following terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
that we may sell at one or more times will be established in a prospectus
supplement:
- Maturity
- Fixed or floating interest rate
- Remarketing features
- Certificate or book-entry form
- Redemption
- Not convertible, amortized or subject to a sinking fund
- Interest paid on fixed rate Junior Subordinated Debentures quarterly or
semi-annually
- Interest paid on floating rate Junior Subordinated Debentures monthly,
quarterly, semi-annually, or annually
- Issued in multiples of a minimum denomination
- Ability to defer interest payments
- Any other terms not inconsistent with the Subordinated Indenture
- Issued with Original Issue Discount
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.
The Subordinated Indenture does not protect the holders of Junior
Subordinated Debentures if we engage in a highly leveraged transaction.
REDEMPTION
Provisions relating to the redemption of Junior Subordinated Debentures
will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we state
otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may redeem Junior
Subordinated Debentures only upon notice mailed at least 30 but not more than 60
days before the date fixed for redemption. If we do not redeem all the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of a series at one time, the Subordinated Indenture
Trustee selects those to be redeemed in a manner it determines to be fair.
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE CERTIFICATES-REGISTRATION, TRANSFER, AND PAYMENT
OF INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to the public initially will be
in the form of one or more global Junior Subordinated Debentures, in registered
form, without coupons, as described under BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM. However, if we
issue Junior Subordinated Debenture certificates, they will be registered in the
name of the Junior Subordinated Debentureholder. The Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be transferred or exchanged, pursuant to administrative
procedures in the Subordinated Indenture, without the payment of any service
charge (other than any tax or other governmental charge) by contacting the
paying agent. Payments to public holders of Junior Subordinated Debenture
certificates will be made by check.
29
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
We may issue the Junior Subordinated Debentures at an original issue
discount, bearing no interest or bearing interest at a rate that, at the time of
issuance, is below market rate, to be sold at a substantial discount below their
stated principal amount. Generally speaking, if the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are issued at an original issue discount and there is an event of
default or acceleration of their maturity, holders will receive an amount less
than their principal amount. Tax and other special considerations applicable to
original issue discount debt will be described in the prospectus supplement in
which we offer those Junior Subordinated Debentures.
INTEREST RATE
The interest rate on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will either be
fixed or floating. The interest paid will include interest accrued to, but
excluding, the date of maturity or redemption. Interest is generally payable to
the person in whose name the Junior Subordinated Debenture is registered at the
close of business on the record date before each interest payment date. Interest
payable at maturity or redemption, however, will be payable to the person to
whom principal is payable.
If we issue a Junior Subordinated Debenture after a record date but on or
prior to the related interest payment date, we will pay the first interest
payment on the interest payment date after the next record date. We will pay
interest payments by check or wire transfer, at our option.
For a discussion of our ability to defer interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, see DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES--OPTION
TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD.
FIXED RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
A pricing or prospectus supplement will designate the record dates,
payment dates, our ability to defer interest payments and the fixed rate of
interest payable on a Junior Subordinated Debenture. We will pay interest
quarterly or semi-annually, and upon maturity or redemption. Unless an
applicable pricing or prospectus supplement states otherwise, if any payment
date falls on a day that is not a business day, we will pay interest on the next
business day and no additional interest will be paid. Interest payments will be
the amount of interest accrued to, but excluding, each payment date. Interest
will be computed using a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
Each floating rate Junior Subordinated Debenture will have an interest
rate formula. The applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement will
state the initial interest rate or interest rate formula on each Junior
Subordinated Debenture effective until the first interest reset date. The
applicable pricing or prospectus supplement will state the method and dates on
which the interest rate will be determined, reset and paid.
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The following are events of default under the Subordinated Indenture with
respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless we state
otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement:
- failure to pay for three business days the principal of (or premium, if
any, on) any Junior Subordinated Debenture of a series when due and
payable;
- failure to pay for 30 days any interest on any Junior Subordinated
Debenture of any series when due and payable;
- failure to perform any other requirements in such Junior Subordinated
Debentures, or in the Subordinated Indenture, for 90 days after notice;
- certain events of our bankruptcy or insolvency; or
- any other event of default specified in a series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
An event of default for a particular series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures does not necessarily mean that an event of default has occurred for
any other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures issued under the Subordinated
Indenture. If an event of default occurs and continues, the Subordinated
Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 33% of the principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series affected may require us to repay
the entire principal of the Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series
immediately ("Repayment Acceleration"). In most instances, the holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the affected series may rescind a previously triggered Repayment
Acceleration. However, if we cause an event of default because we have failed to
pay (unaccelerated) principal, premium, if any, or interest, Repayment
Acceleration may be rescinded only if we have first cured our default by
depositing with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee enough money to pay all
(unaccelerated) past due amounts and penalties, if any. For a discussion of
remedies in the event Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued to a trust, see
DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES--ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY
HOLDERS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES.
The Subordinated Indenture Trustee must within 90 days after a default
occurs, notify the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series
of default unless such default has been cured or waived. We are required to file
an annual certificate with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, signed by an
officer, concerning any default by us under any provisions of the Subordinated
Indenture.
In the case of Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to a trust, a holder
of Trust Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
us without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee of
the trust by which those Trust Preferred Securities were issued or any other
person or entity, for enforcement of payment to that holder of principal or
interest on an equivalent amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures of the
related series on or after the due dates specified in those Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
Subject to the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to its
duties in case of default, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Subordinated
Indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders unless such holders
offer the Subordinated Indenture Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to the
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provisions for indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series may direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to, or exercising
any trust or power conferred on, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee with respect
to such Junior Subordinated Debentures.
MODIFICATION OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
Under the Subordinated Indenture, our rights and obligations and the
rights of the holders of any Junior Subordinated Debentures may be changed. Any
change affecting the rights of the holders of any series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures requires the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures of
all series affected by the change, voting as one class. However, we cannot
change the terms of payment of principal or interest, or a reduction in the
percentage required for changes or a waiver of default, unless the holder
consents. We may issue additional series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and
take other action that does not affect the rights of holders of any series by
executing supplemental indentures without the consent of any debentureholders.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE
We may merge or consolidate with any entity or sell substantially all of
our assets as an entirety as long as the successor or purchaser (i) is organized
and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia and (ii) expressly assumes the payment of principal,
premium, if any, and interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE
We will be discharged from our obligations on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures 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 Junior Subordinated
Debenture of the series, and
- we deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel stating that the federal
income tax obligations of debentureholders of that series will not change
as a result of our performing the action described above.
If this happens, the debentureholders of the series will not be entitled
to the benefits of the Subordinated Indenture except for registration of
transfer and exchange of Junior Subordinated Debentures and replacement of lost,
stolen or mutilated Junior Subordinated Debentures.
COVENANT DEFEASANCE
We will be discharged from our obligations under any restrictive covenant
applicable to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of a particular series if we
perform both actions described above. See LEGAL DEFEASANCE. If this happens, any
later breach of that particular restrictive covenant will not result in
Repayment Acceleration. If we cause an event of default apart from breaching
that restrictive covenant, there may not be sufficient money or government
obligations on deposit with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee to pay all
amounts due on the Junior Subordinated Debentures of that series. In that
instance, we would remain liable for such amounts.
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Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to a trust will not be subject to
covenant defeasance.
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.
"Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to any series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the principal, premium, interest and any other payment
in respect of any of the following:
- all of our indebtedness that is evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or
other securities we sell for money or other obligations for money
borrowed;
- all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding
category which we have assumed or guaranteed or which we have in effect
guaranteed through an agreement to purchase, contingent or otherwise; and
- all renewals, extensions or refundings of indebtedness of the kinds
described in either of the preceding two categories.
Any such indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding, however, will not
be Senior Indebtedness if the instrument creating or evidencing it or the
assumption or Guarantee of it provides that it is not superior in right of
payment to or is equal in right of payment with those Junior Subordinated
Debentures. 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.
The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior
Indebtedness that we may issue. As of March 31, 2003, our Senior Indebtedness
totaled approximately $5,219,203,000.
GOVERNING LAW
The Subordinated Indenture and Junior Subordinated Debentures of all
series will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
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CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
We and our affiliates use or will use some of the banking services of the
Subordinated Indenture Trustee in the normal course of business. The
Subordinated Trustee is also the Trustee under the Indenture relating to the
Senior Notes.
DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
Each trust may issue Trust Preferred Securities and Trust Common
Securities under the trust agreement, which we refer to in this prospectus as
the Trust Securities. These Trust Securities will represent undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the trust. Selected provisions of the trust agreement
are summarized below. This summary is not complete. The form of trust agreement
is filed with the SEC herewith and you should read the trust agreement for
provisions that may be important to you. The trust agreement will be qualified
as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. You should also refer to the
Trust Indenture Act for provisions that apply to the Trust Preferred Securities.
GENERAL
Each trust will exist for the exclusive purposes of:
- issuing and selling its Trust Preferred Securities and Trust Common
Securities;
- investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in our Debt
Securities;
- maintaining its status as a grantor trust for federal income tax
purposes;
- making distributions; and
- engaging in only those other activities necessary, advisable or
incidental to the purposes listed above.
Our Debt Securities will be the sole assets of each trust, and our
payments under the Debt Securities will be the sole income of each trust. No
separate financial statements of any trust will be included in this prospectus.
We consider that these financial statements would not be material to holders of
the Trust Preferred Securities because no trust would have any independent
operations and the only purposes of each trust are those described above. We do
not expect that any trust will be filing annual, quarterly or special reports
with the SEC. The principal place of business of each trust will be c/o American
Electric Power Company, Inc., 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, OH 43215.
Each trust will exist until terminated as provided in its trust
agreement. The trustees of each trust will be:
- two of our employees or officers or two employees or officers of our
affiliates as administrators (the "Administrative Trustees"); and
- Wilmington Trust Company, which will act as Property Trustee and as
indenture trustee for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act (the "Property
Trustee") and for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the
Delaware Business Trust Act, the Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware
Trustee").
The trust agreement will authorize the Administrative Trustees to issue
two classes of Trust Securities: Trust Preferred Securities and Trust Common
Securities. We will own all of the Trust Common Securities issued by each trust,
which will rank equally in right of payment with the Trust
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Preferred Securities issued by the respective trust. However, if an event of
default occurs and is continuing under the trust agreement, rights of the
holders of the Trust Common Securities to payment for distributions and
otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Trust
Preferred Securities. We will acquire Trust Common Securities of each trust in a
total liquidation amount of at least three percent of the total capital of the
trust.
Proceeds from the sale of both the Trust Preferred Securities and the
Trust Common Securities issued by each trust will be used to purchase our Debt
Securities, which will be held in trust by the Property Trustee for the benefit
of the holders of the Trust Securities issued by the respective trust. We will
guarantee the payments of distributions and payments of redemption or
liquidation with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities issued by each trust,
but only to the extent the respective trust has funds legally available for and
cash sufficient to make those payments and has not made the payments. See
DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES below.
Each Guarantee, when taken together with our obligations under the
related Debt Securities, the related indenture and the related trust agreement,
will provide a full and unconditional guarantee of amounts due on the Trust
Preferred Securities issued by the respective trust. The Trust Preferred
Securities will have the terms, including distributions, redemption, voting,
liquidation rights and other rights or restrictions that will be described in
the related trust agreement or made part of it by the Trust Indenture Act or the
Delaware Business Trust Act.
PROVISIONS OF A PARTICULAR SERIES
Each 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;
- the liquidation amount and number of Trust Preferred Securities issued;
- the annual distribution rate or rates or method of determining such rate
or rates, the payment date or dates and the record dates used to
determine the holders who are to receive distributions;
- whether distributions will be cumulative and, in the case of Trust
Preferred Securities, having cumulative distribution rights, the date
from which distributions will be cumulative;
- 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;
- the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Debt Securities and the
related Guarantee may be distributed to holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities;
- any securities exchange on which the Trust Preferred Securities will be
listed;
- the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Trust Preferred
Securities may be converted into our securities; and
- any other relevant rights, covenants, preferences, privileges,
limitations or restrictions of the Trust Preferred Securities.
Terms of the Trust Preferred Securities issued by each trust will mirror
the terms of the Debt Securities held by the respective trust. In other words,
the interest rate and interest and other payment dates of each series of Debt
Securities 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
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Securities of that trust. The prospectus supplement will also set forth whether
the Debt Securities to be issued to a trust will be Senior Notes or Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Trust Preferred Securities represent preferred, undivided, beneficial
interests in the assets of the respective trust. The applicable prospectus
supplement will state the annual rate, as a percentage of the liquidation
amount, at which distributions on each Trust Preferred Security will be payable,
the liquidation amount and the dates on which distributions will be payable.
Each trust will use the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Trust
Preferred Securities to purchase our Debt Securities. The income of a trust
available for distribution to holders of the Trust Preferred Securities issued
by that trust will be limited to payments under those Debt Securities. If we do
not make payments on the Debt Securities, a trust will not have funds available
to pay distributions or other amounts payable on the Trust Preferred Securities
issued by that trust. The payment of distributions and other amounts payable on
the Trust Preferred Securities issued by a trust, if and to the extent the trust
has funds legally available for and cash sufficient to make such payments, is
guaranteed by us as described herein under DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES.
OPTION TO ACCELERATE MATURITY DATE
If, at any time the Debt Securities are held by a trust, we are not able
to deduct the interest payable on the Debt Securities as a result of a Tax
Event, then we have the right to accelerate the stated maturity of the Debt
Securities to the minimum extent required so that interest on the Debt
Securities will be deductible for United States federal income tax purposes.
However, the resulting maturity may not be less than 15 years from the date of
the original issuance. Moreover, we may not accelerate the stated maturity
unless we have received an opinion of counsel to the effect that (1) following
acceleration, interest paid on the Debt Securities will be deductible for United
States federal income tax purposes and (2) the holders of Trust Preferred
Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal
income tax purposes as a result of this acceleration and will be subject to
United States federal tax in the same amount, in the same manner and at the same
times as would have been the case if acceleration had not occurred.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
If the applicable prospectus supplement so states, we will have the right
to defer the payment of interest on the Debt Securities at any time or from time
to time for a period, which we refer to in this prospectus as an "extension
period," not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly periods with respect to each
extension period. During each extension period we shall have the right to make
partial payments of interest on the Debt Security on any interest payment date.
At the end of each extension period we shall pay all interest then accrued and
unpaid. No extension period may extend beyond the stated maturity of the Debt
Securities or end on a date other than an interest payment date. As a
consequence of any such deferral, distributions on the Trust Preferred
Securities by a trust will be deferred during any such extension period.
Distributions to which holders of the Trust Preferred Securities are entitled
will accumulate additional distributions at the rate stated in the applicable
prospectus supplement. During an extension period, interest will continue to
accrue and holders of Debt Securities, or holders of Trust Preferred Securities
while outstanding, will be required to accrue original issue discount income for
United States federal
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income tax purposes. We will provide further discussion of the accrual of
original issue discount in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Prior to the termination of any extension period, we may further defer
the payment of interest, provided that, unless the applicable prospectus
supplement states otherwise, no extension period may exceed 20 consecutive
quarterly periods or extend beyond the stated maturity of the Debt Securities.
Upon the termination of any extension period and the payment of all amounts then
due, we may elect to begin a new extension period subject to the above
conditions. No interest shall be due and payable during an extension period,
except at its end. We must give the applicable trustee and the Property Trustee
notice of our election of an extension period at least one business day prior to
the earlier of the date the distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities
would have been payable but for the election to begin such extension period and
the date the Property Trustee is required to give notice to holders of the Trust
Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such distributions are
payable, but in any event not less than one business day prior to such record
date. The applicable trustee will give notice of our election to begin a new
extension period to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, during any
extended interest period, or for so long as an event of default under the
applicable indenture or any payment default under the Guarantee has occurred and
is continuing, we will not, except in limited circumstances, (1) declare or pay
any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of our capital stock, (2) make any
payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any Debt Securities of ours that rank equally with, or junior to, the
Debt Securities, or (3) make any guarantee payments with respect to any
guarantee issued by us if such guarantee ranks equally with, or junior to, the
applicable Debt Securities.
REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each
series of Trust Preferred Securities will be issued initially in the form of one
or more global securities, in registered form, without coupons, as described
under BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM. However, if we issue certificates, they will be issued
in the name of the security holder.
Trust Preferred Securities of any series will be exchangeable for other
Trust Preferred Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations of
a like aggregate liquidation amount and tenor. Subject to the terms of the trust
agreement and the limitations applicable to global securities, Trust Preferred
Securities may be presented for exchange or registration of transfer--duly
endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed instrument of transfer--at the office
of the Property Trustee, without service charges but upon payment of any taxes
and other governmental charges as described in the trust agreement. Such
transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Property Trustee being satisfied
with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request.
The Property Trustee will not be required to issue, register the transfer
of, or exchange any Trust Preferred Securities during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption
of any Trust Preferred Securities called for redemption and ending at the close
of business on the day of mailing or register the transfer of, or exchange,
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any Trust Preferred Securities selected for redemption except, in the case of
any Trust Preferred Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to
be so redeemed.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Distributions and other payments on Trust Preferred Securities issued in
the form of global securities will be paid in the manner described under
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM.
The paying agent initially will be the Property Trustee and any co-paying
agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the Administrative
Trustees. If the Property Trustee is no longer the paying agent, the Property
Trustee will appoint a successor, which must be a bank or trust company
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, to act as paying agent.
Such paying agent will be permitted to resign as paying agent upon 30 days'
written notice to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees at which
time the paying agent will return all unclaimed funds and all other funds in its
possession to the Property Trustee.
REDEMPTION
Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of the Debt
Securities held by a trust, the proceeds shall be applied by the Property
Trustee to redeem a Like Amount, as defined below, of the Trust Securities
issued by that trust, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice,
unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, at a redemption price
equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities plus
accumulated but unpaid distributions to but excluding the redemption date and
the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by us upon the concurrent
redemption of the Debt Securities. If less than all the Debt Securities held by
a trust are to be repaid or redeemed on a redemption date, then the proceeds
from the repayment or redemption shall be allocated to the redemption
proportionately of the Trust Preferred Securities and the Trust Common
Securities issued by that trust based on the relative liquidation amounts of the
classes. The amount of premium, if any, paid by us upon the redemption of all or
any part of the Debt Securities held by a trust to be repaid or redeemed on a
redemption date shall be allocated to the redemption proportionately of the
Trust Preferred Securities and the Trust Common Securities issued by that trust.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will
have the right to redeem the Debt Securities held by a trust:
- on or after the date fixed for redemption as stated in the applicable
prospectus supplement, in whole at any time or in part from time to time;
or
- prior to the date fixed for redemption as stated in the applicable
prospectus supplement, in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90
days following the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event
or an Investment Company Event, each as defined below.
"Like Amount" means:
- with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities, Trust Securities having
a liquidation amount equal to that portion of the principal amount of
Debt Securities to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the
applicable indenture, allocated to the Trust Common Securities and to the
Trust Preferred Securities based upon the relative liquidation amounts of
the classes; and
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- with respect to a distribution of Debt Securities to holders of Trust
Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of a trust,
Debt Securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount
of the Trust Securities of the holder to whom the Debt Securities are
distributed.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by a trust of an opinion of counsel to us
experienced in relevant matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment
to, or change--including any announced prospective change--in, the laws or any
regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or
taxing authority of or in the United States, or as a result of any official
administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or
applying these laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance by
a trust of Trust Preferred Securities, including, without limitation, any of the
foregoing arising with respect to, or resulting from, any proposal, proceeding
or other action commencing on or before the date of issuance, there is more than
an insubstantial risk that:
- the trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of the opinion,
subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Debt Securities we have issued to that trust;
- interest payable by us on the Debt Securities is not, or within 90 days
of the delivery of the opinion, will not be, deductible by us, in whole
or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or
- the trust is, or will be within 90 days of the delivery of the opinion,
subject to more than an insubstantial amount of other taxes, duties or
other governmental charges.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by a trust of an opinion of counsel
to us experienced in these matters to the effect that, as a result of the
occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written change--including any
announced prospective change--in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the trust is or will be
considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change becomes effective or
would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance
by that trust of Trust Preferred Securities.
If and for so long as a trust is the holder of all the Debt Securities
issued by us to that trust, we will pay, with respect to the Debt Securities,
such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of
distributions then due and payable by a trust on the outstanding Trust Preferred
Securities and Trust Common Securities of a trust will not be reduced as a
result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which
that trust has become subject, including as a result of a Tax Event.
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
Trust Preferred Securities of a trust redeemed on each redemption date
shall be redeemed at the redemption price with the applicable proceeds from the
contemporaneous redemption of the Debt Securities held by that trust.
Redemptions of Trust Preferred Securities shall be made and the redemption price
shall be payable on each redemption date only to the extent that a trust has
funds on hand available for the payment of the redemption price. See also
SUBORDINATION OF TRUST COMMON SECURITIES.
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If a trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Trust Preferred
Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, to
the extent funds are available, in the case of Trust Preferred Securities held
in book-entry form, the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably with the
depository funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price and will give
the depository irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption
price to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities. With respect to Trust
Preferred Securities not held in book-entry form, the Property Trustee, to the
extent funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for
the Trust Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption
price and will give the paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to
pay the redemption price to the holders upon surrender of their certificates
evidencing the Trust Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
distributions payable on or prior to the redemption date for any Trust Preferred
Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the holders of the Trust
Preferred Securities on the relevant record dates for the related distribution
dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as
required, then upon the date of the deposit all rights of the holders of the
Trust Preferred Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right
of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities to receive the redemption
price, and any distribution payable in respect of the Trust Preferred
Securities, but without interest on the redemption price, and the Trust
Preferred Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that payment of
the redemption price in respect of Trust Preferred Securities called for
redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by a trust or
by us pursuant to the Guarantee as described under DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES,
distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities will continue to accumulate at
the then applicable rate, from the redemption date originally established by a
trust for the Trust Preferred Securities it issues to the date the redemption
price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date
fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the redemption price.
If less than all the Trust Preferred Securities and Trust Common
Securities are to be redeemed on a redemption date, then the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities and Trust Common Securities
to be redeemed shall be allocated proportionately to the Trust Preferred
Securities and the Trust Common Securities based upon the relative liquidation
amounts of the classes. The particular Trust Preferred Securities to be redeemed
shall be selected on a proportionate basis not more than 60 days prior to the
redemption date by the Property Trustee from the outstanding Trust Preferred
Securities not previously called for redemption, or if the Trust Preferred
Securities are then held in the form of a global Trust Preferred Security, in
accordance with the depository's customary procedures. The Property Trustee
shall promptly notify the securities registrar for the Trust Securities in
writing of the Trust Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the
case of any Trust Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the
liquidation amount to be redeemed. For all purposes of the trust agreements,
unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption
of Trust Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Trust Preferred
Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
aggregate liquidation amount of Trust Preferred Securities which has been or is
to be redeemed.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more
than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of Trust
Preferred Securities to be redeemed at its address appearing on the securities
register for the Trust Securities. Unless we default in payment of the
redemption price on the related Debt Securities, on and after the redemption
date interest will cease to accrue on the Debt Securities or portions of them
called for redemption.
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SUBORDINATION OF TRUST COMMON SECURITIES
If on any distribution date or redemption date a payment event of default
with respect to the underlying Debt Securities has occurred and is continuing,
no payment on or in respect of the related Trust Common Securities shall be made
unless all amounts due in respect of the related Trust Preferred Securities
(including the liquidation amount or redemption price, if applicable) shall have
been paid or payment provided for. All funds immediately available to the
respective Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in
cash of all distributions on, or redemption price of, the Trust Preferred
Securities then due and payable.
In the case of any event of default under the trust agreement, as defined
below, resulting from an event of default with respect to the underlying Debt
Securities, the holders of Trust Common Securities will be deemed to have waived
any right to act with respect to any event of default under the related trust
agreement until the effects of all events of default with respect to the related
Trust Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated.
Until all events of default under the related trust agreement with respect to
the Trust Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated, the Property Trustee will act solely on behalf of the holders of the
Trust Preferred Securities and not on behalf of the holders of the Trust Common
Securities, and only the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities will have the
right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION
In the event of any liquidation of a trust, the applicable prospectus
supplement will state the amount payable on the Trust Preferred Securities
issued by that trust as a dollar amount per Trust Preferred Security plus
accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment, subject to certain
exceptions, which may be in the form of a distribution of the amount in Debt
Securities held by that trust.
The holders of all the outstanding Trust Common Securities of a trust
have the right at any time to dissolve the trust and, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the trust as provided by applicable law, cause the
Debt Securities held by that trust to be distributed in liquidation of the trust
to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities and Trust Common Securities
issued by the trust.
Pursuant to the related trust agreement, unless the applicable prospectus
supplement states otherwise, a trust will automatically dissolve upon expiration
of its term or, if earlier, will dissolve on the first to occur of:
- events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation involving us or the
holder of the Trust Common Securities, as specified in the trust
agreement;
- the giving by the holder of the Trust Common Securities issued by the
trust of written direction to the Property Trustee to dissolve the trust,
which direction, subject to the foregoing restrictions, is optional and
wholly within the discretion of the holder of the Trust Common
Securities;
- the redemption of all the Trust Preferred Securities issued by the trust
in connection with the repayment or redemption of all the Debt Securities
as described under "Redemption"; and
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- the entry of an order for the dissolution of the trust by a court of
competent jurisdiction.
If dissolution of a trust occurs as described in the first, second or
fourth bullet point above, the trust will be liquidated by the Property Trustee
as expeditiously as the Property Trustee determines to be possible by
distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the trust as
provided by applicable law, to the holders of the Trust Securities issued by the
trust a Like Amount of the related Debt Securities. If such distribution is not
practical, or, if a dissolution of a trust occurs as described in the third
bullet point above, the holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of
the trust available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the trust as provided by applicable law, an amount
equal to, in the case of holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, the
aggregate of the liquidation amount plus accumulated and unpaid distributions to
the date of payment. In this prospectus we refer to this amount as the
"liquidation distribution." If the liquidation distribution can be paid only in
part because the trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the
aggregate liquidation distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the
trust on its Trust Preferred Securities shall be paid on a proportionate basis.
The holders of the Trust Common Securities issued by the trust will be entitled
to receive distributions upon any liquidation proportionately with the holders
of the Trust Preferred Securities, except that if a payment event of default has
occurred and is continuing on the related Debt Securities, the Trust Preferred
Securities shall have a priority over the Trust Common Securities. See
SUBORDINATION OF TRUST COMMON SECURITIES.
After the liquidation date is fixed for any distribution of Debt
Securities we have issued to a trust,
- the Trust Preferred Securities issued by that trust will no longer be
deemed to be outstanding,
- the depository or its nominee, as the registered holder of the Trust
Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or
certificates representing the Debt Securities to be delivered upon the
distribution with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities held by the
depository or its nominee, and
- any certificates representing the Trust Preferred Securities not held by
the depository or its nominee will be deemed to represent the Debt
Securities having a principal amount equal to the stated liquidation
amount of the Trust Preferred Securities and bearing accrued and unpaid
interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid distributions
on the Trust Preferred Securities until the certificates are presented to
the security registrar for the Trust Securities for transfer or
reissuance.
If we do not redeem the Debt Securities we have issued to a trust prior
to the stated maturity and the trust is not liquidated and the Debt Securities
are not distributed to holders of the Trust Preferred Securities issued by that
trust, the Trust Preferred Securities will remain outstanding until the
repayment of the Debt Securities and the distribution of the liquidation
distribution to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for Trust Preferred
Securities or the related Debt Securities that may be distributed in exchange
for Trust Preferred Securities if a dissolution and liquidation of a trust were
to occur. Accordingly, the Trust Preferred Securities that an investor may
purchase, or the related Debt Securities that the investor may receive on
dissolution and liquidation of a trust, may trade at a discount to the price
that the investor paid to purchase the Trust Preferred Securities offered
hereby.
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CERTAIN COVENANTS
In connection with the issuance of Trust Preferred Securities by a trust,
we will agree:
- to continue to hold, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Trust Common
Securities of any trust to which Debt Securities have been issued while
such Debt Securities are outstanding, provided that certain successors
that are permitted pursuant to the applicable indenture may succeed to
our ownership of the Trust Common Securities;
- not to voluntarily dissolve, wind up or liquidate a trust to which Debt
Securities have been issued, other than in connection with a distribution
of Debt Securities to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities in
liquidation of a trust or in connection with certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the trust agreements; and
- to use our reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions
of the trust agreements, to cause each trust to which Debt Securities
have been issued to continue not to be taxable other than as a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, during any
extended interest period, or for so long as an event of default under the
applicable indenture or any payment default under the preferred security
Guarantee has occurred and is continuing, we will also agree that we will not,
except in limited circumstances, (1) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of our capital stock, (2) make any payment of principal of
or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any Debt
Securities of ours that rank equally with, or junior to, the Debt Securities, or
(3) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee issued by us if
such guarantee ranks equally with, or junior to, the applicable Debt Securities,
other than, in each case, 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 any one or more
employees, officers, directors or consultants or in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or shareholder stock purchase plan;
- as a result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of our
capital stock, or any capital stock of a subsidiary of ours, for any
class or series of our capital stock or of any class or series of our
then outstanding indebtedness for any class or series of our capital
stock;
- the purchase of fractional interests in shares of our capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of the capital stock or
the security being converted or exchanged;
- payments under any Guarantee executed and delivered by us concurrently
with the issuance of any Trust Preferred Securities;
- any declaration of a dividend in the form of capital stock in connection
with any shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights to capital
stock under any shareholders' rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant to any such plan; or
- any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights
where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of the
warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the
dividend is being paid or ranks on a parity with or junior to the stock,
if at such time
43
- we have actual knowledge of any event that (a) with the giving of notice
or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an event of default under
the applicable indenture, and (b) we have not taken reasonable steps to
cure the same;
- we are in default with respect to our payment of any obligations under
any Guarantee executed and delivered by us concurrently with the issuance
of any Trust Preferred Securities; or
- an extension period is continuing.
We will also agree that, if and for so long as a trust is the holder of
all Debt Securities issued by us in connection with the issuance of Trust
Preferred Securities by that trust and that trust is required to pay any
additional taxes, duties or other governmental charges, including in connection
with a Tax Event, we will pay as additional sums on the Debt Securities the
amounts that may be required so that the distributions payable by that trust
will not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Any one of the following events constitutes an event of default with
respect to the Trust Preferred Securities issued by a trust under the related
trust agreement:
- default by the trust in the payment of any distribution when it becomes
due and payable, and continuation of the default for a period of 30 days;
- default by the trust in the payment of any redemption price of any trust
security issued by that trust when it becomes due and payable;
- default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any
covenant or warranty of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee in
the trust agreement, other than as described above, and continuation of
the default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given,
by registered or certified mail, to the appropriate trustees and to us by
the holders of at least 33% in aggregate liquidation amount of the
outstanding Trust Preferred Securities, a written notice specifying the
default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that the
notice is a "Notice of Default" under the trust agreement;
- the occurrence of an event of default under the applicable indenture
relating to the Debt Securities held by a trust (see DESCRIPTION OF THE
SENIOR NOTES--EVENTS OF DEFAULT and DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES--EVENTS OF DEFAULT);
- the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect
to the Property Trustee or all or substantially all of its property if a
successor Property Trustee has not been appointed within 90 days of the
occurrence; or
- the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect
to the trust.
Within five business days after the occurrence of certain events of
default actually known to the respective Property Trustee, the Property Trustee
will transmit notice of the event of default to the respective holders of Trust
Securities and the respective Administrative Trustees, unless the event of
default has been cured or waived. Within five business days after the receipt of
notice that we intend to exercise our right under the applicable indenture to
defer the payment of interest on the related Debt Securities, the Property
Trustee must notify the holders and the Administrative Trustees that we intend
to defer these interest payments, unless we have revoked our determination to do
so.
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The applicable trust agreement includes provisions as to the duties of
the Property Trustee in case an event of default occurs and is continuing.
Consistent with these provisions, the Property Trustee will be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction
of any of the holders unless those holders have offered to the Property Trustee
reasonable indemnity. Subject to these provisions for indemnification, the
holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the related outstanding Trust
Preferred Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any
trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee, with respect to the related
Trust Preferred Securities.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
outstanding Trust Preferred Securities issued by a trust may waive any past
default under the applicable trust agreement except:
- a default in the payment of any distribution when it becomes due and
payable or any redemption price;
- a default with respect to certain covenants and provisions of the
applicable trust agreement that cannot be modified or amended without
consent of the holder of each outstanding Trust Preferred Security; and
- a default under the applicable indenture that the holders of a majority
in liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities would not be
entitled to waive under the applicable trust agreement.
If an event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is
continuing as a result of any failure by us to pay any amounts when due in
respect of the related Debt Securities issued by us to a trust, the related
Trust Preferred Securities will have a preference over the related Trust Common
Securities with respect to payments of any amounts in respect of the Trust
Preferred Securities as described above. See SUBORDINATION OF TRUST COMMON
SECURITIES, LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION, DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR
NOTES--EVENTS OF DEFAULT and DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES--EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
We must furnish annually to each Property Trustee a statement by an
appropriate officer as to that officer's knowledge of our compliance with all
conditions and covenants under the respective trust agreement. Also, the
Administrative Trustees for each trust must file, on behalf of the respective
trust, a statement as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under
the respective trust agreement.
VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT
Except as provided below and under RESIGNATION, REMOVAL OF PROPERTY
TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSORS and DESCRIPTION OF
GUARANTEES--AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT and as otherwise required by law and the
applicable trust agreement, the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities issued
by a trust will have no voting rights.
The trust agreement applicable to a trust may be amended from time to
time by the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of its Trust Common
Securities and the respective Property Trustee, without the consent of the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities issued by the trust:
45
- to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in the trust
agreements that may be inconsistent with any other provision, or to make
any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
the trust agreements, provided that any such amendment does not adversely
affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of Trust
Securities;
- to facilitate the tendering, remarketing and settlement of the Trust
Preferred Securities, as contemplated in the trust agreement;
- to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the trust agreements to
the extent as may be necessary to ensure that a trust will not be taxable
other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes at any time that any Trust Securities are outstanding or to
ensure that a trust will not be required to register as an "investment
company" under the Investment Company Act; or
- to reflect the appointment of a successor trustee.
The trust agreement may be amended by the holders of a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Common Securities and the Property
Trustee with the consent of holders representing not less than a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Trust Preferred Securities and
receipt by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee of an opinion of
counsel to the effect that the amendment or the exercise of any power granted to
the trustees in accordance with the amendment will not affect the trust's not
being taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes or the trust's exemption from status as an "investment company" under
the Investment Company Act.
Without the consent of each holder of Trust Preferred Securities affected
by the amendment or related exercise of power, the trust agreement applicable to
a trust may not be amended to change the amount or timing of any distribution on
the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any
distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a
specified date or restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to
institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due.
So long as any Debt Securities are held by a trust, the respective
Property Trustee will not:
- direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the trustee for the Debt Securities under the related
indenture, or execute any trust or power conferred on the Property
Trustee with respect to the related Debt Securities;
- waive any past default that is waivable under the applicable indenture;
- exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the Debt
Securities shall be due and payable; or
- consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the applicable
indenture or the related Debt Securities, where consent shall be
required;
without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of at least a
majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities,
except that, if a consent under the applicable indenture would require the
consent of each holder of Debt Securities affected by the consent, no consent
will be given by the Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each
holder of the Trust Preferred Securities.
A Property Trustee may not revoke any action previously authorized or
approved by a vote of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities issued by
its respective trust except by subsequent
46
vote of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee will
notify each holder of Trust Preferred Securities of any notice of default with
respect to the Debt Securities. In addition, before taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Property Trustee will obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in
relevant matters to the effect that the trust will not be taxable other than as
a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of the
action.
Any required approval of holders of Trust Preferred Securities issued by
a trust may be given at a meeting of holders of those Trust Preferred Securities
convened for the purpose or pursuant to written consent. The Property Trustee
will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of Trust Preferred
Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written
consent of the holders is to be taken, to be given to each registered holder of
Trust Preferred Securities in the manner set forth in the applicable trust
agreement.
No vote or consent of the holders of Trust Preferred Securities issued by
a trust will be required to redeem and cancel those Trust Preferred Securities
in accordance with the applicable trust agreement. See above under REDEMPTION.
Notwithstanding that holders of Trust Preferred Securities issued by a
trust are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described
above, any of those Trust Preferred Securities that are owned by us, the
respective Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee, or any affiliate of us or
either trustee, will, for purposes of the vote or consent, be treated as if they
were not outstanding.
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
If an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the
applicable indenture, and the trustee for the related Debt Securities and the
holders of those Debt Securities have failed to declare the principal due and
payable, the holders of at least 33% in aggregate liquidation amount of the
related outstanding Trust Preferred Securities shall have this right.
If an event of default has occurred and is continuing under a trust
agreement and the event is attributable to our failure to pay any amounts
payable in respect of Debt Securities on the date the amounts are otherwise
payable, a registered holder of Trust Preferred Securities may institute a
direct action against us for enforcement of payment to the holder of an amount
equal to the amount payable in respect of Debt Securities having a principal
amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred
Securities held by the holder, which we refer to in this discussion as a "Direct
Action". We will have the right under the applicable indenture to set-off any
payment made to the holders of Trust Preferred Securities by us in connection
with a Direct Action.
We may not amend the applicable indenture to remove the foregoing right
to bring a Direct Action without the prior written consent of the holders of all
the Trust Preferred Securities. Furthermore, so long as any of the Trust
Preferred Securities are outstanding:
- no modification of the applicable indenture may be made that adversely
affects the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities in any material
respect,
- no termination of the applicable indenture may occur and
- no waiver of any event of default or compliance with any covenant under
the applicable indenture may be effective,
47
without the prior consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate
liquidation amount of the outstanding Trust Preferred Securities unless and
until the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest on and premium, if any, on
the related Debt Securities have been paid in full and certain other conditions
are satisfied.
With certain exceptions, the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities
would not be able to exercise directly any remedies available to the holders of
the Debt Securities except under the circumstances described in this section.
RESIGNATION, REMOVAL OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE; APPOINTMENT OF
SUCCESSORS
The Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee of a trust may resign at any
time by giving written notice to us or may be removed at any time by an action
of the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of that trust's outstanding
Trust Preferred Securities delivered to the trustee to be removed and to us. No
resignation or removal of either of the trustees and no appointment of a
successor trustee will become effective until a successor trustee accepts
appointment in accordance with the requirements of the trust agreement. So long
as no event of default or event that would become an event of default has
occurred and is continuing, and except with respect to a trustee appointed by an
action of the holders, if we have delivered to either the Property Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee a resolution of our board of directors appointing a
successor trustee and the successor trustee has accepted the appointment in
accordance with the terms of the trust agreement, the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, will be deemed to have resigned and the
successor trustee will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance
with the trust agreement.
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF A TRUST
A trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any entity, except as described below or as
otherwise set forth in the applicable trust agreement. A trust may, at the
request of the holders of its Trust Common Securities and with the consent of
the holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of its
outstanding Trust Preferred Securities, merge with or into, consolidate,
amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws
of any state, so long as:
- the successor entity either expressly assumes all the obligations of the
trust with respect to its Trust Preferred Securities or substitutes for
the Trust Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the
same terms as the Trust Preferred Securities, which we refer to in this
prospectus as the successor securities, so long as the successor
securities have the same priority as the Trust Preferred Securities with
respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and
otherwise;
- a trustee of the successor entity, possessing the same powers and duties
as the Property Trustee, is appointed to hold the related Debt
Securities;
- the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease does not cause the Trust Preferred Securities,
including any successor securities, to be downgraded by any nationally
recognized statistical rating organization;
- the Trust Preferred Securities or any successor securities are listed or
quoted, or any successor securities will be listed or quoted upon
notification of issuance, on any national
48
securities exchange or with another organization on which the Trust
Preferred Securities are then listed or quoted;
- the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
privileges of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, including
any successor securities, in any material respect;
- the successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the
trust; - prior to the merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Property Trustee has received an
opinion from independent counsel experienced in relevant matters to the
effect that such transaction does not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities, including any successor securities, in any material respect
and following such transaction, neither the trust nor the successor
entity will be required to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act; and
- we or any permitted successor or assignee owns all the Trust Common
Securities of the successor entity and guarantees the obligations of the
successor entity under the successor securities at least to the extent
provided by the applicable Guarantee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a trust may not, except with the consent
of holders of 100% in aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred
Securities, 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 entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate,
merge with or into, or replace it if the consolidation, amalgamation, merger,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the trust or the
successor entity to be taxable other than as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEES
Each Property Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance
of an event of default, undertakes to perform only the duties as are
specifically set forth in the applicable trust agreement and, after an event of
default, must exercise 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, each Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the
powers vested in it by the trust agreements at the request of any holder of
Trust Preferred Securities issued by the respective trust unless it is offered
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred by exercising these powers.
CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
We and our affiliates use or will use some of the services of the
Property Trustee in the normal course of business.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee relating to each
trust are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of and to operate the
trust in such a way that the trust will not be deemed to be an "investment
company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act or taxable
other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and
so that the Debt Securities held by that trust will be treated as indebtedness
of ours for United States federal income tax purposes. In this regard, each
Property Trustee and the holders of Trust
49
Common Securities issued by the respective trust are authorized to take any
action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust of the
trust or the applicable trust agreement, that the Property Trustee and the
holders of Trust Common Securities determine in their discretion to be necessary
or desirable for these purposes, as long as this action does not materially
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar
rights.
A trust may not borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of
its assets.
GOVERNING LAW
The trust agreement and the Trust Preferred Securities will be governed
by Delaware law.
DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES
Each Guarantee will be executed and delivered by us concurrently with the
issuance of Trust Preferred Securities by a trust for the benefit of the holders
from time to time of the Trust Preferred Securities. We will appoint The Bank of
New York as Guarantee Trustee under each Guarantee. Each Guarantee Trustee will
hold the respective Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Trust
Preferred Securities issued by the related trust. Each Guarantee will be
qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We have
summarized below certain provisions of the Guarantees. This summary does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, all the provisions of the Guarantee, including the definitions in
the Guarantee of certain terms. The form of guarantee agreement will be filed as
an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
GENERAL
Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, we will fully and
unconditionally agree, to the extent described herein, to pay the Guarantee
payments, as defined below, to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities
issued by each trust, as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of
set-off or counterclaim that a trust may have or assert other than the defense
of payment. The following payments with respect to the Trust Preferred
Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the respective
trust, which payments we refer to in this discussion as the "Guarantee
payments," will be subject to the respective Guarantee:
- any accumulated and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the Trust
Preferred Securities, to the extent that the trust has funds on hand
available therefor;
- the redemption price with respect to any Trust Preferred Securities
called for redemption, to the extent that the trust has funds on hand
available therefor; and
- upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or liquidation of
the trust, unless the related Debt Securities are distributed to holders
of the Trust Preferred Securities, the lesser of:
(1) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and
unpaid distributions to the date of payment, to the extent that the trust
has funds on hand available therefor; and
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(2) the amount of assets of the trust remaining available for
distribution to holders of the Trust Preferred Securities on liquidation of
the trust.
Our obligation to make a Guarantee payment may be satisfied by direct
payment of the required amounts by us to the holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities or by causing the trust to pay these amounts to the holders.
Each Guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee of the obligations of the
respective trust under its Trust Preferred Securities, but will apply only to
the extent that the trust has funds sufficient to make these payments.
If we do not make payments on the Debt Securities held by a trust, the
trust will not be able to pay any amounts payable in respect of its Trust
Preferred Securities and will not have funds legally available for these
payments. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the ranking of the
Guarantee. See STATUS OF THE GUARANTEES. The Guarantees do not limit our
incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt, including Senior
Indebtedness, whether under the applicable indenture, any other indenture that
we may enter into in the future or otherwise.
We will enter into an agreement as to expenses and liabilities with each
trust to provide funds to such trust as needed to pay obligations of the trust
to parties other than the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities. We have,
through the Guarantees, the trust agreements, the agreements as to expenses and
liabilities, the applicable Debt Securities and the related indenture, taken
together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of each trust's
obligations under its Trust Preferred Securities. No single document standing
alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all the other documents
constitutes the Guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents
that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee
of each trust's obligations in respect of its Trust Preferred Securities. See
RELATIONSHIP AMONG TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES, DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES.
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEES
Each Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of ours. The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe the ranking of each Guarantee.
Each Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection; specifically, the Guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the guarantor to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity. Each
Guarantee will be held by the respective Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of
the holders of the related Trust Preferred Securities. A Guarantee will not be
discharged except by payment of the applicable Guarantee payments in full to the
extent not paid or distributed by the respective trust.
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely
affect the rights of holders of the related Trust Preferred Securities, in which
case no vote will be required, a Guarantee may not be amended without the prior
approval of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate liquidation
amount of the related Trust Preferred Securities. The manner of
51
obtaining this type of approval will be as set forth under DESCRIPTION OF TRUST
PREFERRED SECURITIES--VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT. All
Guarantees and agreements contained in each Guarantee shall bind the successors,
assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of ours and shall inure to the
benefit of the holders of the related Trust Preferred Securities then
outstanding.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under a Guarantee will occur upon our failure to
perform any of our payment obligations under the Guarantee, or to perform any
other obligation if such default remains unremedied for 30 days.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount
of the related Trust Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Guarantee Trustee in respect of the Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any
trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee. Any
registered holder of Trust Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against us to enforce its rights under the related Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the related trust, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity.
We, as guarantor, are required to file annually with each Guarantee
Trustee a certificate as to whether or not we are in compliance with all the
conditions and covenants applicable to us under each Guarantee.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
We may merge or consolidate with any entity or sell substantially all of
our assets as an entirety as long as the successor or purchaser (i) is organized
and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia, (ii) expressly assumes our obligations under the Guarantee
and (iii) immediately after giving effect thereto no event of default under the
Guarantee and no event which after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
an event of default under the Guarantee has happened and is continuing.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantee Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance
of a default by us in performance of the Guarantee, undertakes to perform only
such duties as are specifically set forth in the guarantee agreement. After a
default with respect to the Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee must exercise 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 Guarantee
Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the
guarantee agreement at the request of any holder of the Trust Preferred
Securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities that it might thereby incur.
TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEES
Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
full payment of the redemption price of the related Trust Preferred Securities,
upon full payment of the amounts payable with respect to the Trust Preferred
Securities upon liquidation of the respective trust and upon distribution of the
related Debt Securities to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
52
Each Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case
may be, if at any time any holder of the related Trust Preferred Securities must
restore payment of any sums paid under the Trust Preferred Securities or the
Guarantee.
GOVERNING LAW
Each Guarantee will be governed by New York law.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
We and our affiliates use or will use some of the banking services of the
Guarantee Trustee in the normal course of business.
We must furnish annually to each Property Trustee a statement by an
appropriate officer as to that officer's knowledge of our compliance with all
conditions and covenants under the respective trust agreement. Also, the
Administrative Trustees for each trust must file, on behalf of the respective
trust, a statement as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under
the respective trust agreement.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES, DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
Payments of distributions and other amounts due on the Trust Preferred
Securities issued by a trust, to the extent the trust has funds available for
the payment, are irrevocably Guaranteed by us as and to the extent set forth
under DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES. Taken together, our obligations under the
related Debt Securities, the applicable indenture, an agreement as to expenses
and liabilities, the related trust agreement and the related Guarantee provide,
in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional Guarantee of payments of
distributions and other amounts due on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by
a trust. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with
fewer than all the other documents constitutes the Guarantee. It is only the
combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full,
irrevocable and unconditional Guarantee of each trust's obligations in respect
of the related Trust Preferred Securities. If and to the extent that we do not
make payments on the Debt Securities issued to a trust, the trust will not have
sufficient funds to pay distributions or other amounts due on its Trust
Preferred Securities. A Guarantee does not cover payment of amounts payable with
respect to the Trust Preferred Securities issued by a trust when the trust does
not have sufficient funds to pay these amounts. In this event, the remedy of a
holder of the Trust Preferred Securities is to institute a legal proceeding
directly against us for enforcement of payment of our obligations under Debt
Securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the
Trust Preferred Securities held by the holder.
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
As long as payments are made when due on the Debt Securities issued to a
trust, these payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and other
payments distributable on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by that trust,
primarily because:
53
- the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities will be equal to
the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred
Securities and Trust Common Securities;
- the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the Debt
Securities will match the distribution rate, distribution dates and other
payment dates for the Trust Preferred Securities;
- we will pay for any and all costs, expenses and liabilities of the trust
except the trust's obligations to holders of the related Trust
Securities; and
- the applicable trust agreement further provides that the trust will not
engage in any activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes
of the trust.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the applicable indenture, we
have the right to set-off any payment we are otherwise required to make under
that indenture against and to the extent we have previously made, or are
concurrently on the date of the payment making, a payment under a Guarantee.
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
Under the circumstances set forth under DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED
SECURITIES--ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF TRUST PREFERRED
SECURITIES, holders of Trust Preferred Securities may bring a Direct Action
against us.
A holder of any Trust Preferred Security may institute a legal proceeding
directly against us to enforce its rights under the related Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the related Guarantee Trustee, the
related trust or any other person or entity. See DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES.
LIMITED PURPOSE OF TRUST
The Trust Preferred Securities issued by a trust represent preferred
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the trust, and the trust exists
for the sole purpose of issuing its Trust Preferred Securities and Trust Common
Securities and investing the proceeds of these Trust Securities in Debt
Securities. A principal difference between the rights of a holder of a Trust
Preferred Security and a holder of a debt security is that a holder of a debt
security is entitled to receive from us payments on Debt Securities held, while
a holder of Trust Preferred Securities is entitled to receive distributions or
other amounts distributable with respect to the Trust Preferred Securities from
a trust, or from us under a Guarantee, only if and to the extent the trust has
funds available for the payment of the distributions.
RIGHTS UPON DISSOLUTION
Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution of a trust, other than any
dissolution involving the distribution of the related Debt Securities, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the trust as required by applicable
law, the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities issued by the trust will be
entitled to receive, out of assets held by the trust, the liquidation
distribution in cash. See DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES--LIQUIDATION
DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION. Since we are the guarantor under each of the
Guarantees and have agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of
each trust, other than each trust's obligations to the holders of the respective
Trust Securities, the positions of a holder of Trust Preferred Securities and a
holder of Debt Securities
54
relative to other creditors and to our shareholders in the event of our
liquidation or bankruptcy are expected to be substantially the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND THE STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
We may issue Stock Purchase Contracts representing contracts obligating
holders to purchase from us and we may sell to the holders, a specified number
of shares of common stock (or a range of numbers of shares pursuant to a
predetermined formula) at a future date or dates. The price per share 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 a part of
units, often known as Stock Purchase Units, consisting of a Stock Purchase
Contract and either Debt Securities or debt obligations of third parties,
including U.S. Treasury securities or Trust Preferred Securities securing the
holder's obligations to purchase the common stock under the Stock Purchase
Contracts.
The Stock Purchase Contracts may require us to make periodic payments to
the holders of the Stock Purchase Units or vice versa, and such payments may be
unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The Stock Purchase Contracts may require
holders to secure their obligations in a specified manner and in certain
circumstances we may deliver newly issued prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts,
often known as prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral
securing such holder's obligations under the original Stock Purchase Contract.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any Stock
Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units and, if applicable, prepaid
securities. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement will not
necessarily contain all of information that you may find useful. For more
information, you should review the Stock Purchase Contracts, the collateral
arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable, relating to such Stock
Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units and, if applicable, the prepaid
securities and the document pursuant to which the prepaid securities will be
issued. These documents will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering
of such Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units and, if applicable,
prepaid securities.
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, book-entry securities
of a series will be issued in the form of a global security that the Trustee
will deposit with The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York ("DTC"). This
means that we will not issue security certificates to each holder. One or more
global securities will be issued to DTC who will keep a computerized record of
its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the
securities. The participant will then keep a record of its clients who purchased
the securities. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificate, a
global security may not be transferred, except that DTC, its nominees, and their
successors may transfer a global security as a whole to one another.
Beneficial interests in global securities will be shown on, and transfers
of global securities will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and
its participants.
55
DTC has provided us the following information: DTC is a limited-purpose
trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization"
within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the United States
Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered under the
provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds
securities that its participants ("Direct Participants") deposit with DTC. DTC
also records the settlement among Direct Participants of securities
transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through
computerized records for Direct Participant's accounts. This eliminates the need
to exchange security certificates. Direct Participants include securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain
other organizations.
Other organizations such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and
trust companies that work through a Direct Participant also use DTC's book-entry
system. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the
SEC.
A number of its Direct Participants and the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc., The American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. own DTC.
We will wire principal and interest payments to DTC's nominee. We and the
applicable trustee will treat DTC's nominee as the owner of the global
securities for all purposes. Accordingly, we, the trustee and any paying agent
will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global
securities to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities.
It is DTC's current practice, upon receipt of any payment of principal or
interest, to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the payment date according
to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global securities as
shown on DTC's records. In addition, it is DTC's current practice to assign any
consenting or voting rights to Direct Participants whose accounts are credited
with securities on a record date. The customary practices between the
participants and owners of beneficial interests will govern payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities and
voting by participants, as is the case with securities held for the account of
customers registered in "street name." However, payments will be the
responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the Trustee or us.
According to DTC, the foregoing information with respect to DTC has been
provided to the Direct Participants and other members of the financial community
for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a
representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.
Securities represented by a global certificate will be exchangeable for
definitive securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:
- DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary
or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law
and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; or
- we determine not to require all of the securities of a series to be
represented by a global security and notify the Trustee of our decision.
56
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities (a) through agents; (b) through underwriters
or dealers; or (c) directly to one or more purchasers.
BY AGENTS
Securities may be sold on a continuing basis through agents designated by
us. The agents will agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases
for the period of their appointment.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms under which
the securities are offered, including the name or names of any underwriters, the
purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale, any
underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters' compensation,
any initial offering price and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed
or reallowed or paid to dealers.
Any initial offering price and any discounts, concessions or commissions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
The Agents will not be obligated to make a market in the securities. We
cannot predict the amount of trading or liquidity of the securities.
BY UNDERWRITERS
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the
securities 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 offered if any 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 securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or
agents would be involved.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Underwriters, dealers, and agents that participate in the distribution of
the 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 securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Act.
We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to
indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under
the Act.
57
Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or
perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their
businesses.
LEGAL OPINIONS
Our counsel, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, New York, NY, and one of our
lawyers will each issue an opinion about the legality of the securities for us.
Dewey Ballantine LLP, New York, NY will issue an opinion for the agents or
underwriters. From time to time, Dewey Ballantine LLP acts as counsel to our
affiliates for some matters.
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Trust
Preferred Securities, the enforceability of the trust agreement and the creation
of the trusts will be passed upon by Richards Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington,
Delaware.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company and subsidiaries
incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company's Current Report
on Form 8-K dated May 14, 2003 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by
reference (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes
explanatory paragraphs relating to the adoption of SFAS 142 "Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets", the recording of certain impairments of goodwill, long-lived
assets and other investments in the fourth quarter of 2002, and to the
realignment of segments for financial reporting purposes).
The consolidated financial statement schedule of the Company and
subsidiaries incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors, as stated in their report appearing herein.
The aforementioned reports have been so incorporated and included in
reliance upon such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and
auditing.
58
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.*
Estimation based upon the issuance of all of the Securities in
three issuances:
Securities and Exchange Commission Filing Fees ..................... $ 242,700
Printing Registration Statement, Prospectus, etc ................... 33,000
Independent Auditors' fees ......................................... 150,000
Charges of Trustee (including counsel fees) ........................ 108,000
Legal fees ......................................................... 300,000
Rating Agency fees ................................................. 380,000
Miscellaneous expenses ............................................. 50,000
----------
Total ......................................................... $1,263,700
==========
* Estimated, except for filing fees.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
The New York Business Corporation Law ("BCL"), Article 7, Sections
721-726 provide for the indemnification and advancement of expenses to officers
and directors. Section 721 provides that indemnification and advancement
pursuant to the BCL are not exclusive of any other rights an officer or director
may be entitled to, provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf
of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to
the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or
were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the
cause of action so adjudicated, or that the director personally gained a
financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled.
Section 722 of the BCL provides that a corporation may indemnify an
officer or director, in the case of third party actions, against judgments,
fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses and, in the case of
derivative actions, against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses,
provided that the director or officer acted in good faith, for a purpose which
he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation
and, in the case of criminal actions, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. In addition, statutory indemnification may not be provided
in derivative actions (i) which are settled or otherwise disposed of or (ii) in
which the director or officer is adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and
only to the extent a court determines that the person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity.
Section 723 of the BCL provides that statutory indemnification is
mandatory where the director or officer has been successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in the defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding. Section
723 also provides that expenses of defending a civil or criminal action or
proceeding may be advanced by the corporation upon receipt of an undertaking to
repay them if and to the extent the recipient is ultimately found not to be
entitled to indemnification. Section 725 provides for repayment of such expenses
when the recipient is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification.
Section 726 provides that a corporation may obtain indemnification insurance
indemnifying itself and its directors and officers.
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Section 402(b) of the BCL provides that a corporation may include in its
certificate of incorporation a provision limiting or eliminating, with certain
exceptions, the personal liability of directors to a corporation or its
shareholders for damages for any breach of duty in such capacity. The
certificate of incorporation of the registrant contains provisions eliminating
the personal liability of directors to the extent permitted by New York law. The
bylaws of the registrant provide for the indemnification of directors and
officers of the registrant to the full extent permitted by law.
The above is a general summary of certain provisions of the registrant's
bylaws and the BCL and is subject in all respects to the specific and detailed
provisions of the registrant's bylaws and the BCL.
Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreements filed as Exhibit
1(a)-1(f) hereto, which provide for indemnification of the registrant, certain
of its directors and officers, and persons who control the registrant, under
certain circumstances.
The registrant maintains insurance policies insuring its directors and
officers against certain obligations that may be incurred by them.
Each trust agreement limits the liability of such trust and certain other
persons and provides for the indemnification by the trust or us of the trustees,
their officers, directors and employees and certain other persons.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
Reference is made to the information contained in the Exhibit Index filed
as part of this Registration Statement.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not
exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933
if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a
20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation
of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
II-2
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) and (ii) do not apply if the registration
statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant
pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant
to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering thereof at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
(5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, the
registrant's bylaws, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
said Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in said Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.
(6) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form
of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(7) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Columbus and State of Ohio, on the 23d day of May,
2003.
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
E. Linn Draper, Jr.*
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
(i) Principal Executive Officer Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive
E. Linn Draper, Jr.* Officer May 23, 2003
(ii) Principal Financial Officer:
/s/ Susan Tomasky Vice President, Secretary
---------------------- and Chief Financial Officer May 23, 2003
Susan Tomasky
(iii) Principal Accounting Officer:
/s/ J. M. Buonaiuto
----------------------- Controller May 23, 2003
J. M. Buonaiuto
(iv) A MAJORITY OF THE DIRECTORS:
*E. R. Brooks *Leonard J. Kujawa
*Donald M. Carlton *Richard L. Sandor
*John P. DesBarres *Thomas V. Shockley, III
*E. Linn Draper, Jr. *Donald G. Smith
*Robert W. Fri *Linda Gillespie Stuntz
*William R. Howell *Kathryn D. Sullivan
*Lester A. Hudson, Jr. May 23, 2003
*By /s/ Susan Tomasky
------------------
(SUSAN TOMASKY, ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)
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AEP CAPITAL TRUST I
AEP CAPITAL TRUST II
AEP CAPITAL TRUST III
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Jeffrey D. Cross Administrative
----------------------- Trustee May 23, 2003
Jeffrey D. Cross
/s/ Stephan T. Haynes Administrative
----------------------- Trustee May 23, 2003
Stephan T. Haynes
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EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are filed herewith.
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
----------- -----------
* 1(a) Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Senior Notes
* 1(b) Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Stock
x 1(c) Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Junior Subordinated
Debentures
x 1(d) Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Trust Preferred
Securities
x 1(e) Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Stock Purchase
Contracts
x 1(f) Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Stock Purchase Units
**3(a) Restated Certificate of Incorporation [File No. 1-3525, Exhibit
3(a)]
**3(b) Bylaws, as amended January 28, 1998 [File No. 1-3525, Exhibit
3(d)]
**4(a) Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2001, between the Company and The
Bank of New York, as Trustee for the unsecured Senior Notes
[Registration Statement No. 333-86050, Exhibit 4(a)]
**4(b) First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2001,
establishing certain terms of the 6.125% Senior Notes, Series A,
due May 15, 2006 [Registration Statement No. 333-86050, Exhibit
4(b)]
**4(c) Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2001,
establishing certain terms of the 6.50% Putable Callable Notes,
Series B, Putable Callable May 15, 2006 [Registration Statement
No. 333-86050, Exhibit 4(c)]
* 4(d) Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2002,
establishing certain terms of the 5.75% Senior Notes, due August
16, 2007
* 4(e) Company Order and Officers' Certificate, dated as of March 14,
2003, establishing certain terms of the 5.375% Senior Notes,
Series C, due 2010
* 4(f) Company Order and Officers' Certificate, dated as of May 20, 2003,
establishing certain terms of the 5.25% Senior Notes, Series D,
due 2015
* 4(g) Proposed form of Supplemental Indenture for the Senior Notes
* 4(h) Proposed form of Subordinated Indenture for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures
* 4(i) Proposed form of Supplemental Indenture for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures
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* 4(j)(i) Trust Agreement for the Trust Preferred Securities for AEP Capital
Trust I
* 4(j)(ii) Trust Agreement for the Trust Preferred Securities for AEP Capital
Trust II
* 4(j)(iii) Trust Agreement for the Trust Preferred Securities for AEP Capital
Trust III
* 4(k)(i) Trust Certificate for the Trust Preferred Securities for AEP
Capital Trust I
* 4(k)(ii) Trust Certificate for the Trust Preferred Securities for AEP
Capital Trust II
* 4(k)(iii) Trust Certificate for the Trust Preferred Securities for AEP
Capital Trust III
* 4(l)(i) Proposed form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the
Trust Preferred Securities for AEP Capital Trust I
* 4(l)(ii) Proposed form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the
Trust Preferred Securities for AEP Capital Trust II
* 4(l)(iii) Proposed form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the
Trust Preferred Securities for AEP Capital Trust III
* 4(m)(i) Proposed form of Guarantee Agreement for AEP Capital Trust I
* 4(m)(ii) Proposed form of Guarantee Agreement for AEP Capital Trust II
* 4(m)(iii) Proposed form of Guarantee Agreement for AEP Capital Trust III
* 4(n) Proposed form of Forward Purchase Contract Agreement, including
the form of Security Certificate
* 4(o) Proposed form of Pledge Agreement
* 5(a) Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
* 5(b) Opinion of Richards Layton & Finger, P.A.
**12 Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
[Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended
March 31, 2003, File No. 1-3457, Exhibit 12].
*23(a) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23(b) Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (included in Exhibit 5(a)
filed herewith)
23(c) Consent of Richards Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in Exhibit
5(b) filed herewith)
*24 Powers of Attorney and resolutions of the Board of Directors of
the Company
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*25(a) Form T-1 re eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as Trustee
under the Indenture for the Senior Notes
*25(b) Form T-1 re eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as
Subordinated Indenture Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture
for the Junior Subordinated Debentures
*25(c)(i) Form T-1 re eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as
Guarantee Trustee for the Guarantees for the benefit of the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities relating to AEP Capital
Trust I
*25(c)(ii) Form T-1 re eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as
Guarantee Trustee for the Guarantees for the benefit of the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities relating to AEP Capital
Trust II
*25(c)(iii) Form T-1 re eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as
Guarantee Trustee for the Guarantees for the benefit of the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities relating to AEP Capital
Trust III
*25(d)(i) Form T-1 re eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as
Property Trustee for the Trust Preferred Securities relating to
AEP Capital Trust I
*25(d)(ii) Form T-1 re eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as
Property Trustee for the Trust Preferred Securities relating to
AEP Capital Trust II
*25(d)(iii) Form T-1 re eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as
Property Trustee for the Trust Preferred Securities relating to
AEP Capital Trust III
Note: Reports of the Company on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K are on file
with the SEC under File No. 1-3525.
* Filed herewith
** Incorporated by reference herein as indicated
x To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if applicable.
II-8