<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY 9, 1997) Registration Nos. 333-16353
and 333-16353-01
2,400,000 SECURITIES
WASHINGTON WATER POWER CAPITAL I
7 7/8% TRUST ORIGINATED PREFERRED SECURITIES-SM-, SERIES A ("TOPRS-SM-")
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER SECURITY)
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY
THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY
---------------
The 7 7/8% Trust Originated Preferred Securities-SM-, Series A (the
"Securities") offered hereby represent undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of Washington Water Power Capital I, a statutory business trust formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware ("Washington Water Power Capital" or the
"Trust"). The Washington Water Power Company, a Washington corporation (the
"Company"), will own all the common securities (the "Common Securities" and,
together with the Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of Washington Water Power Capital. Washington
Water Power Capital exists for the sole purpose of issuing the Trust Securities
and investing the proceeds thereof in an equivalent amount of 7 7/8% Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A, Due 2037 (the
"Subordinated Debt Securities") of the Company. The Subordinated Debt Securities
and the Securities and the related Guarantee (as defined herein) in respect of
which this Prospectus Supplement is being delivered shall be referred to herein
as the "Offered Securities." The Subordinated Debt Securities when issued will
be unsecured obligations of the Company and will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment to certain other indebtedness of the Company, as described
herein. Upon an event of default under the Declaration (as defined herein), the
holders of Securities will have a preference over the holders of the Common
Securities with respect to payments in respect of distributions and payments
upon redemption, liquidation and otherwise.
(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
--------------------------
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE S-5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT FOR
CERTAIN INFORMATION RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE
PERIOD AND CIRCUMSTANCES DURING AND UNDER WHICH PAYMENTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THE
SECURITIES MAY BE DEFERRED AND THE RELATED UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH DEFERRAL.
The Securities have been approved for listing, subject to notice of
issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"). Trading of the Securities
on the NYSE is expected to commence within a 30-day period after the initial
delivery of the Securities. See "Underwriting."
--------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE
PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INITIAL PUBLIC UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
OFFERING PRICE(1) COMMISSION(2) TRUST(3)(4)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Security............................................. $25.00 (3) $25.00
Total.................................................... $60,000,000 (3) $60,000,000
</TABLE>
(1) Plus accrued distributions, if any, from January 23, 1997.
(2) Washington Water Power Capital and the Company have agreed to indemnify the
several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(3) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Securities will be
invested in the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Company has agreed to pay
to the Underwriters as compensation (the "Underwriters' Compensation") for
their arranging the investment therein of such proceeds $.7875 per Security
(or $1,890,000 in the aggregate); provided, however, that such compensation
for sales of 10,000 or more Securities to a single purchaser will be $.5875
per Security. Therefore, to the extent of such sales, the actual amount of
Underwriters' Compensation will be less than the aggregate amount specified
in the preceding sentence. See "Underwriting."
(4) Expenses of the offering which are payable by the Company are estimated to
be $430,000.
--------------------------
The Securities offered hereby are offered severally by the Underwriters, as
specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their
right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of
the Securities will be made only in book-entry form through the facilities of
The Depository Trust Company, on or about January 23, 1997.
--------------------------
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
SMITH BARNEY INC.
--------------------------
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is January 17, 1997.
-SM- "Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks of
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
<PAGE>
(CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE)
Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash
distributions at a rate of 7 7/8% per annum of the liquidation amount of $25 per
Security, accruing from the date of original issuance and payable quarterly in
arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year,
commencing March 31, 1997 ("distributions"). The payment of distributions out of
moneys held by Washington Water Power Capital and payments on liquidation of
Washington Water Power Capital or the redemption of Securities, as set forth
below, are guaranteed by the Company (the "Guarantee") to the extent described
herein and under "Description of the Securities Guarantees" in the accompanying
Prospectus. The Guarantee covers payments of distributions and other payments on
the Securities only if and to the extent that Washington Water Power Capital has
funds available therefor, which will not be the case unless the Company has made
a payment of interest or principal or other payments on the Subordinated Debt
Securities held by Washington Water Power Capital as its sole asset. The
Guarantee, when taken together with the Company's obligations under the
Subordinated Debt Securities, the Indenture (as defined herein), the Declaration
and the Expense Agreement (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus),
effectively provide a full and unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis,
of amounts due on the Securities. See "Risk Factors -- Rights Under the
Guarantee; Limitation as to Funds Available to the Trust" herein. The
obligations of the Company under the Guarantee are subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company. The obligations of the
Company under the Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in
the accompanying Prospectus) of the Company, which aggregated approximately $814
million at September 30, 1996, and rank PARI PASSU with the obligations to or
rights of the Company's other general unsecured creditors. The Subordinated Debt
Securities purchased by the Trust may be subsequently distributed PRO RATA to
holders of the Securities and Common Securities in connection with the
dissolution of the Trust, upon the occurrence of certain events.
The distribution rate and the distribution payment date and other payment
dates for the Securities will correspond to the interest rate and interest
payment date and other payment dates on the Subordinated Debt Securities, which
will be the sole assets of the Trust. As a result, if principal or interest is
not paid on the Subordinated Debt Securities, no amounts will be paid on the
Securities. If the Company does not make principal or interest payments on the
Subordinated Debt Securities, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to make
distributions on the Securities, in which event the Guarantee will not apply to
such distributions until the Trust has sufficient funds available therefor.
So long as the Company shall not be in default in the payment of interest on
the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Company has the right to defer payments of
interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities by extending the interest payment
period on the Subordinated Debt Securities at any time for up to 20 consecutive
Scheduled Interest Periods (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus) (each, an
"Extension Period"). If interest payments are so deferred, distributions will
also be deferred. During such Extension Period, distributions will continue to
accrue with interest thereon, to the extent permitted by applicable law, at a
rate of 7 7/8% per annum compounded quarterly, and during any Extension Period,
holders of Securities will be required to include income in the form of original
issue discount ("OID") in their gross income for United States federal income
tax purposes in advance of receipt of the cash distributions with respect to
such deferred interest payments. There could be multiple Extension Periods of
varying lengths throughout the term of the Subordinated Debt Securities. See
"Risk Factors -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period," "Description of the
Subordinated Debt Securities -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period" and
"Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Original Issue
Discount" herein.
The Subordinated Debt Securities are redeemable by the Company, in whole or
in part, from time to time, on or after January 15, 2002, or, in whole but not
in part, at any time in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax Event
(as defined herein). If the Company redeems Subordinated Debt Securities, the
Trust must redeem on a PRO RATA basis Trust Securities having an aggregate
liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated
Debt Securities so redeemed at $25 per Security plus
S-2
<PAGE>
accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (the "Redemption Price") to the date
fixed for redemption. See "Description of the Securities -- Redemption" herein.
The Securities will be redeemed upon maturity of the Subordinated Debt
Securities. In addition, upon the occurrence of a Tax Event arising from a
change in law or a change in legal interpretation regarding tax matters, unless
the Subordinated Debt Securities are redeemed at the option of the Company, the
Trust shall be dissolved, with the result that the Subordinated Debt Securities
will be distributed to the holders of the Securities, on a PRO RATA basis, in
lieu of any cash distribution. See "Description of the Securities -- Tax Event
Redemption or Distribution" herein. If the Subordinated Debt Securities are
distributed to the holders of the Securities, the Company will use all
reasonable efforts to have the Subordinated Debt Securities listed on the NYSE
or on such other exchange as the Securities are then listed. See "Description of
the Securities -- Tax Event Redemption or Distribution" and "Description of the
Subordinated Debt Securities" herein.
In the event of the involuntary or voluntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Trust, the holders of the Securities will be entitled to
receive for each Security a liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued and unpaid
distributions thereon (including interest thereon) to the date of payment,
unless, in connection with such dissolution, the Subordinated Debt Securities
are distributed to the holders of the Securities. See "Description of the
Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution" herein.
The Securities will be represented by one or more global certificates
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee.
Beneficial interests in the Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof
will be effected only through, records maintained by participants in DTC. Except
as described herein, Securities in certificated form will not be issued in
exchange for the global certificates. See "Description of the Securities --
Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" herein.
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS THAT STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SECURITIES
OFFERED HEREBY AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, IN THE
OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING TRANSACTIONS, IF
COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
S-3
<PAGE>
THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following table, which is presented solely to furnish limited
introductory information regarding the Company, sets forth selected historical
financial information with respect to the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries for the periods indicated. This information is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the detailed information and financial statements and
notes thereto included in the documents which are incorporated herein by
reference and should be read together therewith. See "Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference" in the accompanying Prospectus. The selected historical
financial information for each of the five years in the period ended December
31, 1995, has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
TWELVE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
1996 1995 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FINANCIAL DATA
Total Revenues..................... $ 903.9 $ 705.2 $ 755.0 $ 670.8 $ 640.6 $ 557.8 $ 566.8
Income Before Income Taxes......... 160.3 128.7 139.5 121.9 125.3 113.6 108.7
Net Income......................... 101.8 81.2 87.1 77.2 82.8 74.7 72.2
Earnings per Share of Common
Stock............................ 1.67 1.32 1.41 1.28 1.44 1.37 1.34
Net Utility Plant.................. 1,380.0 1,342.2 1,357.4 1,329.0 1,254.0 1,191.2 1,144.6
Total Assets....................... 2,114.5 2,000.8 2,098.9 1,994.3 1,837.8 1,534.0 1,521.5
Long-Term Debt..................... 727.1 688.5 738.3 721.1 647.2 596.9 633.4
Total Common Equity................ 719.9 699.0 717.1 677.5 634.4 587.0 532.1
Net Cash Provided By Operating
Activities....................... 182.3 137.7 132.2 144.8 151.8 137.9 135.3
Capital Expenditures and
Investments...................... $ 124.9 $ 111.6 $ 87.9 $ 182.9 $ 139.7 $ 109.7 $ 161.1
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges*......................... 3.41 3.10 3.22 3.24 3.45 3.08 2.96
</TABLE>
- --------------------------
* For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
earnings consist of income before income taxes, extraordinary items and
cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle, plus fixed charges
(excluding capitalized interest and the portion of the preferred dividend
requirements of a subsidiary not previously deducted from pretax income, but
including amortization of amounts previously capitalized), less equity in
undistributed earnings of companies owned less than 50 percent. Fixed charges
consist of interest (including capitalized interest) on all indebtedness,
amortization of debt discount and expense, that portion of rental expense which
the Company believes to be representative of interest and the amounts accrued to
cover the preferred stock dividend requirements of a subsidiary. A statement
setting forth the computation of the unaudited ratios of earnings to fixed
charges is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus Supplement is a part.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Business................................ Primarily an electric and natural gas utility.
Service Area............................ Electric and natural gas service in a 26,000 square mile
area in eastern Washington and northern Idaho with a
population of approximately 765,000. Natural gas service is
also provided in a 4,000 square mile area in northeast and
southwest Oregon and in the South Lake Tahoe region of
California with a population of approximately 460,000.
Customers at Year-End**................. Electric 290,000, Gas 224,000
Income from Operations**................ Electricity 80%, Natural Gas 13%, Non-Utility 7%
Total Electric Energy Sources**......... Hydro: Company-Owned 34%, Long-Term Purchases 10%
Thermal: 21%
Other Purchases and Exchanges: 35%
</TABLE>
- --------------------------
** Twelve Months Ended December 31, 1995
S-4
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of Securities should carefully review the information
contained elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying
Prospectus and should particularly consider the following matters.
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GUARANTEE AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES ARE UNSECURED
AND SUBORDINATE TO SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
The Company's obligations under the Guarantee are subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all liabilities of the Company. The obligations of the
Company under the Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company
and rank PARI PASSU with obligations to or rights of the Company's other general
unsecured creditors. As of September 30, 1996, Senior Indebtedness aggregated
approximately $814 million. There are no terms in the Securities, the
Subordinated Debt Securities or the Guarantee that limit the Company's ability
to incur additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks senior to
the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Guarantee. See "Description of the
Securities Guarantees -- Status of the Securities Guarantees" and "Description
of the Subordinated Debt Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus and
"Description of the Subordinated Debt Securities -- Subordination" herein.
RIGHTS UNDER THE GUARANTEE; LIMITATION AS TO FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE TRUST
The Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Wilmington Trust Company
will act as indenture trustee under the Guarantee for the purposes of compliance
with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act (the "Guarantee Trustee"). The
Guarantee Trustee will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
Securities.
The Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Securities the payment of (i)
any accrued and unpaid distributions that are required to be paid on the
Securities, to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor, (ii) the
Redemption Price with respect to Securities called for redemption by the Trust,
to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor, and (iii) upon a voluntary
or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than
in connection with the distribution of Subordinated Debt Securities to the
holders of the Securities or a redemption of all the Securities), the lesser of
(a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid
distributions on the Securities to the date of the payment and (b) the amount of
assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of the
Securities in liquidation of the Trust. The holders of a majority in liquidation
amount of the Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee or
to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee
Trustee under the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any holder of
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to
enforce such holder's rights to receive payment under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or
any other person or entity. If the Company were to default on its obligation to
pay amounts payable on the Subordinated Debt Securities or otherwise, the Trust
would lack available funds for the payment of distributions or amounts payable
on redemption of the Securities or otherwise, and, in such event, holders of the
Securities would not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for payment of such
amounts. In such event, the Institutional Trustee (as defined herein), as
registered holder of the Subordinated Debt Securities, would be entitled to
exercise its rights against the Company pursuant to the terms of the
Subordinated Debt Securities, and a holder of Securities would be entitled to
institute directly a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such holder of the
principal of or interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities having a principal
amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities of such
holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due date specified in the
Subordinated Debt Securities. See "Description of the Securities Guarantees" and
"Description of the Subordinated Debt Securities" in the accompanying
Prospectus. The Declaration provides that each holder of Securities, by
S-5
<PAGE>
acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Guarantee, including the
subordination provisions thereof, and the Indenture.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
So long as no Indenture Event of Default (as defined herein) has occurred
and is continuing, the Company has the right under the Indenture to defer
payments of interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities by extending the
interest payment period at any time, and from time to time, on the Subordinated
Debt Securities. As a consequence of such an extension, quarterly distributions
on the Securities would be deferred (but would continue to accrue, despite such
deferral, with interest thereon compounded quarterly) by the Trust during any
such Extension Period. Such right to extend the interest payment period for the
Subordinated Debt Securities is limited to a period not exceeding 20 consecutive
Scheduled Interest Periods from the last Interest Payment Date (as defined
herein) to which interest was paid in full, and such period may not extend
beyond the maturity of the Subordinated Debt Securities. In the event that the
Company exercises this right to defer interest payments, the Company shall not
(a) declare or pay any dividend on, or make any distribution or liquidation
payment with respect to, or redeem or purchase any of its capital stock, (b)
make any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including other Subordinated
Debt Securities) issued by the Company that rank PARI PASSU with or junior in
right of payment to the Subordinated Debt Securities or (c) make any guarantee
payments with respect to the foregoing, other than pursuant to the Securities
Guarantees (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus)); provided, however, that
nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit (i) dividends or distributions
payable in shares of the Company's capital stock, (ii) reclassification of the
Company's capital stock or exchange or conversion of shares of one class or
series of the Company's capital stock into shares of another class or series of
the Company's capital stock, (iii) purchases or other acquisitions of fractional
interests in shares of the Company's capital stock and (iv) purchases or other
acquisitions of shares of the Company's capital stock in connection with the
satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any direct purchase,
dividend reinvestment, customer purchase or employee benefit plans or under any
contract or security requiring the Company to purchase shares of its capital
stock. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may
further extend the interest payment period; provided, however, that such
Extension Period, together with all such previous and further extensions
thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive Scheduled Interest Periods or extend
beyond the maturity of the Subordinated Debt Securities. Upon the termination of
any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may
commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. See
"Description of the Securities -- Distributions" and "Description of the
Subordinated Debt Securities -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period"
herein.
Should the Company exercise its right to defer payments of interest by
extending the interest payment period, each holder of Securities would be
required to accrue income as OID in respect of such deferred interest. As a
result, each such holder of Securities would recognize income for United States
federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash and would not
receive the cash from Washington Water Power Capital if such holder disposes of
its Securities prior to the record date for the date on which distributions of
such amounts are made. The Company has no current intention of exercising its
right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on
the Subordinated Debt Securities. However, should the Company determine to
exercise such right in the future, the market price of the Securities is likely
to be affected. A holder that disposes of its Securities during an Extension
Period, therefore, might not receive the same return on its investment as a
holder that continues to hold its Securities. In addition, as a result of the
existence of the Company's right to defer interest payments, the market price of
the Securities (which represent an undivided beneficial interest in the
Subordinated Debt Securities) may be more volatile than other securities the
holders of which do not have such rights. See "Certain United States Federal
Income Tax Considerations -- Original Issue Discount" herein.
S-6
<PAGE>
ADVERSE EFFECT OF POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill"), the
revenue portion of President Clinton's budget proposal, was released. The Bill
would, among other things, generally treat as equity an instrument, issued by a
corporation, that has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown
as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the
instrument is issued to a related party (other than a corporation), where the
holder or some other related party issues a related instrument that is not shown
as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. The above-described
provision was proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or
after December 7, 1995. If such provision were to apply to the Subordinated Debt
Securities, the Company would be unable to deduct interest on the Subordinated
Debt Securities. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance
and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement to the effect that
it was their intention that the effective date of the President's legislative
proposals, if adopted, would be no earlier than the date of appropriate
Congressional action. The 104th Congress adjourned without any such action
having been taken. There can be no assurance, however, that future legislative
proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the Company to
deduct interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities. If legislation were enacted
limiting, in whole or in part, the deductibility by the Company of interest on
the Subordinated Debt Securities for United States federal income tax purposes,
such enactment could give rise to a Tax Event. A Tax Event would permit the
Company either to distribute the Subordinated Debt Securities to holders of the
Securities or to cause a redemption of the Securities, as described more fully
under "Description of the Securities -- Tax Event Redemption or Distribution"
herein.
TAX EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION
Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, the Company shall have the right either
(i) to dissolve the Trust, with the result that the Subordinated Debt Securities
would be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in connection with
the liquidation of the Trust; or (ii) to redeem the Subordinated Debt
Securities, in whole but not in part, in lieu of a distribution of the
Subordinated Debt Securities by the Trust, in which event the Trust will redeem
the Trust Securities in whole. See "Description of the Securities -- Tax Event
Redemption or Distribution" herein.
Under current United States federal income tax law, if the Trust is treated
as a "grantor trust" at the time of distribution, a distribution of Subordinated
Debt Securities upon the dissolution of Washington Water Power Capital would not
be a taxable event to holders of the Securities. Upon occurrence of a Tax Event,
however, a distribution of cash to holders of the Securities upon dissolution of
Washington Water Power Capital would be a taxable event to such holders. See
"Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Receipt of
Subordinated Debt Securities or Cash Upon Liquidation of the Trust" herein.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Securities or the
Subordinated Debt Securities that may be distributed in exchange for Securities
if a dissolution or liquidation of the Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the
Securities that an investor may purchase, whether pursuant to the offer made
hereby or in the secondary market, or the Subordinated Debt Securities that a
holder of Securities may receive on dissolution and liquidation of the Trust,
may trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the
Securities offered hereby. Because holders of Securities may receive
Subordinated Debt Securities upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, prospective
purchasers of Securities are also making an investment decision with regard to
the Subordinated Debt Securities and should carefully review all the information
regarding the Subordinated Debt Securities contained herein and in the
accompanying Prospectus. See "Description of the Securities -- Tax Event
Redemption or Distribution" and "Description of the Subordinated Debt Securities
- -- General" herein.
S-7
<PAGE>
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
Holders of Securities will have limited voting rights and will not be
entitled to vote to appoint, remove or replace, or to increase or decrease the
number of, the Washington Water Power Trustees (as defined herein), which voting
rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the Common Securities. See
"Description of the Securities -- Voting Rights" herein.
TRADING PRICE OF SECURITIES MAY NOT REFLECT VALUE OF ACCRUED BUT UNPAID INTEREST
The Securities may trade at a price that does not fully reflect the value of
accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Subordinated Debt
Securities. Should an Extension Period occur, a holder who disposes of his
Securities between record dates for payments of distributions thereon would be
required to include accrued but unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debt
Securities through the date of disposition in income as ordinary income (i.e.,
OID), and to add such amount to his adjusted tax basis in his PRO RATA share of
the underlying Subordinated Debt Securities deemed disposed of. To the extent
the selling price is less than the holder's adjusted tax basis (which will
include all accrued but unpaid interest included in the holder's income as OID),
a holder would recognize a capital loss. Subject to certain limited exceptions,
capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for United States
federal income tax purposes. See "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations -- Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sale, Exchange and Redemption
of the Securities" herein.
THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY
The Company, which was incorporated in the State of Washington in 1889,
primarily operates in the electric and natural gas utility business. As of
January 1, 1996, the Company provides electricity and natural gas in a 26,000
square mile area in eastern Washington and northern Idaho with a population of
approximately 765,000. The Company also provides natural gas service in
northeast and southwest Oregon and the South Lake Tahoe region of California
with a population of approximately 460,000. The Company has its principal
offices at 1411 East Mission Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99202. Its telephone
number is 509-489-0500.
The Company's retail and wholesale businesses include the generation,
purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy plus the
purchase, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas. In addition to
its utility businesses, the Company owns Pentzer Corporation, parent company to
the majority of the Company's non-utility businesses.
At December 31, 1995, the Company's employees included 1,390 people in its
utility operations and 1,240 people in its majority-owned non-utility
businesses. The Company's corporate headquarters are in Spokane, Washington,
which serves as the Inland Northwest's center for manufacturing, transportation,
health care, education, communication, agricultural and service businesses.
WASHINGTON WATER POWER CAPITAL
Washington Water Power Capital is a statutory business trust formed under
Delaware law pursuant to (i) a declaration of trust, dated as of November 4,
1996, executed by the Company, as sponsor, and the trustees of Washington Water
Power Capital (the "Washington Water Power Trustees") and (ii) the filing of a
certificate of trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on
November 4, 1996. Such declaration will be amended and restated in its entirety
(as so amended and restated, the "Declaration") substantially in the form filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement
and the accompanying Prospectus form a part. The Declaration will be qualified
as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. Upon issuance of the Securities,
the purchasers thereof will own all of the Securities. See "Description of the
Securities -- Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" herein.
The Company will directly or indirectly acquire Common Securities in an
aggregate liquidation amount equal to 3 percent of the total capital of
Washington Water Power Capital.
S-8
<PAGE>
Washington Water Power Capital exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing
the Trust Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds of the sale of the Trust
Securities in the Subordinated Debt Securities and (iii) engaging in only those
other activities necessary or incidental thereto. Accordingly, the Subordinated
Debt Securities will be the sole assets of the Trust, and payments under the
Subordinated Debt Securities will be the sole revenue of the Trust. All of the
Common Securities will be owned by the Company.
Pursuant to the Declaration, the number of Washington Water Power Trustees
will initially be three. Two of the Washington Water Power Trustees (the
"Regular Trustees") will be persons who are employees or officers of, or who are
affiliated with, the Company. The third trustee will be a financial institution
that maintains its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and is
unaffiliated with the Company, which trustee will serve as institutional trustee
under the Declaration (the "Institutional Trustee") and as indenture trustee for
the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.
Initially, Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, will be the
Institutional Trustee until removed or replaced by the holder of the Common
Securities. For purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act, Wilmington Trust Company will act as Guarantee Trustee under the
Guarantee and as Debt Trustee (as defined herein) under the Indenture. See
"Description of the Securities Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus and
"Description of the Securities -- Voting Rights" herein.
The Institutional Trustee will hold title to the Subordinated Debt
Securities for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities, and the
Institutional Trustee will have the power to exercise all rights, powers and
privileges under the Indenture as the holder of the Subordinated Debt
Securities. In addition, the Institutional Trustee will maintain exclusive
control of a segregated non-interest bearing bank account (the "Property
Account") to hold all payments made in respect of the Subordinated Debt
Securities for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The
Institutional Trustee will make payments of distributions and payments on
liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the holders of the Trust Securities out
of funds from the Property Account. The Guarantee Trustee will hold the
Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Securities. The Company, as the
direct or indirect holder of all the Common Securities, will have the right to
appoint, remove or replace any Washington Water Power Trustee and to increase or
decrease the number of the Washington Water Power Trustees. The Company will pay
all fees and expenses related to Washington Water Power Capital and the offering
of the Trust Securities. See "Description of the Securities Guarantees --
Expense Agreements" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The rights of the holders of the Securities, including economic rights,
rights to information and voting rights, are set forth in the Declaration, the
Delaware Business Trust Act (the "Trust Act") and the Trust Indenture Act. See
"Description of the Securities" herein.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
The financial statements of Washington Water Power Capital will be
consolidated into the Company's consolidated financial statements, with the
Securities shown in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as
Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Washington
Water Power Capital I. The footnotes to the Company's consolidated financial
statements will reflect that the sole asset of the Trust will be $61,855,675
principal amount of Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company. See
"Capitalization" herein.
S-9
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the actual capitalization of the Company and
its consolidated subsidiaries at September 30, 1996, and the "As Adjusted"
column reflects the application of the estimated net proceeds from the sale of
the Securities. See "Use of Proceeds" herein. The table should be read in
conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto included in the documents incorporated by reference herein. See
"Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AT SEPTEMBER 30,
1996
--------------------
<S> <C> <C>
AS
ACTUAL ADJUSTED
--------- ---------
<CAPTION>
(DOLLARS IN
MILLIONS)
<S> <C> <C>
Common Stock -- 200,000,000 shares authorized; shares outstanding: 55,960,360.............. $ 594.9 $ 594.9
Note Receivable from Employee Stock Ownership Plan......................................... (11.2) (11.2)
Capital Stock Expense and Other Paid-In Capital............................................ (10.1) (10.1)
Unrealized Investment Gain -- Net.......................................................... 10.1 10.1
Retained Earnings.......................................................................... 136.2 136.2
--------- ---------
Total Common Equity........................................................................ 719.9 719.9
--------- ---------
Preferred Stock............................................................................ 115.0 115.0
--------- ---------
Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Washington Water Power
Capital I................................................................................ -- 60.0
Long-Term Debt............................................................................. 727.1 727.1
--------- ---------
Total.................................................................................. $ 1,562.0 $ 1,622.0
========= =========
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) As described herein, the sole assets of the Trust will be the 7 7/8% Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A, Due 2037 of the
Company with a principal amount of $61,855,675, and upon redemption of such
debt, the Securities will be mandatorily redeemable.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Trust will use all proceeds received from the sale of the Securities to
purchase Subordinated Debt Securities from the Company. The Company intends to
use the net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Subordinated Debt
Securities for any or all of the following purposes: (i) to fund a portion of
the Company's construction, facility improvement and maintenance programs, (ii)
to retire or exchange one or more outstanding series of its preferred stock,
bonds or notes, (iii) to reimburse the Company's treasury for funds previously
expended for these purposes and (iv) for other general corporate purposes.
S-10
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES
The Securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Declaration. The
Declaration will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The
Institutional Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, will act as indenture trustee
for the Securities under the Declaration for purposes of compliance with the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of the Securities will include
those stated in the Declaration and those made part of the Declaration by the
Trust Indenture Act. The following summary of the material terms and provisions
of the Securities does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the description in the accompanying
Prospectus, the Declaration (a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement is a part), the Trust
Act and the Trust Indenture Act.
GENERAL
The Declaration authorizes the Regular Trustees to issue on behalf of the
Trust the Trust Securities, which represent undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust. All of the Common Securities will be owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company. The Common Securities rank PARI PASSU, and payments
will be made thereon on a PRO RATA basis, with the Securities, except that upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of a Declaration Event of Default (as
defined herein), the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to receive
payment of periodic distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and
otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Securities.
The Declaration does not permit the issuance by the Trust of any securities
other than the Trust Securities or the incurrence of any indebtedness by the
Trust.
Pursuant to the Declaration, the Institutional Trustee will own the
Subordinated Debt Securities purchased by the Trust for the benefit of the
holders of the Trust Securities. The payment of distributions out of money held
by the Trust and payments upon redemption of the Securities or liquidation of
the Trust, are guaranteed by the Company to the extent described under
"Description of the Securities Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The
Guarantee will be held by Wilmington Trust Company, the Guarantee Trustee, for
the benefit of the holders of the Securities. The Guarantee does not cover
payment of distributions when the Trust does not have sufficient available funds
to pay such distributions. In such event, the remedy of a holder of Securities
is to vote to direct the Institutional Trustee to enforce the Institutional
Trustee's rights under the Subordinated Debt Securities except in the limited
circumstances in which the holder may take Direct Action. See "-- Voting Rights"
and "-- Declaration Events of Default" herein.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Distributions on the Securities will be fixed at a rate of 7 7/8% per annum
of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Security. Distributions in arrears
for more than one Scheduled Interest Period will bear interest thereon at the
rate of 7 7/8% per annum thereof compounded quarterly. The term "distribution"
as used herein includes any such interest payable unless otherwise stated. The
amount of distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from January
23, 1997 and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing March 31, 1997, when, as
and if available for payment, by the Institutional Trustee, except as otherwise
described below.
So long as no Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the
Subordinated Debt Securities by extending the interest payment period at any
time, and from time to time on the Subordinated Debt Securities. As a
consequence of such an extension, quarterly distributions on the Securities
would be deferred (but would continue to accrue, despite such deferral, with
interest thereon compounded quarterly) by the Trust during
S-11
<PAGE>
any such Extension Period. Such right to extend the interest payment period for
the Subordinated Debt Securities is limited to a period not exceeding 20
consecutive Scheduled Interest Periods and such period may not extend beyond the
maturity of the Subordinated Debt Securities. In the event that the Company
exercises this right to defer interest payments, the Company shall not (a)
declare or pay any dividend on, or make any distribution or liquidation payment
with respect to, or redeem or purchase any of its capital stock, (b) make any
payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including other Subordinated Debt
Securities) issued by the Company that rank PARI PASSU with or junior in right
of payment to the Subordinated Debt Securities or (c) make any guarantee
payments with respect to the foregoing, other than pursuant to the Securities
Guarantees); provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit
(i) dividends or distributions payable in shares of the Company's capital stock,
(ii) reclassification of the Company's capital stock or exchange or conversion
of shares of one class or series of the Company's capital stock into shares of
another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (iii) purchases or other
acquisitions of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock
and (iv) purchases or other acquisitions of shares of the Company's capital
stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations
under any direct purchase, dividend reinvestment, customer purchase or employee
benefit plans or under any contract or security requiring the Company to
purchase shares of its capital stock. Prior to the termination of any such
Extension Period, the Company may further extend the interest payment period;
provided, however, that such Extension Period, together with all such previous
and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive Scheduled Interest
Periods or extend beyond the maturity of the Subordinated Debt Securities. Upon
the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due,
the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above
requirements. See "Description of the Subordinated Debt Securities -- Option to
Extend Interest Payment Period" herein. If distributions are deferred, the
deferred distributions and accrued interest thereon shall be paid to holders of
record of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on
the record date next following the termination of such deferral period.
Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable to the
extent that the Trust has in the Property Account funds available for the
payment of such distributions. The Trust's funds available for distribution to
the holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the
Company on the Subordinated Debt Securities. The payment of distributions out of
moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Company to the extent set forth
under "Description of the Securities Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus.
Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the holders thereof as
they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant record dates.
Such distributions will be paid through the Institutional Trustee who will hold
amounts received in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities in the Property
Account for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The Regular
Trustees shall have the right to select relevant record dates, which shall be at
least one Business Day (as defined below) but less than 50 Business Days before
the relevant payment dates. In the event that any date on which distributions
are to be made on the Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
distributions payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding Business
Day, except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year,
such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each
case with the same force and effect as if made on such payment date. A "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which
banking institutions in the City of Wilmington, Delaware and The City of New
York are authorized or required by any applicable law to remain closed.
REDEMPTION
The Subordinated Debt Securities will mature on January 15, 2037 and may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or after January 15, 2002, or, in
whole but not in part, at any time in certain circumstances upon the occurrence
of a Tax Event. Upon the repayment of the Subordinated Debt
S-12
<PAGE>
Securities, whether at maturity or upon redemption, the proceeds from such
repayment shall simultaneously be applied to redeem Trust Securities having an
aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the
Subordinated Debt Securities so repaid or redeemed at the Redemption Price;
provided, however, that holders of Trust Securities shall be given not less than
30 nor more than 60 days' notice of such redemption. Redemptions of the
Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on the
redemption date only to the extent that the Trust has funds on hand available
for the payment of such Redemption Price. See "Description of the Subordinated
Debt Securities -- Redemption" in the accompanying Prospectus. In the event that
fewer than all of the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the Securities
will be redeemed PRO RATA as described under "-- Redemption Procedures" below.
TAX EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Company of an opinion of counsel to the
effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, clarification of 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 thereof or therein, (b) any judicial decision, official administrative
pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including
any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations (an
"Administrative Action") or any amendment to, clarification of, or change in the
official position or the interpretation of such Administrative Action or
judicial decision that differs from the theretofore generally accepted position,
in each case, by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, irrespective of the manner in which such amendment, clarification or
change is made known, which amendment, clarification or change is effective or
such pronouncement or decision is announced, in each case, on or after the date
of the original issuance of the Subordinated Debt Securities (including the
enactment of any legislation and the publication of any judicial decision or
regulatory determination on or after such date), there is more than an
insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date
of such amendment, clarification or change, subject to United States federal
income tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Subordinated Debt
Securities, (ii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such
amendment, clarification or change, subject to more than a DE MINIMIS amount of
taxes, duties or other governmental charges or (iii) interest payable on the
Subordinated Debt Securities is not, or within 90 days of the date of such
amendment, clarification or change will not be, deductible, in whole or in part,
by the Company for United States federal income tax purposes.
If, at any time, a Tax Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company may,
at its option, within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, (i)
dissolve the Trust with the result that the Subordinated Debt Securities with an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of,
with an interest rate identical to the distribution rate of, and accrued and
unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, and having the
same record date for payment as the Trust Securities, would be distributed to
the holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of such holders' interests in
the Trust on a PRO RATA basis, or (ii) upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days' notice, redeem the Subordinated Debt Securities, in whole but not in part,
for cash, and, following such redemption, redeem the Trust Securities at the
Redemption Price; provided, however, that if at the time there is available to
the Company or the Trust the opportunity to eliminate, within such 90-day
period, the Tax Event, by taking some ministerial action such as filing a form
or making an election or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure that has
no adverse effect on the Trust, the Company or the holders of the Trust
Securities, the Company or the Trust will pursue such measure in lieu of such
dissolution and distribution or redemption.
If the Subordinated Debt Securities are distributed to the holders of the
Securities upon termination of the Trust in accordance with the Declaration, the
Company will use all reasonable efforts to cause the Subordinated Debt
Securities to be listed on the NYSE or on such other securities exchange as the
Securities are then listed.
S-13
<PAGE>
After the date for any distribution of Subordinated Debt Securities upon
dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Securities will be deemed to no longer be
outstanding and (ii) any certificates representing Securities will be deemed to
represent Subordinated Debt Securities having an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate
identical to the distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to
accrued and unpaid distributions on, and having the same record date for payment
as such Securities until such certificates are presented to the Company or its
agent for transfer or reissuance.
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
The Trust may not redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Securities unless
all accrued and unpaid distributions have been paid on all Securities for all
quarterly distribution periods terminating on or prior to the date of
redemption.
If the Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of Securities, then,
provided that the Company has paid to the Institutional Trustee a sufficient
amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the
Subordinated Debt Securities, upon presentation of the Securities, the
Institutional Trustee will pay the relevant Redemption Price to the holder or
holders of such Securities. See "-- Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The Depository
Trust Company" for a more complete discussion of payment mechanics applicable so
long as the Securities are held in book-entry form. If notice of redemption
shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then, immediately prior
to the close of business on the date of such deposit, distributions will cease
to accrue and all rights of holders of such Securities so called for redemption
will cease, except the right of the holders of such Securities to receive the
Redemption Price but without interest on such Redemption Price. In the event
that any date fixed for redemption of Securities is not a Business Day, then
payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day, except that, if such Business Day falls
in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on such redemption date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in
respect of Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by
the Trust, or by the Company pursuant to the Guarantee, distributions on such
Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate from the original
redemption date to the date of payment, in which case the actual payment date
will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the
Redemption Price.
In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding Securities are to be
redeemed, the Securities will be redeemed PRO RATA. The particular Securities to
be redeemed shall be selected on a PRO RATA basis not more than 60 days prior to
the redemption date by the Institutional Trustee from the outstanding Securities
not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Institutional
Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection
for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an integral multiple of $25 in
excess thereof) of the liquidation amount of Securities of a denomination larger
than $25. The Institutional Trustee shall notify the transfer agent and
registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption, and in the case
of any Securities selected for partial redemption the liquidation amount thereof
to be redeemed. For all purposes of the Declaration, unless the context
otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities
shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in
part, or to the portion of the aggregate liquidation amount of Securities which
has been or is to be redeemed.
Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without limitation,
United States federal securities laws), the Company or its subsidiaries may at
any time, and from time to time, purchase outstanding Securities by tender, in
the open market or by private agreement.
S-14
<PAGE>
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Trust (each a "Liquidation"), the then holders
of the Securities will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust,
after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, distributions in an amount equal
to the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Security plus
accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the date of payment (the
"Liquidation Distribution"), unless, in connection with such Liquidation,
Subordinated Debt Securities in an aggregate stated principal amount equal to
the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to
the distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and
unpaid distributions on, and having the same record date for payment as the
Securities, have been distributed on a PRO RATA basis to the holders of the
Securities in exchange for such Securities.
If, upon any such Liquidation, 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 the Securities shall be paid on a PRO RATA basis.
Pursuant to the Declaration, the Trust shall terminate (i) on January 15,
2042, the expiration of the term of the Trust, (ii) upon the bankruptcy of the
Company, (iii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent
with respect to the Company, the filing of a certificate of cancellation with
respect to the Trust after obtaining the consent of the holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of the Trust Securities affected thereby voting together as a
single class to file such certificate of cancellation, or the revocation of the
charter of the Company and the expiration of 90 days after the date of
revocation without a reinstatement thereof, (iv) upon the distribution of
Subordinated Debt Securities in connection with the occurrence of a Tax Event,
(v) upon the entry of a decree of a judicial dissolution of the Company or the
Trust or (vi) upon the redemption of all the Trust Securities.
DECLARATION EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under the Indenture (an "Indenture Event of Default")
constitutes an event of default under the Declaration with respect to the Trust
Securities (a "Declaration Event of Default"); provided, however, that pursuant
to the Declaration, the holder of the Common Securities will be deemed to have
waived any Declaration Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities
until all Declaration Events of Default with respect to the Securities have been
cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until such Declaration Events of Default
with respect to the Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated, the Institutional Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on
behalf of the holders of the Securities and only the holders of the Securities
will have the right to direct the Institutional Trustee with respect to certain
matters under the Declaration, and therefore the Indenture.
If a Declaration Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the
Institutional Trustee will have the right to enforce its rights against the
Company as a holder of the Subordinated Debt Securities. In addition, the
holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Securities will have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Institutional Trustee or to direct the exercise of any
trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration,
including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee to exercise the remedies
available to it as a holder of the Subordinated Debt Securities. If the
Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Subordinated Debt
Securities after a holder of Securities has made a written request, such holder
of record of Securities may institute a legal proceeding against the Company to
enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Subordinated Debt
Securities without first instituting any legal proceeding against the
Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and
such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest or
principal on the Subordinated Debt Securities on the date such interest or
principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, the redemption
date), then a holder of Securities may directly institute a proceeding for
enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of or
S-15
<PAGE>
interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities having a principal amount equal to
the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities of such holder on or after
the respective due date specified in the Subordinated Debt Securities. In
connection with such Direct Action, the Company will be subrogated to the rights
of such holder of Securities under the Declaration to the extent of any payment
made by the Company to such holder of Securities in such Direct Action. The
holders of Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy
available to the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities.
Upon the occurrence of a Declaration Event of Default, the Institutional
Trustee, as the sole holder of the Subordinated Debt Securities, will have the
right under the Indenture to declare the principal of and interest on the
Subordinated Debt Securities to be immediately due and payable. The Company and
the Trust are each required to file annually with the Institutional Trustee an
officer's certificate as to its compliance with all conditions and covenants
under the Declaration.
VOTING RIGHTS
Except as described herein, under the Trust Act, the Trust Indenture Act and
under "Description of the Securities Guarantees -- Modification of the
Securities Guarantees; Assignment" in the accompanying Prospectus, and as
otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the holders of the Securities
will have no voting rights.
Subject to the requirement of the Institutional Trustee obtaining a tax
opinion in certain circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this
paragraph, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under
the Declaration including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as
holder of the Subordinated Debt Securities, to (i) exercise the remedies
available to it under the Indenture as a holder of the Subordinated Debt
Securities, (ii) waive any past Indenture Event of Default that is waivable
under the Original Indenture (as defined herein), (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Subordinated Debt
Securities shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or the Subordinated Debt Securities
where such consent shall be required. If the Institutional Trustee fails to
enforce its rights under the Subordinated Debt Securities after a holder of
record of Securities has made a written request, such holder of record of
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to
enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Subordinated Debt
Securities, to the fullest extent permitted by law, without first instituting
any legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other person or
entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Declaration Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
Company to pay interest or principal on the Subordinated Debt Securities on the
date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of
redemption on the redemption date), then a holder of Securities may, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, directly institute a proceeding for enforcement
of payment to such holder of the principal of or interest on the Subordinated
Debt Securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date
specified in the Subordinated Debt Securities. The Institutional Trustee shall
notify all holders of the Securities of any notice of default received from the
Debt Trustee with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities. Such notice shall
state that such Indenture Event of Default also constitutes a Declaration Event
of Default. Except with respect to directing the time, method and place of
conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall not take
any of the actions described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the
Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that,
as a result of such action, the Trust will not be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.
In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of the
Subordinated Debt Securities, is required under the Indenture with respect to
any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture, the Institutional
Trustee shall request the direction of the holders of the Trust Securities
S-16
<PAGE>
with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with
respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a majority
in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities voting together as a single class.
The Institutional Trustee shall not take any such action in accordance with the
directions of the holders of the Trust Securities unless the Institutional
Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the
purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation.
A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the
corresponding Declaration Event of Default.
Any required approval or direction of holders of Securities may be given at
a separate meeting of holders of Securities convened for such purpose, at a
meeting of all of the holders of Trust Securities or pursuant to written
consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which
holders of Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action
by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each holder
of record of Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth
the following information: (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which
such action is to be taken; (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for
adoption at such meeting on which such holders are entitled to vote or of such
matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the
delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the holders of Securities
will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Securities or distribute
Subordinated Debt Securities in accordance with the Declaration.
Notwithstanding that holders of Securities are entitled to vote or consent
under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Securities that are
owned at such time by the Company or any entity directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with,
the Company, shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of
such vote or consent, be treated as if such Securities were not outstanding.
Holders of the Securities will have no rights to appoint or remove the
Washington Water Power Trustees, who may be appointed, removed or replaced
solely by the Company as the indirect or direct holder of all of the Common
Securities.
MODIFICATION OF THE DECLARATION
The Declaration may be modified and amended if approved by the Regular
Trustees (and in certain circumstances the Institutional Trustee); provided,
however, that if any proposed amendment provides for, or the Regular Trustees
otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Trust Securities in any material
respect, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise or (ii) the
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust other than pursuant to the
terms of the Declaration, then the holders of the Trust Securities voting
together as a single class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or
proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the
approval of a majority in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities affected
thereby; provided, however, that if any amendment or proposal referred to in
clause (i) above would so adversely affect only the Securities or the Common
Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such
amendment or proposal, and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective
except with the approval of a majority in liquidation amount of such class of
Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to
the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to
be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as an
association taxable as a corporation, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect
the powers of the Institutional Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an
"investment company" which is required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
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MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR AMALGAMATIONS
The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to, any corporation or other body, except as
described below. The Trust may, with the consent of the Regular Trustees and
without the consent of the holders of the Trust Securities, the Institutional
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into,
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 of the United States; provided, however, that (i) if the Trust is not the
survivor such successor entity either (x) expressly assumes all of the
obligations of the Trust under the Trust Securities or (y) substitutes for the
Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the
Securities (the "Successor Securities"), so long as the Successor Securities
rank the same as the Trust Securities rank with respect to distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly
appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and
duties as the Institutional Trustee as the holder of the Subordinated Debt
Securities, (iii) the Securities or any Successor Securities are listed, or any
Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any
national securities exchange or with another organization on which the
Securities are then listed or quoted, if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the
Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the
Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect
(other than with respect to any dilution of the holders' interest in the new
entity), (vi) such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the
Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Company has received an opinion of a
nationally recognized independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such
matters to the effect that, (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of
the holders' interest in the new entity), and (B) following such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease,
neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an
investment company under the 1940 Act and (viii) the Company or any permitted
successor guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the
Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of
holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities, merge,
consolidate or amalgamate 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 merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or
into, or replace it, if such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the Successor Entity to
be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal
income tax purposes.
BOOK-ENTRY ONLY ISSUANCE -- THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
DTC will act as securities depositary for the Securities. The Securities
will be issued only as fully-registered securities registered in the name of
Cede & Co. (DTC's nominee). One or more fully-registered global Securities
certificates, representing the total aggregate number of Securities, will be
issued and will be deposited with DTC.
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 Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. DTC holds securities that its participants
("Participants") deposit with DTC. DTC also
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facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such
as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic
computerized book-entry changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating
the need for physical movement of securities certificates. "Direct Participants"
in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its
Direct Participants and by the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is
also available to others, such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and
trust companies that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Direct Participant either directly or indirectly ("Indirect
Participants"). The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Purchases of Securities within the DTC system must be made by or through
Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Securities on DTC's
records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Security
("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the Indirect Participants'
records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of
their purchase, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written
confirmation providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic
statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through
which the Beneficial Owners entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership
interests in the Securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books
of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will
not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the
Securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the
Securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Securities deposited by Participants
with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's partnership nominee, Cede & Co. The
deposit of Securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co.
effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual
Beneficial Owners of the Securities; DTC's records reflect only the identity of
the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Securities are credited, which
may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain
responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by
arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as
may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the
Securities are being redeemed, DTC's practice is to determine by lot the amount
of the interest of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect to
Securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to the Trust
as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede &
Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts
the Securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached
to the Omnibus Proxy).
Distributions on the Securities will be made to DTC. DTC's practice is to
credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance
with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC has reason to
believe that it will not receive payment on such payment date. Payments by
Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and will be the
responsibility of such Participants and not of DTC, the Trust or the Company,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from
time to time. Payment of distributions to DTC is the responsibility of the
Trust, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants shall be the
responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial
Owners is the responsibility of Direct Participants and Indirect Participants.
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DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to the Securities at any time by giving notice to the Trust. Under such
circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not
obtained, Security certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
Additionally, the Trust (with the consent of the Company) may decide to
discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a
successor depositary). In that event, certificates for the Securities will be
printed and delivered.
The above information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry
system has been obtained from sources that the Trust and the Company believe to
be reliable, but the Trust and the Issuer take no responsibility for the
accuracy thereof.
Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner of an interest in a global
Securities certificate will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of
Securities. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of
DTC to exercise any rights under the Securities.
REGISTRAR, TRANSFER AGENT AND PAYING AGENT
Payments in respect of the Securities shall be made by check mailed to the
address of the holder or holders entitled thereto as such address shall appear
on the books and records of the Trust on the record date. See "-- Book-Entry
Only Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" for a more complete discussion of
payment mechanics applicable so long as the Securities are held in book-entry
form. The paying agent shall initially be Wilmington Trust Company. The paying
agent shall be permitted to resign as paying agent upon 30 days' written notice
to the Regular Trustees. In the event that Wilmington Trust Company shall no
longer be the paying agent, the Regular Trustees shall appoint a successor to
act as paying agent (which shall be a bank or trust company).
Wilmington Trust Company will act as registrar and transfer agent for the
Securities.
Registration of transfers of Securities will be effected without charge by
or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment (with the giving of such indemnity
as the Trust or the Company may reasonably require) in respect of any
documentary stamp tax or other similar governmental charges which may be imposed
in relation to it.
The Trust will not be required to register or cause to be registered the
transfer of Securities after such Securities have been called for redemption.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE
The Institutional Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a default with respect
to the Trust Securities and after the curing of any defaults that may have
occurred, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth
in the Declaration and, after such default, shall exercise the same degree of
care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own
affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Institutional Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Declaration at the
request of any holder of Securities unless offered reasonable indemnity by such
holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred
thereby; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of a Declaration Event of
Default, no such provisions shall be taken to relieve the Institutional Trustee
of its obligation to exercise its rights and powers under the Declaration. The
Institutional Trustee also serves as trustee under the Guarantee and the
Indenture.
GOVERNING LAW
The Declaration and the Securities will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
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MISCELLANEOUS
The Regular Trustees are authorized and directed to operate the Trust in
such a way so that the Trust will not be required to register as an "investment
company" under the 1940 Act or treated as an association taxable as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. The Company is
authorized and directed to conduct its affairs so that the Subordinated Debt
Securities will be treated as indebtedness of the Company for United States
federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Company and the Regular
Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable
law, the certificate of trust of the Trust or the certificate of incorporation
of the Company, that each of the Company and the Regular Trustees determine in
their discretion to be necessary or desirable to achieve such end, as long as
such action does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of
the Securities or vary the terms thereof.
Holders of the Securities have no preemptive rights.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Subordinated
Debt Securities in which the Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance
and sale of the Trust Securities. This description supplements the description
of the general terms and provisions of the Subordinated Debt Securities set
forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the caption "Description of the
Subordinated Debt Securities." The following description does not purport to be
complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to,
the description in the accompanying Prospectus and the Indenture, dated as of
January 1, 1997 (the "Original Indenture"), between the Company and Wilmington
Trust Company, as Trustee (the "Debt Trustee") (the Original Indenture, as
amended and supplemented from time to time, is hereinafter referred to as the
"Indenture"), the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus
form a part. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in the Indenture.
Under certain circumstances involving the dissolution of the Trust following
the occurrence of a Tax Event, Subordinated Debt Securities may be distributed
to the holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See
"Description of the Securities -- Tax Event Redemption or Distribution" herein.
If the Subordinated Debt Securities are distributed to the holders of the
Securities upon termination of the Trust in accordance with the Declaration, the
Company will use all reasonable efforts to have the Subordinated Debt Securities
listed on the NYSE or on such other national securities exchange or similar
organization on which the Securities are then listed or quoted.
GENERAL
Concurrently with the issuance of the Securities, the Trust will invest the
proceeds thereof and the consideration paid by the Company for the Common
Securities in the Subordinated Debt Securities issued by the Company. The
Subordinated Debt Securities will bear interest at the rate of 7 7/8% per annum
of the principal amount thereof, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June
30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment
Date"), commencing March 31, 1997, to the persons in whose names the
Subordinated Debt Securities are registered, subject to certain exceptions, as
of the close of business on the Regular Record Date next preceding such Interest
Payment Date. Each Subordinated Debt Security will be held in the name of the
Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Securities.
The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
interest is payable on the Subordinated Debt Securities is not a Business Day,
then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding Business Day, except that, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on the date such payment was originally payable. Interest that is in arrears for
more
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than one Scheduled Interest Period will bear additional interest on the amount
thereof, to the extent permitted by law, at the rate of 7 7/8% per annum
thereof, compounded quarterly. The term "interest" as used herein shall include
quarterly interest payments, interest on quarterly interest payments in arrears
and Additional Interest (as defined below), as applicable.
The Company will covenant, that, if at any time while the Institutional
Trustee under the Declaration is the holder of the Subordinated Debt Securities,
Washington Water Power Trust or the Institutional Trustee shall be required to
pay any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature
(other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing
authority, then, in any such case, the Company will pay as additional interest
("Additional Interest") on the Subordinated Debt Securities such additional
amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by
Washington Water Power Trust and the Institutional Trustee after paying such
taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the
amounts Washington Water Power Trust and the Institutional Trustee would have
received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges
been imposed.
The Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued as a series of Subordinated
Debt Securities under the Indenture. The Subordinated Debt Securities will
mature on January 15, 2037. The Subordinated Debt Securities will be unsecured
and will rank junior and be subordinate in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness of the Company. The Indenture does not limit the incurrence or
issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Company, whether under the
Indenture, any other indenture that the Company may enter into in the future or
otherwise. See "Description of the Subordinated Debt Securities --
Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
So long as no Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company has the right under the Indenture at any time, and from time to time, to
extend the interest payment period on the Subordinated Debt Securities to a
period not exceeding 20 consecutive Scheduled Interest Periods from the last
Interest Payment Date to which interest was paid in full, and such period may
not extend beyond the maturity of the Subordinated Debt Securities. In the event
that the Company exercises this right to defer interest payments, the Company
shall not (a) declare or pay any dividend on, or make any distribution or
liquidation payment with respect to, or redeem or purchase any of its capital
stock, (b) make any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any,
on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including other
Subordinated Debt Securities) issued by the Company that rank PARI PASSU with or
junior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt Securities or (c) make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing, other than pursuant to the
Securities Guarantees); provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed
to prohibit (i) dividends or distributions payable in shares of the Company's
capital stock, (ii) reclassification of the Company's capital stock or exchange
or conversion of shares of one class or series of the Company's capital stock
into shares of another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (iii)
purchases or other acquisitions of fractional interests in shares of the
Company's capital stock and (iv) purchases or other acquisitions of shares of
the Company's capital stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company
of its obligations under any direct purchase, dividend reinvestment, customer
purchase or employee benefit plans or under any contract or security requiring
the Company to purchase shares of its capital stock. Prior to the termination of
any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend the interest payment
period; provided, however, that such Extension Period, together with all such
previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive Scheduled
Interest Periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debt
Securities. Upon the termination of an Extension Period and the payment of all
amounts then due, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to
the above requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension
Period, except at the end thereof. The Company must give the Institutional
Trustee, the Regular Trustees and the Debt Trustee written notice of (i) any
election by the Company to
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initiate an Extension Period and the duration thereof, (ii) any election by the
Company to extend an Extension Period beyond the date on which that Extension
Period is then scheduled to terminate and the duration of such extension and
(iii) any election by the Company to make a full payment of interest accrued on
the Subordinated Debt Securities on any date during an Extension Period and the
amount of such payment. The Company shall give such notice of any election
described in clause (i) or (ii) in the next preceding sentence not less than 10
days prior to the Regular Record Date with respect to the next Interest Payment
Date on which interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities would otherwise be
payable; and the Company shall give such notice of any election described in
clause (iii) in the next preceding sentence in accordance with the provisions of
the Indenture relating to Unpaid Interest. A Regular Trustee shall give prompt
written notice of the Company's election to begin such Extension Period to the
holders of the Securities.
At the end of such Extension Period, the Company must pay all interest then
accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate of 7 7/8% per
annum to the extent permitted by applicable law). During an Extension Period,
interest will continue to accrue and holders of Subordinated Debt Securities
will be required to accrue interest income for United States federal income tax
purposes. See "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations --
Original Issue Discount" herein.
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be initially registered in the name
of Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee of Washington Water Power
Trust. The Subordinated Debt Securities shall not be transferable, nor shall any
purported transfer be registered, except (i) to a nominee of such Institutional
Trustee, to such Institutional Trustee by such nominee, by such Institutional
Trustee to another nominee, by any such nominee to a successor nominee or by
such Institutional Trustee or any nominee thereof to a successor Institutional
Trustee or a nominee thereof or (ii) to the holders of Trust Securities in the
event of the termination of Washington Water Power Trust in accordance with the
provisions of the Declaration. No service charge shall be made for the
registration of transfer of exchange of Subordinated Debt Securities; provided,
however, that, after any distribution of the Subordinated Debt Securities
contemplated in clause (ii) above, the Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection
with the exchange or transfer.
REDEMPTION
The Subordinated Debt Securities are subject to redemption (i) at any time
on or after January 15, 2002, in whole or in part, at the election of the
Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof
plus accrued interest, if any (including Additional Interest, if any), to the
date fixed for redemption; provided, however, that the Subordinated Debt
Securities will not be so redeemable in part unless all interest (including
Additional Interest) accrued through the most recent quarterly period ended on
or prior to the date fixed for redemption shall have been paid, or (ii) in whole
but not in part, at the election of the Company, on any date within 90 days of
the occurrence, and during the continuation, of a Tax Event at a redemption
price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if
any (including Additional Interest, if any), to the date fixed for redemption.
DISTRIBUTION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, at any time, the Company has the right
to terminate the Trust, and, in such event, Subordinated Debt Securities will be
distributed to the holders of the Securities in liquidation of the Trust after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable
law. If distributed to holders of Securities in liquidation, the Subordinated
Debt Securities will initially be issued in the form of one or more global
securities and DTC, or any successor depositary for the Securities, will act as
depositary for the Subordinated Debt Securities. It is anticipated that the
depositary arrangements for the Subordinated Debt Securities would be
substantially identical to those in effect for the
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Securities. If the Subordinated Debt Securities are distributed to the holders
of the Securities upon termination of the Trust in accordance with the
Declaration, the Company will use all reasonable efforts to cause the
Subordinated Debt Securities to be listed on the NYSE or on such other
securities exchange as the Securities are then listed. There can be no assurance
as to the market price of any Subordinated Debt Securities that may be
distributed to the holders of Securities.
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summary describes the principal United States federal income
tax consequences relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the
Securities as of the date hereof and represents the opinion of Reid & Priest
LLP, counsel to the Company, insofar as it relates to matters of law or legal
conclusions. Except where noted, it deals only with Securities held as capital
assets and does not deal with special situations, such as those of dealers in
securities or currencies, financial institutions, life insurance companies,
tax-exempt organizations, persons holding Securities as part of a hedging or
conversion transaction or a straddle, United States Holders (as defined herein)
whose "functional currency" is not the United States dollar, or persons who are
not United States Holders. In addition, this discussion does not address the tax
consequences to persons who purchase Securities other than pursuant to their
initial issuance and distribution. Furthermore, the discussion below is based
upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
regulations, rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof,
and such authorities may be repealed, revoked or modified at any time, possibly
retroactively, so as to result in United States federal income tax consequences
different from those discussed below. These authorities are subject to various
interpretations and it is therefore possible that the United States federal
income tax treatment of the Securities may differ from the treatment described
below.
PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF SECURITIES, INCLUDING PERSONS WHO ARE NOT UNITED
STATES HOLDERS AND PERSONS WHO PURCHASE SECURITIES IN THE SECONDARY MARKET, ARE
ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL
INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES
IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WELL AS THE EFFECT OF ANY STATE,
LOCAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
UNITED STATES HOLDERS
As used herein, a "United States Holder" means a Security holder that is a
citizen or a resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other
entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust the income of which is
subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE TRUST
Reid & Priest LLP, counsel to the Company and the Trust, is of the opinion
that, under current law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the
Indenture and the instruments establishing the Trust (and certain other
documents), the Trust will be classified as a "grantor trust" for United States
federal income tax purposes and will not be classified as an association taxable
as a corporation. Each United States Holder will be treated as owning an
undivided beneficial interest in the Subordinated Debt Securities. Investors
should be aware that the opinion of Reid & Priest LLP is not binding on the
Internal Revenue Services (the "IRS") or the courts.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Based on the advice of its counsel, the Company believes and intends to take
the position that the Subordinated Debt Securities will constitute indebtedness
for United States federal income tax purposes. No assurance can be given that
such position will not be challenged by the IRS, or that any such challenge
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will not be successful. By purchasing and accepting Securities, each holder
thereof covenants to treat the Subordinated Debt Securities as indebtedness and
the Securities as evidence of an indirect beneficial ownership in the
Subordinated Debt Securities. The remainder of this discussion, except as is
expressly indicated to the contrary, assumes that the Subordinated Debt
Securities will be classified as indebtedness of the Company for United States
federal income tax purposes.
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill"), the
revenue portion of President Clinton's budget proposal, was released. The Bill
would, among other things, generally treat as equity an instrument, issued by a
corporation, that has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown
as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the
instrument is issued to a related party (other than a corporation), where the
holder or some other related party issues a related instrument that is not shown
as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. The above-described
provision was proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or
after December 7, 1995. If such provision were to apply to the Subordinated Debt
Securities, the Company would be unable to deduct interest on the Subordinated
Debt Securities. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance
and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement to the effect that
it was their intention that the effective date of the President's legislative
proposals, if adopted, will be no earlier than the date of appropriate
Congressional action. The 104th Congress adjourned without any such action
having been taken. There can be no assurance, however, that future legislative
proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the Company to
deduct interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities. If legislation were enacted
limiting, in whole or in part, the deductibility by the Company of interest on
the Subordinated Debt Securities for United States federal income tax purposes,
such enactment could give rise to a Tax Event. A Tax Event would permit the
Company to cause a redemption of the Securities as described more fully under
"Description of the Securities -- Tax Event Redemption or Distribution" herein.
PAYMENTS OF INTEREST
Except as set forth below, stated interest on a Subordinated Debt Security
will generally be taxable to a United States Holder as ordinary income at the
time it is paid or accrued in accordance with the United States Holder's method
of accounting for tax purposes.
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
Under income tax regulations that recently became effective, the Company
believes that the Subordinated Debt Securities will not be treated as issued
with OID. It should be noted that these regulations have not yet been addressed
in any rulings or other interpretations by the IRS. Accordingly, it is possible
that the IRS could take a position contrary to the interpretation described
herein.
Under the Indenture, the Company has the right to defer the payment of
interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities at any time or from time to time
for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive Scheduled Interest Periods with
respect to each Extension Period provided, however, that no Extension Period may
extend beyond the Stated Maturity (as defined in the Indenture) of the
Subordinated Debt Securities. Should the Company exercise this right to defer
payments of interest, the Subordinated Debt Securities would at that time be
treated as issued with OID and all the stated interest payments on the
Subordinated Debt Securities would thereafter be treated as OID for so long as
they remained outstanding. As a result, all United States Holders would, in
effect, be required to accrue interest income even if such United States Holders
are on a cash method of accounting. Consequently, in the event that the payment
of interest is deferred, a United States Holder could be required to include OID
in income on an economic accrual basis, notwithstanding that the Company will
not make any interest payments during such period on the Subordinated Debt
Securities.
S-25
<PAGE>
RECEIPT OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES OR CASH UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST
Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event the Company has the right to cause
Subordinated Debt Securities to be distributed to holders of Securities in
exchange for the Securities and in liquidation of the Trust. Under current law,
for United States federal income tax purposes, if the Trust is treated as a
"grantor trust" at the time of distribution, such distribution would be treated
as a non-taxable event to each United States Holder, and each United States
Holder would receive an aggregate tax basis in the Subordinated Debt Securities
equal to such holder's aggregate tax basis in its Securities. A United States
Holder's holding period for the Subordinated Debt Securities received in
liquidation of the Trust would include the period during which such holder held
the Securities.
Under certain circumstances, as described herein under the caption
"Description of the Securities," the Subordinated Debt Securities may be
redeemed for cash and the proceeds of such redemption distributed to holders of
Securities in redemption of the Securities. Under current law, such a redemption
would, for United States federal income tax purposes, constitute a taxable
disposition of the Securities, and a United States Holder would recognize gain
or loss as if such holder had sold such redeemed Securities. See "-- Sale,
Exchange and Redemption of the Securities" below.
SALE, EXCHANGE AND REDEMPTION OF THE SECURITIES
Upon the sale, exchange or redemption of Securities, a United States Holder
will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized
upon the sale, exchange or redemption and such holder's adjusted tax basis in
the Securities. A United States Holder's adjusted tax basis will, in general,
unless the Company has deferred interest payments on the Subordinated Debt
Securities, be the issue price of the Securities. Such gain or loss generally
will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at
the time of sale, exchange or redemption, the Securities have been held for more
than one year. Under current law, net capital gains of individuals are, under
certain circumstances, taxed at lower rates than items of ordinary income. The
deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
INFORMATION REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Subject to the qualification discussed below, income on the Securities will
be reported to holders on Form 1099, which should be mailed to such holders by
January 31 following each calendar year.
So long as the Securities are held in book-entry only form, the Trust will
report annually to Cede & Co., as holder of record of the Securities, the
interest income paid or OID accrued during the year with respect to the
Subordinated Debt Securities. The Trust currently intends to report such
information on Form 1099 prior to January 31 following each calendar year. The
Underwriters have indicated to the Trust that, to the extent that they hold
Securities as nominees for beneficial holders, they currently expect to report
the interest income paid or OID accrued during the calendar year on such
Securities to such beneficial holders on Form 1099 by January 31 following each
calendar year. Under current law, holders of Securities who hold as nominees for
beneficial holders will not have any obligation to report information regarding
the beneficial holders to the Trust. The Trust, moreover, will not have any
obligation to report to beneficial holders who are not also record holders.
Thus, beneficial holders of Securities who hold their Securities through
underwriters will receive Forms 1099 reflecting the income on their Securities
from such underwriters rather than from the Trust.
Payments made in respect of, and proceeds from the sale of, Securities (or
Subordinated Debt Securities distributed to holders of Securities) may be
subject to "backup" withholding tax of 31% if the holder fails to comply with
certain identification requirements, if such holder has previously failed to
report in full dividend and interest income, or if the holder does not otherwise
establish its entitlement to an exemption. Any withheld amount will be allowed
as a credit against the holder's United States federal income tax liability;
provided, however, that certain required information is provided to the IRS.
S-26
<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), Washington Water Power Capital has agreed to
sell to each of the Underwriters named below, and each of the Underwriters, for
whom Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, A.G. Edwards & Sons,
Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and Smith Barney Inc. are acting as representatives
(the "Representatives"), has severally agreed to purchase the number of
Securities set forth opposite its name below. In the Underwriting Agreement, the
several Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
therein, to purchase all the Securities offered hereby if any of the Securities
are purchased. In the event of default by an Underwriter, the Underwriting
Agreement provides that, in certain circumstances, the purchase commitments of
the non-defaulting Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement
may be terminated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITER SECURITIES
----------- ------------
<S> <C>
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated.......................................................... 547,500
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc........................................................ 547,500
Lehman Brothers Inc............................................................. 547,500
Smith Barney Inc................................................................ 547,500
Dain Bosworth Incorporated...................................................... 35,000
D. A. Davidson & Co............................................................. 35,000
EVEREN Securities, Inc.......................................................... 35,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated............................................ 35,000
Piper Jaffray Inc............................................................... 35,000
Ragen MacKenzie Incorporated.................................................... 35,000
------------
Total................................................................. 2,400,000
============
</TABLE>
The Underwriters propose to offer the Securities, in part, directly to the
public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus Supplement, and, in part, to certain securities dealers at such price
less a concession of $.50 per Security for sales of less than 10,000 Securities
to a single purchaser and $.30 per Security for sales of 10,000 or more
Securities to a single purchaser. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers
may reallow, a concession not in excess of $.45 per Security to certain brokers
and dealers. After the Securities are released for sale to the public, the
offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the
Representatives.
In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Securities will
ultimately be used to purchase the Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company,
the Underwriting Agreement provides that the Company will pay as Underwriters'
Compensation to the Underwriters arranging the investment therein of such
proceeds, an amount in immediately available funds of $.7875 per Security (or
$1,890,000 in the aggregate) for the accounts of the several Underwriters;
provided, however, that such compensation for sales of 10,000 or more Securities
to any single purchaser will be $.5875 per Security. Therefore, to the extent of
such sales, the actual amount of Underwriters' Compensation will be less than
the aggregate amount specified in the preceding sentence.
During a period of 30 days from the date of this Prospectus Supplement,
neither the Trust nor the Company will, without the prior written consent of the
Underwriters, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, grant any option for
sale of or otherwise dispose of, any Securities, any security convertible into
or exchangeable into or exercisable for Securities or Subordinated Debt
Securities or any debt securities substantially similar to the Subordinated Debt
Securities or equity securities substantially similar to the Securities (except
for the Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities offered hereby).
S-27
<PAGE>
The Securities have been approved for listing, subject to notice of
issuance, on the NYSE. Trading of the Securities on the NYSE is expected to
commence within a 30-day period after the initial delivery of the Securities.
The Representatives has advised Washington Water Power Capital that they intend
to make a market in the Securities prior to the commencement of trading on the
NYSE. The Representatives will have no obligation to make a market in the
Securities, however, and may cease market making activities, if commenced, at
any time.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for the Securities.
In order to meet one of the requirements for listing the Securities on the NYSE,
the Underwriters will undertake to sell lots of 100 or more Securities to a
minimum of 400 beneficial holders.
Washington Water Power Capital and the Company have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be
required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Certain of the Underwriters engage in transactions with, and, from time to
time, have performed services for, the Company and its subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business.
S-28
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
$150,000,000
THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
------------------
WASHINGTON WATER POWER CAPITAL I
WASHINGTON WATER POWER CAPITAL II
WASHINGTON WATER POWER CAPITAL III
SECURITIES
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY
THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY
------------------
The Washington Water Power Company (the "Company") a Washington corporation,
may from time to time offer its subordinated debentures, notes or other evidence
of indebtedness (the "Subordinated Debt Securities") in one or more series and
in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of the offering.
The Subordinated Debt Securities when issued will be unsecured obligations of
the Company. The Company's obligations under the Subordinated Debt Securities
will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to certain other
indebtedness, as may be described in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement (a
"Prospectus Supplement") and in an aggregate amount to be set forth as of the
most recent practicable date in such Prospectus Supplement.
Washington Water Power Capital I, Washington Water Power Capital II and
Washington Water Power Capital III (each, a "Washington Water Power Trust"),
each a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware,
may offer, from time to time, securities representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the respective Washington Water Power Trust
("Securities"). The payment of periodic cash distributions ("distributions")
with respect to Securities of each of the Washington Water Power Trusts out of
moneys held by each of the Washington Water Power Trusts, and payment on
liquidation, redemption or otherwise with respect to such Securities, will be
guaranteed by the Company to the extent described herein (each, a "Securities
Guarantee"). See "Description of the Securities Guarantees" herein. The
Company's obligations under the Securities Guarantees are subordinate and junior
in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company. Subordinated Debt
Securities may be issued and sold from time to time in one or more series to a
Washington Water Power Trust or a trustee of such Washington Water Power Trust
in connection with the investment of the proceeds from the offering of
Securities and Common Securities (as defined herein, together the "Trust
Securities") of such Washington Water Power Trust. The Subordinated Debt
Securities purchased by a Washington Water Power Trust may subsequently be
distributed PRO RATA to holders of Securities and Common Securities in
connection with the dissolution of such Washington Water Power Trust upon the
occurrence of certain events as may be described in an accompanying Prospectus
Supplement. The Subordinated Debt Securities and the Securities and the related
Securities Guarantees are sometimes collectively referred to hereafter as the
"Offered Securities."
Specific terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series or the
Securities of any Washington Water Power Trust, the terms of which will be
correlative to the terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities held by any
Washington Water Power Trust, in respect of which this prospectus (the
"Prospectus") is being delivered, will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement
with respect to such securities which will describe, without limitation and
where applicable, the following: (i) in the case of Subordinated Debt
Securities, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, denomination,
maturity, premium, if any, any exchange, conversion, redemption or sinking fund
provisions, if any, interest rate (which may be fixed or variable), if any, the
time and method of calculating interest payments, if any, dates on which
premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be payable, the right of the
Company, if any, to defer payment of interest on the Subordinated Debt
Securities and the maximum length of such deferral period, the initial public
offering price, subordination terms, and any listing on a securities exchange
and other specific terms of the offering; and (ii) in the case of Securities,
the designation, number of securities, liquidation amount per security, initial
public offering price, any listing on a securities exchange, distribution rate
(or method of calculation thereof), dates on which distributions shall be
payable and dates from which distributions shall accrue, any voting rights,
terms for any conversion or exchange into other securities, any redemption,
exchange or sinking fund provisions, any other rights, preferences, privileges,
limitations or restrictions relating to the Securities and the terms upon which
the proceeds of the sale of the Securities shall be used to purchase a specific
series of Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company.
The Offered Securities may be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to
be determined at the time of offering; provided, however, that the aggregate
initial public offering price of all Offered Securities shall not exceed
$150,000,000. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any series of Offered
Securities will contain information concerning certain United States federal
income tax considerations, if applicable to the Offered Securities.
The Company and/or each of the Washington Water Power Trusts may sell the
Offered Securities directly, through agents designated from time to time, or
through underwriters or dealers. See "Plan of Distribution" below. If any agents
of the Company and/or any Washington Water Power Trust or any underwriters or
dealers are involved in the sale of the Offered Securities, the names of such
agents, underwriters or dealers and any applicable commissions and discounts
will be set forth in any related Prospectus Supplement.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless
accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is January 9, 1997.
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
This Prospectus constitutes a part of a combined Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") filed by the Company and the Washington Water Power Trusts with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the
Offered Securities. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set
forth in such Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, although it does include a
summary of the material terms of the Indenture and the Declarations (as defined
herein). Reference is made to such Registration Statement and to the exhibits
relating thereto for further information with respect to the Company, the
Washington Water Power Trusts and the Offered Securities. Any statements
contained herein concerning the provisions of any document filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the SEC or incorporated by
reference herein are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference
is made to the copy of such document so filed for a more complete description of
the matter involved. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such
reference.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.
Information, as of particular dates, concerning the Company's directors and
officers, their remuneration, the principal holders of the Company's securities,
and any material interest of such persons in transactions with the Company is
disclosed in proxy statements distributed to shareholders of the Company and
filed with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information can be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the SEC at Judiciary
Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; 7 World Trade Center,
13th Floor, New York, New York 10048; and 500 West Madison Street, 14th Floor,
Chicago, Illinois 60601; and copies of such material can be obtained from the
Public Reference Section of the SEC, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. The SEC maintains a Web site that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding reporting companies under the Exchange Act, including the Company, at
http://www.sec.gov. The Company's Common Stock is listed on the New York and
Pacific Stock Exchanges, and reports, proxy statements and other information
concerning the Company can be inspected at the offices of such exchanges located
at the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, and
the Pacific Stock Exchange, 301 Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94104,
respectively.
No separate financial statements of any of the Washington Water Power Trusts
have been included herein. The Company does not consider that such financial
statements would be material to holders of the Securities because (i) all of the
voting securities of each of the Washington Water Power Trusts will be owned,
directly or indirectly, by the Company, a reporting company under the Exchange
Act, (ii) each of the Washington Water Power Trusts has no independent
operations but exists for the sole purpose of issuing securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of such Washington Water Power
Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in Subordinated Debt Securities issued
by the Company and (iii) the Company's obligations described herein and in any
accompanying Prospectus Supplement to provide certain indemnities in respect of
and be responsible for certain costs, expenses, debts and liabilities of each of
Washington Water Power Capital I, II and III under the Indenture (as defined
herein), pursuant to the Declarations of each Trust and under the Expense
Agreements (as defined herein) relating to each Trust, the guarantee issued with
respect to Securities issued by that Trust, the Subordinated Debt Securities
purchased by that Trust and the related Indenture, taken together, effectively
constitute a full and unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, of
payments due on the Securities. See "Description of the Subordinated Debt
Securities" and "Description of the Securities Guarantees" herein.
The Washington Water Power Trusts are not currently subject to the
information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. The Washington Water
Power Trusts will become subject to such requirements
2
<PAGE>
upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, although they intend to
seek and expect to receive exemptions therefrom.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Company hereby incorporates herein by reference, and as of any time
hereafter prior to the termination of the offering made by this Prospectus the
Company shall be deemed to have incorporated herein by reference, (1) the
Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Latest Annual Report") filed
by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, and (2) all other
reports and documents filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the filing of the
Latest Annual Report, and all of such documents shall be deemed to be a part
hereof from the respective dates of filing thereof. The documents incorporated
herein by reference are sometimes hereinafter called the "Incorporated
Documents." Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a statement in
this Prospectus or in any subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or
replaces such statement. The Incorporated Documents incorporated herein by
reference as of the date of this Prospectus are the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 1996, and the Current Report
on Form 8-K dated December 1, 1996.
THE COMPANY HEREBY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO
WHOM A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN DELIVERED, ON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL
REQUEST OF ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF ANY OR ALL OF THE INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS,
OTHER THAN EXHIBITS THERETO (UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED
BY REFERENCE INTO SUCH INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS). REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD
BE DIRECTED TO LAWRENCE J. PIERCE, VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER, BY MAIL AT THE
WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY, POST OFFICE BOX 3727, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99220,
OR BY TELEPHONE AT 509-489-0500.
THE TRUSTS
Each of Washington Water Power Capital I and Washington Water Power Capital
II and Washington Water Power Capital III is a statutory business trust formed
under Delaware law pursuant to (i) a separate declaration of trust (each a
"Declaration") executed by the Company, as sponsor for such trust and the
Washington Water Power Trustees (as defined herein) for such trust and (ii) the
filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State on
November 4, 1996. Each Washington Water Power Trust exists for the exclusive
purposes of (i) issuing the Securities and common securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of such Trust (the "Common
Securities" and, together with the Securities, the "Trust Securities"), (ii)
investing the gross proceeds of the sale of the Trust Securities in the
Subordinated Debt Securities and (iii) engaging in only those other activities
necessary or incidental thereto. All of the Common Securities will be directly
or indirectly owned by the Company. The Common Securities will rank PARI PASSU,
and payments will be made thereon PRO RATA with the Securities except that upon
an event of default under the Declaration, the rights of the holders of the
Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the
holders of the Securities. The Company will, directly or indirectly, acquire
Common Securities in an aggregate liquidation amount equal to 3 percent of the
total capital of each Washington Water Power Trust. Each Washington Water Power
Trust has a term of approximately 45 years, but may terminate earlier as
provided in the related Declaration. Each Washington Water Power Trust's
business and affairs will be conducted by the trustees (the "Washington Water
Power Trustees") appointed by the Company as the direct or indirect holder of
all of the Common Securities. The holder of the Common Securities will be
entitled to appoint, remove or replace any of, or increase or reduce the number
of, the Washington Water Power Trustees of a Washington Water Power Trust. The
duties and obligations of the Washington Water Power Trustees shall be governed
by the Declaration of such Washington Water Power Trust. A majority of the
Washington Water Power Trustees (the "Regular Trustees") of each
3
<PAGE>
Washington Water Power Trust will be persons who are employees or officers of or
affiliated with the Company. One Washington Water Power Trustee of each
Washington Water Power Trust will be a financial institution which will be
unaffiliated with the Company and which shall act as property trustee and as
indenture trustee for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
(the "Trust Indenture Act"), pursuant to the terms set forth in a Prospectus
Supplement (the "Institutional Trustee"). In addition, unless the Institutional
Trustee maintains a principal place of business in the State of Delaware, and
otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, one Washington Water Power
Trustee of each Washington Water Power Trust will have its principal place of
business or reside in the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Trustee"). The
Company will pay all fees and expenses related to the Washington Water Power
Trusts and the offering of Trust Securities, the payment of which will be
guaranteed by the Company. The office of the Delaware Trustee for each
Washington Water Power Trust in the State of Delaware is Wilmington Trust
Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19890. The principal place of business of each Washington Water Power Trust
shall be c/o The Washington Water Power Company, 1411 East Mission Avenue,
Spokane, Washington 99202. The telephone number is 509-489-0500.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Each Washington Water Power Trust will use all proceeds received from the
sale of the Securities to purchase Subordinated Debt Securities from the
Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the issuance and sale
of the Subordinated Debt Securities for any or all of the following purposes:
(i) to fund a portion of the Company's construction, facility improvement and
maintenance programs, (ii) to retire or exchange one or more outstanding series
of its preferred stock, bonds or notes, (iii) to reimburse the Company's
treasury for funds previously expended for these purposes, and (iv) for other
general corporate purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Subordinated Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1997 (the "Original
Indenture"), between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (the
"Debt Trustee") (the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time
to time, is hereinafter referred to as the "Indenture"). The terms of the
Subordinated Debt Securities will include those stated in the Indenture and
those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The
following summary does not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects
to the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the
Indenture, which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part, and the Trust Indenture Act. Capitalized terms
used under this heading which are not otherwise defined in this Prospectus,
shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. Whenever particular
provisions or defined terms in the Indenture are referred to herein, such
provisions or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein.
GENERAL
Each series of Subordinated Debt Securities will rank PARI PASSU with all
other series of Subordinated Debt Securities, will be unsecured and subordinate
and junior in right of payment to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Indenture to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein) of the Company. See "--
Subordination" herein. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other
secured or unsecured debt of the Company, whether under the Indenture, any other
indenture that the Company may enter into in the future or otherwise. See "--
Subordination" herein and the Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering of
Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities.
4
<PAGE>
Concurrently with the issuance of each Washington Water Power Trust's
Securities, such Washington Water Power Trust will invest the proceeds from the
sale thereof and the consideration paid by the Company for the Common Securities
of such Washington Water Power Trust in a series of Subordinated Debt Securities
issued by the Company to such Washington Water Power Trust. Each series of
Subordinated Debt Securities issued to a Washington Water Power Trust or a
trustee of such trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by
such Washington Water Power Trust will be in the principal amount equal to the
aggregate stated liquidation amount of the related Securities plus the Company's
concurrent investment in the Common Securities and will rank PARI PASSU with all
other series of Subordinated Debt Securities. Such Subordinated Debt Securities
will be unsecured and subordinate and junior in right of payment to the extent
and in the manner set forth in the Indenture to all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company. See "-- Subordination" herein and the Prospectus Supplement relating to
any offering of related Securities.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements will describe
the following terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities: (1) the title of the
Subordinated Debt Securities; (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount
of the Subordinated Debt Securities; (3) the date or dates on which the
principal of the Subordinated Debt Securities is payable or the method of
determination thereof and the right, if any, to extend such date or dates; (4)
the rate or rates, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be
determined, at which the Subordinated Debt Securities shall bear interest, if
any, the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue, the Interest
Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, the right, if any, of
the Company to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the Regular Record
Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date and the person or
persons to whom interest on such Subordinated Debt Securities shall be payable
on any Interest Payment Date, if other than the persons in whose names such
Subordinated Debt Securities are registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest; (5) the place or places where, subject to
the terms of the Indenture as described below under "-- Payment and Paying
Agents," the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Subordinated
Debt Securities will be payable and where, subject to the terms of the Indenture
as described below under "-- Registration and Transfer," the Subordinated Debt
Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange and the
place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of
the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Indenture may be served; the Security
Registrar and Paying Agents for such Subordinated Debt Securities; and, if such
is the case, that the principal of such Subordinated Debt Securities shall be
payable without presentation or surrender thereof; (6) any period or periods
within, or date or dates on, which, the price or prices at which and the terms
and conditions upon which Subordinated Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole
or in part, at the option of the Company; (7) the obligation or obligations, if
any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any of the Subordinated Debt
Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption provisions
or at the option of the holder thereof, and the period or periods within which,
the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which the
Subordinated Debt Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in
part, pursuant to such obligation, and applicable exceptions to the requirements
of a notice of redemption in the case of mandatory redemption or redemption at
the option of the holder; (8) the denominations in which any Subordinated Debt
Securities shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof (in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities issued to
a Washington Water Power Trust or a trustee of such trust in connection with the
issuance of Trust Securities by such Washington Water Power Trust, the
denominations in which any Subordinated Debt Securities shall be issuable if
other than denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof); (9) if the
Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued in global form, the identity of
the depositary thereof; and (10) any other terms of the Subordinated Debt
Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.
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PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Except as may be provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, interest,
if any, on each Subordinated Debt Security payable on each Interest Payment Date
will be paid to the person in whose name such Subordinated Debt Security is
registered as of the close of business on the regular record date relating to
such Interest Payment Date (each such period of interest accrual being
hereinafter called a "Scheduled Interest Period"); provided, however, that
interest payable at maturity (whether at stated maturity, upon redemption or
otherwise, hereinafter "Maturity") will be paid to the person to whom principal
is paid. However, if there has been a default in the payment of interest on any
Subordinated Debt Security, such defaulted interest may be payable to the holder
of such Subordinated Debt Security as of the close of business on a date
selected by the Debt Trustee which is not more than 30 days and not less than 10
days prior to the date proposed by the Company for payment of such defaulted
interest or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of
any securities exchange on which such Subordinated Debt Security may be listed,
if the Debt Trustee deems such manner of payment practicable.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt
Securities at Maturity will be payable upon presentation of the Subordinated
Debt Securities at the corporate trust office of Wilmington Trust Company, in
Wilmington, Delaware, as Paying Agent for the Company. The Company may change
the Place of Payment on the Subordinated Debt Securities, may appoint one or
more additional Paying Agents (including the Company) and may remove any Paying
Agent, all at its discretion.
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
transfer of Subordinated Debt Securities may be registered, and Subordinated
Debt Securities may be exchanged for other Subordinated Debt Securities of the
same series and tranche, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount, at the corporate trust office of Wilmington Trust
Company, in Wilmington, Delaware, as Security Registrar for the Subordinated
Debt Securities. The Company may change the place for registration of transfer
and exchange of the Subordinated Debt Securities and may designate one or more
additional places for such registration and exchange, all at its discretion.
Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, no service
charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the Subordinated Debt
Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
registration of transfer or exchange of the Subordinated Debt Securities. The
Company will not be required to execute or to provide for the registration of
transfer of or the exchange of (a) any Subordinated Debt Security during a
period of 15 days prior to giving any notice of redemption or (b) any
Subordinated Debt Security selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
the unredeemed portion of any Subordinated Debt Security being redeemed in part.
REDEMPTION
Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of Subordinated Debt
Securities will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Except as
shall otherwise be provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect
to Subordinated Debt Securities redeemable at the option of the holder,
Subordinated Debt Securities will be redeemable only upon notice by mail not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, and,
if less than all the Subordinated Debt Securities of a series, or any tranche
thereof, are to be redeemed, the particular Subordinated Debt Securities to be
redeemed will be selected by such method as shall be provided for such series or
Tranche, or in the absence of any such provision, by such method of random
selection as the Security Registrar deems fair and appropriate.
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Any notice of redemption at the option of the Company may state that such
redemption will be conditional upon receipt by the Paying Agent or Agents, on or
prior to the dates fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Subordinated
Debt Securities and that if such money has not been so received, such notice
will be of no force or effect and the Company will not be required to redeem
such Subordinated Debt Securities.
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE
Without the consent of any holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, the
Company and the Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures for
any of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the
assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company in the
Indenture and in the Subordinated Debt Securities; or
(b) to add one or more covenants of the Company or other provisions for the
benefit of all holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or for the benefit of the
holders of, or to remain in effect only so long as there shall be outstanding,
Subordinated Debt Securities of one or more specified series, or one or more
tranches thereof, or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company
by the Indenture; or
(c) to change or eliminate any provision of the Indenture or to add any new
provision to the Indenture, provided that if such change, elimination or
addition adversely affects the interests of the holders of the Subordinated Debt
Securities of any series or tranche in any material respect, such change,
elimination or addition will become effective with respect to such series or
tranche only when no Subordinated Debt Security of such series or tranche
remains outstanding; or
(d) to provide collateral security for the Subordinated Debt Securities; or
(e) to establish the form or terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities of
any series or tranche as permitted by the Indenture; or
(f) to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer securities and
coupons appertaining thereto representing interest, if any, thereon and for the
procedures for the registration, exchange and replacement thereof and for the
giving of notice to, and the solicitation of the vote or consent of, the holders
thereof, and for any and all other matters incidental thereto; or
(g) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor
trustee with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities of one or more series;
or
(h) to provide for the procedures required to permit the utilization of a
non-certificated system of registration for all, or any series or tranche of,
the Subordinated Debt Securities; or
(i) to change any place or places where (1) the principal of and premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on all or any series of Subordinated Debt Securities,
or any tranche thereof, will be payable, (2) all or any series of Subordinated
Debt Securities, or any tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration of
transfer, (3) all or any series of Subordinated Debt Securities, or any tranche
thereof, may be surrendered for exchange and (4) notices and demands to or upon
the Company in respect of all or any series of Subordinated Debt Securities, or
any tranche thereof, and the Indenture may be served; or
(j) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision therein
which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein, or to
make any other changes to the provisions thereof or to add other provisions with
respect to matters and questions arising under the Indenture, so long as such
other changes or additions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders
of Subordinated Debt Securities of any series or tranche in any material
respect.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust Indenture Act
is amended after the date of the Original Indenture in such a way as to require
changes to the Indenture or the incorporation therein of additional provisions
or so as to permit changes to, or the elimination of, provisions which, at the
date of
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the Original Indenture or at any time thereafter, were required by the Trust
Indenture Act to be contained in the Indenture, the Indenture will be deemed to
have been amended so as to conform to such amendment or to effect such changes
or elimination, and the Company and the Debt Trustee may, without the consent of
any holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, enter into one or more supplemental
indentures to evidence or effect such amendment.
Except as provided above, the consent of the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debt Securities of all series
then outstanding, considered as one class, is required for the purpose of adding
any provisions to, or changing in any manner, or eliminating any of the
provisions of, the Indenture pursuant to one or more supplemental indentures;
provided, however, that if less than all of the series of Subordinated Debt
Securities outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental
indenture, then the consent only of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of all series so
directly affected, considered as one class, will be required; and provided,
further, that if the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series have been issued
in more than one tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture directly
affects the rights of the holders of one or more, but less than all, of such
tranches, then the consent only of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of all tranches
so directly affected, considered as one class, will be required; and provided,
further, that no such amendment or modification may (a) change the Stated
Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on,
any Subordinated Debt Security other than pursuant to the terms thereof, or
reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon (or the
amount of any installment of interest thereon) or change the method of
calculating such rate or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof,
or reduce the amount of the principal of any Discount Security that would be due
and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of Maturity or change the coin or
currency (or other property) in which any Subordinated Debt Security or any
premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity of
any Subordinated Debt Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
redemption date) without, in any such case, the consent of the holder of such
Subordinated Debt Security, (b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, or any tranche thereof,
the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental
indenture, or the consent of the holders of which is required for any waiver of
compliance with any provision of the Indenture or of any default thereunder and
its consequences, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting, without, in
any such case, the consent of the holder of each outstanding Subordinated Debt
Security of such series or tranche, or (c) modify certain of the provisions of
the Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waivers of certain covenants
and waivers of past defaults with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities of
any series, or any tranche thereof, without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Subordinated Debt Security of such series or tranche.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of the Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the
benefit of the holders of, or which is to remain in effect only so long as there
shall be outstanding, Subordinated Debt Securities of one or more specified
series, or one or more tranches thereof, or modifies the rights of the holders
of Subordinated Debt Securities of such series or tranches with respect to such
covenant or other provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under the
Indenture of the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities of any other series
or tranche.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Subordinated Debt Securities
of any series are held by a Washington Water Power Trust, the Debt Trustee may
not consent to a supplemental indenture contemplated in the second preceding
paragraph without the prior consent, obtained as provided in the Declaration
establishing such trust of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation
amount of all Securities issued by such trust, or, in the case of changes
described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, of each holder of outstanding
Securities.
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INDENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events with respect to a series of Subordinated Debt Securities that has
occurred and is continuing constitutes an "Indenture Event of Default" with
respect to such series of Subordinated Debt Securities:
(i) failure for 60 days to pay any interest on such series of
Subordinated Debt Securities, when due and payable; provided, however, that
no such failure shall constitute an Indenture Event of Default if the
Company shall have made a valid extension of the interest payment period
with respect to such series of Subordinated Debt Securities if so provided
with respect to such series; or
(ii) failure to pay any principal or premium, if any, on such series of
Subordinated Debt Securities within 3 days after its maturity; provided,
however, that no such failure shall constitute an Indenture Event of Default
if the Company shall have made a valid extension of the maturity of such
series of Subordinated Debt Securities, if so provided with respect to such
series; or
(iii) failure to perform, or breach of, any covenant or warranty of the
Company contained in the Indenture for 90 days after written notice to the
Company from the Debt Trustee or to the Company and the Debt Trustee by the
holders of at least 33% in principal amount of such series of outstanding
Subordinated Debt Securities as provided in the Indenture; or
(iv) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
Company; or
(v) in the event Subordinated Debt Securities are issued to a Washington
Water Power Trust or a trustee of such trust in connection with the issuance
of Trust Securities by such Washington Water Power Trust and so long as such
Trust Securities remain outstanding, the voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Washington Water Power Trust,
except in connection with the distribution of Subordinated Debt Securities
in liquidation of such Washington Water Power Trust, the redemption of all
of the Trust Securities of such Washington Water Power Trust, or certain
mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the
Declaration of such Washington Water Power Trust.
REMEDIES
If an Indenture Event of Default applicable to the Subordinated Debt
Securities of such series occurs and is continuing, then either the Debt Trustee
or the holders of not less than 33% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of such series may declare the
principal of all of the Subordinated Debt Securities of such series and interest
accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately (subject to the subordination
provisions of the Indenture); provided, however, that if an Indenture Event of
Default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of
Subordinated Debt Securities, the Debt Trustee or the holders of not less than
33% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt
Securities of all such series, considered as one class, may make such
declaration of acceleration and not the holders of the Subordinated Debt
Securities of any one such series.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the
Subordinated Debt Securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment
or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the Indenture Event or
Events of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration will, without
further act, be deemed to have been cured, and such declaration and its
consequences will, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and
annulled, if
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Debt Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
(1) all overdue interest, if any, on all Subordinated Debt Securities
of such series;
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(2) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Subordinated Debt
Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such
declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Subordinated Debt Securities;
(3) interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed
therefor in such Subordinated Debt Securities, to the extent that payment
of such interest is lawful; and
(4) all amounts due to the Debt Trustee under the Indenture; and
(b) any other Indenture Event or Events of Default with respect to
Subordinated Debt Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of
the principal of the Subordinated Debt Securities of such series which has
become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or
waived as provided in the Indenture.
If an Indenture Event of Default with respect to the Subordinated Debt
Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of such series
will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceedings for any remedy available to the Debt Trustee or exercising any trust
or power conferred on the Debt Trustee; provided, however, that if an Indenture
Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series
of Subordinated Debt Securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of all such
series, considered as one class, will have the right to make such direction, and
not the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities of any one of such series;
and provided, further, that (a) such direction does not conflict with any rule
of law or with the Indenture, and could not involve the Debt Trustee in personal
liability in circumstances where indemnity would not, in the Debt Trustee's sole
discretion, be adequate and (b) the Debt Trustee may take any other action
deemed proper by the Debt Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
The Indenture provides that no holder of any Subordinated Debt Security will
have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect
to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy
thereunder unless (a) such holder has previously given to the Debt Trustee
written notice of a continuing Indenture Event of Default with respect to the
Subordinated Debt Securities of any one or more series; (b) the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt
Securities of all series in respect of which such Indenture Event of Default has
occurred, considered as one class have made written request to the Debt Trustee
to institute proceedings in respect of such Indenture Event of Default and have
offered the Debt Trustee reasonable indemnity against costs and liabilities to
be incurred in complying with such request; and (c) for 60 days after receipt of
such notice, the Debt Trustee has failed to institute any such proceeding and no
direction inconsistent with such request has been given to the Debt Trustee
during such 60 day period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of Subordinated Debt Securities then outstanding. Furthermore, no holder
will be entitled to institute any such action if and to the extent that such
action would disturb or prejudice the rights of other holders. Notwithstanding
that the right of a holder to institute a proceeding with respect to the
Indenture is subject to certain conditions precedent, each holder of a
Subordinated Debt Security has the right, which is absolute and unconditional,
to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on such Subordinated Debt Security when due and to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment, and such rights may not be impaired without the
consent of such holder. The Indenture provides that the Debt Trustee give the
holders notice of any default under the Indenture to the extent required by the
Trust Indenture Act, unless such default shall have been cured or waived, except
that no such notice to holders of a default of the character described in clause
(iii) under "-- Indenture Events of Default" may be given until at least 75 days
after the occurrence thereof. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term
"default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both,
would become, an Indenture Event of Default. The Trust Indenture Act currently
permits the Debt Trustee to withhold notices of default (except for certain
payment defaults) if
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the Debt Trustee in good faith determines the withholding of such notice to be
in the interests of the holders.
If the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series shall be held by the
Institutional Trustee of a Washington Water Power Trust and if such
Institutional Trustee, as such holder, shall have failed to exercise any of the
rights and remedies available under the Indenture to the holders of such
Subordinated Debt Securities, the holders of the Securities of such trust shall
have and may exercise all such rights and remedies, to the same extent as if
such holders of such Securities held a principal amount of Subordinated Debt
Securities of such series equal to the liquidation amount of such Securities,
without first proceeding against such trustee or trust. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of an Indenture Event of Default described above in
clause (i) or (ii) under "-- Indenture Events of Default," each holder of such
Securities shall have and may exercise all rights available to the Institutional
Trustee as the holder of such Subordinated Debt Securities. If action shall have
been taken by both the holder of such Subordinated Debt Securities and the
holders of such Securities to exercise such rights, the action taken by the
holders of the Securities shall control.
The Company is required to file annually with the Debt Trustee a certificate
as to whether or not the Company is in compliance with all the conditions and
covenants applicable to it under the Indenture.
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
If at any time (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing a payment
default with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities of a series, (b) the
Company shall have given notice of its election of an Extension Period as
provided in the Indenture with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities of
such series, and any such period, as so extended, shall be continuing, or (c)
the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment or other obligations
under the Securities Guarantee relating to the Securities of the Washington
Water Power Trust to which Subordinated Debt Securities of such series have been
issued, then the Company shall not (a) declare or pay any dividend on, or make
any distribution or liquidation payment with respect to, or redeem or purchase
any of its capital stock, (b) make any payment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including other Subordinated Debt Securities) issued by the Company that rank
PARI PASSU with or junior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt
Securities or (c) make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing
(other than pursuant to the Securities Guarantees); provided, however, that
nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit (i) dividends or distributions
payable in shares of the Company's capital stock, (ii) reclassification of the
Company's capital stock or exchange or conversion of shares of one class or
series of the Company's capital stock into shares of another class or series of
the Company's capital stock, (iii) purchases or other acquisitions of fractional
interests in shares of the Company's capital stock and (iv) redemption,
purchases or other acquisitions of shares of the Company's capital stock in
connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under
provisions of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended,
under any direct purchase, dividend reinvestment, customer purchase or employee
benefit plans or under any contract or security requiring the Company to
purchase shares of its capital stock.
If Subordinated Debt Securities of any series are issued and delivered to a
Washington Water Power Trust (or a trustee thereof) in connection with the
issuance by such trust of Trust Securities, so long as such Trust Securities
remain outstanding, the Company will (a) maintain 100% direct ownership of the
Common Securities of such Washington Water Power Trust by the Company or any
affiliate thereof, except as otherwise provided below under "-- Consolidation,
Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions," and (b) use all reasonable
efforts to cause such Washington Water Power Trust (i) to maintain its existence
as a business trust, except in connection with a distribution of Subordinated
Debt Securities, with the redemption, purchase or other acquisition and
retirement of all Trust Securities of such trust or with
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certain mergers, consolidations or other business combinations, in each case as
permitted by the Declaration establishing such Washington Water Power Trust, and
(ii) to otherwise continue not to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
The Indenture provides that the Company shall not consolidate with or merge
into any other corporation, or convey or otherwise transfer, or lease, all of
its properties, as or substantially as an entirety, to any person, unless the
corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or
the person which acquires by conveyance or other transfer, or which leases (for
a term extending beyond the last stated maturity of the Subordinated Debt
Securities then outstanding), all of the properties of the Company, as or
substantially as an entirety, shall be a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the United States, any State or Territory thereof or the
District of Columbia or under the laws of Canada or any Province thereof and
shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the Subordinated Debt Securities
then outstanding and the performance and observance of every covenant and
condition of the Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company. In the
case of the conveyance or other transfer of all of the properties of the
Company, as or substantially as an entirety, to any person as contemplated
above, the Company would be released and discharged from all obligations under
the Indenture and on all Subordinated Debt Securities then outstanding unless
the Company elects to waive such release and discharge. Upon any such
consolidation or merger or any such conveyance or other transfer of properties
of the Company, the successor or transferee shall succeed to, and be substituted
for, and may exercise every power and right of, the Company under the Indenture.
For purposes of the Indenture, the conveyance or other transfer by the Company
of all of its facilities (a) for the generation of electric energy, (b) for the
transmission of electric energy or (c) for the distribution of electric energy
and/or natural gas, in each case considered alone, or all of its facilities
described in clauses (a) and (b), considered together, or all of its facilities
described in clauses (b) and (c), considered together, shall in no event be
deemed to constitute a conveyance or other transfer of all the properties of the
Company, as or substantially as an entirety, unless, immediately following such
conveyance or other transfer, the Company shall own no properties in the other
such categories of property not so conveyed or otherwise transferred.
If the Company shall convey or otherwise transfer any part of its properties
which does not constitute the entirety, or substantially the entirety, thereof
to another corporation meeting the requirements set forth in the preceding
paragraph, and if (a) such transferee shall expressly assume the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any,
on all Subordinated Debt Securities then outstanding and the performance and
observance of every covenant and condition of the Indenture to be performed or
observed by the Company, (b) there shall be delivered to the Trustee an
independent expert's certificate (i) describing the property so conveyed or
transferred and identifying the same as facilities for the generation,
transmission or distribution of electric energy or for the storage,
transportation or distribution of natural gas and (ii) stating that the
aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debt Securities then outstanding
does not exceed 70% of the fair value of such property, and (c) the Company
shall assign or otherwise transfer all Common Securities then outstanding to
such transferee, then the Company shall be released and discharged from all
obligations and covenants under the Indenture and on all Subordinated Debt
Securities then outstanding unless the Company elects to waive such release and
discharge. In such event, the transferee corporation shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under
the Indenture.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Any Subordinated Debt Securities, or any portion of the principal amount
thereof, will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the Indenture and, at
the Company's election, the entire indebtedness of the Company in respect
thereof will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if there shall
have
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been irrevocably deposited with the Debt Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than
the Company), in trust: (a) money in an amount which will be sufficient, or (b)
in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of the Subordinated Debt
Securities, Eligible Obligations, which do not contain provisions permitting the
redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer thereof, the
principal of and the interest on which when due, without any regard to
reinvestment thereof, will provide moneys which, together with the money, if
any, deposited with or held by the Debt Trustee or such Paying Agent, will be
sufficient, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b) which will be sufficient, to pay
when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to
become due on such Subordinated Debt Securities. For this purpose, Eligible
Obligations include direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally
guaranteed by, the United States entitled to the benefit of the full faith and
credit thereof and certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which
evidence a direct ownership interest in such obligations or in any specific
interest or principal payments due in respect thereof and such other obligations
or instruments as shall be specified in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
The Indenture will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged when no
Subordinated Debt Securities remain outstanding thereunder and the Company has
paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by the Company under the
Indenture.
SUBORDINATION
In the Indenture, the Company has covenanted and agreed that any
Subordinated Debt Securities issued thereunder will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness to the extent provided in the
Indenture. Upon any payment or distribution of assets to creditors upon any
liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit
of creditors, marshaling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency, debt
restructuring or similar proceedings in connection with any insolvency or
bankruptcy proceeding of the Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness will
first be entitled to receive payment in full of principal of and premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on such Senior Indebtedness before the holders of
Subordinated Debt Securities will be entitled to receive any payment in respect
of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated
Debt Securities; and if, notwithstanding the foregoing, payment in respect of
the Subordinated Debt Securities is received by the Debt Trustee or a holder of
a Subordinated Debt Security before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full,
such payment in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities is to be paid over
to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representatives.
In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any Subordinated Debt
Securities, the holders of all Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the time of
such acceleration will be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due
thereon (including any amounts due upon acceleration) before the holders of
Subordinated Debt Securities will be entitled to receive any payment upon the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt
Securities. No payments on account of principal, premium, if any, or interest,
if any, in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities may be made if there
shall have occurred and be continuing a default in any payment with respect to
Senior Indebtedness, or an event of default with respect to any Senior
Indebtedness resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof remaining
uncured.
The term Senior Indebtedness is defined in the Indenture to mean, with
respect to any person, (a) indebtedness (including premium, if any, and
interest, if any, thereon) for money borrowed or for the deferred purchase price
of property or services; (b) all other indebtedness (including premium, if any,
and interest, if any, thereon) evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other
similar instruments (other than Subordinated Debt Securities); (c) all
obligations of such person under lease agreements designating such person as
lessee, irrespective of the treatment of any such lease agreement for
accounting, tax or other purposes; (d) all obligations for reimbursement
(including premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon) in respect of any
letter of credit, banker's acceptance, security purchase facility or similar
credit transaction; (e) all obligations of the character referred to in clauses
(a) through (d) above of other persons for the
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<PAGE>
payment of which such person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise; and (f) all obligations of the character referred to in clauses (a)
through (d) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset
of such person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such person);
provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include (x) any such
indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or PARI PASSU with the
Subordinated Debt Securities or (y) any indebtedness between or among such
person and its affiliates, including all other debt securities and guarantees in
respect of such debt securities, issued to (i) any Washington Water Power Trust
or (ii) any other trust, or a trustee of such trust, partnership or other entity
which is a financing vehicle of such person in connection with the issuance by
such financing vehicle of preferred or capital securities.
The Indenture places no limitation on the amount of additional Senior
Indebtedness that may be incurred by the Company. The Company expects from time
to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior Indebtedness.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBT TRUSTEE
The Debt Trustee shall have, and shall be subject to, all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Debt Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the
request of any holder of Subordinated Debt Securities, unless offered reasonable
indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might
be incurred thereby. The Debt Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of its
duties if the Debt Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate
indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
GOVERNING LAW
The Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Securities will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES
Each Washington Water Power Trust may issue, from time to time, only one
series of Securities having terms described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto. The Declaration of each Washington Water Power Trust
authorizes the Regular Trustees of such Washington Water Power Trust to issue on
behalf of such Washington Water Power Trust one series of Securities. The
Declaration will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The
Securities will have such terms, including distributions, redemption, voting,
liquidation rights and such other preferred, deferred or other special rights or
such restrictions as shall be set forth in the Declaration or made part of the
Declaration by the Trust Indenture Act and which will be correlative to the
terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities held by the Washington Water Power
Trust and described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Reference is
made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Securities of the Washington
Water Power Trust for specific terms, including (i) the distinctive designation
of such Securities; (ii) the number of Securities issued by such Washington
Water Power Trust; (iii) the annual distribution rate (or method of determining
such rate) for Securities issued by such Washington Water Power Trust and the
date or dates upon which such distributions shall be payable; provided, however,
that distributions on such Securities shall be payable on a quarterly basis to
holders of such Securities as of a record date in each Scheduled Interest Period
during which such Securities are outstanding; (iv) whether distributions on
Securities issued by such Washington Water Power Trust shall be cumulative, and,
in the case of Securities having such cumulative distribution rights, the date
or dates or method of determining the date or dates from which distributions on
Securities issued by such Washington Water Power Trust shall be cumulative; (v)
the amount or amounts which shall be paid out of the assets of such Washington
Water Power Trust to the holders of Securities of such Washington Water Power
Trust upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of
such Washington Water Power Trust; (vi) the obligation, if any, of such
Washington Water Power Trust to
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<PAGE>
purchase or redeem Securities issued by such Washington Water Power Trust and
the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms
and conditions upon which, Securities issued by such Washington Water Power
Trust shall be purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
obligation; (vii) the voting rights, if any, of Securities issued by such
Washington Water Power Trust in addition to those required by law, including the
number of votes per Security and any requirement for the approval by the holders
of Securities, or of Securities issued by one or more Washington Water Power
Trusts, or of both, as a condition to specified action or amendments to the
Declaration of such Washington Water Power Trust; (viii) the enforcement rights,
if any, of holders of Securities with respect to the applicable series of
Subordinated Debt Securities; (ix) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which
the Subordinated Debt Securities may be distributed to holders of Securities;
(x) if applicable, any securities exchange upon which the Securities shall be
listed; and (xi) any other relevant rights, preferences, privileges, limitations
or restrictions of Securities issued by such Washington Water Power Trust not
inconsistent with the Declaration of such Washington Water Power Trust or with
applicable law. All Securities offered hereby will be guaranteed by the Company
to the extent set forth below under "Description of the Securities Guarantees."
Certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to any
offering of Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto.
In connection with the issuance of Securities, each Washington Water Power
Trust will issue one series of Common Securities. The Declaration of each
Washington Water Power Trust authorizes the Regular Trustees of such trust to
issue on behalf of such Washington Water Power Trust one series of Common
Securities having such terms including distributions, redemption, voting,
liquidation rights or such restrictions as shall be set forth therein. The terms
of the Common Securities issued by a Washington Water Power Trust will be
substantially identical to the terms of the Securities issued by such trust and
the Common Securities will rank PARI PASSU, and payments will be made thereon
PRO RATA, with the Securities except that, upon an event of default under the
Declaration, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to payment in
respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise
will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Securities. Except in
certain limited circumstances, the Common Securities will also carry the right
to vote to appoint, remove or replace any of the Washington Water Power Trustees
of a Washington Water Power Trust. All of the Common Securities of each
Washington Water Power Trust will be directly or indirectly owned by the
Company.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES GUARANTEES
Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the Securities
Guarantees which will be executed and delivered by the Company for the benefit
of the holders from time to time of Securities. Each Securities Guarantee will
be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. Wilmington Trust
Company will act as indenture trustee under each Securities Guarantee for
purposes of the Trust Indenture Act (the "Guarantee Trustee"). The terms of each
Securities Guarantee will be those set forth in such Securities Guarantee and
those made part of such Securities Guarantee by the Trust Indenture Act. The
summary of the material terms of the Securities Guarantees does not purport to
be complete and is subject in all respects to the provisions of, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the form of Securities Guarantee,
which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part, and the Trust Indenture Act. Each Securities Guarantee
will be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the
Securities of the applicable Washington Water Power Trust.
GENERAL
Pursuant to each Securities Guarantee, the Company will irrevocably and
unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth therein, to pay in full to the
holders of the Securities issued by a Washington Water Power Trust, the
Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) (except to the extent paid by such
Washington Water Power Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right
of set-off or counterclaim which such Washington Water Power Trust may have or
assert. The following payments with respect to Securities
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<PAGE>
issued by a Washington Water Power Trust to the extent not paid by such
Washington Water Power Trust (the "Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the
Securities Guarantee thereon (without duplication): (i) any accrued and unpaid
distributions which are required to be paid on such Securities, to the extent
such Washington Water Power Trust shall have funds available therefor; (ii) the
redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions (the
"Redemption Price"), with respect to any Securities called for redemption by
such Washington Water Power Trust, to the extent such Washington Water Power
Trust shall have funds available therefor, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Washington Water
Power Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of Subordinated Debt
Securities to the holders of Securities or the redemption of all of the
Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all
accrued and unpaid distributions on such Securities to the date of payment and
(b) the amount of assets of such Washington Water Power Trust remaining
available for distribution to holders of such Securities in liquidation of such
Washington Water Power Trust. The redemption price and liquidation amount will
be fixed at the time the Securities are issued. The Company's obligation to make
a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts
by the Company to the holders of Securities or by causing the applicable
Washington Water Power Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.
If the Company does not make interest payments on the Subordinated Debt
Securities purchased by a Washington Water Power Trust, such Washington Water
Power Trust will not pay distributions on the Securities issued by such
Washington Water Power Trust and will not have funds available therefor. See
"Description of the Subordinated Debt Securities -- Certain Covenants of the
Company" herein. The Securities Guarantee, when taken together with the
Company's obligations under the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Indenture, the
Declaration and the Expense Agreement, will effectively provide a full and
unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, by the Company of payments due
on the Securities.
The Company has also agreed separately to irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantee the obligations of the Washington Water Power Trusts with respect to
the Common Securities to the same extent as the Securities Guarantees, except
that upon an Indenture Event of Default, holders of Securities shall have
priority over holders of Common Securities with respect to distributions and
payments on liquidation, redemption or otherwise.
MODIFICATION OF THE SECURITIES GUARANTEES; ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of Securities (in which case no vote will be required),
each Securities Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the
holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding Securities issued
by the applicable Washington Water Power Trust. The manner of obtaining any such
approval of holders of such Securities will be as set forth in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement under "Description of the Securities -- Voting Rights."
All guarantees and agreements contained in a Securities Guarantee shall bind the
successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and
shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the Securities of the applicable
Washington Water Power Trust then outstanding.
TERMINATION
Each Securities Guarantee will terminate as to the Securities issued by the
applicable Washington Water Power Trust (a) upon full payment of the Redemption
Price of all Securities of such Washington Water Power Trust, (b) upon
distribution of the Subordinated Debt Securities held by such Washington Water
Power Trust to the holders of the Securities of such Washington Water Power
Trust or (c) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration of such Washington Water Power Trust upon liquidation of such
Washington Water Power Trust. Each Securities Guarantee will continue to be
effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder
of Securities issued by the applicable Washington Water Power Trust must restore
payment of any sums paid under such Securities or such Securities Guarantee.
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under a Securities Guarantee will occur upon the failure
of the Company to perform any of its payment or other obligations thereunder.
The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Securities relating
to such Securities Guarantee 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 Securities Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or
power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under such Securities Guarantee. If
the Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce such Securities Guarantee, any holder of
Securities relating to such Securities Guarantee may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's
rights under such Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the relevant Washington Water Power Trust, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Company has failed to make a guarantee payment, a holder of Securities may
directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of the
Securities Guarantee for such payment. The Company waives any right or remedy to
require that any action be brought first against such Washington Water Power
Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding directly against the
Company.
The Company, as guarantor, is required to file annually with the Guarantee
Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Company is in compliance with all
the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Securities Guarantees.
STATUS OF THE SECURITIES GUARANTEES
Each Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Company and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
other liabilities of the Company and (ii) PARI PASSU with any other Securities
Guarantee and any other guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Company
with respect to any preferred or capital securities issued by any trust,
partnership or other entity which is a financing vehicle of the Company, except
that, where an Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the rights
of holders of the Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the
rights to payment of holders of Securities. None of the Securities Guarantees
places a limitation on the amount of additional Senior Indebtedness that may be
incurred by the Company. The Company expects from time to time to incur
additional indebtedness constituting Senior Indebtedness. The terms of the
Securities provide that each holder of Securities issued by the applicable
Washington Water Power Trust by acceptance thereof agrees to the subordination
provisions and other terms of a Securities Guarantee relating thereto.
Each Securities Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection (that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Company to enforce its rights under a Securities Guarantee
without instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity).
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantee Trustee, other than prior to the occurrence and after the
curing of a default with respect to a Securities Guarantee, undertakes to
perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in such Securities
Guarantee and, after default, shall exercise the same degree of care as a
prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
Notwithstanding such provisions, the Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to
exercise any of the powers vested in it by a Securities Guarantee at the request
of any holder of Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby.
GOVERNING LAW
The Securities Guarantees will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
17
<PAGE>
EXPENSE AGREEMENTS
Pursuant to the Expense Agreements entered into by the Company under the
Declarations (the "Expense Agreements"), the Company will irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom each Washington Water
Power Trust becomes indebted or liable, the full payment of any costs, expenses
or liabilities of such Washington Water Power Trust, other than obligations of
such Washington Water Power Trust to pay to the holders of the related
Securities or other similar interests in such Washington Water Power Trust the
amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of such Securities or such other
similar interests, as the case may be.
EFFECT OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEE
As set forth in the Declaration, the sole purpose of each of the Washington
Water Power Trusts is to issue the Trust Securities evidencing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of each of the Washington Water Power Trusts
and to invest the proceeds from such issuance and sale in the Subordinated Debt
Securities.
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Subordinated Debt Securities, such payments will be sufficient to cover
distributions and payments due on the Trust Securities because of the following
factors: (i) the aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Debt Securities will
be equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Trust Securities;
(ii) the interest rate and the interest and other payment dates on the
Subordinated Debt Securities will be correlative to the distribution rate and
distribution and other payment dates for the Securities; (iii) the Company shall
pay, and the applicable Washington Water Power Trust shall not be obligated to
pay, directly or indirectly, all costs, expenses, debt and obligations of the
applicable Washington Water Power Trust (other than to the holders of Trust
Securities); and (iv) the Declaration further provides that the Washington Water
Power Trustees shall not take or cause or permit the applicable Washington Water
Power Trust to, among other things, engage in any activity that is not
consistent with the purposes of the applicable Washington Water Power Trust.
Payments of distributions and other payments due on the Securities (each, to
the extent funds therefor are available) are guaranteed by the Company as and to
the extent set forth above under "Description of the Securities Guarantees." If
the Company does not make interest payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities
purchased by the applicable Washington Water Power Trust, it is expected that
the applicable Washington Water Power Trust will not have sufficient funds to
pay distributions on the Securities. The Guarantee does not apply to any payment
of distributions unless and until the applicable Washington Water Power Trust
has sufficient funds for the payment of such distributions. The Guarantee covers
the payment of distributions and other payments on the Securities only if and to
the extent that the Company has made a payment of interest or principal on the
Subordinated Debt Securities held by the applicable Washington Water Power Trust
as its only assets. The Guarantee, when taken together with the Company's
obligations under the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Indenture, the
Declaration and the Expense Agreement, effectively provides a full and
unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, of amounts on the Securities.
If the Company fails to make interest or other payments on the Subordinated
Debt Securities when due (taking account of any Extension Period), the
Declaration provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Securities, using
the procedures described in "Description of the Securities -- Voting Rights" in
an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, may direct the Institutional Trustee to
enforce its rights under the Subordinated Debt Securities. If the Institutional
Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Subordinated Debt Securities, a
holder of Securities may institute a legal proceeding against the Company to
enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Subordinated Debt
Securities without first instituting any legal proceeding against the
Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and
such event is attributable to the
18
<PAGE>
failure of the Company to pay interest or principal on the Subordinated Debt
Securities on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in
the case of redemption on the redemption date), then a holder of Securities may
institute a Direct Action for payment on or after the respective due date
specified in the Subordinated Debt Securities. In connection with such Direct
Action, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of such holder of
Securities under the Declaration to the extent of any payment made by the
Company to such holder of Securities in such Direct Action. The Company, under
the Guarantee, acknowledges that the Securities Guarantee Trustee shall enforce
the Securities Guarantee on behalf of the holders of the Securities. If the
Company fails to make payments under the Securities Guarantee, the Securities
Guarantee provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Securities may direct
the Securities Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights thereunder. Any holder of
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to
enforce the Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under the Securities Guarantee
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the applicable Washington
Water Power Trust, the Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any other person or
entity.
The Company and each of the Washington Water Power Trusts believe that the
above mechanisms and obligations, taken together, effectively provide a full and
unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, by the Company of payments due
on the Securities. See "Description of the Securities Guarantees -- General"
herein.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell the Subordinated Debt Securities and any Washington
Water Power Trust may sell Securities in any of, or any combination of, the
following ways: (i) directly to purchasers, (ii) through agents, (iii) through
underwriters and (iv) through dealers.
Offers to purchase Offered Securities may be solicited directly by the
Company and/or any Washington Water Power Trust, as the case may be, or by
agents designated by the Company and/or any Washington Water Power Trust, as the
case may be, from time to time. Any such agent, who may be deemed to be an
underwriter as that term is defined in the Securities Act, involved in the offer
or sale of the Offered Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the Company to such
agent will be set forth, in the Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise
indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any such agency will be acting on a best
efforts basis for the period of its appointment (ordinarily five business days
or less). Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in
transactions with, or perform services for the Company in the ordinary course of
business.
If an underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale, the Company will
execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at the time of sale to
them and the names of the underwriters and the terms of the transaction will be
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, which will be used by the underwriters
to make releases of the Offered Securities in respect of which this Prospectus
is delivered to the public.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the Offered Securities in respect of
which this Prospectus is delivered, the Company and/or any Washington Water
Power Trust, as the case may be, will sell such Offered Securities to the
dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such Offered Securities to the
public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.
The name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement.
Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled under the relevant
agreements to indemnification by the Company and/or any Washington Water Power
Trust, as the case may be, against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act.
The place and time of delivery for the Offered Securities in respect of
which this Prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement.
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<PAGE>
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Securities,
the enforceability of the Declarations and the creation of the Washington Water
Power Trusts will be passed upon on behalf of the Washington Water Power Trusts
by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware
counsel to the Company and the Washington Water Power Trusts. Certain matters of
New York law and of federal securities laws relating to the validity of the
Subordinated Debt Securities and the Securities Guarantees and certain matters
relating thereto will be passed upon for the Company by Reid & Priest LLP, New
York, New York, counsel to the Company. Certain matters of Washington corporate
law and of public utility regulatory approvals under Washington, Idaho, Montana,
Oregon and California law relating to the authorization of the Subordinated Debt
Securities and the Securities Guarantees will be passed upon for the Company by
Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller LLP, Spokane, Washington, general
counsel for the Company. Certain United States federal income taxation matters
will be passed upon for the Company and the Washington Water Power Trusts by
Reid & Priest LLP, special tax counsel to the Company and the Washington Water
Power Trusts. The validity of the Offered Securities will be passed upon for the
underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York. In giving their
opinions Reid & Priest LLP and Sullivan & Cromwell may assume the conclusions of
Washington, California, Idaho, Montana and Oregon law set forth in the opinion
of Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller LLP and the conclusions of Delaware
law set forth in the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and the related financial statement schedules
incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company's Latest Annual
Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in, and for the periods set forth in, their reports which
are incorporated herein by reference and have been so incorporated in reliance
upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
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NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE,
SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUST OR ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR THE TRUST SINCE
THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN
OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION
IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS
NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION.
------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
---------
<S> <C>
The Washington Water Power Company Selected
Historical Financial Information.............. S-4
Risk Factors.................................... S-5
The Washington Water Power Company.............. S-8
Washington Water Power Capital.................. S-8
Accounting Treatment............................ S-9
Capitalization.................................. S-10
Use of Proceeds................................. S-10
Description of the Securities................... S-11
Description of the Subordinated Debt
Securities.................................... S-21
Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations................................ S-24
Underwriting.................................... S-27
PROSPECTUS
Available Information........................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference..................................... 3
The Trusts...................................... 3
Use of Proceeds................................. 4
Description of the Subordinated Debt
Securities.................................... 4
Description of the Securities................... 14
Description of the Securities Guarantees........ 15
Effect of Obligations under the Subordinated
Debt Securities and the Guarantee............. 18
Plan of Distribution............................ 19
Legal Matters................................... 20
Experts......................................... 20
</TABLE>
===============================================================================
2,400,000 SECURITIES
WASHINGTON WATER
POWER CAPITAL I
7 7/8% TRUST ORIGINATED
PREFERRED SECURITIES-SM-, SERIES A
("TOPRS-SM-")
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
GUARANTEED BY
THE WASHINGTON WATER
POWER COMPANY
---------------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
---------------------
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
SMITH BARNEY INC.
JANUARY 17, 1997
================================================================================
