<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant / /
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant /X/
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
Carolina Power & Light Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Merrill
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/ / $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2) or
Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Total fee paid:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
/X/ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Filing Party:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Date Filed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
411 FAYETTEVILLE STREET
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27601
------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAY 8, 1996
The Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Carolina Power & Light Company
will be held in the University Center on the campus of the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina, on
May 8, 1996, at 10 o'clock a.m., for the following purposes:
(1)To elect directors of the Company;
(2)To act upon a proposal which would amend the Company's Restated Charter
to expand the purposes for which the Company exists and to broaden the
powers of the Company; and
(3)To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
All shareholders of $5 Preferred Stock, Serial Preferred Stock and Common
Stock of record at the close of business on March 1, 1996, will be entitled to
vote on all questions at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. The stock
transfer books will remain open.
By order of the Board of Directors.
RICHARD E. JONES
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
Raleigh, North Carolina
March 29, 1996
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN, DATE
AND RETURN THEIR PROXIES PROMPTLY.
<PAGE>
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
411 FAYETTEVILLE STREET
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27601
------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
GENERAL
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the
Board of Directors of Carolina Power & Light Company (Company) of proxies in the
accompanying form to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in
the University Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at
Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina, on May 8, 1996,
at 10 o'clock a.m., and at any subsequent time which may be made necessary by
its adjournment. (For directions to the meeting location, please see the map
included at the end of the Proxy Statement.) The Proxy Statement and form of
proxy were first sent to shareholders on or about March 29, 1996.
COPIES OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR 1995,
INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES, ARE AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN
REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, TO THE PERSONS WHOSE PROXIES ARE SOLICITED. ANY EXHIBIT
TO FORM 10-K IS ALSO AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AT A REASONABLE CHARGE FOR
COPYING AND MAILING. WRITTEN REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE TO MS. MARGARET S. GLASS,
VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER, CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY, P. O. BOX 1551,
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27602.
PROXIES
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company
and the entire cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. The
Company expects to solicit proxies primarily by mail although proxies may be
solicited by telephone, telegraph or personally by officers and employees of the
Company, who will not be specially compensated for such services.
Any shareholder who has executed a proxy and attends the meeting may elect
to vote in person rather than by proxy. A shareholder may revoke his proxy at
any time before it is exercised by filing written notice thereof or by filing a
later valid proxy with the Secretary of the Company. All shares represented by
valid proxies received pursuant to this solicitation, and not revoked before
they are exercised, will be voted in the manner specified therein. Where
specifications are not made, proxies will be voted for the election of Directors
as set forth in this Proxy Statement, for the proposal to amend the Company's
Restated Charter, and, in the discretion of the named proxies, upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
VOTING SECURITIES
The Directors of the Company have fixed March 1, 1996, as the record date
for shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and only shareholders of
record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote.
Accordingly, only holders of the Company's $5 Preferred Stock, Serial Preferred
Stock and Common Stock of record at the close of business on that date will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Holders of $5 Preferred
Stock, Serial Preferred Stock and Common Stock will vote together without regard
to class upon the matters currently expected to come before the Annual Meeting.
Each share is entitled to one vote on each such matter, including the election
of Directors. As of
1
<PAGE>
March 1, 1996, there were outstanding 237,259 shares of $5 Preferred Stock,
1,200,000 shares of Serial Preferred Stock, and 152,102,922 shares of Common
Stock. Pursuant to the provisions of the North Carolina Business Corporation
Act, as amended, Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
Withheld votes will have no effect. Approval of the proposal relating to the
amendment of the Company's Restated Charter will require the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the shares of stock of the Company then outstanding
and entitled to vote. Abstentions from voting and broker non-votes will have the
effect of a "negative" vote with respect to the proposal. Approvals of other
matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting, if any, generally will require
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares voted with
respect to such matters. Abstentions from voting will not have the effect of a
"negative" vote with respect to any such matters.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Based on the report of the Nominating Committee (see page 7), the Board of
Directors nominates for election the four nominees listed below. Valid proxies
received pursuant to this solicitation will be voted in the manner specified
therein. Where specifications are not made, the shares represented by the
accompanying proxy will be voted for the election of the four nominees as
Directors in Class I to serve for the term expiring in 1999, and until their
respective successors have been elected and qualified:
CLASS I
(Term expiring in 1999)
LESLIE M. BAKER, JR., WILLIAM O. McCOY, SHERWOOD H. SMITH, JR. AND J. TYLEE
WILSON
Votes (other than votes withheld) will be cast pursuant to the accompanying
proxy for the election of the nominees listed above unless, by reason of death
or other unexpected occurrence, one or more of such nominees shall not be
available for election, in which event it is intended that such votes will be
cast for such substitute nominee or nominees as may be determined by the persons
named in such proxy. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of
the nominees listed above will not be available for election as a director.
The names of the four nominees for election to the Board of Directors and of
the Directors whose terms in office will continue, along with their ages,
principal occupations or employment for the past five years, and current
directorships are set forth below. Mr. George H.V. Cecil, who has served as a
director since 1976 with distinction, has reached retirement age from the Board
and is not a candidate for re-election.
DIRECTOR NOMINEES -- CLASS I
(Terms Expiring in 1999)
LESLIE M. BAKER, JR., age 53, is President and Chief Executive Officer of
Wachovia Corporation, an interstate bank holding company (since January 1994).
He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Wachovia
Corporation (from February 1993 to December 1993) and as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A., a subsidiary of
Wachovia Corporation (from January 1990 to May 1993). He also served in various
executive capacities for other subsidiaries of Wachovia Corporation. He has
served as a Director of the Company since 1995.
WILLIAM O. MCCOY, age 62, is Vice President-Finance of the University of
North Carolina (since 1994). He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Board
of BellSouth Corporation and President and Chief Executive Officer of BellSouth
Enterprises. He currently serves as a director of First American Corporation,
Liberty Corporation and Weeks Corporation.
2
<PAGE>
SHERWOOD H. SMITH, JR., age 61, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company (since 1992). He previously served as Chairman/President and Chief
Executive Officer. He has served as a Director of the Company since 1971 and
also serves as a director of Wachovia Corporation, Springs Industries, Inc., and
Northern Telecom Limited, and as a Trustee of The Northwestern Mutual Life
Insurance Company.
J. TYLEE WILSON, age 64, is retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
RJR Nabisco, Inc. He has served as a Director of the Company since 1987 and also
serves as a director of BellSouth Corporation.
DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE -- CLASS II
(Terms Expiring in 1997)
EDWIN B. BORDEN, age 62, is President of The Borden Manufacturing Company, a
textile yarn manufacturer. He has served as a Director of the Company since 1985
and also serves as a director of Jefferson-Pilot Corporation, Triangle Bancorp,
Inc., Ruddick Corporation and Winston Hotels, Inc.
RICHARD L. DAUGHERTY, age 60, is the Executive Director of NCSU Research
Corporation, a development corporation of the Centennial Campus of North
Carolina State University. He previously served as Vice President of IBM PC
Company, manufacturers and distributors of personal computers worldwide, and
also as Senior State Executive for IBM Corporation in North Carolina. Mr.
Daugherty retired from IBM in August 1994. He has served as a Director of the
Company since 1992.
J. R. BRYAN JACKSON, age 64, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Superior Machine Company of S.C., Inc., a heavy industrial machinery
manufacturing and repair company. He has served as a Director of the Company
since 1986.
ROBERT L. JONES, age 59, is President of Davidson and Jones Corporation,
general contractors/ developers and operators of real estate properties. He has
served as a Director of the Company since 1990 and also serves as a director of
Giant Group, Ltd.
DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE -- CLASS III
(Terms Expiring in 1998)
FELTON J. CAPEL, age 69, is President of Century Associates of North
Carolina, distributors of cookware and housewares. He has served as a Director
of the Company since 1972.
WILLIAM CAVANAUGH III, age 57, is President and Chief Operating Officer of
the Company (since September 1992). He previously served in various executive
capacities for Entergy Corporation and its affiliates. He has served as a
Director of the Company since 1993.
CHARLES W. COKER, age 62, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sonoco
Products Company, a manufacturer of paperboard and paper and plastics packaging
products. He has served as a Director of the Company since 1975 and also serves
as a director of NationsBank Corporation, Sara Lee Corporation and Springs
Industries, Inc.
ESTELL C. LEE, age 60, is President of The Lee Company, a building supplies
company. Previously, she was Secretary of the North Carolina Department of
Economic and Community Development and President of Seacor, Inc. She has served
as a Director of the Company since 1988.
3
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER
The following table sets forth the only shareholder known to the Company to
beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock of
the Company as of December 31, 1995. The Company does not know of any
shareholder that owned more than 5% of any other class of the Company's voting
securities as of December 31, 1995.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON PERCENTAGE OF COMMON
NAME AND ADDRESS STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1) STOCK OUTSTANDING
<S> <C> <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A. 9,511,913 6.2%
Post Office Box 3099
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27102
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)Consists of shares of Common Stock held in fiduciary capacity as Trustee
of the Company's Stock Purchase-Savings Plan. Wachovia Bank of North
Carolina, N.A. has sole voting power with respect to 733,447 shares, shared
voting power with respect to 8,731,545 shares, sole dispositive power with
respect to 636,009 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to
148,181 shares.
MANAGEMENT OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK(1)
The following table presents information regarding the beneficial ownership
of the Common Stock of the Company and ownership of Common Stock units as of
December 31, 1995 of (i) all current directors and nominees for director, (ii)
each executive officer of the Company named in the Summary Compensation Table
contained elsewhere herein and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a
group. A unit of Common Stock does not represent an equity interest in the
Company and possesses no voting rights, but is equal in value at all times to a
share of Common Stock. As of December 31, 1995, none of the individuals or group
in the above categories owned one percent (1%) or more of any class of the
Company's voting securities.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
NAME BENEFICIALLY OWNED(2) AND UNITS
REPRESENTING
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (3),(4),(5)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leslie M. Baker, Jr. 500 Common Stock
584(3) Units
Edwin B. Borden 3,910 Common Stock
9,467(3) Units
Felton J. Capel 1,000 Common Stock
9,079(3) Units
William Cavanaugh III 11,132(6) Common Stock
17,097(4),(5) Units
George H.V. Cecil 2,000 Common Stock
4,539(3) Units
Charles W. Coker 3,399(7) Common Stock
9,938(3) Units
Richard L. Daugherty 734 Common Stock
3,983(3) Units
Glenn E. Harder 215 Common Stock
87(5) Units
J.R. Bryan Jackson 2,962 Common Stock
262(3) Units
Richard E. Jones 11,145(8) Common Stock
6,403(4),(5) Units
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
NAME BENEFICIALLY OWNED(2) AND UNITS
REPRESENTING
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (3),(4),(5)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert L. Jones 2,000 Common Stock
6,683(3) Units
Estell C. Lee 4,484(9) Common Stock
9,141(3) Units
William O. McCoy 1,000 Common Stock
William S. Orser 3,469 Common Stock
5,537(4),(5) Units
Sherwood H. Smith, Jr. 68,060(10) Common Stock
32,231(4),(5) Units
J. Tylee Wilson 5,000 Common Stock
262(3) Units
Shares of Common Stock beneficially
owned by all directors and
executive officers of the Company
as a group (19 persons) 158,969 Common Stock
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's directors and executive officers to file reports indicating their
holdings of and transactions in the Company's equity securities with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and to provide copies of such reports to the
Company. To the Company's knowledge, all Section 16(a) filing requirements
applicable to the Company's directors and executive officers during 1995 were
complied with, except that Mr. Paul S. Bradshaw, a former executive officer of
the Company, inadvertently did not timely report one transaction that occurred
after he left the Company. Mr. Bradshaw reported the transaction on a timely
filed Form 5 when the omission was brought to his attention.
(2)Unless otherwise noted, all shares of Common Stock set forth in the table
are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, with sole voting and investment
power, by such shareholder.
(3)Consists of units representing Common Stock of the Company under the
Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (see "Directors' Compensation" on page 7).
(4)Consists of performance units under the Long-Term Compensation Program
(see "Summary Compensation Table" on page 8 and footnote 4 thereunder).
(5)Consists of replacement units to replace the value of Company
contributions to the Stock Purchase-Savings Plan that would have been made but
for the deferral of salary under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Key
Management Employees and contribution limitations under Section 415 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (see "Summary Compensation Table" on
page 8 and footnote 4 thereunder).
(6)Includes 342 shares with shared voting and investment power owned by
members of immediate family to which beneficial ownership has not been
disclaimed.
(7)Includes 3,199 shares with shared voting and investment power owned by
members of immediate family to which beneficial ownership has not been
disclaimed.
(8)Does not include 920 shares owned by members of immediate family to which
beneficial ownership has been disclaimed.
(9)Includes 160 shares with shared voting and investment power owned by
members of immediate family to which beneficial ownership has not been
disclaimed.
(10)Does not include 900 shares owned by members of immediate family to
which beneficial ownership has been disclaimed.
5
<PAGE>
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is currently comprised of twelve members. The Board
of Directors met five times in 1995. Average attendance of the Directors at the
meetings of the Board and its Committees held during 1995 was 94%.
The Board of Directors appoints from the Board an Executive Committee, a
Committee on Audit, Finance and Corporate Performance, a Committee on System
Operations, Forecasting and Development, a Committee on Personnel, Executive
Development and Compensation, a Committee on Customer and Public Relations, and
a Nominating Committee.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee is presently composed of two Officers/Directors and
two outside Directors -- Messrs. Sherwood H. Smith, Jr., Chairman, William
Cavanaugh III, Richard L. Daugherty and Robert L. Jones. The authority and
responsibility of the Executive Committee are provided in the Company's Charter
and By-Laws. The Committee held eight meetings in 1995.
COMMITTEE ON AUDIT, FINANCE
AND CORPORATE PERFORMANCE
The Committee on Audit, Finance and Corporate Performance is presently
composed of five outside Directors -- Mr. J. Tylee Wilson, Chairman, Ms. Estell
C. Lee and Messrs. George H.V. Cecil, Charles W. Coker and J.R. Bryan Jackson.
The work of this Committee includes review of the performance of the independent
auditors and the internal audit department. The Committee reviews corporate
goals established by the Company and the Company's progress in achieving these
goals. The Committee also maintains an overall view of the long and short range
financial planning of the Company and the supporting rate action. The Committee
held four meetings in 1995.
COMMITTEE ON SYSTEM OPERATIONS,
FORECASTING AND DEVELOPMENT
The Committee on System Operations, Forecasting and Development is presently
composed of five outside Directors -- Messrs. Edwin B. Borden, Chairman, Leslie
M. Baker, Jr., Felton J. Capel, Richard L. Daugherty and Robert L. Jones. The
Committee examines the Company's projections as to the economic development of
the Company's service area and the estimates of sales and load growth. The
Committee considers recommendations as to the locations of generating facilities
and types of fuels for these facilities. It also reviews the Company's
construction budget and generation plan. The Committee held two meetings in
1995.
COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, EXECUTIVE
DEVELOPMENT AND COMPENSATION
The Committee on Personnel, Executive Development and Compensation is
presently composed of five outside Directors -- Messrs. Charles W. Coker,
Chairman, Edwin B. Borden, George H. V. Cecil, Robert L. Jones and J. Tylee
Wilson. The Committee ascertains that personnel policies and procedures are in
keeping with all governmental rules and regulations and are designed to attract
and retain competent, talented employees and develop the potential of these
employees. The Committee reviews all executive development plans, makes
executive compensation decisions and oversees plans for management succession.
The Committee held five meetings in 1995.
6
<PAGE>
COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMER AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Committee on Customer and Public Relations is presently composed of five
outside Directors -- Mr. J. R. Bryan Jackson, Chairman, Ms. Estell C. Lee and
Messrs. Leslie M. Baker, Jr., Felton J. Capel and Richard L. Daugherty. It is
the responsibility of the Committee to review, monitor and assess the
effectiveness of the Company's communications programs for informing its
customers, the general public and the various governmental bodies. The Committee
held two meetings in 1995.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee is presently composed of five outside Directors --
Messrs. George H. V. Cecil, Chairman, Edwin B. Borden, Charles W. Coker, J. R.
Bryan Jackson and J. Tylee Wilson. The Committee proposes to the Board annually
a slate of nominees for directors to be submitted to the shareholders for
election at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. It is also the responsibility of
the Committee to submit nominations for the filling of vacancies which occur at
other times. Shareholder suggestions as to persons suitable for service on the
Board sent to the Chairman of the Nominating Committee at the Company's
principal office are received and considered by the Nominating Committee. The
Committee held one meeting in 1995.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
Directors who are not employees of the Company receive an annual retainer of
$20,000, of which $2,000 is automatically deferred under the Directors Deferred
Compensation Plan (see below), and an attendance fee of $1,000 per meeting for
regularly scheduled Board meetings. Directors who are not employees of the
Company also receive an attendance fee for committee meetings of $1,000 for
committee members and $1,200 for committee chairmen except that the attendance
fee is $500 and $600 for committee members and committee chairmen, respectively,
for a committee meeting held on the day of a regularly scheduled Board meeting
or another committee meeting. Directors who are officers do not receive an
annual retainer or attendance fees. All Directors are reimbursed for expenses
incident to their service as Directors.
In addition to the $2,000 in annual retainer which is automatically
deferred, outside Directors may elect to defer the remainder of their annual
retainer and Board attendance fees until after the termination of their service
on the Board under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. Any fees so
deferred are deemed to be invested in a number of Units of Common Stock of the
Company, but participating Directors receive no equity interest or voting rights
in the Common Stock. The number of Units credited to the account of a
participating Director is equal to the dollar amount of the deferred fees
divided by the average of the high and low selling prices (i.e., market value)
of the Common Stock on the day the deferred fees would otherwise be payable to
the participating Director. The number of Units in each account is adjusted from
time to time to reflect the payment of dividends on the number of shares of
Common Stock represented by the Units. Unless otherwise agreed to by the
participant and the Board, when the participant ceases to be a member of the
Board of Directors, he or she will receive cash equal to the market value of a
share of the Company's Common Stock on the date of payment multiplied by the
number of Units credited to the participant's account.
Directors are also eligible for matching contributions of up to $2,000 under
an incentive compensation program. Awards under this program are based upon the
achievement of the corporate incentive goals which are established each year by
the Board and used as the basis for a matching contribution of shares of Common
Stock for participating employees in the Company's Stock Purchase-Savings Plan.
In the event that
7
<PAGE>
five of the corporate incentive goals are met, the $2,000 portion of the annual
retainer which is automatically deferred pursuant to the Directors Deferred
Compensation Plan will be increased by 50 percent, with an additional 10 percent
increase for each corporate incentive goal met in excess of five (up to a
maximum matching contribution of 100 percent).
An unfunded plan for outside Directors who have served on the Board for a
minimum period of five years provides retirement compensation to outside
Directors in an amount established by the Board (currently $15,000 annually) for
life or for the number of years the individual has served on the Board,
whichever period expires first.
All of the Directors participate in a Directors' Educational Contribution
Plan. The plan is funded by policies of corporate-owned life insurance on the
lives of pairs of Directors, with proceeds payable to the Company at the death
of the second to die in each pair. All costs of the plan are expected to be
covered from the life insurance proceeds to be received by the Company. Pursuant
to this plan, the Company will make a contribution in the name of each Director
to an educational institution or approved educational foundation or fund in
North Carolina or South Carolina selected by the Director and approved by the
Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The contribution will be made at
the later to occur of the retirement of the Director from the Board of Directors
or ten years from the date of adoption of the plan. If a Director has served as
a Director for at least five but less than ten years at the time the
contribution is to be made, the Company will contribute $250,000 in the name of
the Director. If the Director has served for ten or more years, the amount of
the contribution will be $500,000. The plan may be terminated at any time in the
discretion of the Executive Committee without recourse or obligation to the
Company.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
OTHER
ANNUAL RESTRICTED ALL OTHER
NAME AND SALARY(1) BONUS(2) COMPENSATION(3) STOCK COMPENSATION
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($) ($) ($) AWARD(S)(4) ($)
($)
Sherwood H. Smith, Jr., 1995 $ 630,000 $ 360,000(5) $ 7,989 $ 278,699 (6) $ 55,986 (7)
Chairman and Chief 1994 595,000 215,000 7,428 262,263 58,530
Executive Officer 1993 567,000 160,000 182,776 60,372
William Cavanaugh III, 1995 $ 445,000 $ 250,000(8) $ 7,142 $ 196,359 (9) $ 44,603 (10)
President and Chief 1994 420,000 152,000 6,267 182,657 44,608
Operating Officer 1993 400,000 150,000(11) 128,128 192,177
William S. Orser, 1995 $ 306,000 $ 125,000 $ 651 $ 130,768 (12) $ 34,307 (13)
Executive Vice President 1994 291,770 80,000 517 100,817 33,495
(employed as of April 1, 1993 194,205 163,320(14) 55,735 33,954 177,497
1993)
Glenn E. Harder, 1995 $ 208,990 $ 75,000 $ 701 $ 86,725 (15) $ 71,950 (16)
Executive Vice President 1994 23,589 40,000 N/A 20,000 (17)
and Chief Financial Officer 1993 N/A N/A N/A N/A
(employed as of October 31,
1994)
Richard E. Jones, 1995 $ 217,000 $ 65,000 $ 836 $ 3,344 (18) $ 25,783 (19)
Senior Vice President, 1994 205,000 45,000 1,173 59,897 26,040
General Counsel and 1993 195,000 41,000 50,931 24,865
Secretary
</TABLE>
(1)Consists of base salary prior to (i) employee contributions to the Stock
Purchase-Savings Plan and (ii) voluntary deferrals, if any, under the Deferred
Compensation Plan for Key Management Employees. See "Other Benefit
Opportunities" on page 14.
8
<PAGE>
(2)Except as otherwise noted, consists of amounts awarded with respect to
performance in the stated year under the Management Incentive Compensation
Program. See "Other Annual Compensation Opportunities" on page 12.
(3)Consists of gross-up payments for certain federal and state income tax
obligations.
(4)Consists of the value of (i) performance units awarded under the
Long-Term Compensation Program and (ii) performance units credited to the
account of a participant to replace the value of Company contributions to the
Stock Purchase-Savings Plan that would have been made on behalf of the
participant but for the deferral of salary under the Deferred Compensation Plan
for Key Management Employees and contribution limitations under Section 415 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Replacement Units"). Performance
units do not represent an equity interest in the Company and possess no voting
rights. However, a performance unit is equal in value at all times to a share of
the Company's Common Stock. Additional units are credited from time to time to
reflect the payment of dividends on the underlying Common Stock. Awards made
under the Long-Term Compensation Program vest on the earlier of the date of
death, the fourth month of the second year following grant or the date of
normal, early or disability retirement. The Company will distribute in cash the
aggregate value of the units related to an award as follows: one-third on the
date of vesting; one-half of the remaining balance one year following vesting;
and the remainder two years after vesting. In addition, a participant may make a
one-time, irrevocable payment election to defer receipt of the payout as
follows: in full in the fifth year following the grant of the award; over three
years beginning in the year following retirement; or in full in the year
following retirement. This payment election must be made no later than the end
of the year for which an award is made. See "Long-Term Compensation
Opportunities" on page 13.
Payment of the value of the Replacement Units will be made in cash and will
generally be made at such time as a participant retires or is no longer a
full-time employee of the Company. The amount of the payout will equal the
market value of a share of the Company's Common Stock on the date of payout
multiplied by the number of units credited to the account of the participant.
See "Other Benefit Opportunities" on page 14.
(5)Mr. Smith has elected to defer receipt of fifty percent of this award
until the second anniversary of his date of retirement.
(6)Consists of (i) 6,900 performance units granted under the Long-Term
Compensation Program based on the market value of a share of Common Stock on the
date of grant, and (ii) 918 Replacement Units based on the market value of a
share of Common Stock on the date such units were credited to the account of the
participant. As of December 31, 1995, a total of 32,231 performance units were
held at an aggregate value of $1,111,982 based on the market value of a share of
Common Stock on that date.
(7)Consists of (i) $9,116 which represents Company contributions under the
Stock Purchase-Savings Plan, and (ii) $46,870 which represents the dollar value
of the premium relating to the term portion and the present value of the premium
relating to the whole life portion of the benefit to be received pursuant to the
Executive Permanent Life Insurance Program.
(8)Mr. Cavanaugh has elected to defer receipt of twenty-five percent of this
award until his date of retirement.
(9)Consists of (i) 4,875 performance units granted under the Long-Term
Compensation Program based on the market value of a share of Common Stock on
the date of grant, and (ii) 629 Replacement Units based on the market value
of a share of Common Stock on the date such units were credited to the
account of the participant. As of December 31, 1995, a total of 17,097
performance units were held at an aggregate value of $589,834 based on the
market value of a share of Common Stock on that date.
(10)Consists of (i) $6,981 which represents Company contributions under the
Stock Purchase-Savings Plan, and (ii) $37,622 which represents the dollar value
of the premium relating to the term portion and the present value of the premium
relating to the whole life portion of the benefit to be received pursuant to the
Executive Permanent Life Insurance Program.
(11)Pursuant to an employment agreement, this amount is in lieu of an award
for performance in 1993 under the Management Incentive Compensation Program.
(12)Consists of (i) 3,350 performance units granted under the Long-Term
Compensation Program based on the market value of a share of Common Stock on the
date of grant, and (ii) 284 Replacement Units based on the market value of a
share of Common Stock on the date such units were credited to the account of the
participant. As of December 31, 1995 a total of 5,537 performance units were
held at an aggregate value of $191,014 based on the market value of a share of
Common Stock on that date.
(13)Consists of (i) $9,116 which represents Company contributions under the
Stock Purchase-Savings Plan, and (ii) $25,191 which represents the dollar value
of the premium relating to the term portion and the present value of the premium
relating to the whole life portion of the benefit to be received pursuant to the
Executive Permanent Life Insurance Program.
9
<PAGE>
(14)Pursuant to an employment agreement, includes (i) $50,000 in lieu of an
award for performance in 1993 under the Management Incentive Compensation
Program, (ii) a $50,000 employment bonus in 1993, and (iii) $63,320 representing
the fair market value at date of grant of 2,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock awarded in 1993.
(15)Consists of (i) 2,300 performance units granted under the Long-Term
Compensation Program based on the market value of a share of Common Stock on the
date of grant, and (ii) 86 Replacement Units based on the market value of a
share of Common Stock on the date such units were credited to the account of the
participant. As of December 31, 1995, a total of 87 performance units were held
at an aggregate value of $2,993 based on the market value of a share of Common
Stock on that date.
(16)Consists of (i) $3,724 which represents Company contributions under the
Stock Purchase-Savings Plan, and (ii) $68,226 which represents the dollar value
of the premium relating to the term portion and the present value of the premium
relating to the whole life portion of the benefit to be received pursuant to the
Executive Permanent Life Insurance Program.
(17)Pursuant to an employment agreement, this amount was required to be
treated as if it were a one-year deferral under the Deferred Compensation Plan
for Key Management Employees.
(18)Consists of 113 Replacement Units based on the market value of a share
of Common Stock on the date such units were credited to the account of the
participant. Consistent with his retirement effective April 15, 1996, Mr. Jones
did not receive performance units under the Long-Term Compensation Program. As
of December 31, 1995, a total of 6,403 performance units were held at an
aggregate value of $220,892 based on the market value of a share of Common Stock
on that date.
(19)Consists of (i) $9,116 which represents Company contributions under the
Stock Purchase-Savings Plan, and (ii) $16,667 which represents the dollar value
of the premium relating to the term portion and the present value of the premium
relating to the whole life portion of the benefit to be received pursuant to the
Executive Permanent Life Insurance Program.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED ANNUAL PENSION AT NORMAL
RETIREMENT
AVERAGE (YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE)
COMPENSATION
- ---------------------------------------------------------
10 YEARS 15 YEARS 15 1/2 OR MORE
YEARS
- ---------------------------------------------------------
$190,000 $ 76,000 $ 114,000 $117,800
255,000 102,000 153,000 158,100
320,000 128,000 192,000 198,400
385,000 154,000 231,000 238,700
450,000 180,000 270,000 279,000
515,000 206,000 309,000 319,300
555,000 222,000 333,000 344,100
595,000 238,000 357,000 368,900
635,000 254,000 381,000 393,700
675,000 270,000 405,000 418,500
715,000 286,000 429,000 443,300
760,000 304,000 456,000 471,200
795,000 318,000 477,000 492,900
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above table demonstrates senior executive pension benefits payable upon
normal retirement under the Supplemental Retirement Plan and Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan at age 65 as a function of average annual income and
years of service. Covered compensation under these plans consists only of the
amounts in the Salary and Bonus columns of the Summary Compensation Table.
Pursuant to the Supplemental Retirement Plan, a defined benefit plan, benefits
are partially offset by Social Security payments and the monthly pension benefit
payable upon retirement is based on final five years average compensation
multiplied by 1.7% for each year of service up to a maximum of 60%. Benefits
under the Supplemental
10
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Executive Retirement Plan are fully offset by Social Security benefits and by
benefits paid under the Supplemental Retirement Plan. The monthly benefit
payable upon retirement under this plan is equal to 4% of the average of a
participant's highest three years of earnings for each year of credited service
with the Company up to a maximum of 62%. Benefits listed in the table above do
not reflect the Social Security or other offset. For purposes of benefits under
these plans, Messrs. Smith, Cavanaugh, and Jones each have more than 15 1/2
years of credited service and are thereby entitled to the maximum percentage
allowable in the benefit formula under these plans. Mr. Harder has four years of
credited service, and Mr. Orser has two years of credited service.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
Mr. Cavanaugh, Mr. Orser and Mr. Harder have entered into employment
agreements with the Company. These agreements provide for base salary, bonuses,
and participation in the various executive compensation plans offered to senior
executives of the Company. Base salary increases and bonus amounts are
determined by the Board of Directors' Committee on Personnel, Executive
Development and Compensation, as described in "Report of Board Committee on
Personnel, Executive Development and Compensation" below. Mr. Cavanaugh also
received 14 years of credited service in the Supplemental Executive Retirement
Plan and Mr. Harder received 3 years of credited service in that Plan. The
agreement with Mr. Harder contains no provision regarding the term of his
employment. There is no specific employment term in the agreements with Mr.
Cavanaugh and Mr. Orser; rather, employment is at the continued will of the
parties. The agreements with Mr. Cavanaugh and Mr. Orser provide that upon
termination or constructive termination of employment by the Company for any
reason other than good cause, the agreements contain provisions for continuation
of salary and health benefits for 24 months. Constructive termination, which is
an option that must be elected by the individual within one year of occurrence,
consists of a change in the form of ownership of the Company or a change in the
present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (or a material change in his
responsibilities). In addition, if Mr. Orser's employment is terminated after he
has attained age 55 but before attaining age 60, the Company shall pay to him a
retirement severance benefit of $153,912 per year (less benefits payable under
the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan). The agreements with Mr. Cavanaugh
and Mr. Orser provide that if employment under the agreements is terminated by
the individual, he shall retain all vested benefits but shall not be entitled to
any form of salary or health benefit continuance.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
During 1995 Sherwood H. Smith, Jr. served as a member of the Management
Resources and Compensation Committee of Wachovia Corporation. Leslie M. Baker,
Jr., a director of the Company, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Wachovia Corporation.
REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL,
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPENSATION
The Company's executive compensation program is administered by the
Committee on Personnel, Executive Development and Compensation of the Board of
Directors (the "Committee"). The five-member Committee is composed entirely of
independent outside directors who are not eligible to participate in any
compensation program in which Company executives participate.
11
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION PRINCIPLES
An independent executive benefits consulting firm is utilized to assist the
Company in meeting its compensation objectives. Each year, this consulting firm
provides the Committee with an analysis comparing overall compensation paid to
Company executives with overall compensation paid to executives of a comparison
group of electric utility companies. This comparison group consists of seven
electric utility companies in the southeastern United States. While this
comparison group is smaller than (i) the group of companies comprising the
Standard & Poor's 25 Utility (Electric Power Companies) Index, which is a
published industry index, shown in the performance graph on page 16, and (ii)
the group of companies utilized for performance comparisons in determining award
eligibility under the Management Incentive Compensation Program and the
Long-Term Compensation Program, the Committee believes these seven electric
utility companies, because of their similarity to the Company in size, electric
facilities, and geographic location, are appropriate for overall compensation
comparisons.
The Company's executive compensation program consists of four major
elements: base salary; other annual compensation opportunities; long-term
compensation opportunities; and other benefit opportunities. The Committee's
objective in administering this program is to structure, through a combination
of these components, an overall compensation package for executives which
approximates in value the median level to first quartile of overall compensation
paid to executives of the comparison group. Overall compensation paid to the
Company's executives in 1995 met this objective.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code imposes a limit, with certain
exceptions, on the amount a publicly held corporation may deduct for
compensation paid or accrued with respect to its five most highly compensated
officers. The 1995 compensation disclosed in this proxy statement does not
exceed the limit and the Committee has not established a policy should the limit
be exceeded by future compensation.
Set forth below is a description of the major elements of the Company's
executive compensation program and their relationship to corporate performance,
as well as a summary of the actions taken by the Committee with respect to the
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.
BASE SALARY
Executives of the Company receive a base salary determined by the Committee
based upon the value of their position compared to competitively established
salary ranges, their individual performance and overall corporate performance.
The Committee does not utilize specific targets or a specific mathematical
formula in determining base salaries. During 1995, the Committee in its
discretion approved increases in the base salaries of the Chief Executive
Officer and the named executives, as set forth in the Summary Compensation
Table. These increases were based on the executive's level of responsibility in
the Company, the median level to first quartile of compensation for executives
in the comparison group of utilities, the achievement of corporate goals, and
individual merit performance as qualitatively determined by the Committee.
OTHER ANNUAL COMPENSATION OPPORTUNITIES
The Company sponsors a Management Incentive Compensation Program for its
senior executives, department managers and selected key employees. In order for
awards to be made under the program, a matching contribution must be earned by
all employees under the corporate incentive feature of the Company's Stock
Purchase-Savings Plan, a tax qualified 401(k) plan. Incentive matching
contributions are earned by participating employees if at least five out of ten
annual corporate goals are met. (See the description of the Stock
Purchase-Savings Plan under "Other Benefit Opportunities" below.) In the event
an incentive matching contribution is earned, the Committee compares the
Company's return on common equity and electric revenue per kWh for the most
recent three-year period with a comparison group that is
12
<PAGE>
comprised of electric utility companies in the eastern United States with
nuclear and fossil generation. This twenty-three member comparison group is
larger in number and more diverse in terms of size and geographic location than
the comparison group utilized for overall compensation purposes. The Committee
believes, however, that the additional size and diversity of this group is
appropriate for comparisons based on corporate performance. This performance
comparison group also differs from the group comprising the Standard & Poor's 25
Utility (Electric Power Companies) Index shown in the performance graph on page
16. Participants are eligible for an award under this program only if the
Company's performance criteria surpass the median of the performance criteria of
the comparison group. If participants at or above the Department Head level of
the Company are eligible for awards, then the Committee in its discretion
determines whether awards are to be made and, if so, in what amounts. If
participants below the Department Head level of the Company are eligible for
awards, then the Chief Executive Officer has sole and complete authority to
approve such awards. Awards consist of both a corporate component and
noncorporate component. Award opportunities, expressed as a percentage of
salary, are applicable to both components of an award. The corporate component
of an award is based upon the overall performance of the Company. The
noncorporate component of an award is based upon the level of attainment of
group, departmental and individual performance measures. Those measures are
evaluated in terms of three levels of performance -- outstanding, target and
threshold -- each of which is related to a particular payout percentage. If
earned, awards are either paid in cash in the succeeding year, or deferred to a
later date, as elected by each individual participant. Deferred awards are
recorded in the form of performance units. Each performance unit is generally
equivalent to a share of the Company's common stock.
The threshold requirements for award eligibility, as discussed above, were
met and exceeded in 1995. At a meeting of the Committee on March 20, 1996 based
on highly commendable performance, awards were made in the discretion of the
Committee to the named executives including the Chief Executive Officer, as set
forth in the Summary Compensation Table under the Bonus column.
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION OPPORTUNITIES
The Company also sponsors a Long-Term Compensation Program. There are two
award opportunities available under this program. The first is an award which
may be made to attract and retain key executives or to recognize and reward
sustained individual performance which has in the opinion of the Committee
contributed significantly to the success of the Company. This award opportunity
is in the discretion of the Committee considering the Company's overall
performance and best interests, and it is not subject to specific criteria,
specific targets, or a specific mathematical formula. The other award
opportunity available under the Long-Term Compensation Program may be granted
only if at least two of the following corporate performance criteria for the
most recent three-year period surpass a comparison group consisting of the same
companies as the comparison group utilized for performance comparisons under the
Management Incentive Compensation Program as discussed above: return on common
equity; electric revenue per kWh; and total return to shareholders. This
comparison group is utilized for performance comparisons only and differs from
the comparison group utilized for overall compensation comparisons (which is
comprised of electric utilities that are generally similar in size, electric
facilities, and geographic location to the Company), and the group comprising
the Standard & Poor's 25 Utility (Electric Power Companies) Index shown in the
performance graph on page 16. In addition, other criteria may be established by
the Committee in its discretion that may be of relevance to the overall success
of the Company. If participants are eligible for an award, then the Committee in
its discretion determines whether awards are to be made and, if so, in what
amounts. The Committee does not utilize specific targets in determining award
levels under the Long-Term Compensation Program.
13
<PAGE>
Awards made under the Long-Term Compensation Program are deferred and
recorded in the form of performance units equal in value to the Company's Common
Stock. A performance unit does not represent an equity interest in the Company
and possesses no voting rights. However, a performance unit is equal in value at
all times to a share of Common Stock and additional units are credited from time
to time to reflect the payment of dividends on the Company's Common Stock. An
award to a participant vests on the earlier of the date of death, the fourth
month of the second year following the date of grant, or the date of normal,
early or disability retirement. The Company will distribute in cash to a
participant the value of the performance units credited to the participant's
account as follows: one-third on the date the award vests; one-half of the
remaining balance one year after the date the award vests; and the remainder two
years after the date the award vests. Thus, the amount received by a participant
is dependent upon the future performance of the Company and market value of
Common Stock over a future four-year period after the award is granted. In
addition, a participant may make a one-time, irrevocable payment election to
defer receipt of the payout until the fifth year following the date of grant,
the year following retirement, or over a three-year period beginning in the year
following retirement.
In 1995, corporate performance criteria surpassed the comparison group and
participants were eligible for an award. At a meeting of the Committee on March
20, 1996 based on highly commendable performance, awards under the Long-Term
Compensation Program were made in the discretion of the Committee to the named
executives including the Chief Executive Officer, as set forth in the Summary
Compensation Table.
OTHER BENEFIT OPPORTUNITIES
The following additional benefit opportunities are also available to the
Company's senior executives:
- The Company sponsors a Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Management
Employees which allows a participant to defer until retirement up to 15% of the
participant's annual compensation for one to four years. All employees at or
above the department head level are eligible to participate in the plan. Upon
retirement, the participant receives monthly supplemental retirement payments
over a 180-month period.
- Pursuant to the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, all or a portion of
an executive's salary may be deferred. There was no deferral of compensation in
1995 under this plan.
- To replace the value of Company contributions to the Stock
Purchase-Savings Plan that would have been made but for (i) the deferral of
salary under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan and the Deferred
Compensation Plan for Key Management Employees and (ii) contribution limitations
under Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, senior
executives and other employees are credited with performance units equal in
value to shares of the Common Stock of the Company. These performance units do
not represent an equity interest in the Company and possess no voting rights.
However, additional units are credited from time to time to reflect the payment
of dividends on the Company's Common Stock. Unless otherwise determined by the
Board, at the time a participant is no longer a full-time employee, he or she
will receive cash equal to the market value of a share of Common Stock times the
number of performance units credited to the account of the participant.
- The Company has implemented an executive split dollar life insurance
program which consists of two separate plans. The first plan provides life
insurance coverage approximately equal to three times salary for senior
executives. The second plan provides additional life insurance coverage
approximately equal to five times salary for those officers of the Company who
are also members of the Board of Directors.
- The Company also provides broad-based employee benefit plans in which
senior executives participate. Under the Stock Purchase-Savings Plan, a salary
reduction plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal
14
<PAGE>
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, full-time employees may invest up to 8% of
earnings (up to a maximum of $9,240 in 1995) on a before-tax basis in the
Company's Common Stock and other investment options. The Company makes a
matching contribution of 50% of such investment (up to 3% of earnings) which is
invested in Company Common Stock. Under an incentive feature, the Company's
contribution may be increased by up to an additional 50% if certain corporate
financial, operating, safety and customer satisfaction performance goals are
met. The Company also sponsors the Supplemental Retirement Plan, a defined
benefit plan which covers full-time employees who are at least twenty-one years
old and have been employed for at least one year. The right to receive pension
benefits under this plan is vested after five years. The monthly pension benefit
payable upon retirement is based on final five years average compensation
multiplied by 1.7% for each year of service up to a maximum of 60%, less
projected age 65 Social Security benefits multiplied by 1.43% for each year of
service up to a maximum of 50%.
- The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan provides a retirement benefit
for eligible senior executives equal to 4% of the average of their highest three
years of base salary and annual bonus for each year of credited service with the
Company up to a maximum of 62%. Benefits under this plan are fully offset by
Social Security benefits and by benefits paid under the Company's Supplemental
Retirement Plan.
- The Company's senior executives also receive certain perquisites and other
personal benefits which in 1995 did not exceed the lesser of either $50,000 or
10% of the executive's salary and bonus. In addition, executives received
gross-up payments in 1995 for related federal and state income tax obligations,
as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table on page 8.
COMPENSATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Compensation in 1995 for the Chief Executive Officer was consistent with the
compensation principles described above and reflected performance of the Company
and the individual in 1994, as well as services in 1995. The determination of
his compensation by the Committee was qualitative in nature and based on a
variety of factors, including comparison group compensation data, attainment of
various corporate goals, total shareholder return, financial and operating
performance, individual performance and other factors. Specific mathematical
weights were not assigned to these factors. Overall compensation in 1995
approximated in value the median level to first quartile of overall compensation
paid to chief executive officers in the comparison group. The Committee
considered the fact that 1995 was a record year for the Company in terms of
earnings, operating performance, and reduced costs for customers. Specifically,
the Committee considered the Company's stock and total return, which continued
to exceed the Standard & Poor's 25 Utility (Electric Power Companies) Index
average. The Committee also took into account the fact that the Company's three
nuclear stations achieved a combined capacity factor of 86 percent and met the
Company's goal for safe performance. Additionally, two of the Company's nuclear
plants now hold the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's superior rating. Comparisons
to 1994 indicate that in 1995 the Company's kilowatt-hour sales grew
significantly, while the cost to customer per kilowatt-hour declined. Leadership
in achieving corporate goals, developing and implementing strategic initiatives,
national leadership in the fields of nuclear power and electric utility
operations, and supporting the economic growth and quality of life in the
Company's service area were also considered by the Committee.
Committee on Personnel, Executive
Development and Compensation
Charles W. Coker, Chairman Robert L. Jones
Edwin B. Borden J. Tylee Wilson
George H. V. Cecil
15
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following line graph compares the yearly percentage change in the
Company's cumulative total shareholder return on its Common Stock with the
cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and the
Standard & Poor's 25 Utility (Electric Power Companies) Index.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN* AMONG CAROLINA POWER &
LIGHT COMPANY,
S&P 500 STOCK INDEX AND S&P 25 UTILITY (ELECTRIC POWER COMPANIES) INDEX
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
S & P 25 UTILITY
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY INDEX S & P 500 INDEX
COMMON STOCK
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1990 $ 100 $ 100 $ 100
1991 $ 124 $ 130 $ 130
1992 $ 135 $ 138 $ 140
1993 $ 154 $ 155 $ 154
1994 $ 146 $ 133 $ 156
1995 $ 201 $ 174 $ 214
*$100 Invested on 13/31/90 in Stock or
Index.
Including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal Year Ending December 31.
</TABLE>
16
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL
AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S RESTATED
CHARTER TO EXPAND THE
PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE COMPANY EXISTS AND
TO BROADEN THE POWERS OF THE COMPANY
The Board of Directors of the Company unanimously recommends that Article
THIRD of the Restated Charter of Carolina Power & Light Company ("Restated
Charter") be amended in order to expand the purposes for which the Company
exists, and to broaden the powers of the Company ("Proposal"). In keeping with
this recommendation, the Board of Directors has directed that said Proposal be
submitted to a vote of the shareholders at this Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Shareholders are urged to read carefully this section of the Proxy Statement,
which describes the Proposal, and Exhibit A hereto, which sets forth the text of
the proposed amendment to Article THIRD of the Restated Charter, before voting
on the Proposal.
General Effects of the Amendment
Article THIRD of the Restated Charter currently enumerates the objects for
which the Company is to exist, and sets forth a nonexclusive list of the powers
of the Company. That Article also prohibits the Company from engaging in certain
enumerated businesses. In keeping with modern corporate practices, Section
55-3-01 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act ("BCA") provides that
every corporation incorporated under the BCA is authorized to engage in any
lawful business unless a more limited purpose is set forth in its charter.
Section 55-3-02 of the BCA states that unless its charter or the BCA provide
otherwise, every corporation automatically has the same powers as an individual
to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out its business and affairs.
That section of the BCA also contains a list, which is expressly stated to be
nonexclusive, of particular powers that belong to every corporation organized
under the BCA.
The proposed amendment will update the Restated Charter so that it more
closely conforms to the provisions of Sections 55-3-01 and 55-3-02 of the BCA.
Additionally, by eliminating the prohibition on the Company's ability to engage
in certain businesses, the amendment will provide the Company with greater
flexibility to respond to future business opportunities as they arise.
Reasons for the Amendment
The Board of Directors believes that the proposed amendment to Article THIRD
of the Restated Charter, by expanding the objects for which the Company exists
and broadening its powers, will ensure that the Restated Charter conforms to
modern principles of corporate governance and the sections of the BCA that
address corporate purposes and powers. Additionally, the proposed amendment will
provide the Company with the flexibility needed to expand its business
activities. This flexibility is essential to the Company's ability to compete
effectively and respond rapidly to future business opportunities in an
increasingly competitive electric utility marketplace. The Board, therefore,
recommends a vote in favor of the proposed amendment to the Restated Charter.
------------------------
The text of the proposed amendment to Article THIRD of the Restated Charter
is set forth in Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement.
17
<PAGE>
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock of
the Company outstanding and entitled to vote is required for approval of the
amendment to the Company's Restated Charter contained in the Proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS NOTED ABOVE, RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL.
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP has been selected by the Board of
Directors to serve as independent public accountants for the Company for the
current year, having served in that capacity since 1930. A representative of
Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
will have the opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond
to appropriate questions.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company's 1995 Annual Report, which includes financial statements for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 together with related notes,
audited statements of income and changes in financial position for the three
most recent years and the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public
accountants, was mailed to shareholders of record as of the close of business on
March 1, 1996.
DATE FOR RECEIPT OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The deadline by which shareholder proposals must be submitted for
consideration at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is December 2, 1996.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors does not intend to bring any business before the
meeting other than that stated in this Proxy Statement. The Board knows of no
other matter to come before the meeting. If other matters properly come before
the meeting, it is the intention of the Board of Directors that the persons
named in the enclosed Proxy will vote on such matters pursuant to the Proxy in
accordance with their best judgment.
18
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE THIRD
OF THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CHARTER
Approval of the Proposal would amend Article THIRD of the Company's Restated
Charter by deleting the parenthetical phrase "(except railroads)" from paragraph
(b) of the list of objects of the Company; deleting the parenthetical phrase
"(except railroads)" from paragraph (c) of the list of objects of the Company;
adding a new sentence to the end of the list of objects of the Company; and
replacing the fifth paragraph of the list of the Company's powers with a new
paragraph. Article THIRD, as amended, shall read as set forth below. (Language
to be added to the text has been underlined and language to be deleted has been
placed in brackets ( "[ ]").)
THIRD: The object or objects for which the Company is to exist are the
following, to wit:
The object or objects of the Company and in aid thereof and in addition
thereto the following object or objects the enumeration of which shall not
limit or restrict or be held to limit or restrict in any manner the object
or objects of the Company, namely:
To acquire, buy, hold, own, sell, lease, exchange, dispose of, finance,
deal in, construct, build, equip, improve, use, operate, maintain and work
upon:
(a) Any and all kinds of plants and systems for the manufacture, storage,
utilization, supply, transmission, distribution, or disposition of electricity,
gas, water or steam, or power produced thereby, or of ice and refrigeration, of
any and every kind, or telegraphs or telephones, or for the transmission of
information, or any thereof;
(b) Any and all kinds of street railways [(except railroads)] and bus lines
for the transportation of passengers and/or freight, transmission lines,
systems, appliances, equipment and devices and tracks, stations, buildings and
other structures and facilities;
(c) Any and all kinds of works, power plants, substations, systems, tracts,
machinery, generators, motors, lamps, poles, pipes, wires, cables, conduits,
apparatus, devices, supplies and articles of every kind pertaining to or in
anywise connected with the construction, operation or maintenance of street
railways [(except railroads)] and bus lines or in anywise connected with the
manufacture, purchase, use, transmission, distribution, regulation, control or
application of electricity, gas, light, heat, refrigeration, ice, water, power,
telephones and telegraphs, or any other purposes;
To acquire, buy, hold, own, sell, lease, exchange, dispose of, distribute,
deal in, use, produce, furnish and supply electricity, gas, light, heat,
refrigeration, ice, water and power and any other power or force in any form and
for any purpose whatsoever;
To carry on the business of general brokers and dealers in stocks, bonds,
securities, mortgages and other choses in action, including the acquisition
thereof by original subscription; to make investments in such property and to
hold, manage, mortgage, pledge, sell, and dispose of the same in like manner as
individuals may do;
To carry on in States and jurisdictions when and where permissible by the
laws of such States and jurisdictions, the business of constructing and
operating or aiding in the construction and operation of street railways,
telegraph and telephone companies, gas and electric companies.
<PAGE>
To acquire, organize, assemble, develop, build up and operate, constructing
and operating and other organizations and systems and to hire, sell, lease,
exchange, turn over, deliver and dispose of such organizations and systems in
whole or in part, and as going organizations and systems and otherwise, and to
enter into and perform contracts, agreements and undertakings of any kind in
connection with any or all of the foregoing purposes;
To do a general contracting business;
To purchase, acquire, hold, own, develop and dispose of lands, interests in
and rights with respect to lands and waters and fixed and movable property,
franchises, concessions, consents, privileges and licenses in its opinion useful
or desirable for or in connection with the foregoing purposes;
To underwrite, acquire by purchase, subscription or otherwise, and to own,
hold for investment or otherwise, and to use, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage,
pledge, exchange or otherwise dispose of real and personal property of every
sort and description and wheresoever situated, including shares of stock, bonds,
debentures, notes, scrip, warrants, securities, evidences of indebtedness,
contracts or obligations of any corporation or corporations, association or
associations, domestic or foreign, or of any firm or individual of the United
States or any state, territory or dependency of the United States or any foreign
country, or any municipality or local authority within or without the United
States, and also to issue in exchange therefor stocks, bonds or other securities
or evidences of indebtedness of the Company, and while the owner or holder of
any such property, to receive, collect and dispose of the interest, dividends
and income on or from such property and to possess and exercise in respect
thereto all of the rights, powers and privileges of ownership, including all
voting powers thereon;
To aid in any manner any corporation or association, domestic or foreign, or
any firm or individual, any shares of stock in which or any bonds, debentures,
notes, securities, evidences of indebtedness, contracts, or obligations of which
are held by or for the Company, directly or indirectly, or in which, or in the
welfare of which, the Company shall have any interest, and to do any acts
designed to protect, preserve, improve or enhance the value of any property at
any time held or controlled by the Company or in which it may be at any time
interested, directly or indirectly or through other corporations or otherwise;
and to organize or promote or facilitate the organization of subsidiary
companies; [.]
-
To engage in any lawful business authorized by the State of North Carolina.
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IN FURTHERANCE AND NOT IN LIMITATION of the general powers conferred by the
laws of the State of North Carolina and of the objects and purposes hereinbefore
stated, it is hereby expressly provided that the Company shall also have the
following powers, that is to say:
To do any or all things set forth to the same extent and as fully as
natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the world, and as
principal, agent, contractor or otherwise, and either alone or in
conjunction with any other persons, firms, associations or corporations;
To borrow money, to issue bonds, promissory notes, bills of exchange,
debentures and other obligations and evidences of indebtedness, whether
secured by mortgage, pledge or otherwise, or unsecured, for money borrowed
or in payment for property purchased or acquired or for any other lawful
object; to mortgage or pledge all or any part of its properties, rights,
interests and franchises, including any or all shares of stock, bonds,
debentures, notes, scrip, warrants or other obligation or evidences of
indebtedness at any time owned by it;
To guarantee the payment of dividends upon any capital stock and to
endorse or otherwise guarantee the principal or interest, or both, of any
bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other obligations
<PAGE>
or evidences of indebtedness, or the performance of any contract or
obligation, of any other corporation or association, domestic or foreign, or
of any firm or individual in which the Company may have a lawful interest,
in so far and to the extent that such guaranty may be permitted by law;
To purchase or otherwise acquire its own shares of stock (so far as may
be permitted by law), and its bonds, debentures, notes, scrip, warrants or
other securities or evidences of indebtedness, and to cancel or to hold,
sell, transfer or reissue the same;
[To do all and everything necessary or convenient for the accomplishment
of the objects herein enumerated, and in general to carry on any lawful
business, incidental, necessary or convenient to any of said objects but
nothing herein contained is to be construed as authorizing the Company to
carry on the business of railroads other than street railways, of banking or
insurance or of building and loan associations.]
To do any and all things necessary or convenient for the accomplishment of
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the objects herein enumerated, and in general to carry on any lawful business,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
incidental, necessary or convenient to any of said objects.
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or exclude any power, right or
privilege given to the Company by law or construed to give the Company any
rights, powers or privileges not permitted by the laws of the State of North
Carolina to corporations organized under the statutes of the State of North
Carolina for the general purposes for which the Company is organized.
The foregoing clauses shall be construed as objects, purposes and powers
and it is hereby expressly provided that the foregoing specific enumeration
shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the powers of the
Company.
<PAGE>
MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF THE COMPANY'S 1996
ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING TO BE HELD ON THE
CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA -
WILMINGTON APPEARS HERE.
<PAGE>
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
411 FAYETTEVILLE STREET, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27601
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY.
PROXY. The undersigned hereby appoints Sherwood H. Smith, Jr. and William
Cavanaugh III, and each of them, as Proxies, with full power of substitution, to
vote the shares of stock of Carolina Power & Light Company registered in the
name of the undersigned, or which the undersigned has the power to vote, at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held Wednesday, May 8, 1996,
at 10 o'clock A.M., and at any adjournment thereof, for the election of
directors, upon the proposal set forth on the reverse side hereof and upon other
matters properly coming before the meeting. The undersigned acknowledges receipt
of the notice of said annual meeting and the proxy statement.
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY YOU ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF.
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, IT WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND
FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CHARTER,
ALL AS SET FORTH IN THE PROXY STATEMENT. THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR ARE: L.
BAKER, W. MCCOY, S. SMITH, J. WILSON. IF ANY NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR BECOMES
UNAVAILABLE, THE PROXIES WILL VOTE FOR A SUBSTITUTE DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD.
TO AVOID EXPENSE AND DELAY, PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS, DATE
AND RETURN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY BY USE OF THE RETURN ENVELOPE.
(Please sign and date on other side)
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AS SET FORTH IN THE PROXY STATEMENT.
/ / Vote For / / Vote Withheld / / Vote Withheld On The
All Nominees On All Nominees Following Nominees Only
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTORS
RECOMMEND
VOTE FOR
----
2. AMENDMENT TO RESTATED CHARTER TO EXPAND THE PURPOSES AND THE POWERS OF THE COMPANY.
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
</TABLE>
____________________________________
____________________________________
Signature(s) of Shareholders or
Authorized Representative
Dated ________________________, 1996
3. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian,
please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full
corporate name by president or other authorized officer, giving full title.
If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized person,
giving full title.
