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Exhibit 99.C
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
FLORIDA
PROGRESS
CORPORATION
Corporate Relations Department, St. Petersburg, Florida
FLORIDA PROGRESS CORPORATION DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND/
SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE BOARD NOMINATIONS
ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- AUGUST 17, 2000 - Florida Progress Corporation's board of
directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of 55 1/2 cents per share on
the company's outstanding common stock. The quarterly dividend is payable on
September 20, 2000 to shareholders of record at the close of business on
September 5, 2000.
In a separate action, at the Annual Shareholders Meeting earlier today where
shareholders approved the share exchange with CP&L Energy, Florida Progress
shareholders elected three directors for three-year terms expiring in 2003.
They are as follows: Michael P. Graney, Joan D. Ruffier and Robert Stuart Jr.
Florida Progress (NYSE:FPC) is a Fortune 500 diversified utility holding
company with assets of $6.2 billion. Its principal subsidiary is Florida Power,
one of the nation's leading electric utilities committed to serving its 1.4
million customers in Florida with competitively priced energy, excellent
reliability, and outstanding customer service. Diversified operations include
rail services, marine operations and coal mining.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Mary Estes
727-820-5348
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
Greg Beuris
727-920-5734
